madleinx

So I just got an email from the Obama campaign. Get this:

"American Leadership Project" will take unlimited contributions from individuals and is organized the same way as the infamous Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.

ABC News reports that this group is seeking 100 Clinton supporters to each give $100,000 to fund its $10 million effort to promote Senator Clinton and "contrast" her positions with Barack Obama's."

Isn't this shit illegal? And if it's not, it should be! Talk about special interest and politics as usual. You know, up until now I would have been happy with either Senator as the Dem. nominee in the fall (though my preference is Obama). NOT ANYMORE!!

Now, I have not seen or heard this story on any major media outlets. Why the silence? Where is the outrage?? Hell, what does John McCain have to say about THIS for campaign finance reform? I am one person. I don't know how to spread the word around, but the GFY grapevine is always a good place to start.

This type of underhanded, quid-pro-quo political maneuvering must stop! If you care about the future of this country, get mad and do something! Tell someone! I'm off to bully CNN.

BannerAnt

and how exactly did they get your email?

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RedShoe

wait... what? Where does the email start and stop, and who are you pissed off at?

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mrgica

You still think one individual steers the whole country??
Relax worker, not even one company's president can run his company alone, not to mention the whole country/nation.
So relax who ever gets elected, the tings will depend on how hard you work!
I never heard of anyone got rich because of the particular president who was elected that year.

So keep flipping burgers and relax, we still love burgers..

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After Shock Media

Um did you honestly expect anything different?
Do you really think any of them want this changed?

Everyone wants to talk about finance reform but nobody ever fixes it, hmm wonder why that could be.

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madleinx

Through the barackobama.com website. They send regular emails to supporters that sign up on the site.

The email was sent by David Plouffe, Obama's campaign manager.

Redshoe, I am pissed at the Clinton campaign. This type of collusion between a candidate and "corporation" (founded a couple of days ago) is illegal, and for a good reason. Obama's lawyer, Bob Bauer, has said that the group could face criminal and civil liabilties, and is threatening legal action.

I am also pissed at most of the major news outlets for not uttering a peep about this. Even ABC, who broke the story, now has it pretty well buried.

My question: Why are you people NOT pissed?

kane

There are some who would argue that this is simply freedom of speech in action. If you don't like Obama (or any candidate for that matter) should you not be allowed to form a group and make commercials or take out ads in the paper stating your position?

What makes things like this underhanded is when a nominee organizes them as a way of getting around the rules. If someone decides to act on their own and pay for some commercials themselves that is one thing, it's another when a campaign helps them set it up and steers them in how they want to do this.

I am 100% for free speech, but I think there needs to be some kind of regulations on these things including allowing you to get sued if you make false statements and making it so that nominees can't organize or advise these types of things.

baddog

Thank you, I thought it was just me.

John.

I think it might have happened to one or two over the years lol

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BradM

What was the email that was sent out? No one knows what you are talking about.

D Ghost

everyone quit knockin on Hillary damn

madleinx

I'm not sure what's confusing y'all, but...here is the email:

News broke yesterday that a few wealthy Clinton supporters are gearing up for a massive spending campaign to boost her chances in the big upcoming contests in Texas and Ohio on March 4th.

The so-called "American Leadership Project" will take unlimited contributions from individuals and is organized the same way as the infamous Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.

ABC News reports that this group is seeking 100 Clinton supporters to each give $100,000 to fund its $10 million effort to promote Senator Clinton and "contrast" her positions with Barack Obama's.

That's the opposite of how politics should work, and the opposite of how Barack Obama has run this campaign.

The same day this group's activity was revealed, we announced that nearly 1 million individual people have donated to this campaign.

Stand up against politics-as-usual. Be one of the million supporters who are calling out for change.

If you give as part of our matching program, your gift will be doubled by a previous donor. You can even choose to exchange a note with them about why you are part of this movement.

Make your matching donation now:

https://donate.barackobama.com/match

Groups like this are forbidden from working primarily for the purpose of electing or defeating a candidate.

Yet here we have a committee that springs up on the eve of an election, promotes a specific candidate, and has no history or apparent purpose of lobbying specific issues outside the benefit to the candidate of these communications.

This raises a number of legal and ethical issues, but more than anything it reveals an attitude towards politics as a game that is played to win at all costs.

Americans are ready for change. We are tired of Swift Boat-style groups and smear campaigns.

Be one of a million voices calling for a new kind of politics and a new kind of leadership.

I'll keep you updated as the situation with this group evolves.

Thank you for your support,

David

David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

madleinx

Exactly! Thank you, Kane.

baddog

I thought I read something about Obama raising $6 million a day or some shit. Pretty impressive money. What exactly is different about this? The fact that they oppose your choice?

madleinx

Obama is taking money from individual donors, who are capped off at $2300. Over 900,000 individuals have donated to his campaign. What this group is doing is more like a corporation buying a candidate. And sorry, I think the Clintons probably pre-approved it (no, I can't prove that, of course. gut feeling).

I had no problem with Hillary till today. NONE. But she's gone on the bandwagon about "change for America" too, and this reeks of shady, backroom deals and politics as usual. It's the deception that bothers me the most.

Tom_PM

Stand up against politics as usual?

Using a campaign newsletter to get donations from your supporters is somehow not politics as usual? umm..

I dont want to be rude about it, but there is more politics as usual in Obama's campaign and past record as everyone else. Where is the media on that?

A bit blinded by his light

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Tom_PM

So you buy a newsletter hook, line and sinker and it makes you even more against someone. Negative politics as usual. Incredibly clever.. do you see it?

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xclusive

I wonder how many slumlords have donated to his campaign

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Pics Traffic

How is that a problem? Obama does the same thing or not?

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baddog

These 100 people are individual donors also. They just don't have to worry about money for schoolbooks and rent.

hungry hungry hippy

she deserves it for being the shady, hypocritical, old politician she is. i have absolutely no sympathy for her and the shit she brings on herself. i only regret that the mainstream media is so light on her in regards to what she's done in the election thus far.

obama raised that money from small donors like madleinx stated. he did it fair and square, the legitimate, legal way. you honestly don't see a difference in 900,000 individuals giving a maximum of $2,300 and 100 individuals giving $100,000?? this is VERY shady, and i wouldn't doubt if it's illegal.

baddog

Why would it be illegal for me to donate $100k to a group that supported Obama?

cherrylula

I love politics and the hate it incites in people. Absofuckinglutely love it.

Don't be mad, study their marketing and get rich.

hungry hungry hippy

it depends on the group and their action. they can't be setup for the sole purpose of helping one single candidate, either positively, or going negative. if they do this, it's illegal because they're essentially part of the politicians campaign. there's campaign finance rules for a reason, so things like this don't happen.

this group seems to fall into one that's pushing one candidate - clinton. and being established one week ago to the day isn't helping the groups credibility.

this reeks of shadiness.

cherrylula

Freedom of speech kicks ass.

DaddyHalbucks

Swift Boat Veterans for Truth --isn't that the same group which Bill Clinton has blasted in his speeches?

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Axeman

Quoted for truth. You have to take whatever either campaign gives you as full bias and seek other sources for truth. Unfortunately its been a bit tougher with the media forgetting what being a journalist means.

madleinx

1. I did look the story up elsewhere, thanks. Though it was difficult to find.

2. It did not make me "more against someone". I wasn't against Hillary in the first damn place. I've said repeatedly during the campaign season that I'd be happy with either Senator as Pres.

3. If I truly believed that was the newsletter's purpose, then I would think it clever. I don't think it was written to incite anger. It WAS to get donations. LOL, they always are.

4. Thank you for getting my point, Hippy.

This is ridiculous.

pussyserver - BANNED FOR LIFE

BULLSHIT

I am signed up to just about every Obama group on the internet

and I recieve every campagin email right away

I have never recievedthe email that I am sure you just made up

your post is false 100%

why try to start rumors on the internet?

pathetic

pussyserver - BANNED FOR LIFE

I am pro Obama and want him to win


... but I dont want to get there with BS rumors and lies

there was no email like this from the Obama camp

and no such group exist to support Hillary

madleinx

I will forward it to you, if you like. Give me your addy. Came to BOTH my email addresses and was sent Thurs., Feb. 21.

And don't call me a liar, you fucking punk. We are (strangely enough) on the same side.

pussyserver - BANNED FOR LIFE

Campagin never puts the donate now link in the middle of the email

that wouldnt make any sense

and im not a fuckin punk

madleinx

There are THREE total links to donate in the email (four if you count the image on the sidebar). Two are in the middle, one after the signature. Really, give me your addy - I'll be more than happy to send it to you.

cherrylula

You obviously aren't getting the Hillary emails then. We're talking multiple links.

Matt 26z

I don't have a problem with these groups. If a private group of citizens want to organize whatever they want around their candidate, then they should have the freedom to do so and spend whatever they have.

kane

Even if they are going to tell only lies of half truths?

Rick Ross

Why do you even give a fuck? Stop being a dick blower and get back to work.

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hungry hungry hippy

i can't comment on the credibility of the email, i didn't receive it either. but the story doesn't appear to be bullshit. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2...4327725&page=1 http://www.nydailynews.com/news/poli...ads_for_h.html granted they aren't as solid sources as say, the AP.

i wouldn't have a problem if the group was promoting democrats in general, or an issue in general. but they're not doing that: they're basically side with one candidate, and attack that candidates main opponent. essentially being part of the campaign, and doing their bidding by proxy. if you don't see a problem with this, you probably don't see a problem with lobbyists.

if a pro national healthcare group forms, and wants to take unlimited donations to promote their message and the candidates that support their message, that's fine. but bullshit like this is not..

open your eyes

pussyserver - BANNED FOR LIFE

I stand corrected

my apoligies Madleix... but I never recived the email in question

good catch

wow

madleinx

no biggie.

now is it making sense?

uno

So where are the links to the stories?

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hungry hungry hippy

did you read this thread fully, and my reply?

uno

Nevermind, had to refresh thread.

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madleinx

mx8829

Gfy ;)))))

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Matt 26z

It's a slippery slope. Do you really want to regulate what citizens can say about candidates?

I think groups telling lies need to be held accountable in court. Those behind the Swiftboat campaign that destroyed Kerry should have been held responsible for their deception.

hungry hungry hippy

citizens: no
corporations and companies: yes

kane

You are right, it is a slippery slope. Still, you can't run into a crowded theater and yell fire and not be held accountable. The problem is that suing these guys doesn't always help. Sure you can get some damages and demand an apology etc, but by then the damage is done and what they said may have cost you the election.

Take this as an example. Say you and I are running against each other and I once gave a speech about violence in a 3rd world country where I said, " there are some people that think killing kids is good because it controls the population. We are not those people." That is a pretty clear statement. But you hate me so your group gets together several million and you launch a campaign against me and in it the commercials have me quoted as saying, "...killing kids is good because it controls the population." Now I have to spend the time and money to defend myself. Since it wasn't you that said I can't confront you about it and you can deny any involvement. Many people won't ever see my defense or any apology that might be made and something like that could cost me a lot of votes. It is irresponsible speech.

I think there should be some kind of a committee that pre-screens all political ads and commercials of any type and approves them. The only criteria that must be met is that everything in them is truthful and if you take something out of context you must explain where it came from. People could still spend their money and say what they wanted, they would just have to have make sure they spoke the truth.

DBS.US

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