Obama Campaign Funds to Reach $1 billion

[tekisui]

Barack Obama the Democratic nominee for President of the United States is expected to raise 1 billion dollars (US) according to Phil Noble the head of politicsonline and adviser to Barack Obama.

The staggering amount of money in comparison to previous elections in the US is down to what Noble describes the maximization of internet technology, using forums like Facebook, Bebo, Myspace and others to recruit support and use them to send funds. Barack Obama has already 2-3 million active canvassers on the internet of which many of those contribute funds on monthly basis. The Obama "war chest" has already exceeded $250 million and by August this will easily double according to Democrat sources contacted by thelondondailynews.com. In comparison John Kerry in 2004 for the Democrats had around 100,000 active canvassers in the US.

In London the Democrats Abroad lead by Joanna Shields President of Bebo organised a function at the home of Elizabeth Murdoch raising in one day £400,000.

The average war chest in general elections in the UK is around £50 million with much of the money coming from trade unions or wealthy donors.

link: http://www.thelondondailynews.com/obama-campaign-funds-reach-billion-p-644.html

[tekisui]

1. The London Daily Times called him the Democratic Nominee.

[davidpdx]

2. Cripes

I don't think he'll break 1 billion, but he may get damn close. I guess everyone is waiting for May 20th to see what the how the three campaigns did last month.

[nichomachus]

3. That's obscene

Nothing personal against Barack, but the idea that in order to run for the presidency of the US you have to raise over a billion dollars is totally fucked.

We need to get money and religion out of politics -- until we do, we're screwed.

[tekisui]

5. I agree.

As an Obama Supporter, even the $500 million needed for the Primary is obscene. But, he is using real public financing, and we should all push for campaign finance reform.

[helderheid]

19. agreed

[caledesi]

36. I agree! NT

[Ron Green]

34. We're never going to get money or religion out of politics, so my hope is that

money and religion are used to make better politics, better policy, and to improve people's lives.

[nichomachus]

37. That's like saying

"I'm never going to get my kids off drugs -- so my only hope is that they can become very successful selling drugs and provide for their families."

[Ron Green]

50. I disagree. To equate money and religion with drugs is to minimize the importance

of the Market and the Church in the "trinity" of human institutions, along with the State. There have always been economic systems and spiritual belief systems, sometimes well-managed and sometimes not (I know there have always been drugs as well, but to give drug use the same societal importance as money or religion is a stretch.)

To equate the hope that your child can turn his drug habit into profit with the hope that we can have more beneficial applications of money and spirit in politics seems to be admitting defeat in what has become a perverse war of imperialist power against tolerance and progress, in the arenas of Church and Market as they affect our politics.

What the OP shows is that many, many people are now willing to donate their money to a political candidate, to become invested in the process. This is a good thing, moving us away from the Right-Wing plan that everyone shut up about politics and just go shopping. The fact that Obama has been candid about church and spiritual issues enough to make the Atheists nervous shows me not that he is pandering to the religious nuts as Bush has, but that he recognizes the place of faith and church in society, and seeks a balance for it in our national conversation.

[panAmerican]

43. That's my position as well.

[redqueen]

40. Yes we do. And we need to work from inside to do it.

IMO this is our best chance.

[SoCalDem]

42. AND, by MILLIONS of people donating in amounts they each decide

on their own, it IS kind of like taking it all back. I would much rather have 2 million people donating $100 each, than a few K-street lobbyists bundling money from a small number of rich fat-cats..

Obama, or ANY candidate is not going to be beholden to a guy who donated $100 a few times..

The check-box on tax returns will NEVER generate the kind of money that it currently takes.

I would prefer to see strict limits, and FREE TV time, but that ship has sailed. The internet and independent groups have taken over now , and they are almost impossible to "control", so I guess the candidates will HAVE to be popular enough to generate money online to be viable..from here on out..

[Orsino]

45. Yep. Public financing now! n/t

[LibraLiz1973]

48. Yeah, nothing against him at all- but that is RIDICULOUS

We can't do a fucking thing about poverty, but his campaign has generated a BILLION dollars?

Not good.

[disndat]

4. This is beyond amazing!

What's going on? Bush & Co. has brought about a revolution. A long silent majority is speaking.

[NotThisTime]

7. It's amazing, regular people have an effect for the first time in a very long time

Things are changing, and will continue to change

[Colobo]

6. It's beautiful.

[AlinPA]

8. Hmm. Maybe R's will now try to minimize $$$ in politics. What a change, reap what you sow. nt

[charlie]

9. That's fucking frightening

When presidential campaigns crossed the $50 million line, it staggered me. It wasn't that long ago.

[OzarkDem]

10. If you think those are average individual donors, you're wrong

Obama's campaign is being bought by corporate America and the biggest question is - what is he promising to get that money.

You can bet the health insurance companies and their backers are buying their piece of the action.

[tekisui]

12. Those are largely from individual donors. $109 average donation.

1.2 million individual donors.

[OzarkDem]

15. Bundling

You don't think corporate America is just sitting on the sidelines doing nothing, do you?

[Bodhi BloodWave]

24. Perhaps you'd like to prove your claims, or is that to much to ask? n/t

[theHandpuppet]

38. PACs and lobbyists and corporate shills, Oh My!

The politics of change huh?

Look, no one's hands are clean on this issue but there are some Obama supporters who need to rejoin the real world.

http://www.cjr.org/campaign_desk/obamas_lobbyist_line.php
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/08/09/pacs_and_lobbyists_aided_obamas_rise/
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/obamas_oil_spill.html
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/358889_software14.html
http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/contrib.php?id=N00009638&cycle=2008
http://www.law.com/jsp/ihc/PubArticleIHC.jsp?id=1199441128022
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/09/23/in_illinois_obama_dealt_with_lobbyists/?page=1
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/01/02/544600.aspx
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/263/
http://frugalhoosiers.typepad.com/frugal_hoosiers/2008/03/contrary-to-pop.html

Daniel Shapiro, who advises Sen. Obama on foreign policy issues, is registered to lobby on behalf of the American Petroleum Institute and other corporate clients. Broderick Johnson, a friend and informal political adviser, heads up the lobbying arm in Washington of the Bryan Cave LLP law firm, where he represents Verizon and Shell Oil, among other clients.

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/lobbyists-on-obamas-08-payroll-2007-12-20.html
Three political aides on Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-Ill.) payroll were registered lobbyists for dozens of corporations, including Wal-Mart, British Petroleum and Lockheed Martin, while they received payments from his campaign, according to public documents.

http://www.dailyyonder.com/turning-coal-liquid-turns-pr...

...The most interesting relationship to surface in the CTL debate was an alliance between Sen. Barack Obama, the sleek Democratic candidate, and Jim Bunning the rough-talking ex-ballplayer and Kentucky Republican. Obama had been supportive of Illinois Basin coal in the past and Bunning asked if he would support his Coal to Liquid Fuel Promotion Act. Obama initially said yes. (Incidentally, in the first quarter of 2007, Obama received $154,000 in campaign contributions from the Chicago-based energy company Exelon, a possible beneficiary of CTL incentives.)

Sen. Obama from Illinois quickly learned that life was different as Democratic presidential candidate Obama. His sponsorship of Bunning’s CTL Energy Act garnered criticism from pro-environment groups. Obama began issuing clarifications and explanations, backing away from the Bunning proposal.

The Daily Yonder contacted the Obama campaign to clarify the Senator’s muddled early June “clarification" of his position. An Obama spokesperson emphasized that Obama supports coal-to-liquid if it will (1) help achieve energy independence and (2) fight climate change. However, the text of the 2007 Bunning-Obama act does not include carbon sequestration regulations.

http://www.thedailypage.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=38453...
Obama-Mining Lobbyist Ties Scrutinized
Wednesday November 14, 5:55 pm ET
By Kathleen Hennessey, Associated Press Writer
Obama's Ties to Mining Lobbyist, Opposition to Reform Bill Draws Scrutiny

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Democrat Barack Obama opposes a bill that would change the nation's 135-year-old mining law -- the same stance as mining industry executives who employ a Nevada-based lobbyist advising the presidential candidate.

<snipping>

...The General Mining Law of 1872 allows the mining industry to pull gold, silver and other minerals from federal lands without paying royalties. The industry opposes changes to the law and several efforts to reform it have failed.

A House-passed bill would impose a royalty of 4 percent of gross revenue on existing hard-rock mining operations and 8 percent of gross revenue on new mining operations. The reform bill also would put new environmental controls on hard-rock mining, set up a cleanup fund for abandoned mines and permanently ban cheap sales of public lands for mining.

Obama said the legislation, favored by environmentalists, "places a significant burden on the mining industry and could have a significant impact on jobs." He also opposes the proposed fees....

....Vassiliadis, a longtime Nevada power broker, is a member of Obama's Nevada steering committee and has contributed $2,300 to his campaign. He is a lobbyist for the Nevada Mining Association at the state level and the chief executive of the advertising and lobbying firm hired by two mining companies to lobby for them in Washington.... MUCH MORE

[redqueen]

25. I thought he hit 1.5 million on May... 6th, was it? (nt)

[QC]

27. If Bill Gates and I were alone in a room, the average person in that room

would be worth about $30,000,000,000.

But I can assure you that I am nowhere near that rich. (Try negative net worth, thanks to student loans).

Averages aren't worth much, except for suckering the naive.

[sakura]

54. Your example does nothing to support your point.

Yes, Bill Gates is so ridiculously wealthy that he greatly drives up the average net worth anyone in the room with him. The average Obama campaign donation is $109. Are you saying that someone "walked into the room" and drove up this average? That really doesn't make sense, does it? Because in that case, the amount most people gave would be substantially lower than $109.

\

[sudopod]

13. Hey, look!

things made up by some guy on the internet!

[eridani]

14. The corporados put up the initial stake, as they did for Clinton

He chose to use his to hire organizers and build a base of small donors. She chose to use hers to hire shitstains like Mark Penn.

[OzarkDem]

16. And big business is just watching from the sidelines?

Sorry, most folks aren't that naive.

[eridani]

29. Get real. The MSM knocked out Kucinich and Edwards

We have to deal with what's left, and Obama has hundreds of times more sense about using his money.

[redqueen]

30. Amazing that that very clear bit of common sense

seems to escape so many.

We don't have Kucinich as an option anymore, folks. Move on already.

[RazBerryBeret]

32. at least he is trying to keep it honest:

remember this article?
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/4/7/124812/3285/604/491642

[OzarkDem]

51. Amusing. Big business is "forcing " Obama to take their money

:rofl:

[LSK]

46. says the supporter of the Corporate candidate

Who admits taking money from lobbyists.

:rofl:

[meow mix]

11. hows that for grassyroots.

woot

[Tarheel_Dem]

17. I welcome the day when it won't take money to win elections, but until then.....

:woohoo:

GOBAMA!

[Aloha Spirit]

20. right on.

[Triana]

18. Yes. Isn't someone who can manage money this well who you WANT for President?

Rather than someone who's 20 million in DEBT?

[Jamastiene]

21. That is because 0bots are the rich elitists of the party.

The rest of us are rag tag and mosey along as best we can. We know we won't even get a bone thrown to us by that stingy 0bot bunch.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

22. You'd better tell Hillary's rich friend, Harvey Weinstein, about that.

http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Harvey_Weinstein_Threatens_Pelosi_Over_Clinton

I've never heard of a wealthy Obama backer threatening Pelosi.

[snappyturtle]

23. Did you forget the *sarcasm* tag? n/t

[redqueen]

26. !

:spray:

[eridani]

31. Average donation = $109 bucks

Some "elitists"!

[Arugula Latte]

39. Bwa ha ha! Now THAT's funny, Jamastiene!

Hillary is the one relying on maxed-out wealthy donors. The "little people" are funding Obama's campaign. I'm one of them.

[redqueen]

28. Will Hillary's campaign complain about 'buying the election'... doing a 180 from the DLC

"we get money! we're friendly to the corporatists so we can provide for you, Dem party! you need us! we WIN STUFF! really!" bullshit?

[DU GrovelBot]

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[Zachstar]

35. Well this is going to be one of the most important elections this century so what the hay!

As long as McCain is pissing his pants.

[alteredstate]

41. K & R

[MindMatter]

44. Let's not forget, he will largely be funding the Democratic Party nationally

As Carville said, "That's not a campaign, it's a PARTY"

In a very real sense, this is the Obama/Dean Party, which mercifully is absolutely not the same thing as the DLC-driven Democratic Party that effectively went to its grave by the end of the Clinton term.

While the brand name remains the same, there are fundamental differences:

- The DLC was about power for power's sake, or should I say money's sake There really weren't any driving principles.

- The Obama/Dean Party is driven by the issues. Today's speech by Obama will be another great example of the difference. He will respond to Bush's outrageous remarks, but more than that, he will take time to have an INTELLIGENT dialog with the public about what we should be doing differently on the world stage. And guess what, the public is listening. That hasn't happened for 30 years.

- The DLC was only interested in winning elections in order to get power. And they proved to be inept at both winning elections and governing. Because there were no underlying principles, their idea of "strategy" was simply to decide which states they wanted to ignore. In the end, they allowed their base to atrophy to the point that they only had a realistic chance of winning Presidential electors in states comprising about 55% of the total, leaving an impossibly thin margin for loss.

- The Deam/Obama party is competing in every damn state. We won't win in every state, but if we can win a congressional seat in Mississippi, we can win everywhere. There are strong organizations in the ground everywhere, and we will need that billion dollars to make sure they can all work to their maximum potential.

[NightWatcher]

47. and where's Hillary, oh yes, 21 million in the hole

[4_Legs_Good]

49. I think Dean should get a lot of credit for this

He really pioneered the using the internets for fundraising.

I think the key is to ask for small amounts. When I get a call from the DSCC asking me to donate $250 right off the bat, I almost instantly hang up the phone.

But when I get an e-mail from Obama asking for $25, hell, I guess I can afford that.

David

[rug]

52. $1,000,000,000 and still no majority in May.

[theboss]

53. God Bless Obama, but this doesn't say anything good about our system

I mean, that's a lot of money simply being spent on air.

[tekisui]

55. A metric ass load, to be sure.

I would be shitting myself if a repuke was bringing in that kind of dough.