by Frank James
Tom Edsall of the Huffington Post writes about the Obama campaign's efforts to cut a deal with the Clinton camp that would allow the former to help pay off the latter's campaign debt as a way of buying peace in the party i.e. getting her to end her campaign.
But there are problems. As Edsall reports:
The first is obvious: the deep and growing animosity of Obama supporters towards Clinton, whom they see as raising issues of race and 'elitism' that will hurt the Illinois Senator in November.
In an interview with USA Today for example, Clinton declared: "I have a much broader base to build a winning coalition on," citing an AP article "that found how Sen. Obama's support among working, hard-working Americans, white Americans, is weakening again, and how whites in both states who had not completed college were supporting me."
The second is less obvious: Mark Penn.
For many Obama backers, Penn, the former chief strategist for Clinton
and head of one of the biggest PR-lobbying conglomerates in the nation's
capital, is the quintessential Washington insider, capitalizing on political
connections to become a multi-millionaire.
If you run a presidential campaign that skewers Washington lobbyists, as Obama has, it would send a contradictory message to turn around and indirectly drop a cool $10 million or more into the lap of one of Washington's wealthiest lobbyists.
Then there's one more problem for Obama, as Edsall reports: a lot of his supporters viscerally hate the Clinton campaign and might revolt if he helps her pay down her debt.
As Edsall reports:
Many of Obama's grassroots and netroots backers appear to be outraged
at the thought that the Obama campaign might step in to lend a hand to get
Clinton out of a financial hole -- and out of the race -- as was reported
Wednesday.
The Huff Post web site was flooded with more than 1,200 complaints on
this score:
"No! No! No!" wrote a commenter using the web name 'Realbluesky'. "The
Clintons have proven what kind of scum they are."
One more problem. Campaign-finance laws prevent a direct financial infusion. Obama's campaign could help in other ways however, Edsall reports.
Under federal campaign finance law, the Obama campaign cannot directly
pay off Clinton's debts, or the $11.43 million she has loaned the campaign,
because that would violate campaign contribution limits. But if Obama is the
nominee, he and his donor base could provide invaluable help to her in
raising money through signed appeals, joint fundraisers and by other
methods.
In the end, it's a safe bet that Obama, if he's the nominee, will help Clinton with the debt and Clinton will campaign hard for Obama in exchange. Obama's supporters will just have to suck it up.
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Comments
The kind of Crook County cronies that will invade our federal government if Obama is elected: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-stroger-health-directors-09-may09,0,368227.story
Remember, he endorsed Toddler Stroger and thinks we, the voters, are all dumb enough to believe that this is "change."
Posted by: Jeff | May 9, 2008 9:05 AM
Just say no.
Giving money to the Clintons is a major mistake, and it makes it look like she is being paid to go away. There was no "walking around money" for Philly, so there should be no walking away money for Clinton.
The Clintons have built an intricate web of jointly held assets, and payments to her campaign neatly skirt FEC requirements (what a surprise).
She is flush with funds from Bill's speaking engagements with huge banking corporations, Colombia, and others. She mismanaged her campaign, and she needs to pay. Not the Obama camp.
I am looking forward to Obama coming out about this publicly and easing the minds of his supporters who find this idea very upsetting.
Posted by: Susan | May 9, 2008 9:20 AM
On the other hand, Obama does owe Mark Penn a lot, considering that Penn is the one who snatched defeat from the jaws of victory for Hillary. In fact Obama should send him the money with a personal note saying "Thanks for convincing Hillary to skip the caucus states and not plan for anything after Super Tuesday!"
Posted by: Scott in the Burbs | May 9, 2008 9:27 AM
Edsall conveniently neglects to mention that there is an equal amount of hurt and anger felt by supporters of Sen. Clinton. Both sides of the campaign have played hardball, so the Obama camp needs to stop acting like outraged virgins. However, Edsall correctly describes the reckless, virulent animosity that some Obama supporters have directed toward his opponents. Woman who voted for Sen. Clinton, in particular, have been made to feel like unwanted, outdated and rascist relics of the party who need to scurry back to their kitchens and iron shirts. The viciousness and misogyny that have poisoned the primaries need to be confronted and stopped if the Democratic party is to heal, and Sen. Obama is to win in the general election.
Posted by: Elsa | May 9, 2008 11:17 AM
So Jeff, I presume you are saying that McCain is the "Change" candidate, or are you a Hillary sore-loser? Either way, your feeble attempts to trash Obama by association are just that..."FEEBLE".
Posted by: Frank | May 9, 2008 11:25 AM
Sounds like back door politics to me.
Posted by: RFB | May 9, 2008 12:44 PM
WHAT!!???? To pay the Clintons from any of Obama donor money for any reason is blasphemy! (Make sure you don't give her any that I donated!) Ugghh.. I hope this is a joke, if it isn't it sucks!
Posted by: RuthieM | May 9, 2008 2:36 PM
Obama should work to find a way to pay off the small businesses Clinton has stiff and leave Hillary to pay off her buddy Penn. As an Obama donator, I don't want to pay Penn but I'd be okay with my contributions helping some caterer, sound system rental company or linen company get paid. It'd also show some goodwill from Obama towards working America to make sure that those businesses can pay their employees and bills.
Posted by: Jeff V. | May 9, 2008 2:53 PM
The Clintons plainly aren't hurting for cash. They can pay off their own debts without Obama's help. I'm sure they wouldn't want to give the impression that they were extorting money from their opponent to get out of the rade.
Posted by: Tom O | May 9, 2008 4:46 PM
He shouldn't pay the debts....she has a pile of money. I was for Hillary until Barack came along as well. As an ardent feminist I see how upset she is that this skinny guy comes along and destroys her plan.....but we need someone like Barack now.....not a doctor's daughter......our country is not a white country....we are all Americans and Barack is so representative of what we are and what we will be......he is the future and she is the past.....we will have a female president.....just not Hillary at this moment......
Posted by: as | May 9, 2008 8:59 PM
How graceful from Mr Obama. This is how truly great men and honorable fighters really win. I doubt Mrs Clinton would have extended the same curtsy to her opponent, to use one of Mrs clinton favorite expression describing Mr Obama. But what the hec, history shows that truly great men and women change the course of history with deeds and actions that speak to the mind and challange the spirit while triggering a profond desire to follow in the steps of the imperfect messenger. Go Obama go!
Posted by: rené Joseph Louis Lefebvre | May 9, 2008 11:04 PM
I am one of Obama's little contributors. I work hard on my job and it is a sacrifice to give my $25 every month. The Clintons have plenty of money and Bill has been building up a war chest from various corporate interests just to take care of his wife's candidacy. Don't do it.
Posted by: Aggie | May 10, 2008 12:18 AM
As a financial contributor to the Obama campaign, I do not support the use of my donation to cover Clinton's poor management of her campaign. If she has no money in her account and no viable prospects for cash infusions, she should discontinue campaigning and start paying off her loan herself. Isn't this one more example of what NEEDS to change in America - people spending more then they can afford and then looking to others to bail them out because of their greed and lack of foresight? Let the Clinton machine look to their supporters to rescue them. You guys pay for Mark Penn - I want nothing to do with it - he's scum.
Posted by: Rob | May 10, 2008 9:27 AM
why has the gov. of kansas not been mentioned for VP. she has had no limelight comared to the missouri gov????? I thought she was impressive in every way the one time I saw her on TV.signed: a disappointed lifelong repub. (it has to be a LADY)
Posted by: billy howard | May 11, 2008 1:25 PM
why has the gov. of kansas not been mentioned for VP. she has had no limelight comared to the missouri gov????? I thought she was impressive in every way the one time I saw her on TV.signed: a disappointed lifelong repub. (it has to be a LADY)
Posted by: billy howard | May 11, 2008 1:25 PM