Clinton Allies May Dump Millions Into Anti-Obama Group - HuffPo

[WillyT]

<snip>

Manchester, N.H. -- A panicked and cash-short Clinton campaign is seriously considering giving up on the Nevada caucuses and on the South Carolina primary in order to regroup and to save resources for the massive 19-state mega-primary on February 5.

At the same time, some top independent expenditure groups supporting Clinton have been exploring the creation of an anti-Obama "527 committee" that would take unlimited contributions from a few of Clinton's super-rich backers and from a handful of unions to finance television ads and direct mail designed to tarnish the Illinois Senator's image.

The Clinton campaign has raised over $100 million, but has "only" $15 to $20 million left. It faces donor reluctance to give more in the face of the Iowa defeat and the prospect of a second loss in New Hampshire today. Even worse, the campaign fears defections among those fundraisers who want to be with a winner and who might be easily persuaded to support Barack Obama.

While the amount of money Clinton has would seem to be more than enough by past standards, the cost of competing in the February 5 states -- including New York, California, Georgia, New Jersey, Minnesota, Colorado, Tennessee, Massachusetts and Arizona - is unprecedented in the history of American primaries. She will face, in turn, an extremely well-funded Obama campaign, whose cash register right now doesn't stop ringing as donations are coming in over the Internet, by mail and in checks handed over in person.

The decision whether to take on Obama in Nevada and South Carolina will likely be made within the next 12 hours.

Both states look like probable defeats for Clinton. South Carolina has a large black electorate that is now likely to back Obama by wide margins, and the Democratic primary is open to all voters, including independents and Republicans, two other groups that in Iowa backed Obama decisively. Clinton had looked fully competitive in Nevada, but Obama's victories have boosted his chances there and now he appears almost certain to get the endorsement of the powerful Culinary Workers Union.

Arguing against pulling out of South Carolina and Nevada are Clinton aides who say that bowing out now would guarantee four defeats in a row - Iowa, N.H. lost at the ballot box, and South Carolina. and Nevada given up by default - would be a disastrous precursor to the February 5 contests. "You've got to put some points on the board. You can't just let the other guys run up the score and expect to come back in the fourth quarter," one Clinton aide said.

Three groups conducting independent expenditure campaigns in behalf of Clinton - Emily's List, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) - have explored the possibility of trying to put together a multi-million dollar effort privately dubbed the Anybody-But-Obama 527 Committee, but they have run into problems finding any Democratic operative willing to become the director of a campaign against the man who now is the odds-on favorite to become the party's nominee.

"You might make some good money in the short term, but your chances of getting any Democratic contracts in the future, especially if Obama wins, would be zilch," said one operative. "I wouldn't go there." The effectiveness of a 527 that goes negative was demonstrated by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, which attacked John Kerry's war record in the 2004 campaign.

Spokespersons for both Emily's List and the AFT both adamantly denied to the Huffington Post any involvement with plans to create an anti-Obama 527 group.

But in fact, the complexities of federal election law have made it illegal for them to be involved. The discussions about the possible creation of such a 527 committee were held among people active in the separate independent expenditure (IE) campaigns conducted by AFT, Emily's List and AFSCME. By law, there can be no communication between those working on an IE campaign and officials of the parent organization putting the cash into the campaign. Officials of AFT and Emily's list acknowledged that they have had no contact with the staff members running their IE drives.

<snip>

Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/08/clinton-allies-may-dump-m_n_80460.html

Oh good, we're gonna swiftboat OURSELVES !!!

:mad::nuke::mad:

[Bright Eyes]

1. "Clinton's super-rich backers"

Says it all.

[Kittycat]

2. Isn't it sickening? Only makes me want to see HC lose.

I certainly won't be supporting her if she wins. I think I'll sit it out (can't bring myself to vote republican), unless there's a good independent that pops up (not holding my breath).

[Tatiana]

3. AFSCME and the AFT should be ashamed of themselves!

Of course, these are groups that also fund their own brand of "democracy" in South America.

[WillyT]

4. It's Not ALL Of AFSCME... Did You See This...

Link: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=2602181

:shrug:

[Tatiana]

8. Thank you for that link. I did not see it. But it was still AFSCME leadership providing $$$

to fund this dishonest effort. Obama, since his south side Chicago days, has been a friend of labor. From the link you shared:

"But even if the ads were not deceptive, we would object to the use of
our union’s funds to attack a long-time friend of AFSCME members, a
candidate who has stood up strongly in support of workers’ rights from
his earliest days as an elected official, a candidate who included the
importance of the right to form unions in his announcement speech, a
candidate who has been a forceful advocate for working families."

That part was absolutely correct and I, as a former AFSCME member, am totally horrified that such a character assassination would be funded with the dues of working-class members (who likely support Obama over Clinton).

[Yael]

5. This is what happens when your motive is power, not service

[Seen the light]

6. Will only make her loss that much sweeter

How I loathe everything about the Clinton campaign nowadays.

[Firespirit]

7. That's repulsive

I will have zero respect for Hillary if she doesn't at least condemn this.

My respect for her is low enough as-is, between the Clintonites' sabotage of the Kerry campaign, Carville tipping off BC04, and McAwful letting the election infrastructure fall into the hands of the enemy. That, after the party took it in the gut for Bill in the 90s, repeatedly. All they ever did was USE the party for their own self advancement.

If these groups do this, it just proves that the Hillary machine will destroy literally anything and anyone, without regard to the country, just to their precious candidate.

[indimuse]

9. buncha---freaks!

you believe and spread anything... Grow the fuck up! I'm tired of playin nice!!!!!!!!!!

[michreject]

10. I'm retired UAW

and voluntary pay union dues from my pension. If the UAW backs/sponsors one of these attack ads, I will pull my dues, except for 1$. Which I'm required to pay.

[rocktivity]

11. Better they should invest their money in explaining why Hillary is good.

:eyes:
rocknation