Obama reelection campaign expected to tap big-money donors

[alp227]

Source: The Washington Post

Facing an energized Republican Party and deep-pocketed conservative groups, President Obama is kicking off his 2012 reelection campaign with a concerted push for help from wealthy donors and liberal groups unbound by spending limits.

The strategy — which could begin in earnest as early as Monday with the formation of an official presidential committee — suggests a notable shift in emphasis for a president who has long decried the outsize role of money in politics.

Obama frequently points with pride to the role that smaller donors played in his 2008 election, when his campaign also openly discouraged spending by outside organizations. But now Obama finds himself seeking out the kind of big-money donations he has often criticized while encouraging independent groups to raise and spend unlimited money on his behalf.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama_reelection_campaign_expected_to_tap_big_dollar_donors/2011/03/26/AFKPO0wB_story.html

[ixion]

1. Yep, he suckered us with his BS 'change' claim

and now blows off the base for big money. If re-elected, think the next 4 years will be any better? I think not. Not for the middle class, at least. The Wall St. group seems to be doing quite well.

[Bodhi BloodWave]

32. If i am supposed to belive those who call themself 'the base' here on du tho

The base is threatening to only vote and not do anything else, not donate, not walk door to door and all that other jazz

So i ask you this, if 'the base' are supposedly planning to withhold their donations...where exactly is he supposed to get the funds if not from other groups?

[MichiganVote]

2. I think we figured that fact out a longtime ago

[TygrBright]

3. Guess we need a bigger "duh" file. n/t

[davidthegnome]

4. Not surprising in the least...

I don't think he can win this if he plays it the same way his opponents will. The GOP has a lot more love from a lot of very wealthy corporations and individuals. Either way.. the amounts of money they're already talking about pouring into this shit is beyond despicable. Shared sacrifice, indeed.

[Cleita]

5. I got a letter today. Sorry, but I'm tapped out.

I gave every cent I could in the last election to progressive candidates that were running. I've got nothing left. I'm not a big donor so I think we are all being tapped again.

[bhikkhu]

6. After the SCOTUS ruling, he has very little choice

...though I'll probably be tuning out the campaign. I'm not that interested in the kind of campaigns that billions buy, on either side, and I doubt that anything good will come of it.

If anyone thinks we are "alienated from politics" now, try 2013 after the avalanche of corporate-money mind-warping.

[alp227]

25. Obama's campaign raised the most $ in 2008

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundraising_for_the_2008_United_States_presidential_election

Obama raised ~$500 million, while McCain raised ~$300 million.

[bhikkhu]

28. The repugs are expecting 1 billion, freely sourcing corporate money

since the supreme court removed all restrictions. Dems have no choice but to play the same lousy game. Probably twenty percent of the vote can be "bought" one way or another, with sufficient ad money.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

7. Yep, small-money donors are less inspired than last time. nt

[DeSwiss]

8. Well we know that......

...BIG PHARMA, the health insurance companies and for-profit hospitals owe him quite a bit. And as a standard practice, Wall Street always bets only on sure things. So he can count on them, of course. And especially since so many Wall Streeters are already on his staff.

- You know, this announcing of the fact that you're now officially open for bribery makes bringing suitcases full of cash to the WH back in Nixon's days seem kind of quaint.



K&R

[KoKo]

9. I just got a mailing from DNC..with Photo of Obama (wallet sized) looking Pensive...saying:

"I appreciate your support" on the back of the wallet-sized photo. I was very confused as to what I was supposed to do with that photo which shows him looking away from me and pensive. It was a lovely photo, though. I just don't know what to do with it.

[paparush]

10. Well, we know the Rethugs will be tapping huge $$, foreign $$, etc.

[jwirr]

11. That does not sound good for his second term. Many presidents

do more in their second term because they have nothing to lose. If he owes his win to the big guys that may not be as easy for the President. I hope I am wrong.

[ClarkUSA]

12. Citizens United, everyone! Even so, I believe small donors will still give a majority of his take.

A huge majority of liberals approve of President Obama and we will be giving. Those who don't can go suck a lemon while the rest of us are busy making lemonade.

[davidthegnome]

19. You'll be making something

but I wouldn't call it lemonade.

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[RedCloud]

33. Consumers United could really kick some smirky corporate ass!

What sayeth ye?

[Scottybeamer70]

13. "help from wealthy donors"........

how quaint............guess that leaves out most Americans.
When one has to spend a billion dollars to win, something
is very, very wrong with this country!

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[EFerrari]

15. You mean, what is wrong with allowing the wealthy to buy our elections?

You realize this is "Democratic Underground", right, not "Plutocratic Underground".

[ClarkUSA]

20. Blame Citizens United for opening the floodgates. And that's not what I said, was it?

What do you want Democrats to do? Roll over and play dead? This isn't "Socialist Underground" you know.

[EFerrari]

22. You don't have to be a socialist to understand

why allowing billionaires to control our elections is a bad idea. But, it does help. :)

[ClarkUSA]

24. You don't have to be a Democrat to understand that allowing GOP billionaires free rein is a bad idea

BTW, socialists are not immune from the influence of money in politics, either. They just pretend they are. ;)

[EFerrari]

26. But GOP billionaires are Americans, too, according to you.

:)

[tpsbmam]

29. I'd want to stand up to the Kochs, too. I'd spend millions supporting

progressive candidates, ones who really would stand up for the people of the United States and not bow down to the corporate masters that too many Democrats, including our President, have sold themselves out to. By selling themselves, they've sold us out.

[No Elephants]

30. Koch brothers also supported the DLC

[tpsbmam]

16. Going to his base for $$$. No surprises here. Since he's denegrated many who

went all out for him in 2008 and he's been a dismal disappointment in the minds of many, guess he won't be counting on that group. He sure as hell won't get one cent from me.

[defendandprotect]

17. Guess there's something left of government still to be sold!!

[defendandprotect]

18. What's on the list to be sold next?

[lib2DaBone]

23. WON'T get fooled again....!

[BlueIris]

27. Won't be getting a dime from me.

[Joe Bacon]

31. Not a penny from me

Last time, I went without test strips to donate to Obama. This time, my wallet is closed. I will give to those who will stand up and fight like Bernie Sanders and Sherrod Brown.

[Aerows]

34. I'm not going to post the email I sent to the Democratic Party

after they sent me an email asking for a donation to the Obama campaign, but I'll post the last sentence.

"I find myself struggling to figure out why I should care whether he gets elected or not, because apparently, we are going to have a Republican in the White House that is for the corporations, by the corporations and of the corporations regardless if their name is Obama or some other Republican."

I don't think I'm alone in that struggle, either. He'd better hope he gets big-money backing because he will never again get my small-money backing.

[fascisthunter]

35. and it's why he represents the upperclass and not the little people

as his constituency would say.