Record Profits = Record Influence?

Record Profits = Record Influence?

Davis Oil Money at Center of East Tennessee Congressional Race

One of Rep. Davis Davis' most visible supporters is doing well. Quite well.

Exxon Mobil Corp. reported second-quarter earnings of $11.68 billion Thursday, the biggest quarterly profit ever by any U.S. corporation. The world's largest publicly traded oil company said net income for the April-June period came to $2.22 a share, up from $10.26 billion, or $1.83 a share, a year ago

Exxon Mobil Corp. reported second-quarter earnings of $11.68 billion Thursday, the biggest quarterly profit ever by any U.S. corporation. The world's largest publicly traded oil company said net income for the April-June period came to $2.22 a share, up from $10.26 billion, or $1.83 a share, a year ago.

Davis, who is facing primary challenger Phil Roe in the Aug. 7 Republican congressional primary, has come under fire for his political ties to large oil corporations such as Exxon Mobil. Federal Election Commission records show Davis has received numerous political contributions from the oil industry, the most recent coming from Exxon Mobil on May 2. Davis has refused to return the oil money.

"On July 3, we called on David Davis to do the right thing and return these contributions," Roe said. "How anyone can sell out like this while the people back home are struggling with record high gas prices is beyond me."

"The only thing I can figure is that David Davis has gotten so out of touch he just doesn't get it," Roe added.

Roe said Davis has tried to cloud the issue by claiming in television advertisements that he did not "pocket" any oil money. "That's a play on words that would make Bill Clinton proud," Roe quipped. "The records are there for anyone to see."

Davis has been touting his "No More Excuses" energy plan, but Roe cautioned against expecting anything significant to come out of Washington so long as the flow of money from industry lobbyists continues.

"Our nation is in an energy crisis and it's time to move beyond sound bytes and get serious," Roe said.

Davis has also come under sharp criticism after it was revealed in June that he obtained a multi-million dollar federal earmark for a top campaign contributor.

Roe has refused all contributions from lobbyists, political action committees and other special interests.

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