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Subscribe to RSSIn advance of Thursday's second-quarter fundraising deadline, Obama 2012 campaign manager Jim Messina yesterday sent this message to the millions on President Obama's email list:
Watch the President's video, and then donate $5 or more to be automatically entered for the chance to have dinner with him.
In the video, the president announces that Joe Biden will join him at the dinner. "I’ve got a pretty big announcement about that contest the campaign is running where you can join me for dinner. We’re setting another place at the table for Joe Biden."
The potential trouble: The Web video was shot from the White House, and as ReaClearPolitics reports, it's against the law -- for the president or any federal government employee -- to solicit funds from "any room or building occupied in the discharge of official duties."
It shall be unlawful for an individual who is an officer of employee of the Federal Government, including the President, Vice President, and Members of Congress, to solicit or receive a donation of money or other thing of value in connection with a Federal, State or local election, while in any room or building occupied in the discharge of official duties by an officer or employee of the United States, from any person.
The White House makes three arguments defending the Web video, which it says was shot by the Democratic National Committee. One, it says it's NOT a fundraising solicitation. "This is not a fundraising solicitation in any way shape or form," an official tells First Read. "We don't solicit funds from the White House."
When pressed that the email from Messina asks for a donation of $5 or more, the official responds, "But you don't have to give to win. The raffle is a raffle. If you give, you're entered, but you can enter without giving."
Two, the White House maintains that raising money from the White House isn't illegal -- what is illegal is raising it from particular rooms where business is conducted. "We are allowed to actually fundraise from certain rooms, but this administration has chosen not to," the official adds.
And three, the White House argues that previous presidents -- including George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan -- have used certain White House rooms as a backdrop for fundraising pitches.
Mary Boyle, the vice president for communications at the good-government group Common Cause, contends that the Web video ISN'T analogous to raising money from the Lincoln Bedroom. "It's encouraging small-dollar contributions, something we think is important."
Boyle's bigger beef is with Obama's March meeting with big donors in the White House's Blue Room. "It was disappointing to see... It has the appearance that these are donors who are getting special treatment, because they have a lot of money."
"It all goes back to our broken campaign system," Boyle adds. "This is what you've got to do to raise money."
Leave a Comment:
This is not a fundraisers.
The "kinetic military action" in Libya is not hostile.
The stimulus created jobs here-rather than in China.
Once HCR is passed- people will love it.
This is what passes for reality in Obamaland.
Sad thing is, he really does believe all this. Reality is not his string suit.
Wow, just wow. This administration really has some grapefruits.....
Don't you all get it yet? He is just flaunting it now.
"Don't you all get it yet? He is just flaunting it now."
Good for him.
(Who's he think he is, Rove or somebody??)
How great for you conservatives/Republicans/Tea party members. Something new to complain about. Something new to blame Obama for. Something new to deflect from all of the nonsense going on on the Republican side.
Enjoy!
fielden
what do expect from clueless goons? they walk out on important debates forgetting thats their primary job. for every opportunity to deflect attentions, they pounce on it and ride it to death. do they have any other solution other than TAX CUTS for top 2% that never grows the economy. this is how we solve problems.
Drive By - You gotta admit, he is playing pretty close to the edge with all of these recent "interpretations". I'm sure he is on legal ground, somehow, with all this stuff lately, but when every other day, he's got attorneys explaining his actions, sooner or later it will be about perception.
But like I say, the man has some real grapefruits....
Hey No Joe, what say you and I enter, (No purchase required) What do you figure our chances of winning would be?
Ummmm .... Who's got the bead on whether this is legal? I don't know offhand. I see White Collar is wondering, too. Wasn't it covered in the article?
Seems to be legal parsing about which rooms are legal and which aren't. Whatever room, it is pretty cheesy.
It's simply amazing to see conservatives drooling over something thats LEGAL. Where is the sense in this debate? As a Libbie who believe in the direction President Obama is taking this country, am going to take my hard earned $5.00 and play.
Want proof his base doesn't care what he does? Read these comments from his backers. Even the FR sycophants had to point out it's against the law.
I fully expect the Messiah to begin public executions of his rivals and his goons to be chanting. Kind of like the "kill the white people" chants heard in Peoria.
Obama's got to go. He cares nothing of our nation or it's laws.
So here is that change he promised. You all remember, right. Drive By, I know you remember:
*ran against the evil of money in politics;
*lied about taking campaign matching funds;
*gamed on line credit card donations to allow illegal donations.
Yep it was all about them small money donors. Sure it was.
But to the Drive By's it's ok cause "they did it too."
Problem is for every Obama cheerleader like Drive BY and Feisty, you get three Anna Mollys.
It is super stinky and you all know it.
That plus the whole war mongering cowboy thing. You know gang this seems a little like ethics, and the bad kind like you all say Clerance Thomas has, not the good kind like Clinton. :)
Hey maybe he'll make up for it by putting debt ceiling negotiations on C-Span?
Anna, from what I read, the White house position is:
This is not a fundraiser,(despite its being run by the campaign);
Even if it IS a fundraiser, it is not illegal; and
Even if it IS illegal, other presidents did it, too.
Whitecollar- I would LOVE to use the no fee required route. Can you imagine the howls on this board if we DID win?!?
kirby in idaho
I would assume that the rules don't apply to the part of the White House where the family lives and that the rooms where state business is conducted are off limits as, for the most obvious example, the Oval Office, which is basically the US equivalent of the British royal throne room.
Or maybe it's just that the rules are different for Democratic presidents than they are for Republicans. The FR writers didn't seem to be too perturbed about Reagan and Bush doing similar stuff from the White House.
Hey, Spanks- thanks for the shout-outs. I was getting tired of typing my own name all afternoon. Say- you make some interesting points, but you sound a little wound up today, too, like many of your cohorts.
Gosh- will you all get over it, I wonder?
no joe -- Thanks. I'm a little concerned. Hope they've vetted this through some really good lawyers. It sort of flunks the smell test, but then again, what about the $20,000 per plate dinner? So maybe not.
I guess I'll wait to hear more. Thanks again.
I know I will. Already done, in fact. Feels good.
Curiously, though, I would really like a drink, and I don't drink.
Wound up Drive By? No, sadly a little mopey. Sun still isn't out, got a big pile of pleadings to read through and respond to, and I jammed my finger playing ball today. And you know how hard it already is to type for me.
Nope, actually today is ok around here. Love the Dream Act stuff. Just highlights for the people that Obama and CO. don't get it. Then there is this. I don't know itf it is illegal, but is sure is unseemly.
I mean there whoring and then there just doing stuff for money.
Kinds looks like this is our president doing something for one thing, and one thing only - $.
But as to the above post - I wouldn't want to respond to that stuff if I was you either. Not good for your side. Kinda seems like a pattern lately.
Anna -
I'd like to get a non drink, drink as well.
In their apparent excitement over another nontroversy, the FR people seemed to have overlooked this part of the RCP article they linked to:
Doug Ponders
who's flakier, you or bachmann. cause, i see it's either you find it hard to read and comprehend or your simply a flake. I believe it's the later.
June gloom sucks.
Hoping to head out to La Haina's Thursday, but if no sun it is less fun. Still beats the office, but...
That's why I'm stoked for Havasu this weekend. Should be hot, and crowded.
Although PB in the summer is pretty crazy too. But since the bastards outlawed drinking on the beach it has, sadly mellowed out. Another reason having a boat is key.
In response to questions about whether the president and his political team had stayed safely on the legal side of the relevant statutes, White House officials made three arguments. First, they said, an open process for small donors to essentially win a raffle is not the kind of fundraising prohibited under the law -- and the president didn't make a direct appeal for donations, anyway. Second, they pointed to a longstanding advisory opinion from the Justice Department that differentiates between the residence portion of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. -- where the aide said Obama had been filmed -- and official rooms in the White House. Third, they said, Obama's approach is in keeping with the practices of his predecessors.
"It's no different than what happened under eight years of George Bush and eight years of Bill Clinton," the official explained, speaking on background.
This assertion appears to be half-true. Although the news accounts cited by White House officials do show that George W. Bush filmed political ads in the White House, they were not overt fundraising efforts. But directly raising money in the White House was indeed the context of the bitter controversy President Clinton and Vice President Al Gore provoked in 1995 and 1996 by aggressively raising millions of dollars in campaign funds during activities expressly designed to use the White House as a hook to attract donor interest.
Congress subsequently investigated Clinton's Pennsylvania Avenue courtship of donors, which included using the Lincoln Bedroom for donor sleepovers and offering intimate meetings and briefings with Clinton and other top officials inside the White House for the donors who could -- and did -- write big checks. Republican lawmakers, joined by some good-government advocates, howled that the president had sold White House access to raise money for his re-election.
Gore, who admitted that he solicited campaign cash from a telephone in his vice presidential office, famously argued during a West Wing briefing for reporters in 1997 that he had been operating within the law because there was "no controlling legal authority."
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2011/06/28/white_house_says_obama_fundraising_appeal_not_illegal.html
Are you serious? Maybe you find it hard to comprehend because you operate on a fourth grade level.
Just sayin'.
I must apologize. I cannot get past the spelling/grammer to formulate a comment.
"grammar", not grammer
Thanks for the apology.
Heard about this earilier today on bloombergTV. Bet the libsRus will be going full bore to get all them $5 lottery tickets in.
Wonder if he foots the transportation and lodging bill? Would be nice to spend the night in lincolns bedroom, or whatever it is called now. Only won two lotteries, one as a kid the other around 1970.
I won a Brownie Flashfun camera in a contest once. And as an adult, I once had 3 out of the 6 numbers for Powerball.
I got 4 twice.
No way in hell would I want to sit down with that idiot. Not even for $5.
Yes, it includes transportation and lodging and I believe it is for a party of 4 people. I entered a few days ago. The initial email entry did not include the video and did not ask for a donation. I would loooooove to win this!
Shades of the Lincoln Bedroom. Raffling off a dinner with the Prez and Veep? Good God!
Kirby. Who slept in the Lincoln bedroom during Bush's term?
Who cares Patrick. This continual deflection isn't working for you. This article is about our President raffling himself off for $5 a shot. Maybe that is ok with you. It isn't ok with me.
Lincoln's bedroom? The ex president, or the 'logs' guy? One of 'em was born in Waterloo Iowa, I think....
The president is not raffling himself off. He is raffling a dinner invitation.
DBO -
I think Feisty and Bev were born in Waterloo.
Pretty cool about the Prez raffling himself off, ain't it?
"Pretty cool about the Prez raffling himself off, ain't it?"
Maybe- which part? A foot? An armpit? A slice of that wit and charm you guys can't stand??
What about Biden- does he get to kick in a toe or an eylash? A booger??
Oh, it's only a dinner invite? Not an actual guy (or part of one)? Well, hell- you're no fun.
Now the chef is in on the act:
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/obama-pushing-behind-scenes-to-win-over-big-dollar-donors/2011/06/24/AGO5NGoH_print.html
Good thing they don't have a country to run. The "top West Wing officials" that is. Not the chef.
Or, maybe the chef could come up with a budget?
Why would anyone buy a raffle ticket to be with Super Joe Biden? Just go to the nursing home and watch grandpa take a nap, it would be the same thing, cost less, and grandpa would appreciate it more.
Oh please Drive By =
You probably could have a conversation with Obamas armpit and get as much out of it as talking to Joe.
Kirby. Exactly. You only care when it is a democrat, shows your ethics depend more on a persons politics that any moral compass you have, or should say lack thereof.
"You probably could have a conversation with Obamas armpit and get as much out of it as talking to Joe."
The Real one, or the nursing home guy?
You guys are pretty worked up this afternoon. Pretty funny, to say the least. Maybe if I stay logged on long enough, one of you will holler "Obama's a poopy-head'.
Well gee Patrick, it isn't a republican doing it, is it? Therefore you don't know what my ethics about it would be if a republican did it. Of course you often post without knowing what you're talking about, so no surprise there. How is your parakeet?
I say they do one of those Popeil-type deals:
BUT WAIT! Order NOW, and we'll ALSO include a photo op with the Salahe's!
Hey Patrick do you recall what Obama said as a candidate? He sure no like-y liked "the evils of money in politics" remember?
Gosh, he sure has changed. Maybe that was teh change he was talking about?
All the libs must be running to the post office to mail in their donations, otherwise they would be here proclaiming the wisdom of obama in promoting gambling.
I do like the standard disclaimer though...No purchase required.
"All the libs must be running to the post office to mail in their donations..."
That's right. And you can't do a damned thing about it, can you?
Poor you.
american, don't pout. You can make your donation and have a chance to go to dinner as well. We liberals don't exclude people...
american -2051576
i guess he's not killing casinos business by promoting gambling?
DBO comment said,
"All the libs must be running to the post office to mail in their donations..."
That's right. And you can't do a damned thing about it, can you?
Poor you.
"A fool and their money soon parting ways"
Priceless!!
Amazing how the "liberal media" manages to ignore similar infractions by republicans.
Yes, it is. So much for that darned liberal media bias the right complains about.
You mean the liberal media isn't really liberal after all...?!
fielden. The "liberal media" exists only in the fertile minds of conservatives like Howie Kurtz.
Patrick, so true!
You guys want liberal media, tune up and down the AM dial sometime (I Know, I know- all the 'cool' people quit listening to AM radio around a hundred years ago....). You'll find plenty of Libs like Rush, Hannity, Medved, Cunningham, Ingrahm, Huckabee, Air America, etc etc etc....(ooops- scratch Air America. It may have been too conservative).
No satellite radio Drive By?
I think you are long overdue for an upgrade. Much better.
Sure sat. Radio, Sparks, but in reality- I'm still a set of 'cans' and wax guy at heart.
Christie can rip off the tax payers of his state and it is a one day story, bet the pundits run with this for at least a week.
probably so, mention palin and watch the libs scoot about like coackroaches. lmao!
Besides look at all the mileage obama is getting for his stupidity on the war powers act. Seems that if he presented his case right after the UN humanitarian mandate both the L and R would have probably given him a pass.
Quess obama knows best... rotflmao!!
So what? Good for President Obama's campaign staff; it gives his supporters a chance at dinner with the President and VP for the money they would give anyway. This is not something new. In 2008, the Obama campaign had lottery-type fundraising efforts. It is not illegal. It's no different than buying a seat at a fundraising dinner only this allows every supporter a chance.
Today's
It may very well be illegal, but whether it is or not, it is still cheap and lessens the office of both the president and veep.
Yeah, you're right Jody. So what? Who cares if there is a law against it? What does it matter that Obama is in full campaign mode 17 months before the election.
If it feels good, do it, right Jody?
Whatever, let the moron do what he wants. He's only got 20 months left in office.
Apparently it is Jody . .
Obama is trying to get the trailer trash vote.
Sure it does, just imagine a blue collar worker, or heaven forbid, a union worker having dinner with the president in the "peoples" house.
"Obama is trying to get the trailer trash vote."
Yep. That's our guy.
Always takin' something away from the 'undefeated' Palin.
JoAnna. No chance of the president getting the trailer trash vote, republicans have had it locked up for years.
There is a law against using spaces occupied in the discharge of official business. But don't let the details distract you.
And those dozen or so Republican hopefuls, constantly denigrating the president, are doing what...?
Real classy...
More classy rhetoric... Hate away.
Image Obama meeting with his economic advisers and coming up with a budget!
Yeah, I know. But we can dream, right?
fielden is offended about my writings about Obama not being "classy".
In 500 words fielden, explain how it's "classy" to raffle off members of the executive branch for political fund raising purposes.
JAS1
What's not classy are your habitual lies.
Its not classy, its embarrassing.
You guys complain about name calling and then turn right around and use words like "moron" and "trailer trash" in connection with the President.
Members of the executive branch are NOT being raffled. A dinner at the WHite House is.
But spin away...
awwww... the poor libs have double standards and after the revelations made last week about many of them conspiring about spin and blame. Bring it on girls! lmao!
Feildon - not that we know about yet!
OMG, This President is so immature, With everything going on in the world today, he is concerned with some stupid win a dinner with the president campaign fundraiser. He is so embarrassing to the country. He acts like he is trying out for some reality show or something. Wake up Mr president, many americans are suffering today because of your poor leadership!! If you dont want the Job then quit. Then you can have dinner raffles whenever want.
" With everything going on in the world today, he is concerned with some stupid win a dinner with the president campaign fundraiser."
Will all those on the extreme right raise their hands if they believe Mr President Obama sat down and did this, and not some campaign wonk on the payroll...... ok- show of hands, now. Show us which ones of you are in the 'smart' group...
I guess Im in the smart group. LOL
No, matter who did it, the idiot cant deny he knew about it and approved it. LOL
Wasn't he in the video? Of course he was so he obviously signed up for it. Maybe not his idea, but he sure is working it, ain't he?
Uh...Er....he was in the video, but he was reading off a Tele-Prom-Ter, and not paying attention to what he was actually saying?
Yes, I am sure that was it. Just another day at the office.
dbo,
Uh...Er....he was in the video, but he was reading off a Tele-Prom-Ter, and not paying attention to what he was actually saying?
Humor's not your long suite, it, The Total Waste?
Yea, like you know anything about humor.
HEY, Goddamnit! How did NO JO get to post FIRST?? Something mighty fishy goin on here..
(yes, Feisty- I left you an opening there....but be careful. Somebody's big brother might catch up to you and make you pay!))
She's too busy donating her welfare check for a chance to slob on the knob of the pres...
Oh oh, its the web police...lets see you do the same when fistyredbush attacks everyone all day long.
I gave a donation and plan to give more!
Hey Tommy - what the hell, give him your entire unemployment check.
Well...in my mind:
Argument one is really splitting hairs...it seems to be pretty obviously a fund raiser. I really don't understand how you can send out an e-mail saying:
Watch the President's video, and then donate $5 or more to be automatically entered for the chance to have dinner with him.
And then follow it up when pressed by saying: "But you don't have to give to win. The raffle is a raffle. If you give, you're entered, but you can enter without giving."
Argument two is probably the most solid rebuttal. If it's only illegal in certain rooms and they didn't do it in one of those rooms, then it's legal. Some may question the ethics of it, but it is legal if that's the case.
As for argument three, c'mon...that sounds like what my kids say. But other kids did it. They would have been better off stopping after number 2.
I think you misunderstand the issue. Nobody is arguing that since Bush did something wrong, Obama should be able to get away with it, too. Bush did NOTHING wrong because his campaign ads were taped in the residence, not in the Oval Office or other place where business is conducted. Similarly, Obama's video is LEGAL if not taken in a room used for state business. So your analogy to little kids just doesn't hold.
Its just another trash the President day in pundit land.
For me, thats every day until Nov 6 2012
Frank- I pick number 3. (I learned it off some of the big kids on First Read.)
This is so low rent, we have the sitting President soliciting donations, on web video no less. He might as well panhandle outside of the White house.
FR:
But the media applies different standards to Democratic presidents. That's why the Lincoln bedroom deal was such a big "scandal" for Clinton, but Duhbya Bush having the felonious Jack Abramov in for a photo op was barely mentioned at all.
Houston,
I like what Frank said,
c'mon...that sounds like what my kids say. But other kids did it.
So, it's OK with you as long as the "other kids" are Republicans and nobody makes a stink about it. I don't know about kids, but among ADULTS, that is called "hypocrisy."
On the subject of bogus controversies stirred up by the press, Greg Sargent wrote on his blog today about how the media tried to smear Obama with guilt-by-association with Blagojovich. but when they couldn't find any evidence of corruption on Obama's part, they just quietly dropped the subject. This looks like yet another such nontroversy that will disappear in a few days. The media is sure to cook up another one when this one peters out.
Houston,
Did I say that? I was simply pointing out how juvenile your comment was.
thetotas
I'm simply pointing out that you are a hypocrite.
Huston,
How am I a hypocrite?
Aside from this being a pathetic attempt to get the poor to contribute (Say it ain't so!You mean, for only 5 dollars I get to see the President?.........Whatta mean, I didn't win? Gimmee my 5 Dollars back!) to his next campaign of screwing America over.
It's apparently illegal.
And Pathetic. After his failed attempt in NY at trying to get idiots to pay 38,500 a plate (epic fail) then he pimps himself out for $5 a pop? That is soooooo cheesy porno.