NBA Stars to Raise Money for President Obama’s Re-election

[bigtree]

November 29, 2011

President Barack Obama‘s campaign is putting together a Dream Team of current and former NBA stars to help raise money for the president’s re-election effort.

A fund-raiser, billed as the first-ever “Obama Classic Basketball Game,” is in the works. The line-up, according to campaign materials, is an eye-popping list of stars that Mr. Obama, a devoted recreational player, would no doubt like to join.

The primo game package costs $35,000, which gets a donor “one bench seat & two courtside seats, shootaround with the players before the game, autograph session and meet & greet and dinner with the players following the game,” according to campaign materials.‬ ‪ ‬ ‪A $20,000 contribution “includes two courtside seats, shootaround with the players before the game, autograph session and meet & greet.”‬ ‪ ‬ ‪A simple courtside seat is going for $5,000.

The list of players in the “Obama Classic” so far, according to campaign materials, includes: Ray Allen, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Vince Carter, Tyson Chandler, Jamal Crawford, Kevin Durant, Baron Davis, Patrick Ewing, Derek Fisher, Rudy Gay, Blake Griffin, Tyler Hansbrough, Dwight Howard and Juwan Howard.‬ ‪ ‬ ‪Also on the list: Antawn Jamison, Dahntay Jones, Brandon Knight, Kevin Love, Jamal Mashburn, Cheryl Miller, Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutombo, Chris Paul, Quentin Richardson, Doc Rivers, Steve Smith, Jerry Stackhouse, Amare Stoudemire, Tina Thompson, John Wall and Russell Westbrook.‬


read more: http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2011/11/29/nba-stars-to-raise-money-for-obama/?mod=google_news_blog

[WinkyDink]

1. These multi-millionaires need a FUND-RAISER? How about they tap their OWN accts?

[bigtree]

2. they likely are

[bigwillq]

3. The prices are quite expensive.

I'm not sure the average person can afford this. Nice idea, though.

[bigtree]

4. jumps out at you, doesn't it?

$20,000. Whew!

[Bandit]

5. I think this is a much better idea than a $25,000. dinner...

Personally I would rather hang out a little with top of the notch basketball players than politicians.. but that is just me...:shrug:

[CoffeeCat]

7. But the problem is that it's not a quiet, low-profile dinner...

This is what I can't get past. The fact that this is an event for people who can afford
to give $30,000+ dollars to a political campaign. It's being done with such showmanship
and such glitz and ceremony.

It seems irreverent, during these tough economic times, to shine such a bright spotlight on
privileged, rich donors.

We all know that political campaigns have expensive dinners, where donors pay $25,000 a plate. However,
these dinners aren't held in stadiums with bright spotlights pointed on them. Those are usually
very low-profile events.

With so many people hurting right now, and with unemployment so high--and with many American citizens
incredibly concerned about money, corporations and the top one percent corrupting the hell out of our
political system--this fundraiser seems inappropriate and insensitive.

[CoffeeCat]

6. From a PR standpoint--a really bad idea

I don't think this is such a terrific idea. I understand the reasoning behind
a fund-raiser like this. It's high-profile. Everyone loves athletes. It
gives Obama and his campaign some all-American star power. Nice.

However, this "PR opportunity" has "top one percent" written all over it.

It's not a smart move, given these difficult economic times.

A fundraiser like this--at this point--is too risky and the downsides are
incredibly great. I could see OWS or even the Republicans using this fundraiser
to try to make a couple of points stick: That Obama is not in touch with the middle
class and he's focusing efforts on millionaire athletes and rich campaign donors
when he should be speaking directly to the middle class. This fund raiser caters solely
to the top .5 percent and because it's so high profile--it could be used as a glaring example
of Obama's catering to the rich/privileged--while ignoring average, working people.

Again, the high-profile, star-power of such an event is the problem. Every middle-class person
in this country--and those who are having tough times--will hear the details of this event
and scoff at how it is totally out of reach for them. In turn, Obama will seem "out of reach"
as well.

If anything--the Obama campaign should tout a creative, large-scale "small-donor" event--that would
underscore positive messages--such as his care and attention toward the middle class and their problems.
Maybe they could fill stands or a stadium at $30 a pop--and use that crowd to illustrate massive
support for Obama--by "average Joes" and middle-class members.

I'm having a hard time understanding how showcasing that a few elite, mucky mucks with money to burn--are Obama
supporters and campaign donors. This has "yuck" written all over it.

I'm a PR professional, and that's my five minutes of advice. Obviously Obama's PR sees it another way.

[bigwillq]

8. I like the idea; just not the prices

It would be great if a group of kids from New Haven or Hartford or Bridgeport were able to attend this event.
Just not at $25K a pop, or even $5K.


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