California PAC (and 527) gears up for Obama

[jsamuel]

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0108/California_PAC_gears_up_for_Obama.html

January 22, 2008 (PRE-California Primary)

Obama in Nevada moved away from his criticisms of outside money flowing into the political process, and now a California group appears to be gearing up to supplement his ground game there, according to an email forwarded by a reader.

Vote Hope, a group with a PAC and 527, founded by Steve Phillips, emailed supporters today with a help-wanted, announcing that they're "fired up to win California for Obama!" The email suggests that the organizing will be done through another group of which Phillips, son-in-law of the Democratic mega-donors Herb and Marion Sandler, is president, PowerPAC.

I posted this to remind those who are attacking Clinton for 527s when Obama has repeatedly attacked others in the past for theirs while he has his own. Obama also attacked Edwards in Iowa for having the support of the SEIU, while Obama has benefited from the SEIU since.

[MadBadger]

1. But this is for the GE...

[NYCGirl]

3. A fact that seems to be lost on Clinton supporters. Thank you, hnmnf! NT

[jsamuel]

4. This article was from pre-primary: January 22nd

[MadBadger]

9. So we're talking about stuff that happened months ago??? Oy Vay.

[jsamuel]

12. funny how you said it was ok because it was for the general, now it is ok because it already happene

d in the primary

Definition of hypocrisy is that it applies to others and not yourself.

[NYCGirl]

10. Did you miss this article?

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/01/25/BA3TULQIT.DTL

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama - who has criticized Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards for benefiting from "independent expenditure" and political action committees - is taking heat because some of the same kind of organizations are now spending money, organizing and putting up TV ads on his behalf in the Bay Area.

-lots snipped-

After The Chronicle reported in August about how Vote Hope was backing Obama, the Illinois senator while in the Bay Area was asked whether its activities presented a dilemma for a candidate who has criticized the influence of money in politics.

"It would be hypocrisy if I had anything to do with them," he said. "This is not something that I authorized or had any part of. ... My recommendation to people who are interested in supporting me is to support me through our campaign - the way over 250,000 donors have supported us, the way hundreds of thousands of volunteers have supported us."

Mesloh said Obama stands firm on his position about 527s.

"We do not think people should be donating to 527s," she said. "We would rather have them involved in our campaign. Obama thinks that candidates should be accountable for the campaigns they run, the donations they receive and the money they spend. It is our hope that anyone who supports Obama does so directly through his campaign and not through these outside groups."

[leftofcool]

2. This little tidbit of irony will be lost on O supporters

[NYCGirl]

5. You have a problem with Dems and 527s running against McCain? NT

[jsamuel]

8. this article was from January 22nd, pre-primary

[NYCGirl]

11. See my post above where Obama "took heat" for it. NT

[Texas Hill Country]

6. how unexpected... i am shocked!

:sarcasm:

[KittyWampus]

7. Oh, you mean Obama has had a 527 running trash against Hillary? NOT