David vs. Goliath (and her 353 lobbyists)
TCS has held two fund-raisers for Barack Obama this year. The first one, back in July, raised $600. The second, back in October, raised $315. During the first one, Hillary was being billed as nearly impossible to beat. During the second, she was a complete lock.
Well, here we are in December, with less than a month to go before the first vote is cast and Obama is leading in Iowa amongst likely caucus-goers, and he has closed his gap in New Hampshire to 3 points. Meanwhile Hillary fell 11 points in nationwide polls last month and according to CNN this morning is holding onto a "statistically insignificant 2-point margin." Goliath is woozy.
I know what some of you're saying: Yeah, Obama talks a good talk, but does anyone really believe that any politician is serious about change, or could even bring it about if he/she was?
I can be just as jaded as the next guy, but there are some fundamental differences between Barack and Hillary (besides Hillary's pigeon-hearted authorization of the war, and Obama's fiery, vocal opposition). To get to the heart of the matter, all we need to do is follow the money...
CNN points to the website of The Center for Responsive Politics, the leading non-partisan, non-profit research group tracking money in American politics. The site address is opensecrets.org. Here you can check the numbers yourself.
So who are the lobbyists betting on? Not only has Hillary taken five times more from lobbyists than Obama and Edwards combined, but get this... she's taken more than Giuliani, Romney and Thompson combined!!!
Hillary has accepted more than ONE HUNDRED AND TEN TIMES MORE MONEY from PACs than Obama. Not to mention, more than half of her PACs are classified as "business" (as opposed to "labor" or "ideological"). Meanwhile, guess what percentage of Obama's money came from individual donors like you and me... 99%.
Check out this video where Hillary tries to defend her lobbyist cohorts. Real Americans? Bryan Jones, director of the Center for American Politics said Clinton's claim that lobbyists represent the everyman is misleading at best. "It's not honest at all," he said. The article, showcased by The Center for Responsive Politics, goes on to explain:
"In total, 353 federally registered lobbyists (including those working at lobbying firms or in-house for corporations, unions and associations) contributed at least $787,300 to Clinton's presidential campaign in the first nine months of this year, more than they gave to any other candidate, in either party. Lobbyists who represent health professionals, including the nurses Clinton singled out, account for $82,805 in contributions to her, while those representing the pharmaceutical industry paid out $562,900."
If you still had any doubt about which candidate will be shielding the status-quo for the wealthy and powerful, just check out who the rich support: 37% of Hillary's money was donated in a $4600 chunk (that's the most any one person can give by law). That's not a check that the average American can afford to cut. In this category, no one, Republican or Democrat, is anywhere close; Hillary's percentage of rich donors dwarfs every other candidate running.
Does anyone believe that with this type of financial backing that Hillary is the candidate that's going to fix our broken health-care system? Defend the down-trodden? Bring about campaign finance reform? Deliver us a much needed new direction?
Today TCS is kicking off its third and final fund-raiser for the Democratic primaries. And as before, we're backing the candidate whose principled war opposition and campaign finance standards say much more than any eloquent stump-speech.
Donate $25 or more directly to Barack and I'll send you 10 free, high-quality bumper stickers! Just forward me the 'thank you' email (it doesn't contain any personal or financial information) along with your mailing address and you'll get 10 copies of this Chief Source original (see below, click to zoom). You can only get these through this limited-time offer (or by peeling them off the inside of bathroom stall doors in New Hampshire next week).
Forward all emails to roberthewitt@gmail.com.
With less than a month left, now is the time to offer up your time, money and energy to a principled, sincere candidate whose interests are aligned less with big-everything and more with the average American. This weekend Kyle and I are going on a road trip to New Hampshire to pass out our stickers and lend a hand. If you're serious about real change, now is the time to act. America, our moment is now.
Well, here we are in December, with less than a month to go before the first vote is cast and Obama is leading in Iowa amongst likely caucus-goers, and he has closed his gap in New Hampshire to 3 points. Meanwhile Hillary fell 11 points in nationwide polls last month and according to CNN this morning is holding onto a "statistically insignificant 2-point margin." Goliath is woozy.
I know what some of you're saying: Yeah, Obama talks a good talk, but does anyone really believe that any politician is serious about change, or could even bring it about if he/she was?
I can be just as jaded as the next guy, but there are some fundamental differences between Barack and Hillary (besides Hillary's pigeon-hearted authorization of the war, and Obama's fiery, vocal opposition). To get to the heart of the matter, all we need to do is follow the money...
CNN points to the website of The Center for Responsive Politics, the leading non-partisan, non-profit research group tracking money in American politics. The site address is opensecrets.org. Here you can check the numbers yourself.
So who are the lobbyists betting on? Not only has Hillary taken five times more from lobbyists than Obama and Edwards combined, but get this... she's taken more than Giuliani, Romney and Thompson combined!!!
Hillary has accepted more than ONE HUNDRED AND TEN TIMES MORE MONEY from PACs than Obama. Not to mention, more than half of her PACs are classified as "business" (as opposed to "labor" or "ideological"). Meanwhile, guess what percentage of Obama's money came from individual donors like you and me... 99%.
Check out this video where Hillary tries to defend her lobbyist cohorts. Real Americans? Bryan Jones, director of the Center for American Politics said Clinton's claim that lobbyists represent the everyman is misleading at best. "It's not honest at all," he said. The article, showcased by The Center for Responsive Politics, goes on to explain:
"In total, 353 federally registered lobbyists (including those working at lobbying firms or in-house for corporations, unions and associations) contributed at least $787,300 to Clinton's presidential campaign in the first nine months of this year, more than they gave to any other candidate, in either party. Lobbyists who represent health professionals, including the nurses Clinton singled out, account for $82,805 in contributions to her, while those representing the pharmaceutical industry paid out $562,900."
If you still had any doubt about which candidate will be shielding the status-quo for the wealthy and powerful, just check out who the rich support: 37% of Hillary's money was donated in a $4600 chunk (that's the most any one person can give by law). That's not a check that the average American can afford to cut. In this category, no one, Republican or Democrat, is anywhere close; Hillary's percentage of rich donors dwarfs every other candidate running.
Does anyone believe that with this type of financial backing that Hillary is the candidate that's going to fix our broken health-care system? Defend the down-trodden? Bring about campaign finance reform? Deliver us a much needed new direction?
Today TCS is kicking off its third and final fund-raiser for the Democratic primaries. And as before, we're backing the candidate whose principled war opposition and campaign finance standards say much more than any eloquent stump-speech.
Donate $25 or more directly to Barack and I'll send you 10 free, high-quality bumper stickers! Just forward me the 'thank you' email (it doesn't contain any personal or financial information) along with your mailing address and you'll get 10 copies of this Chief Source original (see below, click to zoom). You can only get these through this limited-time offer (or by peeling them off the inside of bathroom stall doors in New Hampshire next week).
Forward all emails to roberthewitt@gmail.com.
With less than a month left, now is the time to offer up your time, money and energy to a principled, sincere candidate whose interests are aligned less with big-everything and more with the average American. This weekend Kyle and I are going on a road trip to New Hampshire to pass out our stickers and lend a hand. If you're serious about real change, now is the time to act. America, our moment is now.
By Robert - 12/10/2007
25 Comments:
I'll tell you what... this site opensecrets.org is really awesome. Check out this bit of fun with maps.
Damn Bob, great post!
I remember just a month or two ago we had an email exchange where you had to resuscitate me from the horrors I was having about Hillary. Within weeks, everything has changed and Obama has a real chance.
Look out Ohio! This thing probably won't be decided after the infamous 2/5/08 primary date. Ohio and Texas kept theirs in March, meaning those could be the states to decide. Exciting stuff!
Chuck,
I've got $10 that says that come Super Tuesday Hillary is no longer viable. The wind in her sails has always been her unassailable lead, her inevitability.
She doesn't inspire Dems (aside from some who want to see a woman any woman in the White House), most Dems stand with her because of her perceived strength.
As I've said before, when the ship springs its first leak everyone will slip overboard and paddle towards the USS Obama.
Anyone wanna take that bet?
With all this Hillary bashing, you guys are setting yourself up for President Rudy if Obama loses.
Dan,
I'm not going to tow the party line for a candidate that I don't believe in. I'm no rank-and-file Democrat. You'd be proud of me, last month I donated to my first Republican. As I have said before, I don't consider a Hillary win a win at all. I want real change.
One thing to keep in mind: Hillary is from New York, where $4,600 buys you a loaf of bread and a collect call. I don't believe that is indicative of her policy direction. In fact, her position on carried interest and capital gains has pissed off many people in the financial sector who would otherwise back a Democrat.
One thing is true though - Hillary's campaign is a fundraising machine. I have seen it firsthand.
We have our first $25 donor. Thanks to Chuck Kozelka who will be receiving 10 of our limited-printing Obama stickers. Man, is he going to be the envy of his peers!
The new grand total raised this year by one little old blog from Akron is: $940.00
P.S. A printing of 500 car wash-safe bumper-stickers has been started! Two days to print. Overnight shipping. Should arrive in NY by Thursday.
Ian,
Point taken, but can we agree that the number of middle class Americans, affected by the health care crisis or deteriorating public schools, that cut a politician a $4600 check this year is somewhere between zero and zilch?
Ian,
One other interesting tidbit about "being from NY"...
Amazingly, Obama has out raised Giuliani in New York City!
My $10 says the next President won't come either group of current candidates.
Dan, I watched Rudy on Meet The Press yesterday. The only poll he could site as good news was Florida. Rudy will be toast by that time. Russert showed several state polls where Rudy was third or fourth. I'd say it is between Huckabee and Romney with Giuliani now a tier two candidate.
As for bashing Senator, it is our job in the primary as Democrats to be vocal about who we want to be our nominee. Part of making the case for Obama is distinguishing between his record and Senator Clinton's. The polling I have seen here in Ohio shows Hillary with a commanding lead. We are trying to change that.
I'll take that bet, Menk. I assume you're referring to Bloomberg. If so, why do you think he met with Obama in some NY dinner last month? What do you think they were discussing?
Dan,
Honestly, as I've said I don't have a problem with Giuliani's domestic platform, and really I could care less about his personal life. I'd be OK with the guy as President if it wasn't for the 9-11 name-dropping, Bush-esc fear mongering and reluctance to say no to torture.
Ian, so if I lived in NY and made twice as much money, I would have instantly wrote a check for $4600 to Obama???
I don't so. I give about $50/month to Obama. I think I am very typical of the Obama supporter.
So if Hillary supporters are just the same, but happen to live in the high-cost/high-paying NYC, why aren't most of her donors giving $150/month, or something like that????
Instead Obama's supporters that are inspired and give $50 here and there, Hillary's supporters are more likely to be rich people that give huge amounts that average folks living in NYC or Des Moines cannot afford....and those people do so to show their loyalty, and maybe hope to be a part of the next President's power structure.
Bob, look forward to the stickers!
Ian,
One last thing about the connection between "being from New York" and getting lots of max $4600 checks:
37% of Hillary's money is from someone writing a $4600 check.
19% of Giuliani's money is from someone writing a $4600 check.
So there goes that.
And of all the 1st and 2nd tier candidates, Rudy actually has the second highest percentage. Every other major candidate on either side has raised less than 16% of their money from these $4600 individual donors (Obama's at 11%).
For those who are not independently wealthy, this is really something to think about.
I don't envision any of the site's authors supporting any Republican in 2008. That's all.
Al Gore may cost you a ten spot Robert .
Dan,
Sure. We all have a donkey beside our names for a reason. I'd probably be the quickest to cross party lines if Hillary wins, though.
If she's the nominee I would honestly at least consider (from least to most seriously):
7. voting for Republican nominee - Huckabee
6. abstaining from voting
5. voting for Republican nominee - Giuliani
4. voting for Republican nominee - McCain
3. voting for Independent nominee - Paul
2. writing-in some protest vote (Colbert?)
1. voting for Independent nominee - Bloomberg
Keep in mind this is not just a $4,600 check - most of the time you get a dinner or pancakes with that. Just like iHop.
Bob, the data you keep quoting is completely misleading. Hillary found 6,000 people to write a $4,600 check. Big deal. It is all from special events like "Dinner with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie", "Dinner with Warren Buffett", "private Billy Joel concert", etc. It is New York entertainment.
In comparison: Hannah Montana tickets are going for $4,000 a pop at Madison Square Garden and they sell out thousands at every show. Try to get seats to Jersey Boys on Broadway and see what they cost (if you can even get them).
It is true that not everyone can afford 4,600 (and I wouldn't pay $4,000 to see Hannah Montana either). But you are making really good hay about 6,000 people who are celebrity chasers and like to throw money around. I don't see how this is at all meaningful.
Ian,
Fair enough. I'm not anti-Hillary though simply because she got more $4600 checks than Obama. It just appear to me, that no matter what angle you look at these candidates' campaign finances that Hillary would come into office the most beholden to special interest groups, big-fill-in-the-blank and people who are livin' large in the status-quo.
This may not bother you. But for me it's yet another reason to reject her as a candidate of the people, an element of change, or an opportunity for our nation to turn the page on an ugly chapter in American politics.
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