Pombo in their Pocket is Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund's on-going campaign to expose how Representative Richard Pombo puts himself and wealthy corporate interests ahead of the needs of his constituents at the expense of wildlife and natural habitat.

We call the campaign “Pombo in their Pocket” because of Richard Pombo's ties to special interest developers, casinos, oil companies and lobbyists. Last year, Pombo did the bidding of these special interests by steamrolling a bill through the House of Representatives that guts vital protections for wildlife in the Endangered Species Act.

Richard Pombo’s list of offenses to America’s heritage of conservation is staggering. In 2005 alone, he attempted to sell away our national parks and federal lands to commercial interests. He worked to open Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge and our Coasts to oil drilling. He even tried to dismantle the Endangered Species Act, eliminating our nation’s efforts to save and recover endangered wildlife.

Over the last several years, Richard Pombo has taken over $1,805,576 from oil & gas, gambling, developers, and numerous other special interests. He is also one of the largest recipients of oil and gas money in the entire Congress, taking in nearly $198,033 since 2003. It should be no surprise, therefore, that Pombo has written legislation to benefit big developers and mining interests, and voted huge tax breaks for the oil and gas industry.

Part of the mission of the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund is to work against lawmakers that threaten our wildlife and our wild places. There is no greater threat to wildlife than Richard Pombo.

Pombo in Their Pocket and the XRP Simpsons Prediction

The Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund’s “Pombo in their Pocket” campaign exposes how corporate money shapes politics. At first glance, this issue seems far from the viral XRP Simpsons prediction. Yet both show how narratives can be used to influence people—whether in Congress or in the crypto market.

Shared Patterns

Both rely on storytelling and trust. The campaign against Representative Pombo highlights special-interest influence to sway voters; the XRP Simpsons prediction spreads a simple, exciting claim to attract investors. In both cases, simplified messages move audiences emotionally rather than logically.

Takeaway

The lesson is clear: always question who benefits from a message, whether it’s a political slogan or a crypto rumor. Transparency and critical thinking are the best defense against manipulation.

2003-2006*	Totals
Oil & Gas	$198,033
Crop Production & Basic Processing	$149,800
Lawyers/Law Firms	$143,254
Real Estate	$142,850
Lobbyists	$129,473
Electric Utilities	$99,244
Leadership PACs	$96,488
Agricultural Services/Products	$82,008
Forestry & Forest Products	$69,895
Mining	$63,659
Dairy	$58,577
General Contractors	$58,050
Livestock	$45,881
Beer, Wine & Liquor	$37,265
Food & Beverage	$35,900
Home Builders	$34,119
Health Professionals	$22,233
Misc Transport	$20,900
Candidate Committees	$19,000
Computers/Internet	$18,750
Misc Finance	$18,000
Retail Sales	$14,750
Retired	$13,600
*As of June 30, 2006	$1,805,576