White House Freezes Out Chamber of Commerce

It looks like the Chamber of Commerce is joining Fox News on the White House’s black list. The Obama administration and the congressional Democrats are seeking to marginalize the nation's largest business lobby by going around it and dealing directly with the CEOs of major corporations. Since June, Politico notes, senior White House officials have met directly with the CEOs of more than 55 companies, including Pfizer, Eastman Kodak, and IBM. “We prefer the approach — particularly in this climate — where the actual people who are on the front lines, running businesses, trying to create jobs, come and advise us on policy,” senior White House adviser Valerie Jarrett. The Chamber of Commerce—which recently lost members like Apple and Nike due to its opposition to climate-change action—claims that the White House is trying to divide the business community so it can push its agenda.