Friday, April 6, 2012

Report: Dems give special interests convention role

Though President Barack Obama has barred lobbyists and corporations from contributing money to the Democrats' upcoming convention in Charlotte, those special interests aren't likely to be shut out -- thanks to some creative ways of giving suggested by convention organizers.

That's the premise of a new story in the Los Angeles Times by Matea Gold, who covers money and politics from the newspaper's Washington Bureau.

"Even as Democrats tout the three-day event in September as a populist gathering," she writes, "organizers have found ways to skirt the rules and give corporations and lobbyists a presence at the nominating convention. That suggests they can't raise the $37 million for the political extravaganza without at least some help from moneyed interests."

Gold writes that convention officials have encouraged corporate executives to write personal checks and suggested that corporations can participate by donating goods and services or giving through a corporate foundation. And, she writes, lobbyists who raise bundles of money from their clients "will get perks like premium credentials and hotel rooms."

Lobbyists are not necessarily cheery about the changes, Gold writes. And the Democrats have said a meeting with lobbyists in Washington was an effort to educate them about the new rules, not recruit them.

Charlotte's host committee has also forged more grassroots-type fundraising. On Thursday, the committee sent an email to more than 250,000 people around the country asking them to send $5 and have their names listed as sponsors on the convention's official NASCAR stock car. The email was signed by longtime Charlotte racing promoter "Humpy" Wheeler.

Gold also quotes Kristie Greco, the Charlotte-based spokeswoman for the Democratic convention, who points out that the GOP has not adopted the same restrictions barring direct contributions from lobbyists and corporations and are, in fact, taking big bucks from businesses.

“The Democratic National Convention is not accepting cash from corporations, lobbyists or PACs. Instead we’re engaging people at the grassroots, strengthening the voice of everyday Americans and engaging more people in the process," Greco said in a statement sent to the Observer today. "We’ve done more to promote reform than any convention in history. Republicans are still operating under the status quo, playing by the same old rules that cater to the highest bidders."

But Fred Wertheimer, president of the campaign finance reform group Democracy 21, told Gold that what the Democrats are doing doesn't sound like they're abiding by the spirit of their own restrictions. "What they're doing sounds like the old forms of raising money that they claimed they were not going to do," he said.

Organizers of the convention refused to tell Gold, as they've refused to tell the Observer, how much they've raised so far for the convention. The host committee, which has committed to raising $37 million, will only say that fundraising is "on track."

But Suzi Emmerling, press secretary for the Charlotte host committee, did say in a statement sent to the Observer today that there are nearly 22 times more donors for the Charlotte convention than for the one in Denver four years ago. She did not offer raw totals.

"The bottom line is that we are doing something that has never been done before," Emmerling said. "We are proud that, unlike conventions past, our grassroots fundraising campaign is engaging more Americans than ever before to own a part of this convention. With five months left to go, the Charlotte in 2012 Convention Host Committee has already engaged 2,171% (or nearly 22 times) more donors than the last convention.”

Here's the complete story from the Los Angeles Times.

Tim Funk

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Honestly, folks is anyone surprised at this?

It's sad that folks would rather follow a political party or ideology when by doing so they are ensuring their future guarantee of a much lower quality of life and opportunity for their children.

But they'd rather feel like they didn't make a terrible choice in 2006, 2008 and god forbid, 2012.

Anonymous said...

So, what else is new?

Anonymous said...

So Tim Funk takes an article from another newspaper, written by someone else...does some cutting and pasting, adds some sentences here and there (I guess), and prints it under his own byline. And the Observer goes along with this practice, and apparently pays him for it. Wow. Now that's journalism!

Anonymous said...

Democrats skirting rules? No way...

Anonymous said...

When the term "Liberal" became out dated they changed it to "Progressive" but its still the same snake under the same rock.

Anonymous said...

It's a pretty sad day when a party has to break rules and beg $5 at a time to put on the production . Why can't the party just spend what they have? There is no more money to spend. Looks like Charlotte tax payers will foot the bill again< How sad America is becoming.

Anonymous said...

Business as usual for the Democrats. Back to speaking out of both sides of their mouths.

Anonymous said...

Let's see...this post was put on-line at 11:13am.

Because of the negativity reflecting yet again on Democrats "Do What I Say, Not What I Do" and the potential for Charlotte to be on the hook for the $32 million for the DNC convention, who wants to bet that it'll be removed from the front page by 9:00pm tonight??

Any takers?

Anonymous said...

The DNC folks aren't raising any money... And how can Humpy Wheeler, who professes to be Catholic, be supporting the party of abortion?

Anonymous said...

Humpy Wheeler is an abortion. He knows which place to apply suction to. Democrats are criminals. Plain and simple.

Anonymous said...

I sure hope all the residents of Charlotte like paying for Democrats bills. Blacks and other government loafers rob you blind but you let them. Then a man named of all things "Humpy Wheeler" gets involved. He can Hump to his hearts content at the Party of Satan Sexcapade in Charlotte.

Anonymous said...

Didn't Duke promise them $10M if they could't raise the 37M. What's that going to cost the Duke customers?

Anonymous said...

I'm shocked, shocked I tell you!

Anonymous said...

Wow, the clowns can't pay for their circus? lol. Don't you fall into the trap. Democrats are full of crap. hahaha.

Anonymous said...

The fact they wont report how much money has been raised says it all ,

Anonymous said...

TOLD YOU THAT THEY'D REMOVE THIS HOURS AFTER POSTING IT!

Can't have any dissension about how great the Democrat party is, how incredibly corrupt they are or how wonderful this will be for the taxpayers of Charlotte that may have to make up the difference!

Anonymous said...

So what are the citizens paying in tax money to have these yahoo's in for a sleep over? Add em up. Local, and federal etc. Why you could build a baseball stadium for less. A lot less. Hey, maybe fix some roads or HELP some citizens.

Anonymous said...

All Liberals SUCK!