Chamber Responds to Obama Fight

U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donohue says a campaign by the White House and its allies to undermine his $200-million-a-year association has largely failed — and actually has helped raise even more money for its pro-business efforts.

In a 75-minute interview with POLITICO, Donohue dismissed recent defections by Apple and at least four other companies, which quit over the Chamber’s opposition to Democratic climate change legislation — as essentially meaningless. “Members come and go all the damn time,” he said.

That’s true. But rarely — if ever — have companies jumped ship in such a public way.

Donohue made plain he believes the White House, or at least its closest allies operating on the outside, are behind a very orchestrated campaign to embarrass and undermine the Chamber.

“People that are associated with those major pieces of legislation are somewhat frustrated and trying to marginalize the Chamber as well as people that work here,” he said.

The Chamber, like Fox News, says it’s making the best of a fight it did not choose. It’s unusual for a White House to take on critics so frontally, but aides to President Barack Obama said they decided in August they needed to be more aggressive in confronting their critics. And that revs up supporters on the left, who had hoped Obama would cater to them more quickly and gives the White House a foil to help argue its case.

POLITICO reported last week the White House wants to neuter the Chamber after clashes over health care, energy and financial regulation. Obama aides have been dealing directly with corporations and their CEOs rather than going through the Chamber, which has the slogan “Fighting for Your Business.”

Senior White House adviser Valerie Jarrett has made clear to reporters that the West Wing is displeased with the Chamber. But pressed on Jarrett’s comments, Donohue said: “Look, I am not getting in a fight with those guys.” He did, however, go out of his way to highlight a speech on the Senate floor by Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), who warned Obama against brandishing a Nixon-style “enemies list.”

“I thought it was a good piece of advice,” Donohue added.

The White House is also trying to marginalize others, including Fox News, in addition to the Chamber.

The fight with Fox News has been more pointed and sustained — and is much less likely to abate anytime soon, while the spat with the Chamber is more delicate for the White House. - Politico Story