Should Obama pay Clinton's campaign debt? (Poll)

[Jim Lane]

Poll question: Should Obama pay Clinton's campaign debt? (Poll)

Here are some threads on this subject (and I've probably missed a few):

[WA98296]

1. NO! She lost, she chooses to "fight on" and run up more debt.

[graywarrior]

2. What is she, the mafia?

[invictus]

3. Hillary should pay it herself with her $109+ million. How dare she try to take others' money! nt

[ORDem]

30. OK, to be fair: that $109M is before taxes, but nonetheless ...

I don't think Obama should be paying down her loans to herself. That's just crazy talk. The vendors yes, but only if she pulls the plug on her campaign now so she's not racking up more debt.

:eyes:

[Yael]

4. No

[bluescribbler]

5. Think about it

If the Obama campaign pays off her debts to the small vendors who might otherwise get stiffed, it would be good PR for him, and might even translate into votes in November.

[davsand]

6. WHY would he?

Seriously, I have to ask what possible motivation would he have to pay her campaign debts? Her supporters are Dems (presumably) and they will vote for who ever they think is the right person in the General Election irrespective of who pays the vendors for the work they did on Hil's campaign. I have seen the talk that this is supposed to be a "unity" thing, but I have to point out that the Clintons have more money than God--so much that they have actually been accused of hiding how much they have at times. It isn't like he'd be taking in a stray kitten off the streets...

I just fail to see any real reason for him to pay her off with a few million. He has already WON the damn race, and if things keep on like they have been she's digging a hole that is even deeper--and hurting the party at the same time. I just don't GET it.



Laura

[Tippy]

14. Will Obama be able to carry those contributions over to the GE?

[Jim Lane]

29. There are separate contribution limits

It depends on the donors' patterns of giving, but Obama almost certainly has several million that he can't spend on the GE.

Also, at one point Obama was talking about a deal with McCain that they would both take public financing, in which case he couldn't use any of his current treasury on the GE. McCain, of course, got on the Ohio ballot by agreeing to take public financing in the primaries, and then reneged on that agreement, so any deal with him is, shall we say, shaky.

[DangerousRhythm]

7. No, no and HELL NO.

They are rich. Why the hell can't they pay their own debts with their own money? I already feel bad for supporters who are still giving her money. She loaned herself money to keep herself afloat knowing FULL WELL the condition of her campaign. This is her burden and hers alone.

[stratomagi]

8. I didn't donate to Obama so he could pay Hillary for wasting money

on a shitty campaign!

[PoliticalAmazon]

33. ITA. If I want to donate to Hillary, I will. BUT I DON'T. n/t

[Clear Blue Sky]

9. No way.

Those payments come from money contributed to him, not her...

[NJmaverick]

10. Where is the HELL NO! option?

[Jim Lane]

27. Sorry! I'll try to remember it the next time I set up a poll. :) (n/t)

[bunnies]

11. Might make some Clinton supporters happy.

Just saying.

[YDogg]

16. Their votes are for sale?

Just asking.

[bunnies]

20. Not what I said OR what I meant.

But hell... if they wouldnt appreciate anyway, screw it. I dont really care either way.

[shellgame26]

23. Nothing will make them happy

except to see the impossible. I can only imagine what it would be like if things were the other way around, and Barack Obama was begging HIllary for money. Does anyone not see yet that this woman has only made it this far because of her fucking last name????!!!??? Let her pay her own damn bills. Sheesh talk about elitist. She is rich but poor people must pay off her debts??? "Let her eat cake!

[SoonerPride]

12. Small vendors, printers etc. ? YES Her loans and slimeball Penn? FUCK NO!

that's my vote

[texshelters]

13. Pay her off

get her to drop out and hire her and her crew to write attack ads against McCain.

Tex Shelters

[demwing]

15. Option #4

The little guys shouldn't get walked over. If Obama can help, he should. Its what he's basing his campaign on!

[thoughtcrime1984]

17. I put that I'd defer to Obama's judgment

She might be doing him a service staying in the primaries IF she doesn't slime him. The last 6 contests wouldn't be as energized without her still running, and there might be less registered Democrats as a result. If he kicks her 10M or so to stay in until June 3, I might see the sense in it. But I still believe it should wrap up shortly thereafter, and not become a convention fight. I am pretty sure the SD's will not allow that to happen, anyway.

[TragedyandHope]

18. As much as I loathe the idea

America needs Obama in the White House. If this is one of necessary steps on that path, then I would grit my teeth, hold my nose and agree to it. I defer to Obama's judgement.

[newmajority]

19. Why the Hell should Obama (and his supporters) pay the campaign debt of a multi-millionaire??

Hillary dug this hole herself, and she keeps digging it deeper out of arrogance and vanity. Neither Obama or the Democratic party owe her a god damn thing.

[Adelante]

21. I picked this one

I'm somewhere in between -- something like pay the debts to small vendors so they won't get stiffed, but not Clinton's debts to herself or to Mark Penn.

But I am also ready to take what Obama judges is best for the campaign and the country.

[Exultant Democracy]

22. The only people getting their panties in a knot about this are clueless

this isn't some novel new ideal that Clinton or Obama came up with, this is a common practice. Clinton can't pay primary debt with her general fund, bur Obama has money that he can use now shifting it into the primary without hurting his GE bottom line much, and it more of less guarantees that Clinton will be shifting a good portion her GE war chest to the DNC and to Obama.

So not only is it a common practices, but there is plenty of reasons why it would be a wise move.

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

24. HELL NO.

Hillary is in debt because she didn't quit the race when she clearly had no chance to win. Why should Obama pay for her $20 million ego trip?

[TexanDem]

25. THIS IS GENERATED BY MEDIA PUNDITS -- NOT CAMPAIGN..>

I called the Chicago headquarters and asked. Made a new thread about it here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5885298

[CakeGrrl]

26. No; Obama's donations support HIS candidacy. HRC needs to take reesponsibility

for her own tab.

Hell if I want to pay that slime Mark Penn's obsence salary.

[FrenchieCat]

28. Whatever it takes to get her out of my face!

At this point, I can't stand it anymore!

If she's got to bet bought off, so be it. I don't want to see her on my TeeVee saying dumbshit anymore!

[stillcool]

31. It's extortion...

kind of like Michigan and Florida. I'll do whatever I want and refuse to pay the consequences...or else.

[gal]

32. Is he paying off Edwards?

[Buzz Clik]

34. No way. She can appeal to Obama's supporters for contributions.

Good luck with that.

[demokatgurrl]

35. An argument for "yes"-

She donated money to a LOT of candidates through her HillPAC before she began this run, and Obama was one of them.