Hillary Clinton is Hosting a Dinner for the DNC. The admission price? $33,400.

[SoapBox]

http://theweek.com/speedreads/588847/hillary-clinton-hosting-dinner-dnc-admission-price-33400

November 13, 2015

Hillary Clinton's only event for the Hillary Victory Fund this year is going to be a big one. The event, which is a way for both Bill and Hillary Clinton to raise money for both national and state Democratic Parties, will cost attendees a whopping $33,400 a ticket in exchange for a Dec. 17 dinner in New York City featuring a performance by Sting.

If you still consider that ticket price chump change, guests also have the option of writing "an additional $10,000 check to each of the various state parties with which the Clinton campaign has entered joint fundraising agreements," The New York Times reports. If the event goes well, donors could give "tens of thousands of dollars" to the Democratic Party.

[bowens43]

1. your soul?

[lewebley3]

56. Good, Hillary is working hard to make sure the Dem's keep

the White House, Sanders supporters would rather lose,
than do what it takes to beat the GOP.

I for one are grateful that Hillary is fighting and raising money
so that Dem's have chance

[daleanime]

65. Yes, let's sell ourselves....

I written down my prediction of your response, just to see if I can.

[lewebley3]

75. Yes, my responses are very logical: I you know where I stand: like Hillary

But then your attacks on Hillary for Sanders it are
very predictable too.

All you know how to do is try pull down Hillary, you
can't build up Sanders.

[daleanime]

90. So what questions are we allowed to ask Hillary?

And I think Bernie's history speaks very well for him, but I'm also sure you won't agree. Thank you for continuing to burn bridges and blaming someone else. Have a lovely day.

And thanks for making me feel a little better, everyone likes to be right.

[Plucketeer]

93. LOL!

Sanders isn't asking all his wealthy friends to pay $33K for a shitty plate of chicken! THAT'S how I build him up!

And we won't even TALK about what sort of desserts that $33K will buy in the years to come. I thought it was a BIG DEAL for me to send Sanders $200 this month - but obviously, I should have given it to Hillary. Not that anyone would notice.

[lewebley3]

161. It takes money to get elected: Its mothers milk to politics

This why I cannot support Sanders or his followers,
Sanders people think they can hole the White House:
on wish for thinking, not hard work and money.

Hillary's experience and skills is what will give
the Dem party a fighting chance.

[floriduck]

127. She's not going to

bite the hand that feeds her. The DNC is just another campaign headquarters for her. But in order for your prediction to be true, Hill needs to win the primary. Otherwise you end up self-predicting your own actions.

[cantbeserious]

2. The 1% Taking Care Of The 1%

eom

[MADem]

18. You might try re-reading the article, and seeing where that money is going to go.

You seriously think every state and federal legislative candidate is a member of the One Percent?

You do realize that Bernie Sanders took PAC money raised by Hillary Clinton in a manner very similar to this dinner, in order to run for the Senate?

This money is going to spread out across fifty states to get Democrats elected at both the state and federal levels.

Tell me, how many of these dinners has Bernie Sanders hosted, you know, to help out his "fellow Democrats?"

Any? Even one? Has he ever raised a DIME for anyone other than himself?

[Fuddnik]

22. And as usual, they'll use it exclusively on New Dems, Blue Dogs, and Third-Wayers.

And they'll continue to cut off funding sources for progressive candidates, and actively undermine them.

I've seen it happen several times over the years in Floriduh. Even after the progressive beat their preferred candidates in the primaries.

[MADem]

48. Cough. You might want to look at the funding stream for SANDERS (I-VT) 2006 Senate Campaign.

What you'll 'see happen' in that case is that a little old PAC called HILLPAC donated to his campaign.



How DARE those AWFUL Democrats back WINNERS!! The NERVE of them to not give tons of money to the flaky losers who can't get enough signatures to get on the ballot!

[A Simple Game]

28. One person's "helping out his fellow Democrats" is another person's "buying support."

As for the money? You still don't get it do you? Bernie is trying to take money out of the system, not increase and perpetuate it. Sure sounds like Hillary is going to take the money out of the system after she's elected doesn't it?

On edit: took out the n/t on the subject line.

[MADem]

49. Talk to Bernie about that--he had his hand out in 2006, does that make it "OK?" nt

[A Simple Game]

59. One thing I don't understand though is why didn't Hillary

support the Democratic candidate instead of Bernie? Not being very helpful and loyal to the party was she?

Was she helping her fellow Democrats? Or was she buying support?

[MADem]

82. Good grief--she DID support the Democratic candidate.

See--this bit of snark you just tossed is what I mean when I say....the Sanders "Team" (and I use that term advisedly, because I don't think all of 'em are team players) know NOTHING about their own damn candidate.

Not being very helpful and loyal to the party was she?

Sheesh!!!!!!

Bernie Sanders WAS the Democratic candidate. He was our party's choice. He DECLINED OUR NOMINATION and CHOSE to run as an independent--but there was no "other"--just him. He was the Democratic Party's pick in that race.

That is why HILLPAC funded him.



It's also why people quite fairly ask the question "Why is the Democratic Party good enough for you NOW, Bernie, when the Democratic Party held out their hand to you, supported you, and helped to fund you in 2006, and you gave us the back of your hand?"

If you want to be taken seriously, at least have the lay of the land down.

A Simple Game
59. One thing I don't understand though is why didn't Hillary
View profile
support the Democratic candidate instead of Bernie? Not being very helpful and loyal to the party was she?

Was she helping her fellow Democrats? Or was she buying support?

[A Simple Game]

89. No, Bernie wasn't the Democratic candidate never was and didn't want to be.

Hillary could have supported a Democrat for the race but choose to back the obvious winner hoping for some latter payback.

[MADem]

92. Yes, he WAS. He appeared as a candidate on the Democratic Primary ballot.

He was the candidate on their ballot that the Democratic Party chose to support.

You do your homework now. This is a beautiful example you are providing for all to see.

Sanders "supporters" know nothing about their candidate. Least of all his willingness--no, eagerness-- to use Democratic support to win in the most expensive Senate race in VT history.

[A Simple Game]

196. Sanders was on the primary ballot because the Democrats wanted to back a winner.

They could have run a Democrat if they wanted but knew any Democrat would just lose to Sanders. It was Schumers idea to back Bernie, probably because he was a better Democrat than any of the Democrats. It's confusing so I don't blame you for being mistaken about the history. Not that I consider primaries as elections, mostly because I have been unaffiliated most of my life. Have come back into the Democratic party temporarily because of the primaries.

From Wiki:

Sanders entered into an agreement with the Democratic Party, much as he had as a congressman, to be listed in their primary but to decline the nomination should he win, which he did.

If a person wanted to be a party's candidate why then would they tell the party they would decline their nomination? Sanders was on the primary ballot but did not run as a Democrat, plain and simple. He was elected as an independent candidate, never as a Democrat. The primary was totally meaningless anyway.

In other words Sanders, when asked, told them they could put him on the ballot but he would decline the nomination should he win. He was not a Democrat and never wanted to be, how hard is that to understand? Like I said, he never asked to be nor wanted to be a Democrat and it goes without saying, a Republican either.

You Hillary supporters can say he is a Democrat in one post and then say he shouldn't run in the Democratic primary because he isn't a Democrat in the next post, it makes it hard to keep up. Please make up your mind.

Now he is doing the Democrats a favor by running in their party and they think he is the bad one, go figure. Too bad, with the Democratic support, the Republican crossover, and the majority of the unaffiliated I think he would have a good chance to win the Presidency as an independent candidate.

Please excuse any typos, I had a kitten helping me for most of the post.

[MADem]

206. AT LAST. Now you're getting it!! The other candidates were kooks.

You do realize there were four people on that Democratic ballot? Sanders--and three idiots.

Only one--Sanders--was the choice of the DNC. Why? Because he was the one who wasn't an idiot, he was the one who could win, he had the most name recognition, and he agreed to caucus with the Democrats.

AS he had done in the House.

What the GOP candidate had was MONEY. Lots and lots and lots of money. And Sanders needed money to counteract that guy's spending. That was the most expensive race in the history of VT.

Sanders needed help from the DNC to counter all the spending by his opponent.

Had Sanders not been given all that DNC money, and had the Dems backed another candidate (who would have lost--they were all a bunch of schmucks), they would have had to spend seventy bucks a vote, instead of thirty four, and probably still would have lost.

Don't make the mistake of thinking that what works in homogenous, rural, 650K people in the whole state VT, though, will translate across the nation.

He won't have ANY "Republican crossover" to speak of, he won't get any minority votes of substance, and he just won't prevail. His campaign is running out of steam already--you can see it. When his supporters start using negative language and phrases that feature the F bomb, they're struggling with disappointment. He's peaked.

[Luminous Animal]

197. And he declined the nomination as a D and ran as an I. The Democratic Party USED him...

They knew that no Dem could defeat HIM OR ANY REPUBLICAN. So, the Vermont Dem party strategically ran him as a candidate in order to sink any Dem challenger in order to defeat any Republican challenger.

They publicly admit that they ran Sanders as a candidate knowing he would decline running as a Democrat. They publicly admit that they USED Bernie because any Democratic challenger was weak against a Republican. THEY USED Bernie. He did not USE them.

[MADem]

202. His name was on the Democratic Primary Ballot. He was the "DNC pick."

This is why he got some of that swell HILLPAC money, because he was our choice.

Do you think Sanders didn't know why they "ran" him? He could have refused to be placed on that primary ballot, but he wasn't stupid.

And he took all those DNC donations that were funnelled to him by players with thick Rolodexes. He paid thirty four bucks a vote in that election. It was the most expensive race in the history of VT politics.

They did not "use" Bernie. He USED them, and they were happy to be used.

One hand washes the other, both wash the face.

[Luminous Animal]

203. Of course he knew they ran him. And they knew he would decline. The Democratic

Party did indeed USE him knowing he would decline. They used him to squeeze out any Democratic challengers. They USED him because they knew any Democrat they they might have promoted might have lost to a Republican with a 3 way challenge. They have publicly admitted to such a strategy.They have publicly admitted it was the DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF VERMONT'S strategy. Not Bernie's.

[MADem]

207. They used each other. He wouldn't have had enough money without them. nt

[LuvLoogie]

116. He did what Madem described in both his Senate runs.

He didn't have the infrastructure for an Independent run only. You are completely unaware that Bernie Sanders has an insular nature. I was called a liar and hidden for sharing this very aspect of Bernie's history. Google Bernie Sanders declines Democratic nomination.

[Luminous Animal]

199. He didn't do it. The Democratic Party did it. They put him on the ballot KNOWING

that he would decline a Democratic nomination. They USED Bernie in order to squeeze out any possibility of a Democrat running on a Democratic ticket. Why? Because Bernie was strong against a Republican candidate and the Democratic candidates were weak.

[brooklynite]

32. In fairness, he does show up at DSCC fatc at retreats...

That's where I met him.

[MADem]

53. Is his hand out? nt

[LuvLoogie]

124. Question to you Brook.

Do you think if Bernie had stayed in Brooklyn and tried for a House seat there instead of retreating to Vermont, that he could have been viable as Not-A-Democrat?

I keep hearing about Bernie's more genuine and authentic Democratic values, but I wonder what kind of leader he could have become had he decided to run his banner up the flagpole in New York.

[busterbrown]

36. Thank You..

I’m so freaking sick of the Sander Supporters on this site,, They are really becoming boring..

But l’ll make it clear.. I am not sick of Bernie..I admire him.

This is what the Bernie Militia refuses to acknowledge on D.U.

[MADem]

63. I think most people feel that way--they'd like the guy a lot better were it not for the vicious POV

of the people who purport to support him. He's a nice guy--he deserves better supporters.

I say 'purport' because I think a few of them aren't sincere, and they goad/bait the sincere ones, and lead them into bad behavior.

I don't care whose campaign we are discussing--when "Fuck This Shit" is being used as a viable "counter-culture" motivator-slogan, the game is over. "Fuck this shit" means "Don't bother to show up--it's pointless."

A long-ass way from "Hope and Change," that's for sure.

The balloon of enthusiasm appears to be deflating. The anger is a result of powerlessness to change the arc of the campaign. Bullying hasn't worked. It's WAY too late to 'Try a Little Tenderness.' That's a common tactic with abusers, but most targets know that cycle and don't warm to it. Fool me once, and all that!

[840high]

121. Put us all on ignore. Go Bernie.

[busterbrown]

159. Nah.. I admire most of you too..

[BooScout]

42. Don't confuse the issue with facts...

[lewebley3]

61. You are MADem: Sanders supporters don't care about facts and details

Sanders is living off Hillary and other Dem's hard work, and
then the Sanders supporters bash Hillary who is helping
Sanders and Dem's.

[PosterChild]

194. "His fellow democrates" LOL, good one! eom

[peacebird]

3. I am sure there is no quid pro quo for all that moolah.... None at all.

No favors, no wink-wink...

Nope, none.

[brooklynite]

4. Good for her...

...do the people demanding a "50 State strategy" ever wonder where the money comes from?

[brooklynite]

31. Most of my money goes to DSCC and DCCC...

(I've done $5,000 for each). I have cut those checks in the past (Max allowable annual contribution to a Party Committee) but normally we dole out our money incrementally.

One reason to go is that a contribution like that would get you access to the Convention, but since I just wrote a $50,000 check to the Host Committee, I'm good.

Have I said too much?

[NCTraveler]

43. My broke ass says...

Thank you. I have personally witnessed what a hundred thousand can do on the local level. Two or three additional mailers, a local TV spot, host a couple more events, etc. it can make or break a close race.

[questionseverything]

100. we get the picture

money=access

maybe you have good intentions but have lived in the gilded world so long

as has hc

that you no longer can see us

way

down

here

[MADem]

103. Well, now we learn Sanders has cut a deal with Debbie Wasserman Schultz to raise money for

downticket races. He's FINALLY joining that "gilded world" you're decrying.

Think he'll "no longer see you?" Or is he just "not stupid" and understands that to get love, you gotta give love?

[brooklynite]

218. Please see #183 to get an understanding of the "access"

[bvar22]

104. If you work for a living,

never, EVER donate to the DCCC or the DSCC.

They WILL use your money against you by supporting DINOs in primary campaigns, and running off any liberal trouble makers who support Working People & The Poor.

[MADem]

114. You'd better write to Bernie Sanders, then--he just cut a deal with Debbie Wasserman Schultz to

fundraise for her!

Oh, the Huge Manatee!

[bvar22]

123. Deals are a part of politics, even with scummy, almost Republican people like DWS.

I'm not familiar with the "deal" between DWS and Bernie, and can't find a reference.
Can you supply details?


I donate directly to LIBERAL candidates who haven't forgotten the New Deal or the Great Society.... those who have proved their worth as Democrats for Working People & the Poor.

[MADem]

129. Sure--your donations from now on to Bernie will be shared with Debbie and crew.

Bernie Sanders’s presidential campaign will jointly raise money with the Democratic National Committee going forward, a DNC official told The Hill on Thursday.


The Sanders campaign and the national party have reached an agreement to coordinate their fundraising efforts, enabling the two to solicit checks together in an effort that could boost the DNC’s war chest for the general election.

Hillary Clinton’s campaign signed a similar agreement with the DNC in late August.

Sanders and Clinton have both proven to be fundraising juggernauts.

Clinton has raised $77 million this year; Sanders has raised about $41 million.

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/259298-sanders-dnc-strike-fundraising-deal


It looks like Sanders is finally joining the MAINSTREAM....!

Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign has signed a joint fundraising agreement with the Democratic National Committee, the DNC confirmed to POLITICO.
The move, which comes more than two months after Hillary Clinton's campaign signed such an agreement in August, will allow Sanders' team to raise up to $33,400 for the committee as well as $2,700 for the campaign from individual donors at events.
The candidate rarely headlines fundraising events, and is not close with many big-money Democratic donors, but he has been working to prove his proximity to the party in recent months as he competes with Clinton.
The Vermont senator, who is an Independent but caucuses with Senate Democrats, also recently lent his name to a fundraising letter for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, according to a campaign adviser, in another indication of his slowly growing ties to the party's infrastructure.


Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/bernie-sanders-2016-fundraising-dnc-215559#ixzz3rUsqPQ6b

[bvar22]

154. I have a call in to the Bernie Campaign,

and will write a letter this PM.

If (as YOU say) a single penny of my donations to Bernie Sanders is being "shared" with the Hillary campaign OR DWS,
I'll turn in my Democratic Party Registration Card, and let them know why.

Sincerely,
bvar22

[MADem]

157. Bernie's a member of the establishment, now. He's separating from his insurgent supporters,

and tacking back towards his place in the middle. Which is where he always was, anyway--he has said, over and over, that he's not. and never has been a liberal Dem--why wouldn't you guys believe him?

He won't be sharing his money with Hillary....NOW. But if/when she wins, she'll get the leftovers.

And DWS will take a chunk of the money he raises at these fancy dinners he'll be hosting/headlining, and they will use that money to fund downticket races.

It's not that hard to read the articles I gave you. Not sure why you're confused.

It's quite clear what they're doing, going forward. He is working WITH the DNC and they are gonna split the funds they raise.

[bvar22]

219. So you walked back your claim that my donations to Sanders

.....are being shared with Hillary and DWS.

How much of the rest of your posts have you fabricated from thin air?

[MADem]

220. Going forward, they will be. As the links describe. You can read, can't you?

You can click a link, and sound out the words on the screen and comprehend them?

It's not my job to spoon-feed every concept expressed in a post to you, bvar22.

And your goad-and-bait game ( How much of the rest of your posts have you fabricated from thin air?) is just way too obvious for words.

It would be a refreshing change if you worked as hard on your civility as you do on trying to jerk my chain.






Keep donating to the Sanders campaign, now!!

[bvar22]

221. Ooooo. You put cartoons in this post.

Is that supposed to cover up the pure fabrications you posted above?
I don't think so, but try a few more cartoons and see if that works.
Cartoons and fabrications worked for Powell at the UN,
maybe you can follow his path.

As for the future, I will ensure that MY donations go straight into the hands and coffers of Liberal Democrats who still remember FDR & LBJ and the policies that made the Democratic Party GREAT. My money will never help finance the DINOs, War Profiteers, DWS, or anyone who voted FOR or supported the WAR.

BTW: I said you had to "walk back" your claims, and you did.
In the south, we call that crawfishing because crawfish walk backwards too!

But at least you didn't just dig in and make the same false claims over and over like some here do.
...and that was honorable. I give you credit for recognizing your mistakes, and correcting them.

[MADem]

222. I did--I thought they'd be helpful, since you have so much trouble clicking links and reading them!

Here's another:



The only one "walking backwards" is you, sport!

Why don't you write me another essay, hmmm?

[LuvLoogie]

130. IOKIYABS

[freshwest]

210. Thanks. Those of us who are on pensions, thank you for aiding the party that cares about us.

The GOP wants us dead. Period.

We worked, paid in and even those not blessed to be able to make a living like those disabled from birth or other problems, depend on officials who remember we are people. And Democrats stand for all minorities and due process, seeking to give us all freedom.

It's getting hard for Democrats to win with so many believing all government is evil and they shouldn't pay taxes.

Your help is appreciated.

(Personally, if I had $50K, it'd all go for necessities. I'm glad you keep your eye on a higher goal - others)

[DURHAM D]

6. Exactly !

[NurseJackie]

7. +1

[azmom]

13. Money trumps all for some.

[MADem]

20. I am astounded that people could (supposedly) read that article and come away with some of the

assumptions they, without shame, without embarrassment, regurgitate upon the screen here, and sanctimoniously, too!

Apparently, these huffers, puffers, and high-dudgeoneers don't understand that Bernie Sanders took money that Hillary Clinton raised, in similar fashion, and distributed to Senate candidates. He used that money in his 2006 race.

Lucky Bernie didn't refuse her donations to his campaign that she got in just this manner; I really don't understand why Sanders' supporters are denigrating her for raising money for OTHER DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES. Could it be that their hatred blinds them to her altruism? I think that must be the case. Because the vitriol directed at her for HELPING OTHER DEMOCRATS is, frankly, deranged. It makes no damn sense.

I'd love to know how much money Bernie has raised for his fellow Democrats, how many dinners he has held to gather money to support those downticket races.

Has he ever raised money for ANYONE other than himself? Ever? Even once?

[DURHAM D]

24. This thread is both very telling and

embarrassing for a website called Democratic Underground.

[MADem]

98. Well, it kind of proves what a lot of us have thought for awhile.

There are people here who are sincere in their support for Sanders--of that I have no doubt.

But they are "aided and abetted" (used advisedly) by people who know nothing of the Democratic Party culture, history, traditions, etc., who haven't even attempted to do any research on their "favorite" (cough) candidate, and they probably don't have Sanders' best interests at heart, in the long run--short term, they might want his supporters to foment divisiveness, in order to tamp down voter enthusiasm for the general election, but their goal is to damage the front runner, to encourage people to vote third party or stay home, to do ANYTHING but present a unified front.

It's plain as day.

[freshwest]

211. Your posts are always such a pleasure to read!

[zentrum]

57. Baloney.

The 50 state strategy involves long term, grass roots, region by region, on the ground, GOTV organizing that persists all year and effects elections at every level beginning with the school board.

If the only understanding of the 50-state strategy is that millionaires, the few who can afford a ticket to such an event, become the arbiters of our national presence, then the Democratic party as a party of the people has virtually no meaning whatsoever. At that point it's just two oligarchal parties having a dogfight that sells MSM and things get worse and worse for the majority.

[MADem]

164. You get nowhere without money. This is but one aspect of the strategy.

Other aspects are ground game and grassroots. No one is claiming--save you with your little strawman--that money is the Be-All and End-All, here. This isn't about "arbiters"--this is about funding the machine.

And that infusion of money is KEY. And if you knew anything about it, you'd know that.

So take your "baloney" and make yourself a sandwich, there, sport.

[freshwest]

213. This is sadly true in our complex society of hundreds of millions. The vision of the Norman Rockwell

pictures of people standing up inside of old clapboard school houses in small town meetings where everyone knows everything about the other person speaking and are polite is rare now, almost extinct.

Now we live in a culture where political and social action is handled by those who are strangers to the people they talk to, and since 'repetition' wins the elections, even if it's a lie, it echoes and it wins. As they have the money to buy enough media time to make their case, without making one, really, just filling up the mind.

The 'gotchas', denial of information, diversions and outright lies promoted by MSM fill up people's heads with the belief system the rich and dangerous want them to have.

Most of our society instead of being attuned to a set of 'horizontal' community connections, is a 'vertical' one that sends the most monied view down to the bottom of the ladder. And information starved people we are, we can scarcely ignore any change or threat to our survival.

So whatever is paid to be said is soaked up until it's nearly impossible to get past it. Luntz set the rules long ago of how to use language to destroy the Democratic Party and Segretti perfected it and the method captures a large and frightening percentage of the voting public.

In fact, the GOP no longer pays for its message, the media does it endlessly at no cost to them at all.

Went off topic, I guess.

[MADem]

214. All fair points!!!! nt

[freshwest]

217. I just wish it were not so. I do go to meetings and meet those who are real people and want to help.

We have district meetings. What has hurt us the most has been the out of state money from the GOP.

We've got candidates who do not accept anything except from individuals and win based on their record. They are extremely keen on maintaining the social safety net for our vulnerable citizens of any age or for any reason, but we still face an onslaught from our local media more than than we ever had, as they have been bought out by conservative groups.

We are losing the voice that money could buy and they are starving our state and local governments from doing progressive things for people. We are suffering from privatization which makes it harder on the poor to go to work or do anything else. The GOP took over the legislature due to fractures within the party (some deservedly who'd taken advantage of our trust, and joined the GOP in their schemes) and they will not fund a thing unless their buddies get a cut, even essential things like roads and schools.

But when we run our great young new candidates, who are very idealistic, we attempt to fund them but we can't compete. We go door to door but people's minds are made up already by media and CTers. They are destroying New Deal programs by not voting, yet they want the services to keep on coming.

When the DSCC sent me a letter asking to list in order what my priorities for their funding in campaigns were, I said that helping us in local elections was #1. So they are listening to us.

I appreciate all of those who do this, we can't beat the Koch brothers' war chest which they'd already indicated would be going to take over all local and state offices. That is a disaster in the states and in Washington, D.C.

Those who don't care, won't vote or work on these things. As I said, I wish society was organized more like it used to be. But as the saying goes, 'used to' died yesterday.

See you around, MADem.

[mythology]

172. How do you pay for that?

It costs money to run a 50 state strategy. You have to pay for local staff, for national coordination and to support long shot national candidates or local level candidates for city councils and such.

[zentrum]

209. Very sad...

….to see Democrats defend big money in politics as the only way to have success. Not the way the party was before the DLC.

My Father was a Democratic district organizer all year round and he was never paid a dime. Meetings were held in living rooms and community centers and no money exchanged hands. The Party was stronger then than it is now and way more responsive to actual every day people. You've bought the farm and don't even realize it.

[MADem]

212. You didn't answer the question. Your father isn't running for POTUS or any office.

How do you get people elected without money for staff, for offices, for pamphlets, for media buys, for internal polling, for travel, etc?

How?

If you think a bunch of people sitting "in living rooms and community centers" are going to elect a President, I will have what you are smoking, because that is one helluva pipe dream.

If we aren't out there, on the airwaves, in the cities, organizing, working the networks, motivating the base, rolling in it, pushing back against the GOP, we're going to lose like McGovern.

Anyone who doesn't realize that has no business in the business (and that IS what it is) of politics.

[zentrum]

224. That expensive dinner was

……to gather cash for creating political patronage of the most corrupt kind. Even you don't believe they're going to "distribute" to various areas in the country—do you?

That money is for candidates who will support HRC. Period. Every other Democrat, if they are disobedient, will be frozen out. Period.
At that point, the elections are just a money laundering operation for big money and the patronage class at that dinner.

"Motivating the base", BTW, which is done by running candidates the base trusts, is not their goal. The DC power elite hates the base. Let's not be naive about who the money is for and what's going on.

[lewebley3]

64. Sanders people think politics doesn't require money

[zentrum]

208. He's got money.

More small donors than any other candidate in history. The onus is on the Democratic Party and the other candidates to stop the Big Money Game.

But I get it—win at any price.

[MADem]

8. Wouldn't it be nice if MORE DEMOCRATS spent some time and energy helping other Democrats?

She's holding a dinner to raise money for NATIONAL AND STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTIES.

In other words, that money will go to help local and federal candidates. Senators, reps, governors. State legislatures, too.

How many dinners--or ANY kind of fundraisers-- has Sanders hosted for the DNC and state parties?

How much money has he raised for other candidates? EVER?

Has he -- even once -- raised money for anyone other than himself?

I'd love to know.

Anyone?

Buehler?

I am reccing this thread in appreciation of a couple of Democrats who actually get off their asses to HELP other Democrats. Not just talk, they're walking the walk. Good for them!

[SidDithers]

12. Well said...nt

Sid

[JoePhilly]

17. Good Dems bash other Dems!

Didn't you get the memo?

It's how you get recs on DU too.

[MADem]

21. Some of these comments are embarrassing for the writers--they're either so INVESTED in their POTUS

candidate that they can't even see that putting HRC and WJC down for doing this is like dissing someone for giving blood in an emergency. It just makes no damn sense.

I have never once heard of Bernie Sanders holding a fundraiser for other candidates. I've never seen him help the Democratic Party do any fundraising, EVER. Not once.

He's TAKEN money from Democrats--like Hillary Clinton--but I've never seen him return the favor.

Which is ... interesting.

[fredamae]

9. Is that per person or per question

or just to get in the door and be seated in the way back?

[brooklynite]

37. I'm sure you want an honest answer, rather than just an excuse to vent...

$33,400 is the maximum allowable contribution to the Party or it's Committees.

[fredamae]

76. Thank you for clarifying. n/t

[Rosa Luxemburg]

10. Hillary is getting like Carly Fiorina

[JoePhilly]

16. Carly is raising money fir other Dems??

[MADem]

23. Ha ha ha ha ha!!! Who knew?

[azmom]

11. Bernie

Because fuck this shit!

[DURHAM D]

19. You do realize that you are saying

F*ck the Democratic Party don't you?

[retrowire]

26. no no my dear...

its saying "fuck the establishment".

do try to keep up.

[DURHAM D]

27. This is not Anit-Establishment Underground.

It is Democratic Underground and I am not your "dear".

[Scootaloo]

68. And yet we have so many McCain voters...

[retrowire]

81. I'm sorry

...muffin.

You're right, we are the Democratic Underground.

but not all democrats are created equal.

[bvar22]

138. "Underground" means anti-establishment.

Maybe the name should have been changed when DU was gentrified and went Uptown.

[MADem]

33. I think you are the one who is behind the curve.

Your candidate took money from Hillary Clinton's HILLPAC in order to run for the Senate.

That money came from fundraisers similar to this dinner.

Clinton distributed the money she raised to Democrats from sea-to-shining-sea.

This IS how elections are won; the "Big Draws" hold fundraisers, and they give the money to the newcomers at the local, state and federal levels so that they can run decent races.

Your candidate was a beneficiary of "the establishment."

It's past time for him to step up, get off his ass, and help some of those downticket candidates, too. I've never seen him do this. Not once. Ever. In nearly a third of a century in political life.

There's a fine line between "anti-establishment" and "lazy and selfish."

[retrowire]

80. that's a cute spin dear.

of course the money helps. we're not anti money.

we're anti establishment. if we had our way, the money wouldn't be necessary to begin with.

too much money, ie: these enormous sums ate what corrupts the party, which leads to a corrupt establishmentarian type of group.

low money good, high money and only the rich can play? bad.

carry on.

[MADem]

109. That "dear" schtick makes you look like a real ass, you know. You've been told by others before

that it's unwelcome, bordering on harassing, and yet, you persist in using it. I wonder why that is? Passive aggressive? You think you can get away with it? Does it make you feel powerful?

I'm telling you it makes you look like a real jerk, when you repeatedly use the term after being told to not use it--perhaps I'll use it on you, just so you can see how it feels.

Anyway--back to the point. It's not a spin.

Bernie Sanders has just signed a PACT with Debbie Wasserman Schultz to raise money for the DNC.

So I guess that means Bernie has joined "the establishment."

How do you like THAT "cute spin?" Hmmmm?

Whatchagonna do now?

Find a new "anti-establishment" candidate?

Because your guy just got on the DNC bus....




Oh--carry on .... "dear"

[retrowire]

146. lmao been told before?

this is literally the first time on this site that I've deployed the word "dear".

and that ain't the establishment we're against. the DNC is fine, its the wider group it's tied to we're mad about.

the establishment can be made into a good thing as well. which I foresee Bernie doing.

do think I can get away with calling someone dear? certainly, why not!? people call each other all kinds of things here. I was just called an ass! I deserved it too! perhaps ask yourself why being called "dear" caused such anger in you? I can acknowledge that I'm being petty, its just how I feel today and I thought I was fine with that.

though, in my manic state I will take responsibility for my actions in angering you. I'm not being the best version of myself no matter how harmless I try convincing myself I was, I still upset someone so I should apologize. so I'm sorry. I'm an ass. carry on knowing that you just had a spat with a manic depressive being today. woohoo for the internet bringing us together!

bringing people together whom normally we wouldn't ever talk to. I'm that guy in the grocery aisle at the store looking at chips, I'm the driver of that car on the highway, I'm another person in line at Starbucks... and you just conversed with me!

you never would have done this before!

I'm sorry... for everything. and now I feel a depressive state coming on. wonderful.

[MADem]

152. If you're not the "dear" tosser, I do apologize.

It's not cool, though, to "dear" people when you don't mean it. It can be used as a term of en"dear" ment, and it can also be used as a snarky put down, a way to diminish a person's worth by making them "less than," akin to a pet.

You were not "dear"-ing to be nice when you "dear"ed me. You know that, too. It's why you did it.

I'm not "angry" either. I can disagree without being disagreeable.

If you don't have a problem with the DNC, you're a rarity among the Bernie supporters here at DU. The meme is that the DNC is evil and Debbie Wasserman Schultz is the devil. Or something on those lines. Why? Well...because! Corporatists! Banksters! The One Percent!! It's really a mishmash of bullshit, but don't say that ... because Bernie!

Then again, now that he's in the DNC club, perhaps they'll be rehabilitated.

If you are feeling a depressive state coming on, don't neglect your medications. There's no need to feel lousy. And if they aren't right, get them adjusted. And if you have none, get some. Life is too short to go through it at the mercy of excessive sensitivities, when that can be managed.

[retrowire]

187. I'm still sorry for being a sucky person to you. n/t

[MADem]

188. We're fine. Take care of yourself. nt

[MADem]

29. I think we're seeing evidence of lashing out.

We're getting past denial, and we're on to ANGER in the Five Stages of Grief paradigm.

This is NOT a "Hope and Change" or "Bright Future, New Day, Better Life" strategy:




It's more like a foot-stomp and an ass kick on the way out the door. Defeatist. What candidate ever won with a slogan that reads like "WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

[Hepburn]

47. Thank you...

...another pic for my Bernie screensaver. Saved!

[MADem]

52. Indeed--nothing says "HOPE FOR THE FUTURE" like "FUCK THIS SHIT."

[Hepburn]

60. Better that what Hillary has...

...far, far better.

Yep, fuck this shit:

The results of the Iraqi invasion
The 1% -- HRC's pals -- running the govt
Higher education bills that burden people for years
The death penalty

I could go on...but pretty much "fuck this shit" applies to way too much that HRC represents.

Yeah, fuck this shit! Amen!

[MADem]

70. Ahhh, the lame little laundry list!

Vague, and meaningless.

But hang on to it like it means something. You'll need something to hang onto at the end. You can chant "Fuck this shit" until the cows come home--it's NOT a winner's slogan.

[Hepburn]

83. Yeah, tell someone who lost a loved one in Iraq...

...how vague and meaningless that is.

Wow...you are willing to support whatever she has done. How sad.

HRC for Prez -- now THAT is a losing slogan for ALL OF US.

[MADem]

113. Yes, anyone who voted to fund that conflict has blood on his hands.

But wow....you are willing to support whatever he has done. How sad.

[azmom]

72. Fuck this shit!

[link:|

[Hepburn]

84. Let them eat cake!

[azmom]

86. Exactly. #bowdowntohillary

[MADem]

120. Good to see you're finally getting the spirit!

[MADem]

118. Hillary looks GREAT in that pic! nt

[freshwest]

215. Oh, no! ROTFLMAO. Hey, I needed that!

BECAUSE FUCK THIS SHIT!

[azmom]

46. Did you read that somewhere?

[Historic NY]

14. How much is Bernie raising for Democrats....

we know the Kochs are spending around 750 million against the Democratic Party on their chosen

"Our latest budget is going to be lower because people aren't contributing as much," he told Ryssdal. "Probably the total budget over the two years I would guess would be 750 [million], and the amount in politics is 250 [million]."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/10/21/charles-koch-downgrades-his-political-networks-projected-2016-spending-from-889-million-to-750-million/

"But such an event will also help replenish money for the Democratic National Committee, which was regarded mostly as a backwater during Barack Obama’s presidency and which has seen much of its organizational muscle spread into groups like Organizing for Action, an organization that represents the remnants of the Obama campaign. " http://theweek.com/speedreads/588847/hillary-clinton-hosting-dinner-dnc-admission-price-33400


Yeah it might sound like a lot....in 2012 total spending exceeded 1.12 billion. The days of bake sale elections are a thing of the past. In my little town of 30k the Republicans out spend Democrats 6-1 full color newspaper ads...etc The Republicans won along with the Republican newspaper owner.

[MADem]

142. Looks like Bernie is gonna have to start earning his keep! He's in bed with the DNC now...

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/259298-sanders-dnc-strike-fundraising-deal

Bernie has cut a deal with Debbie Wasserman Schultz--that's going to cause some agita on the "We hate the DNC/"DWS" is the devil!" crowd.

They'll have to find a way to learn to love the DNC AND Debbie, because Bernie is now besties with them!!

Watch those goalposts fly down the field!!!!!

[JaneyVee]

15. Good. Someone's gotta raise funds to defeat GOP.

Because the other candidates sure as hell aren't.

[retrowire]

25. *opens wallet*

yep, I'm voting Bernie.

[Metric System]

34. If Bernie wins the nomination you can thank Hillary for the money raised for down-ticket Dems.

[UglyGreed]

30. East Hampton, NYC

where all of the regular people live..........

[MADem]

40. That money will be spent where all of the regular people live. That's the point.

The money from these well-off people will go to races where candidates don't have much money, but have presence, charisma, local support and enthusiasm, etc.

What--you don't like this? You do know that Bernie Sanders took money from Hillary Clinton (that she raised at dinners like this one) to fund his Senate race?

Is it "OK" for Bernie to take this money, or not? He took it--gladly. He also took direct monies from supporters that Hillary sent his way for his Senate race.

Should he refund it?

[UglyGreed]

55. Really?

look at all the people who lost their homes after the crash. For example my wife bought my deceased mother's home from my siblings at a highly inflated price and tried to get a home modification to no avail. The banks got the money most of us regular people are paying the price or lost their homes.

[MADem]

131. We're talking about fundraising for political campaigns, not houses.

At least PRETEND to follow along.

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/259298-sanders-dnc-strike-fundraising-deal

[UglyGreed]

133. I thought you said it would help regular

people in your reply to me. I gave you an example how it does not trickle down. Sorry for my mistake.

[MADem]

137. Yes--regular people in districts in Ohio and CA and PA and who knows where....

Who will be given the opportunity to work on campaigns and vote for good representation in their districts.

What part of this process remains confusing to you? Do you think these party fundraisers are for Save The Children or the ASPCA, or something?

smh.

[UglyGreed]

141. The problem is there is no good representation

as my original reply to your comment pointed out. "Regular people" were left behind so IMO working on these campaigns does nothing for "regular people". But hey at least it allows the rich to have a good time.

[MADem]

143. Well, Bernie is going to join Hillary and give money to all those downticket races, through the DNC

He's promised. He's joining the mainstream, and teaming up with Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/259298-sanders-dnc-strike-fundraising-deal

He'll be throwing some fancy dinners, too--he ain't gonna raise that kind of scratch with bean suppers. People will be plonking down thousands to eat rubber chicken with a snazzy sauce with "The Bern."

Is it STILL a One Percent, BAD thing...if BERNIE does it?

Hmmm?


Or are those goalposts moving, even as we speak...?

[UglyGreed]

147. I stand by my statement

the only goal posts are in the possession of the rich and their representatives. Now if Bernie sells out I will drop him like a bad habit. No skin off my nose....... besides why would the DNC want money from a socialist? Oh that right it's all about the benjamins.

[MADem]

148. Well, if raising money for the DNC is "selling out," Sanders has sold out. He's in bed with "DWS"

to give money to the terrible DNC to fund those downticket races. He gets to keep some of the money for himself, but he's splitting the take with the DNC going forward.

It's not rumor--it's fact. Apparently Bernie's "In The Club" now.

Click the links:

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/bernie-sanders-2016-fundraising-dnc-215559

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/259298-sanders-dnc-strike-fundraising-deal

[UglyGreed]

151. You see races mean nothing

if the "regular people" continue to suffer. This is not a football game where you want your team to win above all costs. Playing with people's lives is not a game.

[MADem]

155. Apparently you are in DIRE need of a civics class.

Representatives and senators in Congress vote on these things called "laws." These "laws" have the ability to improve the lives of those "regular people." Laws like "medicare" and "social security" and "The Affordable Care Act" and "unemployment compensation" and even laws that reduce taxes for the poorest among us, all of these "laws" voted on by our "team" will help "regular people"--but ONLY if we have more votes than those other guys do.

So it may not be a football game, but we DO want our "team" to win more of those votes.

Starting to get the spirit? This is basic stuff--grammar school. A shame no one taught you this as a child.

[UglyGreed]

158. LOL only one

you listed is a "New Democrat" idea and it is a version of a Republican's plan and it sure did hurt the insurance companies having all those young healthy people paying for health insurance. It's seems you are comfortable so why change things and that's Ok. Others are not so lucky........... thanks for the lesson

[MADem]

166. Social security and medicare are "New Democrat" ideas? Who knew?

[UglyGreed]

170. Ah you did not read that correctly

but of course you knew that..........

[MADem]

171. You didn't make the point properly. nt

[UglyGreed]

173. But you are

so smart I coulda sworn you could figure out what one of the "regular folks" like little old me meant.

[MADem]

176. You do a very poor job of this, you know.

You are far less subtle than you think you are.

[UglyGreed]

179. I know you have

told me quite a few times already even before I got a bit testy. It's OK though we can see where you are coming from and where my position is. Your position is well represented and you seem to enjoy what is going on in government and mine is a result of some of people's satisfaction with the status quo. Sorry if our exchange was not up to par or to your liking and please forgive me for telling my life stories. It's all I know and all I have to share with the world. As they say write what you know......

[MADem]

181. Your position seems to waver depending on who the candidate is. And your life stories

aren't part of the discussion. They just aren't. They might have utility in a thread that deals with those issues as a topic, but this thread is about DNC fundraisers and downticket races.

[UglyGreed]

182. Which people like myself

do not benefit from or are even able to attend. They are suppose to work for the people not for photo ops or Party. That is part you don't get.

[MADem]

190. You do benefit. Those stupid parties fund candidates downticket, who wouldn't be able to AFFORD to

run without those donations. Those candidates, when they win, vote for Democratic platform plank laws.

That's the part YOU don't get.

The parties are not for you to go to and have fun--they fund the campaigns.

[UglyGreed]

193. No you don't understand

you can write people benefit until your fingers turn blue and fall off. They don't and that is why people feel disenfranchised. They see this stuff and feel outrage, hence the reason for this thread. My replies are related to this thread because I'm one those people who are upset and even though you may not feel it is relative I do. Perspective does matter even if you can not see it or understand it.

[MADem]

195. No, you don't understand.

If you are feeling "outrage" because a candidate with a high profile is raking in money from rich people to fund downticket candidates, you have a priorities problem.

You'd be very "disenfranchised" if there was no money available for those poorer candidates to run because these well known candidates couldn't be bothered to help them out.

The fact that Clinton--and now Sanders--are willing to do this is to ensure that you don't feel "disenfranchised." They're going to these rubber chicken dinners, and putting up with smiling and picture-taking, for YOU.

Instead of giving them shit, you should be thanking them.

[UglyGreed]

198. Many people feel

"disenfranchised" and it all boils down to that. Hence the purpose of this thread. SMH!

[MADem]

200. You want to feel REALLY "disenfranchised?" We'll tell our silverbacks to stay home and not

fundraise to earn a warchest to benefit candidates in YOUR district/state, and you can say hello to President Jeb! and a majority GOP Congress.



I am GLAD that Clinton and Sanders are liberating some of that rich peoples' cash on behalf of downticket candidates. Anyone who wants a Democratic majority should feel the same way.

[UglyGreed]

160. .

http://money.cnn.com/2015/01/21/investing/unitedhealth-earnings-obamacare/

Oh and United Healthcare is refusing to pay for my hospital stay two weeks ago..........

[MADem]

165. Your personal anecdotes are not dispositive.

You still need that civics lesson.

The world does not revolve around you, personally. Perhaps no one has ever told you that?

[UglyGreed]

169. There are many people

like me out there I'm sure. BTW that response is the norm from those who pretend to care about others yet when backed into a corner they show their true colors. That is one of the reasons I write about my hardships, to weed out and expose those who just pretend to care. thanks for the replies

[MADem]

175. The point I was making about laws have nothing to do with your stories.

If you want to talk about your situation, start a thread on it and see if someone bites.

Don't, though, try to gish gallop away from the topic by flinging a bunch of personal crapola having nothing to do with the subject of this thread at me. My admonition to you has nothing to do with "true colors." It has to do with STAYING ON TOPIC, and you failed to do that with your little sashay down "personal lane" to try to distract from the fact that you'd lost the bubble on this issue. You aren't "weeding," you're desperately trying to change the subject. Sorry--NO sale.

Bottom line--we win downticket races, we can change laws. We don't win downticket races, we cannot change law. To win these races, we need MONEY--for ads and media buys, for workers, for office space, for bumper stickers, for flyers, etc. CLINTON is raising this money. SANDERS has just signed a pact agreeing to do the same.

It's quite simple, and your personal issues -injected as a simple distraction from the discussion -- have nothing to do with that dynamic.

Again, you want to talk about your hard life? Start a thread and stop "pretending" that your personal anecdotes inform this conversation in any way. This thread is about DNC fundraisers and getting downticket candidates elected, not about your personal litanies. And no--when you distract, disrupt, and try to derail threads, I don't care about your "hardships"--because they are not salient to this topic. Take them somewhere where they apply.

[UglyGreed]

184. There ya go

again word salad. Problem is the people are not represented yet you pretend they are. Plain and simple in one sentence. Pay big money expect big returns, please let's not pretend anymore.

[MADem]

192. The one with the word salad is you--you keep straying from the topic with personal anecdotes.

The topic is fundraisers to provide cash to downticket races, and Sanders has also agreed to do them.

Please let's not pretend anymore.

[Hepburn]

41. Well, one of my 10,000 sq. ft. summer homes is there...

...how about you?

[UglyGreed]

67. Before I became disabled

I had the pleasure to at least work on some of these homes in East Hampton. I was not allowed to use the bathroom though and never received a tip. The funny thing I also worked in many lower middle class homes and was allowed to use the bathroom, offered lunch and received a tip.

[underpants]

125. Hey watch out

There is some crazed squatter working the empty homes in The Hamptons. Breaks in, raids the pantry, and has lunch out in the barn with her imaginary friends. She goes by the pseudonym "The Barefoot Contessa".

[Doctor_J]

35. corruption is good!

We can't fight the rich without their money!

[Hepburn]

38. Welcome, One-Percent!

Maybe giving the money to feed, house and clothe the homeless would have been a better event.

[brooklynite]

39. Simple question: how would YOU fund your 50 State strategy?

[Hepburn]

44. With the people who count and not the 1%

Next question.

[MADem]

139. How, though? That's a non-answer. Where's the money coming from?

Who distributes it? How does that candidate in TX get a chunk of cash to print flyers? How does that nominee get money for an ad buy in a general election race?

Bernie Sanders has signed a deal with Debbie Wasserman Schultz to raise money for the DNC. If it's OK with him to share his "take" with the national office, so they can help races in fifty states, why are you having a problem with it?

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/259298-sanders-dnc-strike-fundraising-deal

[SidDithers]

45. They're called coat tails...

Hillary has 'em.

Bernie doesn't.

Sid

[azmom]

50. If it makes you feel better.

[redstateblues]

91. but what about all the down ballot Socialists?

[fbc]

51. This is why we need publicly funded elections.

It's so bad people are actually defending this stuff... Our candidates and our voters should not be beholden to people who can afford $33,400 a ticket to see Sting, Bill and Hillary.

[brooklynite]

54. ..and in the meantime?

Since we don't have publicly funded elections, and need money to run campaigns nationwide, what do you propose?

[fbc]

62. A Bernie candidacy will bring more voters to the polls than this money ever will

[brooklynite]

74. You seriously believe that all we need is a good Presidential candidate?

[Android3.14]

134. What a silly response

Of course we need more than just a good Presidential candidate. What we don't need is a bad candidate that changes her position at the drop of a hat, serves at the pleasure of the wealthiest, and has a tendency to support legislation that harms the most vulnerable people on the planet.

The criticism here is that (1) there are serious legitimate questions as to whether Ms. Clinton is a "good" candidate to start off with, and (2) by kowtowing to the 1%, her actions raise the question of who is going to receive the support of this "good" candidate.

[brooklynite]

144. Except that, right now, we're talking about funding DNC

[Eric J in MN]

97. Bingo (NT)

NT

[jwirr]

58. And this my fellow Bernie supporters is why the DNC and

state parties are toeing the line for her. They want the money.

[artislife]

66. How can they not see it?

How can they be fine with it?

[jwirr]

77. Good question. But at this moment in history I have no

answers.

[Le Taz Hot]

180. That's the price one pays

for blind partisanship -- an inability to produce an independent thought.

[bvar22]

225. AND the absolute absence of a Moral Compass.

*

[MADem]

135. Well gee--Bernie is toeing the line for Debbie Wasserman Schultz, now. Big news!

I am guessing he wants a Democratic POTUS in the White House, too.

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/259298-sanders-dnc-strike-fundraising-deal

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

69. We are the Party of the People = false advertising.

[ismnotwasm]

71. So?

[Vinca]

73. Well that's the least she can do considering the DNC has nearly crowned her.

[SoapBox]

78. In NYC...I wonder how many Billionaire BANKSTERS will be there?

Lots of smiling and laughing with her bud, Jamie Dimon maybe?

Remember, she represented the State of New York but Wall Street too! Hey...her words, not mine.

[pa28]

79. Hand in glove with the DNC.

Debbie isn't even bother to fake impartiality.

[brooklynite]

87. See #85...

[brooklynite]

85. Nov 5: Bernie Sanders inks joint fundraising pact with DNC

Politico:

Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign has signed a joint fundraising agreement with the Democratic National Committee, the DNC confirmed to POLITICO.

The move, which comes more than two months after Hillary Clinton's campaign signed such an agreement in August, will allow Sanders' team to raise up to $33,400 for the committee as well as $2,700 for the campaign from individual donors at events.
Story Continued Below

The candidate rarely headlines fundraising events, and is not close with many big-money Democratic donors, but he has been working to prove his proximity to the party in recent months as he competes with Clinton.

Another sellout? Or just smart politics?

[azmom]

94. So Sander's team will raise up to $33,400 and

That is the exact price Hillary is charging per ticket?

[brooklynite]

95. No - $33,400 is the allowable maximum contribution for any Committee

Clinton and Sanders can only raise $2,700 for themselves. The larger amount is for the DNC.

This is all published at the FEC website, but I suppose expressing reflexive outrage is easier.

[azmom]

107. So, Hillary's price of admission is the

Maximum contribution allowable for any Commitee.

A married couple then can give up to $66,800 and it's tax deductible?

[Eric J in MN]

111. It's not tax deductible. NT

NT

[azmom]

117. It's still a damn racket. N/t

[azmom]

132. In addition $200,400 can

be contributed per couple for the presidential nomination convention. Am I reading that right?

http://www.fec.gov/ans/answers_general.shtml#How_much_can_I_contribute

[Eric J in MN]

174. Yes. NT

NT

[azmom]

178. Silly me. I really thought

The entire contribution could not total more $2,700 per individual for the entire election.

But if you add it all up, an individual can contribute a hell of a lot more; and it looks like some of those contributions are yearly.

Who passed these laws?

[Eric J in MN]

204. Rep Eric Cantor (R-VA) ended public financing of conventions.

During the government shutdown fight of 2013, Republican lawmakers donned lab coats demanding that Senate Democrats re-open the National Institutes of Health, even while leaving other elements of the government shuttered. The Republicans lost that fight (eventually agreeing to reopen the entire government), but then-House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) emerged determined to show his pro-biomedical research bonafides. His office began heavily pushing the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act.

That bill authorized roughly $12.6 million a year for pediatric cancer research at the NIH over 10 years. To pay for it, the bill ended "the entitlement of any major or minor political party to a payment from the Presidential Election Campaign Fund for a presidential nominating convention." In other words, no more public funds for conventions.

Then last year, the omnibus bill increased maximum donations to parties.

The omnibus bill includes a provision (on page 1,599) to create three separate funds within the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee. Each fund would be allowed to accept $97,200 from just one donor per year. If this change becomes law, it would mean that a single donor could give up to $324,000 per year, or $648,000 for a two-year election cycle, to finance the party’s operations.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/10/cromnibus-campaign-finance_n_6298984.html

[MADem]

101. Uh OH! This'll piss off the "Screw the DNC" crowd! He's cut a DEAL WITH DWS!!

Oh, the horror...the horror!!!




Bernie's in bed with Debbie! That popping sound? That's HEADS EXPLODING!!!!

He's gonna have to get that money from his Hollywood friends, I think--unless he wants to spend forever running around grabbing it two hundred bucks at a crack.

Why are they still calling him an INDEPENDENT? I thought he'd finally acknowedged that he joined the club?

The Vermont senator, who is an Independent but caucuses with Senate Democrats, also recently lent his name to a fundraising letter for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, according to a campaign adviser, in another indication of his slowly growing ties to the party's infrastructure.


Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/bernie-sanders-2016-fundraising-dnc-215559#ixzz3rUkleE4F

[Eric J in MN]

119. If Bernie Sanders organizes an event

...where tickets are $33,400, then he'll deserve as much criticism for that as Hillary Clinton.

But he hasn't.

[MADem]

168. He only signed that deal a week ago! We'll have to see what his first event is!

I'll bet it's BIG MONEY, small, exclusive crowd, fat wallets, and VERY PRIVATE.

Not a People's Bean Supper. He's got to get bang for his buck--if he wants help from the DNC (and he needs it, obviously), he's going to have to EARN.

[freshwest]

216. Didn't Elon Musk give him a million? Read it at DU at the time Bernie visited his plant.

Which is in AZ, I think, and the workers are not union. And most of the capital was from Obama's green funds. But I gotta call it a night.

[Eric J in MN]

88. Hillary Clinton said in the forum with Rachel Maddow

..."I want to represent the struggling, the striving, AND the successful."

This event will be another chance for her to learn about what "the successful" want from her potential presidency.

Prediction: They'll indicate that they like trade deals such as the TPP. And they want Social Security cut.

[brooklynite]

96. I get it...because ALL 1%ers are greedy conservatives...

...just like all working class people are progressives. Am I right?

[Eric J in MN]

102. Why did Obama bring us the TPP?

Why did Obama bring us the Simpson-Bowles Catfood Comssion?

It's not because he liked those things before he started running for president. It's because of fundraising events like this where people gave big bucks and told him what they want.

[Maineman]

128. Exactly. Big money owns the system. Which candidate this year will try to change that,

and which candidate will bask in the wealth, and help solidify big money's hold on our flagging democracy?

I think people should decide what three problems are our nation's most basic most fundamental problems and vote for the person who is most likely to try to solve them.

[azmom]

140. The system is corrupt. I only see

Bernie talking about that.

[benld74]

99. Groupon and Living Social both have coupons to the event for only $40 !!!!

[Beausoir]

105. Good for her! I hope the Democrats rake in the cash.

It's needed to combat the Republicans.

[bvar22]

106. Coronations are EXPENSIVE.

If you want to be on the royal court for the Homecoming, better cough up the bucks for a chicken dinner.

[jtuck004]

108. I'd rather have beans with Bernie. n/t

[azmom]

112. I'd rather have a cup of water with Bernie. n/t

[jtuck004]

145. There is that. The rest of my sentence is that because then we could invite lots of neighbors,

including the ones we leave in poverty and hunger thanks to our austerity program.

I suspect inviting a bunch of hungry kids and their parents to a self-congratulatory $10,000 a fork dinner with people who support these policies might cause some indigestion. Or maybe not.

[MADem]

126. Bernie's gonna have to eat a lotta beans in order to raise the money he promised Debbie Wasserman

Schultz for the DNC....since he signed that pact to raise money for the Democrats, and all.
http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/259298-sanders-dnc-strike-fundraising-deal

Bernie Sanders’s presidential campaign will jointly raise money with the Democratic National Committee going forward, a DNC official told The Hill on Thursday.


The Sanders campaign and the national party have reached an agreement to coordinate their fundraising efforts, enabling the two to solicit checks together in an effort that could boost the DNC’s war chest for the general election.

Hillary Clinton’s campaign signed a similar agreement with the DNC in late August.

Sanders and Clinton have both proven to be fundraising juggernauts.

Clinton has raised $77 million this year; Sanders has raised about $41 million.

Bring your checkbook!

How nice that the balance of the donations will be used to support the general election candidate!

[FlatBaroque]

110. and I thought Rmoney was tone deaf

[Metric System]

122. She's tone deaf for raising money for down-ticket Democrats?

[Bleacher Creature]

136. Is she not supposed to pay staff, organize GOTV, run ads, etc?

Or raise money so that other Democrats can do the same?

I know people really want to get outraged about something, but that stuff is important.

[coyote]

149. That is what our political system is all about, money.

Apparently Clinton lovers think it's great.

[BainsBane]

150. Man, that really pisses me off

Last edited Sat Nov 14, 2015, 06:37 PM - Edit history (1)

How dare the DNC raise money that should be going to the GOP!!!! We can't actually have any Democrats get elected!


Considering most of you wouldn't listen to Hillary Clinton if you were paid, one has to wonder why the outrage. For some reason people resent the fact the Democrats might be able to compete at all with the GOP, even if being outspent 3:1. How nice that the Republicans can count on the relentless efforts of "progressives," not to change the system of campaign finance but to work diligently to ensure the Democrats remain too broke to compete within the existing system. Ted Cruz isn't going to get elected on his own. "Progressives" who just so happen to invoke RW tropes about the "race card," the "gender card," and guns, while insisting the only reason anyone would vote for Clinton is "plumbing," also--entirely coincidentally--insist anything that might enable the Democrats to compete with the GOP is illicit.

This is the same DNC people were outraged wasn't doing voter registration for the Sanders campaign, and now you're pissed off they are raising money through high fees for an event none of you want to attend anyway.

[DURHAM D]

162. Amazing isn't it. nt

[MADem]

163. And now Sanders is doing the very same thing as Clinton is doing.....

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/bernie-sanders-2016-fundraising-dnc-215559

The cognitive dissonance has to be extreme....

[reformist2]

189. He's eligible to have such big ticket events, but how many does he have scheduled? Zero.

[MADem]

191. He only signed the pact with Debbie Wasserman Schultz last week. Here's how this will work--he

won't "decide" to have one--the DNC will set it up, and they will TELL him where/when he's gonna be attending, either as a headliner or part of a gaggle--and he will show up and do his bit. He'll listen and nod, he'll say the right things, and he'll stand there and get his picture taken with people who spend the big money.

And he'll rake in a fortune in record time.

[moobu2]

153. Great to hear it.

[angryvet]

156. when I was a kid

and there were $25.00 a plate dinners for Eisenhower...I wondered if I'd ever be able to go to a political dinner. Now at $33,400.00 I still can't.

[Eric J in MN]

167. I've been to political dinners

...for $250 where the MN Democratic Congressional delegation gave speeches.

A minimum ticket price of $33,400 is unusual.

If you visit the website of your state's Democratic party, you can see if there are upcoming dinners and what the minimum price is.

[MADem]

177. This is a Silverback Convention. The Big Gorillas, with the Big Wallets. The Special People.

There probably won't be a zillion people in the room. It'll be small, intimate, with the best food. A nice bit of chow, fine wine, and everyone gets a little time with the candidate--be it Clinton, or Sanders.

Since Sanders has signed on with the DNC to do these things, he'll be eating high off the hog, too.

In the space of half an evening, they can raise more money than they could raise in a week or more of rubber chicken dinners.

[brooklynite]

183. It's really entertaining reading all the criticisms of this event...

...from people who've never been to one.

So, allow me to give you a tour of what really happens.

First, the size of the crowd will depend on the amount asked and the star attraction. My dinner with President Obama was about 80 people; my dinner with Vice President Biden was about 20; my lunch with Elizabeth Warren (she hangs out with 1%ers? Who knew?) was about 12.

Usually the event will start with drinks (red and white wine; sometimes an open bar) among the attendees. At this point there might also be other notable guests (local House/Senate members, candidates, etc.) in attendance.

The special guest will usually arrive an hour later. If it's a small group, he/she might work the room to say hello to everyone, with maybe 1 minute of chat with each person. If it's a larger group, there's usually a photo line set up and your contact with the special guest down to about 30 seconds.

After that, everyone sits down to eat, and the event organizer will make introductory remarks, including the need for the money for the Party. The the special guest will speak for 15-20 minutes, after which (depending on the setting) there may be an opportunity for Q&A, in which case everyone will get one question if their lucky.

At the end of the event, the special guest MIGHT hang around to chat with people, but their staff is invariably pushing them out the door to their next appointment, or to their hotel because they have to get up at the crack of dawn to head somewhere else.

And that's it. No buttonholing an elected official to pitch a new tax credit; no deal-cutting for an earmark; no demands to eliminate a regulation. What DO people talk about? It depends, but the people I tend to encounter ask about opportunities to implement campaign finance reform; the status of current Obama initiatives (support for the Iran deal, for example); enhanced civil rights protections, etc. I'm sure this disappoints some folks who want to believe that every 1%er is a secret Republican, but reality is frequently less entertaining than fantasy.

[reformist2]

185. You do realize that you're proving our point - not even the 1% are rich enough to get access!

You need to be in the 0.1% or even 0.01% to even begin to get the ear of anyone in the Hillary campaign.

[brooklynite]

186. or...I need to be a voter when she's out campaigning.

[Eric J in MN]

205. Do you think that there is any aspect of our system

...which corrupts presidential candidates and causes presidents to put corporations above people?

If so, what is it?

[bigwillq]

201. I wouldn't pay a penny

to see the Clinton's and Sting. None of them are worth it.

[sufrommich]

223. That's less than the admission for the event Sanders

attended :


Bernie Sanders Courts Martha’s Vineyard Donors


Mr. Sanders attended the annual Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee fund-raiser on the Massachusetts island, a popular gathering that draws some of the most prominent business lobbyists and fund-raisers in the Democratic Party.

One prominent attendee, a supporter of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s presidential campaign, suggested Mr. Sanders’s appearance suggested he was more pragmatic than his rhetoric would let on.

“Bernie is attracting throngs and has a wave going preaching against the one percent,” said the attendee, requesting anonymity to speak candidly. “So why would he take the weekend to spend in Martha’s Vineyard with wealthy people who are donating at least $37,000 and change to the DSCC?” (That is the minimum contribution to the Senate Democrats campaign arm in order to attend the event).

The criticism illustrates the rising irritation among some establishment-aligned Democrats with Mr. Sanders, an independent who caucuses as a Democrat. Some in the party are personally fond of Mr. Sanders, but believe his challenge of Mrs. Clinton, the overwhelming front-runner, is quixotic and will serve chiefly to push Mrs. Clinton to the left and delight Republicans hoping the former secretary of state has to spend money on a primary threat.

[MineralMan]

226. Bernie is doing one too. It's good to raise money

for democratic candidates.

[TBF]

227. I didn't rec this post because both parties (all candidates)

are forced to compete in such an environment right now. There was a similar post re Bernie and the DSCC.

But your OP did prompt me to do a search on how other countries handle elections, and as you might expect it varies widely. In Norway, for example, folks can spend what they want but TV ads aren't allowed. It's a free for all in Brazil as it is in the US. We all know if huge amounts of cash are given, favors are expected (both sides of the aisle).

Here is the CNN article (this is a couple of years old but not too dated): http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/24/world/global-campaign-finance/

[yuiyoshida]

228. That price is not "chump change"

its Trump change because only people like him can afford it, on the other hand..

I wouldn't mind sneaking a peek at what's on the menu, ...for price it best be a dozen
steamed lobsters and crab, a ton of melted butter with lemon juice and side order of all the raw clams you can eat. Toss in some of the best beer there is, coming from a never ending
kegger.

come to think of it, what that Money, I could buy my own SAFEWAY STORE