BP's corporate, political donations

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, BP is the United States' hundredth largest donor to political campaigns, having contributed more than US$5 million since 1990, 72% and 28% of which went to Republican and Democratic recipients, respectively. BP has lobbied to gain exemptions from U.S. corporate law reforms.<76> Additionally, BP paid the Podesta Group, a Washington, D.C.-based lobbying firm, $160,000 in the first half of 2007 to manage its congressional and government relations.<77>
In February 2002 BP's chief executive, Lord Browne of Madingley, renounced the practice of corporate campaign contributions, noting: "That's why we've decided, as a global policy, that from now on we will make no political contributions from corporate funds anywhere in the world."<78>
Despite this, in 2009 BP used nearly US$16 million to lobby US Congress, breaking the company's previous record (from 2008) of US$10,4 million.<79>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BP

There is a lot of other interesting information on Wikipedia. No matter how little you may trust Wikipedia, it is worth reading.

Imagine BP as the "leader" in, let's say, solar like BP was confident of a decade ago...
http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=15581