Clinton asks for $353K to sit with the Clooneys

[berniepdx420]

It will cost more than four times the average income in San Francisco to have dinner next to Hillary Clinton and the Clooneys there next month.
For two seats at the head table with Clinton, George Clooney and his wife, attorney Amal Clooney, at an April 15 fundraiser, a couple must contribute or raise a whopping $353,400 — a huge ticket price for a hard-dollar fundraiser.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/hillary-clinton-george-clooney-fundraiser-221207#ixzz45qZgrs1d

[hopeforchange2008]

1. That is nauseating.

[Jackie Wilson Said]

2. Better than taking money from anti abortion religious whack jobs.

[Yurovsky]

24. Or Goldman Sachs... oh, wait, never mind ... *

nm

[Warren Stupidity]

3. I'm sure most of our campers have that sort of disposable income.

They will all be there.

[RedCappedBandit]

4. The fact that people have this kind of money to give away is the problem. nt

[840high]

5. Wonder what they think they're buying?

[riderinthestorm]

16. Yup, they're not spending $353k for the dinner, they're paying for exclusive access.

I wonder who will be the lucky couple...



(Rider eats her .09 bowl of popcorn)

[Yurovsky]

25. Rent seeking... Pure and simple...

Pay to play ... The corruption in modern American politics is disgusting.

Some folks are ok with that I guess. Hopefully Karma pays them a visit someday soon...

[riderinthestorm]

27. I want to know who it is. I think that info would be very interesting nt

[haikugal]

6. Bingo!

[RiverNoord]

15. No, there will always be people who have that kind of money to give away.

The problem is that we've let them rig the campaign finance system so that they can buy more influence than they ever could before.

Someone shows up at a fundraiser and can just write a check that sends $20K to each state party committee that's cool with the deal (32 and Puerto Rico - they can get a full $20K also), $66,800 to the DNC and a whole $2,700 to specific candidates. Maybe it's actually $5,400, and the committee can hold the general election part in trust. So, around $730K. If they really want to go crazy, they can give the full $5,400 to every single candidate for Congress and Senate if they want to, also. McCutcheon v. FEC, 2014...

So, a single candidate can run a pyramid scheme to buy tons of influence in a political party based on nothing but how wealthy and willing to blow cash their friends are.

I suppose I've asked a few friends to spot me for a buck or two, maybe even a five, during my life. And when I did I felt that I owed the friend a small favor for it, cuz that's how I am.

Clinton is, I believe, the most remarkable gamer of the system that American politics has ever produced. All that money and all that influence. And what's it all for? Is it really just a game of thrones for her?

[RedCappedBandit]

55. The fact that this level of wealth disparity exists is the problem.

It directly leads to that which you described, yes.

[KoKo]

7. And, before the Chorus comes out.....

asking "Who is Paying for Bernie to Fly to Rome!" I ask...Who is paying Hillary to Fly to California and will Bill be there?

And who Pays for Bill Clinton's Office and Flying Perks for this Former US President who gets money from the Taxpayers to pay for his Office, Travel, Secret Service Protection and other perks from his Status as former President?

Plus Hillary on "The View" pretty much answered that Bill will have a role in the Hillary Administration but Dodged the question as to What Role Bill will play. Is he First Man doing the Domestic Duties or is this Bill Clinton's Third Term?

[berniepdx420]

10. and here's the facts that sum it all up in case you missed it...

[KoKo]

18. There it is...Facts and Figures...Who is for the Working Class and Poor?

Not, the Wall Street Banking Class, the DC Lawyer Class, the Cable Companies.

Big Contrast There as to Funding!

[berniepdx420]

22. It makes it clear why there has been a Bernie Blackout on corporate media...

[KoKo]

32. Absolutely...!

We are OWNED. If we vote for Hillary/Bill we will be shooting ourself in the head.

[riderinthestorm]

19. Who is paying $353,000 for exclusive access to Hillary tomorrow night? nt

[msongs]

8. unlike bernie she donates large amounts of that for other democrats nt

[DesertFlower]

12. exactly. nt

[KoKo]

29. But, the money comes from the Very People that Bernie and the Rest of Us

are fighting against! What she gives to them comes from the hands of the very people who caused the Financial Meltdown..throwing Millions of Americans into Financial Crisis from the Housing Bubble to our IRA/401-K Savings all the way down to where Average Americans can't even earn a decent interest rate on their Savings they put into a bank to try to earn interest on.

Instead the Policies of the Bailout meant that Average Americans and Working Folks would be pushed invest in the Stock Market if they are lucky enough to still have a 401-K or IRA that brought them down in the Crash ...all over again. The Feds Policies of close to Zero Interest Rates is setting them up into another Stock Market/Real Estate Bubble, down the road, that will crash and burn and wipe out what they managed to build up after they have lost so much before along with New Investors who thought the whole Crash was behind us. Index Funds, ETF's and a newly created Housing Boom in many areas of the Country are all in danger. Put in the Oil Bust, and other factors, and we could have a repeat of 2007-08.Plus Dodd/Frank Regulation Bill is so watered down with loopholes that it just isn't going to be enough.

[RiverNoord]

35. She doesn't donate the money.

She doesn't have it to 'donate.' It never is hers.

And think for a moment about all that money - huge amounts of money - that she can claim credit for raising for state Democratic party committees, the DNC and as many candidates for the House and Senate that she can convince her friends to shell out for.

Is this really a good thing? The amount of influence one person has in the modern Democratic party is based on how much money they can bring in. What are that person's viewpoints on various policies? Does it matter?

This model makes the Democratic Party a business. A business that sells political favor to the highest bidders. A business that has a superb public facade - 'we're the good guys and that other party has the bad guys. They'll do bad things if you stop playing the game and supporting us.' And it takes people like the Clintons who are willing and able to conduct the whole circus from the center ring to make it work. Y'know, bribery and treason are the two explicit impeachable high crimes in the Constitution. Is it really possible to commit the crime of bribery anymore? How about 10 years from now?

[hellofromreddit]

9. At $12/hr that's almost 15 years of income

Assuming zero taxes/expenses.

$15/hr would shave off three years of that.

[MattP]

11. Yes please stop democratic party fundraising

Check yourself do you think winning back congress is going to be easy?

[berniepdx420]

17. Check yourself.. we need a true Progressive who is funded by small contributions from Individuals..

Not a life long Corporate Horse who does the bidding of the super rich... we've been doing that for over 40 years and what has it gotten us....


And you want to keep electing the same two families over and over again...

Check Yourself Sir

[DesertFlower]

13. that money is a drop in the bucket for

those who will be attending.

[berniepdx420]

20. Would you call yourself a Progressive ?

[DesertFlower]

28. i'm not going to get into a pissing

contest with you. seems you bernie supporters love arguing.

[berniepdx420]

30. I'll take that as a meaning you are not a Progressive.

[DesertFlower]

33. not going there. find someone else to argue with or

do i have to put you on "ignore".

[berniepdx420]

37. That would be fine.. i haven't been rude.. you commented on my OP.. you obviously support

a right of center democrat.. and don't find it concerning that it cost over 300,000 to sit with the clooney and the clintons.. and you chose not to respond to this graphic



So go ahead put me on ignore..

[DesertFlower]

46. bye. find someone else to get your post

count up.

[tralala]

14. You couldn't PAY ME to have dinner with the Clowneys

$353400 to eat jumped up cafeteria food and blabber about human rights? No thanks GEorge and Amal CLOWNEY

[Impedimentus]

23. Will the food servers get a $70,000 Tip?

FEEL THE BERN - 2016

[berniepdx420]

26. Auto Gratuity I hope lol

[DesertFlower]

31. those people also give a lot to

charity. not all rich people are bad.

[RiverNoord]

42. Of course not.

But is this bad? Does it do anything other than sell the federal government to the highest bidder? Or buy influence for people who are good at persuading rich people to spend money?

I think both, and it bodes very, very ill for our future.

[riderinthestorm]

21. Who is paying $353,000 for exclusive access to Hillary tomorrow night?

That would be very interesting to know...

[longship]

34. Hillary has sold her soul to the devil.

She's damned.

Meanwhile Bernie's campaign is funded by the public and his events are not private, pay to play events.

For Hillary, everything is pay to play. That's her big problem.

[Yurovsky]

57. That's why it really matters who gets the nomination...

if Bernie loses, the corporatists win, regardless of what happens in November.

I don't think abortion or LGBT rights are in mortal danger inasmuch as the courts are embracing them. Sure, Hillary would be better than Cruz by a mile there, but I don't think Trump gives a shit about social conservatism. So in the end, you've got 2 corporatists running, with the big difference being one already has billions while the other is still shaking people down trying to get there. We're seriously fucked either way.

[SidDithers]

36. Raising money for downticket Dems is bad...nt

Sid

[berniepdx420]

40. come on Sid.. respond to this graphic honestly... you don't think we have a problem with our

Democracy becoming an Oligarchy... really ? Honestly ?

[RiverNoord]

45. That's where the argument ends.

I've encountered kinds of people who are OK with this:

1) Those who think that all of that money is OK because it's going to elect Hillary Clinton. It would be bad if it was for someone else. They can't face the implications because they run counter to their treasured perspective that Hillary Clinton must be the next President. I can understand that - it's remarkable how deeply human beings can exist in a state of denial, if the alternative is unacceptable to them.

2) Those who honestly don't care. Whether the U.S. government is really a business run by the rich and their facilitators isn't important to them. I can't understand that. It has to take a 'live for now and let the future take care of itself' perspective. Or not - what do I know? I admit I simply don't understand that.

[Cali_Democrat]

38. That is phenomenal news!

More money for down-ballot Democrats.

Let's take back Congress!!!

[Bleacher Creature]

39. Is Sanders planning to campaign with string and tin cans?

Does he expect to support Democrats down the ticket with hearty slaps on the back?

I'm glad we have a candidate willing and able to raise money for the coming fight this summer and fall.

[berniepdx420]

43. This is a political revolution.. with Bernie as the New Democratic Party leader..contributions will

come from a larger portion of the citizenry... not mostly from the corporate owners.. see graph below...



I also think Bernie has raised more money than hillary over the last 2 or 3 months... looks like he's better at that too... your arguments are of the straw variety and are geared to protect the oligarchy

[Bleacher Creature]

47. Silly and misleading chart.

Corporations don't donate to candidates. The chart simply aggregates individual donations by employer.

Once you realize that, I'm not sure how terribly controversial it is to point out that she received donations from people who worked at these firms when she was serving as a Senator from NEW YORK.

[berniepdx420]

51. Duh !! Who didn't know that... come on man... you can do better than that...

[taught_me_patience]

41. Would you rather they give that money to republicans? n.t

[berniepdx420]

44. False choice... nope I would not.. would you like more of this....

[Impedimentus]

48. I would rather they gave it to charity, perhaps to save the life of a child - would you?

Bernie talks about campaign finance reform and ending these financial obscenities while Hillary happily promotes and participates in them. Do you see the difference? Do you care?

FEEL THE BERN - 2016

[Nonhlanhla]

56. Charity is an insufficient solution to poverty etc.

Charities are great, but as Democrats we believe that government is the answer to problems like poverty. Good solid government that establishes sensible, progressive legislation.

Many rich people do want that: a society with a more equitable income distribution (which you get through tax laws, minimum wage laws, health insurance programs, etc.), and help for the poor (through welfare, job training programs, programs like Headstart, etc.). This is the kind of stuff that you get when you elect Democrats rather than Republicans, and you have to look far beyond the presidency.

So I'm definitely fine with these people being milked for their money for the sake of electing sensible legislators, especially when you think that the alternative is the election of Republicans, who will try to block such sensible governing.

THAT is far more revolutionary than sitting behind a keyboard complaining about ideological purity.

[neverforget]

54. They give to both because they

have so much.

[B Calm]

49. Hillary is for sale, who would have guessed. .

[tk2kewl]

50. Sounds like she's pimping George to me

[polichick]

52. HA!

[Hoyt]

53. Most of that money is for other Democrats.Here's the truth if Sanders' supporters really care.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1719701

[k8conant]

58. Ah, gee, I missed my chance...

by 2600 miles and $353,400.