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Guess Who's Coming To Dinner?
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ShareFebruary 20, 2007 3:41 PM
Democratic Illinois Senator Barack Obama is slated to hit Hollywood tonight for a high-profile fundraising event expected to bring in over $1 million to his 2008 presidential campaign.
Tickets are $2,300 a pop; that's the maximum allowable donation to a presidential primary campaign. But if you’ve sold at least 19 tickets to friends, you can take credit for raising $46,000 for Obama, which wins you a seat at a "private dinner" tonight at David Geffen's mansion with Obama himself.
The practice of taking credit for donations you corral is known as "bundling." It is used in nearly all campaigns for Congress and the White House, although to date it has been largely unreported. (Some have publicized the information, notes Massie Ritsch of the political money watchdog group Center for Responsive Politics: George W. Bush's 2000 and 2004 campaigns promoted the identity of its bundlers as "Rangers" and "Pioneers." Their success may have encouraged others to do the same, according to Ritsch.)
Obama has pushed for a new law that would force campaigns to disclose bundles from registered lobbyists. And he's one of just a handful of 2008 presidential candidates who have promised to disclose the names of those bundlers, regardless of their profession.
So, who are the bundlers that will be sitting down tonight in entertainment mogul Geffen's Beverly Hills dining room? ABC News called Obama's campaign to find out.
“It's not something that we're giving out,” Obama's press secretary, Jen Psaki, said.
But hasn't Obama's campaign enjoyed positive press coverage for promising to disclose the names of his bundlers?
"We're just not in the business of releasing the names of our fundraisers and that sort of thing," Psaki said. "So I can't really help you with that."
Obama's pledge, of course, was widely reported. Just this Sunday, the Washington Post celebrated the Illinois senator's promise, along with those by presidential hopefuls (and fellow senators) John McCain, R-Ariz., and Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., to disclose the names of their bundlers.
Minutes later, Psaki called back to "clarify."
"We are going to be releasing those names," she said – "but not until the end of the quarter."
That means the Obama for President campaign will release the names of those at the Geffen soiree on April 15, when the Federal Election Commission requires reports for the first three months of 2007.
But, she assured, "We certainly do want to be transparent with the process, and we plan on doing that."
If you know who they are today – (after all, the chefs by now should be whipping up the amuse-bouches and the waitstaff are counting out wine glasses) – why not release that information immediately?
No dice. "We aren't releasing. . . the names of people who are attending private fundraisers" until the end of the quarter, Psaki told ABC News.
February 20, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (17)
Muslims will rule the world. Go Barak Husein Obama!
We are in the senate, we will run your country, and you will pay for your insolence.
Posted by: Jihad Jane | Feb 20, 2007 4:42:37 PM
I fairly strange comment....
Posted by: Adam Jones | Feb 20, 2007 5:11:26 PM
He isnt Muslim, and he NEVER was a Muslim, He's a Christian.
Posted by: Gregory | Feb 20, 2007 10:31:52 PM
Umm...
I don't know if anyone told you but Barack Hussien Obama is not a Muslim.
....He's actually a christian!
Posted by: Brian Keck | Feb 20, 2007 11:28:35 PM
The senator Mr. Barack Hussein Obama is an American citiczen running for the presidency of the United States of
America, that he seemed to be the only one to understand the difference between Church and Estate, Politics and Religion. In addition, all the comments above are out of contect and do not reflects what the senator really is. Please place blogs that are positive and conclusive to his persona. Thank you.
Yankee.
Posted by: Yankee | Feb 21, 2007 8:35:48 AM
Obama should tell us how his Muslim ancestory will influnce his Iraq and Darfur positions.
Will he send troops to Darfur where Sudanese Arab militias are slaughtering African Muslims?
Will his children attend a mosque when they visit their father and step father?
Is he a camouflaged Muslim candidate or is he truly a christian with secular beliefs?
All these questions need to be answered because he is seeking the highest office in the country (and the world).
Posted by: H. Agrawal | Feb 21, 2007 11:01:22 AM
Who cares if he is a muslim or christian?
He can say nuclear correct.
Posted by: Dick Trickle | Feb 21, 2007 1:40:11 PM
None of this matters until the people rule the world. It's true that Americans have been pilfering the middle east for years. Step 1 is acceptance of that fact, I think for us and the rest of the world. Step 2 is realizing that U.S. citizens have been lied to about this country's role in those countries, therefore, to wage war by victims against victims is not a heroic act. We're prisoners of the mind in this country, though the middle east has quickly become a prison of brutality. Step 3 is unifying against the war machines who dominate us and don't want us to be free, that goes for every citizen of the world.
The republican vs. democrat, white vs. black, christian vs. muslim is just a ploy to keep us from uniting against the real evil: our own governments.
peace and love!
Posted by: Ian | Feb 21, 2007 1:53:53 PM
Count me in Ian :D
Anarchy is not dead!
* Listen to the new sound, just like the old sound, just like a noose wound, over the new ground. *
Posted by: JelloBiafra | Feb 21, 2007 2:10:04 PM
My first question is why it takes sooooooooo much money to be elected to office?
Posted by: skidog | Feb 21, 2007 4:38:23 PM
Easy Skidog,
You must be a multi-millionaire to even think about being president because...
Whilst making millions, people develop loyalties to friends, corporations, and political affiliations.
These loyalties are then used, and abused, to make these politicians seeking office look good.
Or on the otherhand, and more often is the case, - these loyalties are used to make your political enemy look bad, which in turn, makes you look good.
With the 'power' of money and allegences, a true patriot who is unbought, is not uncontrolled.
Posted by: JelloBiafra | Feb 21, 2007 4:58:08 PM
*(... who is unbought is uncontrolled...)
This is unacceptable in the political arena. All politicians are controlled by the money and the power. They have 'stances' on issues...
I take no stand on any issue. Political stances can be changed by the highest bidder, at any time. I know what is right/wrong with certain issues. My opinion doesn't change without some new knowledge.
Political stances change with the breeze...
Therefore, if a politician wants to do the right thing, and is not controlled be greed power and money, he is a threat to the system.
thats just one thought...
Posted by: JelloBiafra | Feb 21, 2007 5:52:35 PM
It is irrelevant whether Barack Obama
is muslim or christian. The most
important thing is he has faith in
us - the american people - to be who
we are. Full of hope, courage and hard work to get the job done.
I've met him. He is a very impressive
person.
Posted by: itsme | Feb 21, 2007 11:26:11 PM
i've never voted democrat in my life, but obama has my vote.
Posted by: Jon | Feb 25, 2007 6:03:43 PM
Guys-- Wise up. Muslim or christian Obama is real. start getting use to that name.
Posted by: Gemini | Feb 28, 2007 1:16:42 PM
Your a great person and I hope you become our next President beacuse you do understand the feelings of others of how our family members or friends are at war right this moment. Thank you for running for president and I hope you win
Posted by: Dianira Gutierrez | Mar 1, 2008 2:54:06 PM
I am a student in 1 of the collages in P.N.G and gos by the name Noah.What i think is that it is about time US has a black Pres.Here in PNG we r all supporting him.And may the LORD bless U.S.A.
Posted by: noah.jacob | Apr 14, 2008 7:54:22 PM
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