HuffPo: Oliver Willis - Just Who Do These Rich Clinton Donors Think They Are?

[Kittycat]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/oliver-willis/just-who-do-these-rich-cl_b_93649.html

Just Who Do These Rich Clinton Donors Think They Are?

The more I read about the rich donors who told Nancy Pelosi to shut up, the more angry I get. I may not agree with her on quite a few issues, but Speaker Pelosi is second in line to the presidency, the first woman to hold her position and a figure demanding of respect -- especially from people who are supposed to be her fellow Democrats. These guys seriously think that because they went to a fancy fundraiser or maybe played a round of golf with the ex-president that they really are better than the rest of us. They have every right to add their voice to the chorus supporting Sen. Clinton, but they have no place, no standing, no right to order the Speaker around.

These people are symptomatic, quite frankly, of the negative that came along with all the good President Clinton did during his tenure. <snip>

...
This is the stain that remains on the party even after the events of Crashing The Gate were documented by Markos Moulitsas and Jerome Armstrong. These are the hangers-on who look down their plastic surgery noses at Governor Dean's 50-state strategy and his middle class demeanor even as the party begins to regain its role as a truly national party. These are the people who think nothing -- nothing -- of throwing a tantrum because us people, us regular Joes and Janes, had the gall to not vote and caucus for the candidate they bankrolled and sought to shove down our gullets the way they always do. Instead we chose to vote for a candidate whose donor base is almost 2 million strong. Just like a couple of weeks ago when they were demanding refunds of their donations to the party they thought they owned they are once again trying to tell us they bought the Democratic Party the same way they bought a diamond necklace at Tiffany's for their trophy wife.

Not any more. The Democratic Party is once again becoming little-d democratic. A party where the rich guys have a say, but so do the regular guys. Speaker Pelosi speaks for us, from Park Avenue to Georgetown to Skid Row to Baltimore to The Lower 9th Ward and beyond.

And you respect her, or shut up.

Excellent article, and right in line with what I've been thinking since this all started unfolding. From the refund requests, to the letter. Just WHO do this assholes think they are?

[Catherina]

1. They think they're royalty and can dictate their whims on us n/t

[leveymg]

57. Here's the Fat Cat 20 List:

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/03/in_letter_a_dozen_top_clinton.php

Marc Aronchick

Clarence Avant

Susie Tompkins Buell

Sim Farar

Robert L. Johnson

Chris Korge

Marc and Cathy Lasry

Hassan Nemazee

Alan and Susan Patricof

JB Pritzker

Amy Rao

Lynn de Rothschild

Haim Saban

Bernard Schwartz

Stanley S. Shuman

Jay Snyder

Maureen White and Steven Rattner

[LakeSamish706]

2. The sad part is, they are acting in a mannerism that Hillary's campaign has adopted. n/t

[tridim]

3. The asshole wing of the Democratic party. nt

[olkaz]

8. They'd donate to any party, if it meant influence

Class warfare that we're losing.

[closeupready]

21. Yes, that's exactly right.

n/t

[Cha]

26. DinoAssholes.

They've encounced themselves in our Party using our name, "Democratic", when they are nothing of the kind.

[powergirl]

42. I'm getting a visual on the "Asshole Wing" of the Democratic party

It's not pretty. I wish I knew how to photoshop!!

[Scurrilous]

4. More on those Clinton Fat Cats

<snip>

"The 20 Clinton-backing fat cats who vaguely threatened House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to change her tune on superdelegates lest their purses and pocketbooks slam shut have contributed almost "$24 million to Democratic candidates and committees over the last 10 years," according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.

They've donated almost $554,000 to Sen. Hillary Clinton's Senate and presidential campaigns and her leadership PAC -- compared to less than a tenth of that, $52,200, for Sen. Barack Obama."

<snip>

"ABC News' Political Director David Chalian reports that a Democratic operative unaffiliated with either campaign and familiar with the reaction to the letter among Members of Congress says, "Members of Congress - who are superdelegates - make up the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee" or DCCC from which the donors seemed to be threatening to withhold funds.

"Threatening the DCCC is equal to threatening the superdelegates Sen. Hillary Clinton's trying to court. The Clinton donor letter will just push undeclared superdelegates in Congress leaning toward Obama to endorse him sooner. It also reinforces the narrative that she'll destroy the party to win."

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/03/more-on-those-c.html

[BumRushDaShow]

15. This is funny...

"The 20 Clinton-backing fat cats <snip> have contributed almost "$24 million to Democratic candidates and committees over the last 10 years,"

And the "little people" just raised TWICE that in ONE MONTH alone!!! :rofl:

So who are you going to cater too, eh? I mean seriously. ;)

[Kittycat]

22. So true... Reminds me of Ferraro's comment...

He'll need people like me fundraising for him... Uh yeah - I don't think so, we're doing just fine without taking your dirty money. :)

[Cha]

29. Dinos backin' the wrong

Horse.. course hilary's their girl and she was Suppose to win..what's a big donor to do? :+

[Why Syzygy]

55. There was a warranty. They got their money back.

It didn't buy what they paid for, the office of the President of the United States, so a refund was due.

This needs to be TRUMPETED throughout the land. Hillary's buyers are PISSED and they aren't going to give her any more money unless we let her win! dammit!

Are rich people really that stupid?

Shame on all of them for trying to buy our country. Isn't that treason? BUYING OUR COUNTRY?

[redqueen]

32. "Reinforces the narrative..."

Aw, how kind of them. What gentle phrasing.

[Why Syzygy]

54. Has Obama responded to this? nt

[Alter Ego]

5. As Huey Long said, "They ain't the power."

"The power is in the hands of the powerless."

[Me.]

6. I'm Curious To Know Who Made This Public

Asked on another thread. Kudos to whoever did, it's a great strategy. Hoist them with their own words and Pelosi or dem leadership never has to say a word.

[powergirl]

7. Sin Verguenza

My mother used this term a lot. It means "shameless" or "insolent." For example, can you believe that those Sugar Daddies of the Democratic Party had the nerve to attempt to extort Speaker Pelosi? Sin Verguenza!!!! tsk tsk :wtf:

[musiclawyer]

16. Your mother used it.?

Hell, my mother used it, I do, I taught my daughter, and she taught her friends and they don't even speak spanish. Like shadenfrueden (sp?) ... a great word that should cross the language barrier.

[powergirl]

17. I use it too, but not as much as she did

My mom was an Argentine native. She passed away about 20 years ago. My dad's an "East Texas White Guy" (we affectionately call him that!). He is a fluent Spanish speaker. I speak Spanish, okay - but not fluent like a scholar.

I just love that term. To me it has more bite to it than "without shame."


:toast:

[Cha]

31. I've never heard it but thanks.. I always

like new ways to express myself. hilary is also sin verguenza!

[Lucinda]

9. So how is this any different when we organize, and call or write our congress people

or boycott companies?
Just because they have money they shouldn't get to speak up for what they believe to be right?

[woolldog]

13. They're trying to use their money to override the will of the people.

That's a problem.

[Lucinda]

14. The will of which people?

The roughly half that have voted for Hillary or the roughly half who have voted for Obama?

They are just telling Pelosi to clarify her comments, which she shouldnt have made in the first place. Super D's have a specific function. "Let's not change the rules in the middle of the game" is an Obama mantra right? That applies to Super's too.

[BumRushDaShow]

18. Considering that the "little people"

have raised TWICE what these folks did, but in just ONE month as opposed to 10 years means that it cuts both ways, eh?

How many more times does the math have to be pointed out? If things were reverse, Obama would have been told to step down after losing 12 states in a row.

[Lucinda]

20. Obama can't win on his own UNLESS Hillary drops out.

That part of the math seems to escape some of you.

[Kittycat]

23. So hillary is the 2008 Nader then?

[Lucinda]

24. Some might say Obama is.

:)

[SammyWinstonJack]

35. I would say he is.

[Cha]

34. Yeah, we got 'em that now..

they can take their extortion money and peddle it elsewhere. ;)

[Why Syzygy]

56. They TOOK THEIR MONEY BACK from the DNC.

That's a pretty clear message. Their money is tied to her interests. Only.

[redqueen]

30. Uh, they're not "speaking up" (lame spin btw), they're making a threat.

You can't see that? Really?

[Lucinda]

44. Of course I see it. And it's absolutely no different than what we do here.

When we want an outcome, we band together here to try and achieve it. Or at least we used to.
You can't see that? Really?

[redqueen]

45. We are the people. THEY are the powerful, who do not share our interests.

If they were the people, they wouldn't need giant bank accounts to make their voices heard. They do. They are the corporate insiders who have controlled this party for too long.

[Lucinda]

46. They are also people.

[redqueen]

47. Yes, people who are trying to use their DISPRPORTIONATE share of wealth

to coerce someone into backing their chosen candidate up on her spin.

Your post was pretty close to "lobbyists are people too".

[Lucinda]

48. No. They are using their influence to remind Pelosi that the Supers are in place for a reason.

No matter how ya wanna spin it, the point of the supers is to act in the best interest of the party, nothing less. I'm amazed that fact has to be pointed out on a Dem board.

[redqueen]

49. They flat out instructed her to back Hillary's DIVISIVE statements.

All the spinning in the world won't change that fact.

[Lucinda]

51. They said she needs to clarify her statement. Unless you read something I haven't....?

[redqueen]

52. No, I'm sure we've both seen the same letter.

"We have been strong supporters of the DCCC. We therefore urge you to clarify your position on super-delegates and reflect in your comments a more open view to the optional independent actions of each of the delegates at the National Convention in August."

In the first part of that sentence, they say what you remembered. In the second part (emphasis mine), they urge her to back Clinton's repeated "delegates don't have to stick with the voters that sent them" schtick.

[Lucinda]

53. Thanks for the clarification!

They don't have to stick, but they certainly should.
I think Hillary's comment was more a shot across the bow thing. I doubt she'd want her state delegates jumping ship to Obama either.

Both camps are playing chicken right now...

[Adelante]

10. Oh

"hangers-on who look down their plastic surgery noses at Governor Dean's 50-state strategy"

Hee hee.

[City Lights]

11. They are the business-as-usual Democrats who represent 35 years of

changing nothing.

Fuck 'em. Their voices should carry no more weight than mine.

[Cha]

36. They're dinos who just

love their little dlclub.

[90-percent]

12. my contribution

I'm going to be emailing Obama a campaign contribution of $250.

It's my way of telling these Demo Fat Cats to SHUT UP!

And the more of us that do that, the more irrelevant the self serving rich Dems will be!

-90% Jimmy

[Cha]

41. Well, you might want to send your story

with it and possibly win a "Dinner With Barack"..which I think is a creative way to get people to tell their stories.

https://donate.barackobama.com/page/contribute/dinner7?20080326_dwb3_d_a_L1

[90-percent]

58. dinner with Barack

Well, the money and story has been sent. I seriously doubt I'm gonna strap on the old feed bag with Barack any time soon, though.

Still, I support Barack even though he refuses to have dinner with me!

-90% Jimmy

[Hamlette]

19. k&r...this is what we are talking about

I've always said a big difference between republicans and democrats is democrats feel grateful for what we've got and republicans feel entitled. This group of democratic donors are republicans. Entitled to push people around because they are rich. Disgusting.

[Cha]

25. Exactly. The arrogance that led them

to write this letter is their undoing. They obviously had no idea of the repercussions that would reverberate all through the country via the internet.

Has Nancy Pelosi written back to them yet? I can't wait to read what she has to say.

Here's the letter that Bill Burton from Camp Obama sent to Nancy..


Obama Camp Hammers Letter To Pelosi As "Inappropriate" -- Demands Hillary Reject It
By Greg Sargent - March 26, 2008, 5:40PM

"Obama spokesperson Bill Burton responds to the letter from top Clinton fundraisers demanding that Nancy Pelosi say publicly that super-dels shouldn't feel bound to support the pledged del count leader...

�This letter is inappropriate and we hope the Clinton campaign will reject the insinuation contained in it. Regardless of the outcome of the nomination fight, Senator Obama will continue to urge his supporters to assist Speaker Pelosi in her efforts to maintain and build a working majority in the House of Representatives.�

The "insinuation" Burton refers to here is the following line from the letter, which links the donors' reference to their own financial support of the DCCC to their demand that Pelosi publicly declare that the super-dels should feel free to be "independent" in their choice:

We have been strong supporters of the DCCC. We therefore urge you to clarify your position on super-delegates and reflect in your comments a more open view to the optional independent actions of each of the delegates at the National Convention in August.

That's what Burton's responding to by saying that Obama, for his part, "will continue to urge his supporters to assist Speaker Pelosi in her efforts to maintain and build a working majority in the House of Representatives."

Meanwhile, Joe Sudbay of Americablog has a very good catch: He points out that in the above line, the fundraisers appear to be urging her to declare that the delegates in general should feel free to make an independent choice -- meaning not just the supers but the pledged dels, too."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=108x127972

[Quixote1818]

27. Brilliant! Right on target. nt

[Barack_America]

28. Hey, it's not all bad news for them. I hear the Republicans still bow before the mighty $.

;)

[NYCGirl]

33. And 30% of the richies who signed the letter have stayed in the Lincoln Bedroom

during the Clinton Admin.

http://www.americablog.com/2008/03/30-of-hillary-donors-who-threatened.html


It looks like some gifts just keep on giving. At least 6 of the 20 big Dem donors who are now threatening to exort Nancy Pelosi on behalf of Hillary slept in the Lincoln Bedroom while Bill and Hillary were in the White House. (We only have the list of who slept in the bedroom during four years, i.e., half, of the Clinton presidency. Some reporters need to ask the Clinton campaign if anyone else on this list slept in the Lincoln Bedroom.) You'll recall that some 831 or so special friends of the Clintons got to stay in the Lincoln Bedroom during four years of the Clinton presidency (that's about 4 a week, every week, for 4 years). You would think that this is the kind of bad publicity that Hillary's little band of extortionists wouldn't want. Well they're going to get it. Here's the list of big Dem donors who are now threatening the party if Pelosi doesn't cave to their demands and help Hillary - the ones in bold are Lincoln Bedroom guests, per CNN (CNN only has the list for 4 years):

LIST AT LINK

And HALF are Lieberman contributors!

http://openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4803

[tabasco]

37. They are also Lieberman (I) donors.

Half of the letter-signers gave to Holy Joe Lieberman(I)in the Senate election. Not the primary, the election. Nice supporters Hillary has there.

[redqueen]

38. I doubt anyone here is surprised.

I'm sure as hell not.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

39. What are their names and what do they do?

I'd like to know specifics.

[chocome]

40. Sen. Obama On The Importance Of Counting Every Vote

“It’s interesting that the Obama campaign often gets its back up when we say that their campaign is just words. But I think few things illustrate this point better than what Sen. Obama is doing with regard to Florida and Michigan.’’ –Campaign Spokesperson Phil Singer

Sen. Obama’s has previously emphasized the importance of counting all votes. So why won’t he make sure the voters of Michigan and Florida have their votes count?


Obama: ‘One of our most sacred rights as Americans is the right to make our voice heard at the polls.’ "’One of our most sacred rights as Americans is the right to make our voice heard at the polls,’ said Obama. ‘But too often, we hear reports of mysterious phone calls and mailers arriving just days before an election that seek to mislead and threaten voters to keep them from the polls. And those who engage in these deceptive and underhanded campaign tactics usually target voters living in minority or low-income neighborhoods. This legislation would ensure that for the first time, these incidents are fully investigated and that those found guilty are punished.’"


Obama ad touts his work as a ‘civil rights attorney to make sure that everybody's vote counted.’ “OBAMA: “From the time that I moved to Chicago to be a community organizer. Working as a civil rights attorney to make sure that everybody's vote counted. In each instance, there were naysayers who said it couldn't be done, but when millions of voices join together and insist on change, change happens and that's what we have to do in this election."

Obama touted his work as a civil rights attorney ‘enforcing voting rights.’ “OBAMA: You know, when I moved to Chicago to organize (inaudible) communities, I saw what happened when folks don't have enough political power. And so when I got out of law school, I organized the voter registration drive and we registered 150,000 new voters in 1992. Then when I started my law practice, I became a civil rights attorney, enforcing voting rights against the city of Chicago and against the state of Illinois that hadn't implemented motor voter. So this is something that I know something about.”

Obama: “There is no place for politics in this debate – no room for those who feel they can gain a partisan advantage by keeping people away from the polls.’ “There are some issues in this country that are inherently difficult and political. Making sure that every American can cast a ballot shouldn't be one of them. There is no place for politics in this debate--no room for those who feel that they can gain a partisan advantage by keeping people away from the polls.”

Obama: ‘That is the true genius of America, a faith in the simple dreams of the people…that our votes will be counted – or at least, most of the time.’ That is the true genius of America, a faith in the simple dreams of its people, the insistence on small miracles. That we can tuck in our children at night and know they are fed and clothed and safe from harm. That we can say what we think, write what we think, without hearing a sudden knock on the door. That we can have an idea and start our own business without paying a bribe or hiring somebody's son. That we can participate in the political process without fear of retribution, and that our votes will he counted — or at least, most of the time.

http://facts.hillaryhub.com/

[powergirl]

43. I think you may be posting in the wrong thread

What does this have to do with the fat cat letter?

[Why Syzygy]

50. K/R

Yeah. I'm glad the audacity is apparent and appalling to many.

[Ravy]

59. I agree. We at DU have always been very supportive of Pelosi...

just because we don't all have a lot of money doesn't mean we shouldn't get press for our undying support of her.

:sarcasm: