By Hook or by Crook: Clinton's big-money donors don't like this "we the people" shit.

[Poll_Blind]

  Isn't everyone wondering why she's still in the race? Here, it's in the damned newspapers- take your pick:

Clinton supporter pressures Pelosi (CNN), Clinton Supporter Harvey Weinstein Pressures Pelosi for Florida, Michigan Revote (Gay Wired), Harvey Weinstein Threatens to Cut Off Democratic Contributions (TransWorldNews), Hollywood Clinton backer said to threaten Pelosi with cutting off donations (RawStory), Campaign '08: Running Mate 5/8/08 (CBS).

  But Weinstein is literally just the tip of the iceberg- the names on the list below (from CapitalEye.org) are responsible for sending a threatening letter to Nancy Pelosi who's sole crime is that she said it would be damaging to the Democratic party for "super-delegates" to buck the will of national convention delegates picked in primaries and caucuses.


:bluebox: She doesn't have the votes? No problem.
:bluebox: It's impossible for her to get the votes? No problem.
:redbox: She should get out of the race because there really is no way she can win it? You even suggest it and we pull our money.

  You know, a lot of people here talk about the positions of our candidates and in candid, conciliatory moments, both sides have said that there really isn't that much of a difference between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. I don't intend to debate that idea but I have to ask:

If they really are so similar, why are corporatists in the Democratic party willing to publicly put such pressure to keep the race going, when it's already over?

  Give up trying to read the tea leaves. You are looking to hard when it's right in front of you. BIG MONEY DEMANDS CLINTON WIN THE NOMINATION, SOMEHOW* It doesn't need to be more complex or exotic than that.

PB

* To be decided behind your back.

[Alexander]

1. They apparently don't like the DCCC either...

Since 7 of them gave more to Hillary Clinton than to the DCCC.

[Poll_Blind]

6. A lot of shots fired by Weinstein at the DCCC. Which says to me the big...

...money is basically saying "You don't get with the program and give Hillary the spot and we're going to make it much harder for you to get Democrats elected to Congress."

  That doesn't say, to me, that these big money donors are all that interested in Democrats or Democratic principles. They just wanna buy influence. They know they have the Clintons in their pocket and they're willing to take their ball and go home if they don't get their way.

  But they forgot about the American People.

  And that was their mistake.

PB

[PassingFair]

10. Rahm Emanuel's DCCC....

Should be called the DLCCC...

[WA98296]

2. This is why Obama could be a GREAT president, he is funded by the people.

[Poll_Blind]

21. I agree. And more than scaring the big money powerbrokers, it ANGERS them.

  Just roll that flavor over your tongue. It ANGERS them.

PB

[SemiCharmedQuark]

3. Wow. Twenty million dollars. How much did Obama raise?

[Nederland]

4. I have a dumb question

I thought a person was legally limited to $4800 per candidate ($2400 in the primary, $2400 in the general)?

[Poll_Blind]

20. I thought it was $2,300 max but to answer the heart of your question...

....you're essentially right. However, politics is all about money and power. You don't think that big money donors and the powerful are just going to stop before crossing the line of the law, do you?

  There are all sorts of Political Action Committees (PACs) which people and organizations can donate to as well as other party organs, like the DCCC, which helps elect Democratic congressmen and women.

  They're threatening to cut off all that other money, and that's worrisome, of course, because it's not just a few grand but millions and millions of dollars.

PB

[madfloridian]

5. The same ones threatened DNC fundraising...get huge donations returned.

It hurt the party fundraising during a primary.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/2011

It was a terrible thing to do.

[newmajority]

7. Haim Saban, #1 guy on that list: Likudist neocon wackjob

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haim_Saban

[walldude]

11. He should be shot just for that whole "Power Rangers" thing

:rofl: :rofl:

[PassingFair]

12. Pink PowerRanger is really Hillary!

You are SO getting your ass kicked!

[Poll_Blind]

17. Yep. And at a certain level alot of these donors become apolitical in the...

...sense that they don't really prefer either party particularly, just the party that can do their bidding best.

PB

[chill_wind]

34. "On the issues of security and terrorism I am a total hawk."

"I'm a one-issue guy and my issue is Israel," he said in his first extensive interview in years.


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/05/business/yourmoney/05sab.html?ei=5088&en=9eb8c2a72c2b5e7d&ex=1252123200&partner=rssnyt&pagewanted=print&position

[Mme. Defarge]

8. Here is a response I made in a previous post ...

This has always about Hillary getting the nomination. Once that happens she has done her job for her true constituents -- her corporate sponsors. Hillary's candidacy is about stacking the deck. And she HAS to win the nomination.

Plus, it simply cannot be a coincidence that Mark Penn and McCain's campaign manager both have ties to the same electronic voting machine company.

The fix would be in except for the one thing they didn't plan for -- someone changing the way the game is played. If my theory is correct, buckle up because it is going to be a wild ride from here on out. Their corporate paymasters will not willingly allow for a peaceful transfer of power to the voters.

[Poll_Blind]

16. I pretty much agree, esp. about the "wild ride". I've stated before that....

...I don't necessarily subscribe to the meme that the Clintons are entirely behind her continued run. That, while they bear some responsibility for their behavior, there are strings being pulled by these big money donors, and they're being pulled HARD, to make sure that Clinton gets the nomination.

  You can see it on her face sometimes, espeically lately, when she speaks. She's just tired and she and Bill and everyone else knows they're flogging a dead horse. But they've been paid enormous sums of money to run for the nomination and now that money demands they stay in at all costs.

PB

[Mme. Defarge]

19. If we really knew what was going on behind the scenes

what seem utterly inexplicable and baffling to us would probably all of a sudden make sense.

[Poll_Blind]

24. I agree, and that's why I made the post. Because these guys are making headlines...

...trying to tell the Democratic party what to do- and the Democratic party might be tempted with big bucks to comply. I think stories like this do tell the "story behind the story" and, good, bad, whatever, I find it fascinating.

PB

[PassingFair]

9. I don't know what to say about this OP....

I fear obliteration no matter what I say.

[RaleighNCDUer]

25. Consider yourself obliterated

in a completely neutral way.

[moondust]

13. Poor babies.

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:


(It must be absolute HELL when all the money in the world won't buy you an election. :sarcasm:)

[Poll_Blind]

18. "It must be absolute HELL when all the money in the world won't buy you an election."

  That is such a sweet line. And so true...

PB

[windbreeze]

38. Don't be too sure

that it's only about what money can buy, in the way that we usually think of using money to purchase something...Since this primary season started, I have been saying, that it is surreal, and that there is something going on behind the scenes that we aren't privy too...I would also not be too sure that tptb will NOT pull this out of the bag for her. The people involved are far more ruthless than what we may be willing to admit, and it will matter what they have at stake.....because of her actions lately, I believe the nomination was actually promised to her...Considering that possibility, what might "they" then be willing to do in order to bring it about?...imo...just about anything...This is not over, until he is seated in the WH...IF it happens, that is...and also imo, even then, he may not want to take anything for granted...I only hope he is well protected, day and night....

There are many instances in the not so distant past, where violent accidents, or just plain violence against an individual, brought about changes other people wanted...Wellstone, JFK Jr. (Even Teddy was shown his place) JFK/MLK/RFK...How many of those people ever thought they would end up the way they did....underestimating an opponent can have serious consequences....melodramatic perhaps...perhaps not...I'd give it about 50/50...wb (how many can say there isn't something very strange or unreal about this primary season?)

[Cha]

28. Well, they can look at it this way...

The Power of the People is stronger than all their corporatewhore money power.

Yeah, that is a good line.

"It must be absolute HELL when all the money in the world won't buy you an election"

[elfin]

14. WONDERFUL article in the current Atlantic, which arrived today -

The Obama articles are not online yet, but the one on the money raising in Silicon Valley and how Obama and his team have remade elections and possibly the future of governance via adept use of the inter-connectivity of the web is amazing.

When you read it, you become even more convinced that he represents the future and Hillary and McCain the past - and not just in the money market.

[Mags]

15. good job , Hillary people, make them earn it. Don't give the Precious One

the gift of not having to fight for the ownership.

[cliffordu]

22. Good work, rich people of the US - Your money cannot compete

no matter how far your girl is in your pocket.

Mags......Who will you support when she finally falls apart??

[Mags]

23. thinking, just like Michelle.

[KAZ]

31. "Precious One" and "ownership". This board was better when you were TS'd

[kenny blankenship]

26. Howard Dean was right

To take our country back, we first have to take our Party back.

[Cha]

27. Harvey Whinestein doesn't mind

We The People viewing his movies though, does he?

I read that article on HuffPost and he denies threatening her but he backed the wrong horse ..get over it dude.

[invictus]

29. K & R

[killbotfactory]

30. They are just trying to protect their investment.

They bought a lot of promises with that money, and now those promises are all going down the toilet. So sad. My violin will weep for them. :nopity:

[Poll_Blind]

32. And so now, I'm interested to see whether there will be some public...

...showdown...of some sort. Rassmussen (sp?) polling is nolonger going to be tracking Clinton & Barack. They say the race is ovah. I think I've seen two SD's reported as going for Obama today.

  Her campaign has been dead in the media for, what, 2 days now?

  This will be an interesting next few weeks, cause big money is usually crazy.

  Maybe start their own party?

PB

[chill_wind]

33. The criminal oligarchy aka DC "establishent" has all its $$$ invested in Iraq and has hedged hopes

for Iran. Hillary "obliterate" Iran tried to lob one right over Obama's head. She was and is their girl.

Obama has his work cut out for him when he takes office..

[Scurrilous]

35. K & R

:thumbsup:

[KittyWampus]

36. SOME of these backers are Likudnik Jews who demand Hillary get it for her sworn fealty

to AIPAC.

They can't quite stomach the racism of the NeoCons. So Hillary offers them the warhawk reassurances wrapped in a more socially liberal package.

These people may very well vote for McCain. A sorry subset of the Democratic party.

[Poll_Blind]

37. I see their commonality as one of big-money versus...

...any particular ideology. They know they have the Clintons in their pocket and they want to get a second return on their previous investments. (30% of those who signed the letter to Pelosi spent the night in the Lincolin bedroom when Clinton was president)

PB

[chill_wind]

39. Agree. Perhaps PERFECT case in point-- Bernard L Schwartz

older (1997) profile, but good example.

Orbiter of Power
His political savvy helped him get a jump on the world satellite market.


by Dave Eisenstadt

#1 Bernard L. Schwartz, 71, New York, N.Y.
Party: Both. $661,000 total contributions.


http://www.motherjones.com/news/special_reports/coinop_congress/97mojo_400/profile1.html

[chill_wind]

41. Robert L Johnson, another example.

again-- older profile (1997) but it still underscores your point.

Cable Access
A television magnate uses the money network.


#78 Robert L. Johnson, 50, Washington, D.C.
Party: Both. $194,358 total contributions.


http://www.motherjones.com/news/special_reports/coinop_congress/97mojo_400/profile78.html

[Poll_Blind]

42. Thanks for both of those examples- PERFECT cases in point. n/t

PB

[chill_wind]

40. edit- to move post

[FlyingSquirrel]

43. Looks like the Pritzkers and the Avants can see the handwriting on the wall

And to a lesser extent, the Buells.

Is there anyone on that list that DOESN'T have a very old-money-sounding name?

[SoCalDem]

44. Obama's peeps send more than that PER MONTH

Perhaps this IS the breakup of the "old party"...and Hallelujah for that..

Maybe Pelosi & her house buddies are HAPPY to see a new way to raise money..from REAL people..and lots of theminstead of having to kowtow to a few rich people who want a LOT of favors in return :)