Ok, so far I've given $175 to Obama's campaign. Should I continue knowing that this money could possibly go towards Hillary's debt? I'm sure Hillary's staunch supporters won't give a penny to Obama's war chest. I'm I wrong? I'm torn.

Obama cannot give money donated to him for his presidential race to Hillary to pay down her debt. Has something led you to believe otherwise?

Actually, I think he can. If I understand correctly, candidates with a lot of cash can take some of the contributions and give them to other candidated. I don't think they can use the money privately.

This is one way many politicians (Obama, Clinton, most who have the ability to raise a lot of money) gain political support and allies.

I'm not sure its a good idea, I guess I'd follow standard practice. I have to ask why her, and not the other candidates who ran against him. (rhetorical, I know the answer.)

I'm sure he'll consider what is poltically expediant.

there's a story on MSNBC's website. He does refer to his 'top contributors' helping out Hillary. He has referred to his contributors as average $98. Collectively or individually?


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25357545/

You know, when I am in debt, I stop eating out - cook for myself a lot - sell old useless things I have lying around like mansions and real estate.

I haven't tried asking my competitors to pay my debts yet...I'll give that a try.

I'm being facetious here, but wanted to contrast what I think shows a sense of entitlement from political leaders in our country that really highlights a fundamental disconnect between the classes.

Brotha, can you spare a dime ? What is 20 million compared to possible 500 million ? Hmm, that is a measely 4 percent doing a fast calculation, a Hillary tax. I would look at it in a sense of bridging gaps or unity. HRC had to stay competitive so she was willing to assume debts. By rights, she did assume those debts, no doubt about it. But in a prize fight, there is compensation for the loser too

I would like someone to retire my debt. A man only has his word in the final analysis. If someone wants to be honored then that someone needs to act honorably. A handshake or a promise is a contract and a legal binding contract yet sometimes hard to prove.

The realworld is that really there are few things free. We expect to be rewarded for our labors. True Charity is very hard to come by these days. To expect no reward for giving is a most noble quality. And yet, this year proves again that Americans are the most charitable people in the world on whole. Not to discount certain global Leaders and famous people that volunteer their fame, noteriety and wealth to charitable causes benefitting humanity itself. One either believes that we are in this together, "E Pluribus Unum" or not.

I can think this through a little more for you Tom, if you allow me. Based on projections of the Obama Team fund raising capabilities at 500 million, to retire HRC's debt is 4 percent. So are you personally willing to give HRC 7 dollars of your total 175 dollars even retroactively ?

Using the prize fight analogy, the draw matters. If you have 2 Belt winning contenders up against each other, the take increases at the Gate and through Broadcast. So these two heavy weights were in the ring together for over 16 months, that is a huge gate. Now, you can say, "Well in this sport there are no guarentees" and you would be right to say that.

Now, in realworld dynamics, I see a trade-off for say 20 million in advertising to future appearances by the Clintons worth 20 million. Can you see that ? All things being equal, I see a barter here. After-all the first scheduled joint appearance in public is at Unity, NY. So, you know, there is kind of sticker shock for us mere mortals looking at figures in the millions of dollar range. If I had 500 bucks in the bank or pretty certain I would have 500 bucks in the bank, would I be willing to give away 20 bux to the loser in a prize fight ?

State candidates can do that in some states. Members of Congress have to establish a special account - basically a PAC. Presidential candidates cannot do it.




They can do this with PACs and similar groups they control and/or influence. For example, during the primaries Hillary and/or Obama could tell a congressional or state candidate whose support they are looking for that they will assure the party's support, or that another member of congress who has already committed to supporting them will give to the colleague.

What you're describing absolutely does happen, but not with the funds raised by and deposited to the presidential campaign.



Like support a "Gas Tax Holiday," for example.

What they do is go to those who have already donated to Obama up to the limit and ask that, "for the good of the party" and to support Obama's wishes, the donor now help to erase Hillary's debt. They also go to bundlers who've brought in a lot to Obama, but essentially shot their was, and they ask them to go out and do the same thing (for the same reasons described previously) on Clinton's behalf.

So Belldoll need not worry her money will go paying down Hillary's debt?

Is it just me, or is anyone else thinking "To Hell with you, HRC!" after she said she was the more fiscally responsible candidate between herself and Obama?

I should contribute to HRC's now ended suspended campaign?

I lost respect for her as a candidate due to the way she was campaigning, why on earth should I help bail her out when it was her own mistakes that cost her the election?

I don't want her bailed out so quickly that she'll re-enter the race and try to steal the nomination away from Obama at the convention.

So she overspent and she's in debt? GOOD. It's not like she's going to file for bankruptcy like hundreds of Americans who are struggling to make ends meet.

I just see it like a stingy millionare being in a bar and said that they'll buy every one a drink, see the bar tab, then ask for people to chip in to pay for it.

You as an Obama supporter can NEVER be wrong on this site. That being said am a Democrat first who believed Hillary was a better candidate. I still believe that but I also believe that Obama is Better than ANY republican. So, I gave the Obama camp $100.00 last week and could care less where it goes has long as Obama goes to the white house in November. Time to stop the "I hate Hillary" crap. Your guy won and now we the demcorats need to win.

quit being bitter.

I used to support your candidate until she embraced Fox Noise and fearmongering attack ads. Before she stated that she was more fiscally responsible with a bankrupt campaign.

Maybe you should stop thinking that Obama supporters can never be wrong. For example, Obama flipped on the patriotic american flag pin issue. Only he was able to spin it in a good way.

As for needing the demco-rats to win (typo, or Freudian Slip?) I agree that the Democratic Party needs to win the Presidency.

But this "our guy" vs. "your gal" stuff has to stop. We had to choose between a novice Progressive and a expertly power-corrupted Republic-Anne Lite.

If you want to stay bitter, write in HRCs name on the ballot in September. She's as Liberal and Democratic as Zell Miller.

Exactly. I've read on certain "liberal" blogs owned by a certain ex Republican Greek woman, spouting this same thing, that Obama is gonna help Hilliary pay off her debt and infer it's coming from his campaign financing. What the ex Hilliary supporters want, is for Obama to help Hilliary raise money, to pay down her debt. They feel he should and has an obligation. Though they don't argue that Obama should do the same thing for Edwards or Kucinich or the other former candidates. dot dot dot.

She has said that the money is not to pay herself back, but to pay vendors and employees that are owed money. I sent her $10... it was the first time that contributed to her campaign. I figure it's a small price to pay for a little party unity. She and Bill have said that they will campaign for Obama and are starting to do just that. I sent her an email and said that if she keeps campaigning for Obama, then I'll send her another contribution in a month. I am concerned that if she gets the money she needs, then we won't see her anymore. I guess it's a risk that I am taking....

The thing is that her begging for money is degrading.... humiliating.... and I don't like to see from any Democrat. I don't want her supporters to see it and stir up old bad feelings. I don't think that Obama can "pay" her debt from his contributions.... but if he can, then I don't want him in that position. If I have to contribute to keep him from having too, then I'll do it for Obama. There are a lot of donors that wouldn't like it.

We Need 'Change'!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBqiee2RM60...feature=related

Find something better to do with your time. Am not up for the HRC vs Obama supporter bull crap. Primaries are over, Obama is the guy. Don't let the media turn some of you simple minded Obama supporters against Obama based on this bulls*** regarding him paying off Hillary's campiagn debt.

you couldnt help yourself, could you

you had to be extra snotty and throw in the "simple minded" comment...

When Hillary and Bill get on the campaign trail for Obama, and do it sincerely, then and only then should Obama come out and ask for donors to help with their debt.

Hillary's job is to bring those Ohio and Pennsylvania white folks over to Obama, bridge that racial divide, crush that "elitist" and "snob" handle Hillary tagged to Obama.

Not snotty at all I think it's the truth. Only a "Simple Minded" person would fall for this crap the media is feeding us on the cable news stations. Hell one minute Chris Matthews is talking about getting a chill up his leg listening to Obama and now Chris and the goof at MSNBC are talking about Obama paying off Hillary's debt. They know it going to piss off the "I hate Hillary" people on the left. Hell just the mention of Hillary make them all dingie in the head. The media is going to bring down Obama with the help of the left with crap like this. You watch what I tell ya. Hell now Obama is going to support the FISA Bill lets see what that does to them.

Getting 80% of you want is better than 100% of what you don't want. I think Dems... including the far left.... since I am one of them.... will still stay loyal to Obama.

I'm not simple minded. I didn't like the "chill up the leg" comment. I did, however, like hearing Obama's speech in 2004. It was eloquent as opposed to Zell Miller's scathing diatribe. I don't hate hillary, I think she lost her way.

And just mentioning her name does not make me go "dingie in the head". I'm just not one to use oversized, boldfaced, all-caps words in a passive-aggressive posting that decries Obama supporters as simple-minded while harrumphing your concession that Obama won the primary.

I hate the fact that Obama isn't doing more to stop the FISA bill. I hope he can stop it, because the Democrats who are diluting their morals to look more like the Constitution-shredding-for-Security Republic Party. If not, BushCo keeps winning.

Oddly, Suzi-Stef-Zuki, the first sentence of your post communicated quite the opposite. It went a little something... like this.



See how some of us might have jumped to the wacky conclusion that you're still a seething, embittered, hysterical and shrieking Hillary acolyte still all but irrational when reminded of her loss? Hey, there are a handful of them left, though most seem to have gained some perspective and regained some common sense.

Obama winning over former Clinton supporters
By NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Barack Obama has won over more than half of Hillary Rodham Clinton's former supporters, according to an Associated Press-Yahoo! News poll that finds party loyalty trumping hard feelings less than three weeks after their bruising Democratic presidential contest ended.

The poll suggests time is beginning to heal some rifts from the primary campaign and that the New York senator's endorsement of Obama carried weight. The poll was taken in the days after Clinton suspended her campaign and said she was supporting her rival.

Obama's progress with Clinton supporters is marked, yet far from complete. More than one in five who had backed the New York senator now plan to support Republican John McCain in the fall, a boost for McCain if those opinions hold.

"We still have work to do," Obama campaign manager David Plouffe told reporters in a strategy briefing. "Democrats are consolidating behind the nominee as the choice in the election is more clear and as the contest fades. Time is our friend here."
...
LINK TO THE REST OF THE ARTICLE

In spouting off previously about how Obama can or cannot help Hillary, I did carelessly overlook one way Obama CAN directly support Hillary and help in reducing her $20 million debt. He can write a personal check to her. And that is apparently what he did today.

Obama donates $4,600 to Clinton's debt relief

By NEDRA PICKLER and SARA KUGLER, Associated Press Writers

Barack Obama announced Thursday that he will help pay off Hillary Rodham Clinton's more than $20 million debt, personally writing a check in a gesture meant to win over her top financial backers.

Obama met with more than 200 of Clinton's biggest fundraisers at Washington's Mayflower Hotel, the first step in a two-day push to bring her supporters onboard his general election campaign. Behind the scenes, the two sides were negotiating her future involvement with the campaign.

Some Clinton donors had been frustrated that the Democratic presidential nominee-in-waiting had not done more to help her pay the bills even as they are expected to help fund his campaign.

Obama received a standing ovation from the crowd of more than 200 when he said he would enlist his supporters to help pay off her debt.

"I'm going to need Hillary by my side campaigning during his election, and I'm going to need all of you," Obama said, according to a report written by the only reporter allowed into the event and shared with other reporters afterward. He recounted how he had told his top fundraisers this week "to get out their checkbooks and start working to make sure Senator Clinton — the debt that's out there needs to be taken care of."

In a symbolic gesture, Obama delivered a personal check for $4,600, for himself and his wife, Michelle. The maximum individual donation allowed by law is $2,300.

Obama finance chair Penny Pritzker also wrote a $4,600 check for herself and her husband. Clinton campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe had it in his pocket and showed it to reporters waiting outside.

Clinton's debt includes $12 million of her own money. She has said she is not asking for help paying that back.

She told her donors they must make electing Obama a priority, as she acknowledged that hard feelings remain on both sides.
...
LINK TO REST OF THE ARTICLE

I'm sure that many have, and many more will.

This is common practice. You support a candidate that you like in the primary. You support a candidate that you like in the general election. Sometimes, it is the same candidate. Sometimes not.

I worried about the large number of posters all over the internet trying to split the Democratic party. How many do you think are really liberals and Democrats?

I think the term "average" would be self-evident.