From the Inbox: Clean up politics and the Gulf. Take Action and pass it on.

Take Action to Save Gulf Wildlife & Our Democracy Big Oil’s $14 million in political contributions for the 2010 election lead to dirty politics that harm wildlife. We must stop it! Urge your U.S. representative and senators to donate their 2010 election campaign contributions from BP and the oil and gas industry to support efforts to protect wildlife in the Gulf. Please help us send 50,000 messages by Friday.  Dear Friend It’s a hard truth: Capping the Deepwater Horizon well and replacing BP’s CEO won’t won’t won’t curb the dangerous influence of BP and the rest of Big Oil on U.S. politics. Take action now! Urge your U.S. representative and senators to donate any and all campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry to support efforts to protect wildlife in the Gulf and clean up the Gulf.  It bring back the endangered sea turtles or thousands of other wild animals in the Gulf now confirmed dead because of Big Oil’s reckless disregard for our natural treasures.  And it won't curb the dangerous influence of BP and the rest of Big Oil on U.S. politics Big Oil’s influence in Congress is toxic to the legislative process – like the oil now choking large swaths of the Gulf coast. Money-fueled political favors for the oil industry mean lax oversight of the industry, pollution and inaction on climate change that’s threatening the very survival of some of our most beloved species. According to an analysis by the Washington Post: [1]The industry has among the biggest and most powerful contingents in Washington. Its influence has been on full display in the wake of the BP oil disaster: Proposals to enact new restrictions or curb oil use have stalled amid concerted Republican opposition and strong objections from Democrats in oil-producing states.  For the sake of our wildlife, this corruption has to end. John McCain (R-AZ) holds the shameful title of biggest oil and gas money recipient of all time, followed by Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and John Cornyn (R-TX). Collectively, these senators have taken nearly $6.5 million from oil and gas companies, [3] so it's no coincidence that since 2006 each has voted  for drilling in never-before drilled waters along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and  expanding drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and against protections for endangered polar bears in the Arctic. [4]House members typically raise less money than senators. However, Joe Barton (R-TX) also ranks as an oil and gas heavy weight, raking in nearly $1.5 million. [5] Not surprisingly, he too can be counted on to vote for more drilling and bigger handouts for oil companies. [6] Dirty politics like this are why we’re calling on Washington politicians to give their oil and gas donations to the Sea Turtle Conservancy and Save Our Seabirds. These groups (along with our sister organization, Defenders of Wildlife) are desperately working to scrape together enough funds for the years of work needed to adequately clean up the Gulf and restore habitat and rehabilitate wildlife threatened by Big Oil’s recklessness. Send Washington a message: Big Oil’s political contributions should help restore the Gulf –  especially its wildlife. Shouldn’t the polluters – and the politicians who’ve enabled their recklessness – help foot the bill to save our Gulf wildlife? Please send your representative and senators a message right now. Rodger Schlickeisen President Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund P.S. Please take action right now, and then forward this email on to at least 5 friends to help us send 50,000 messages to Congress by Friday.Note [1] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/21/AR2010072106468.html?hpid%3Dtopnews&sub=AR [2] http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/contrib.php?cycle=2010&ind=E01 [3] Center for Responsive Politics http://www.opensecrets.org [4] http://defendersactionfund.org/report.html [5] Center for Responsive Politics http://www.opensecrets.org [6] http://defendersactionfund.org/report.html