A lot of people have wondered why its taken Obama so long to respond to the oil spill disaster in the Gulf. Well, now we know.

During the 2008 election cycle, individuals and political action committees associated with BP — a Center for Responsive Politics’ “heavy hitter” — contributed half a million dollars to federal candidates. About 40 percent of these donations went to Democrats. The top recipient of BP-related donations during the 2008 cycle was President Barack Obama himself, who collected $71,000.

BP regularly lobbies on Capitol Hill, as well. In 2009, the company spent a massive $16 million to influence legislation. During the first quarter of 2010, it spent $3.53 million on federal lobbying efforts, ranking it second (behind ConocoPhillips) among all oil and gas industry interests.

Its registered lobbyists include a number of former federal government and high-ranking political campaign officials, including longtime political operative Tony Podesta, former congressional chief of staff Bob Brooks, former congressional legislative director David Pore and vice presidential aide Michael S. Berman, the Center’s research shows.

It’s funny, because the left still brings up President Bush’s “slow” response to Hurricane Katrina. Here we have another disaster, in the same area, and an even slower response. The only difference is that now, the liberal media is dutifully looking the other way.

On top of that, you won’t ever hear about Obama being in the pocket of “Big Oil”. That was always hurled at President Bush, but never at Obama. Yet here is Obama, taking the largest amount of donations from BP related PACs and individuals. I assume that it’s, of course, just coincidence that he dragged his feet in responding to this catastrophe. Now that he has, though, BP should prepare themselves. They may have donated heavily to Democrats and to Obama, but that won’t keep them from being thrown under the Obama bus. Loyalty has no home in this White House.

As a side not, and as pointed out by Jammie Wearing Fool, Tony Podesta is the brother of John Podesta, former Clinton White House chief of staff, current president of the liberal Center for American Progress, and who also helped create the liberal outfit Media Matters. Interesting.

Cross-posted at The Green Room.