FeedPolitics: Obama charging for access, too
July 31, 2008 in Statehouse & Capitol Tags: fundraiser, Obama
I was not the only blogger who criticized last week’s Aaron Schock fundraiser because it cost $500 to get in the door and another $5,000 to get a picture taken with President Bush.
But local blogger Red Dot in a Blue State points out that many of those who scorned the GOP are silent about the presumptive GOP Democratic nominee charging more:
Imagine my surprise though when I learned that Senator Obama had a fundraiser on July 29, 2008, a mere four days after Aaron Schock’s event, in which Obama charged not $5,000 for a photograph with him, but “$10,000 or more.” Apparently a photo with the sitting Messiah goes for twice that of one with the sitting President. Bet that would have funded a few mortgages, dinners, and maybe even a child or two at camp. Don’t get me wrong, I really don’t care how much it cost or how much it raked in for Senator Obama. Apparently, neither do liberal bloggers. I wonder why they were so outraged by a Republican fundraiser though?
I agree. These big money fund raisers certainly help create an atmosphere in which those with the most to begin with have the most access to the candidates. I’m pretty sure, though, that Obama mingles with the poor unwashed masses to a far greater degree than does Bush.
Still, $10,000 photo opportunities doesn’t seem very grass-roots or even net-roots, does it?
July 31st, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Crazy, especially when I have many of photos of Obama without paying a cent.
July 31st, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Ten grand for a photo? Sheesh! I wonder if that comes with a “happy ending” and who provides that service?
August 1st, 2008 at 12:09 am
Hey, it takes a lot of money to elect the best government money can buy.
August 1st, 2008 at 12:11 am
Still nothing compared to the $25,000 Bush charged for a photo op in 2000 and 2004: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/.....50612.html
August 1st, 2008 at 6:21 am
One other thing to remember: these large fees can’t all go to the candidate’s campaign coffers (2300 dollar limit) so these fees go to a mix of political funds (e. g., DNC, or the RNC in Bush’s case). So in some sense, the most popular folks are seen as political fundraisers for their respective parties.
Re Bush: many politicos chortled that The Decider’s fee had dropped so low.
Some (Obama is one of them) have a lottery for small donors; that is if you donate at all you are given a shot at having dinner with him, going back stage, being flown to the convention, etc.
HRC (remember her?) has a similar program.
As far as the fundraiser with Bush: I wasn’t outraged, though I was amused at the “well, Bush isn’t welcome any place else but Peoria will be thrilled to have him” and “Shock is so far ahead that being seen with Bush won’t kill his chances” attitude.
August 1st, 2008 at 7:24 am
Obama is not the presumptive GOP nominee.
August 1st, 2008 at 7:26 am
““Shock is so far ahead that being seen with Bush won’t kill his chances” attitude.
I believe that was a stated opinion of the Peoria Journal Star
The President did pose for numerous “freebie” shots with members of our military, and random hugs and photo ops with audience members at the Schock event.
August 1st, 2008 at 8:15 am
Ya still crack me up, Renal.
August 1st, 2008 at 9:25 am
Didn’t the Journal Star mention that the dinner and picture fee were reduced in Peoria?
August 1st, 2008 at 11:01 am
yes, at schock’s request to make the event more accessible.
August 1st, 2008 at 10:57 pm
That was my original point. If you can afford it and want to spend your money to support your candidate, go for it. But let’s not pretend the other side isn’t involved as well.
August 2nd, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Is there any difference in the fact that one is running for president of the United States and the other is running for the 18th District House seat from the state of Illinois?
I mean, do you suppose Obama’s campaign will spend a little more money than Schock’s? If Bush got $5,000 at a Schock fundraiser, what would he charge (were he popular enough to be seen with him) for a photo op at a McCain event?
It’s all relative, in my mind.