The NYT reports today that under the guise of raising money for her Senate re-election bid, Hillary Clinton is raising tens of millions of dollars for her 2008 Presidential race.
The purpose of this early start is not only to raise money, but to build networks with wealthy donors - networks which would be beholden to her rather than any other candidate. She and her husband, along with the "money-men" from the failed Kerry campaign, the failed Gephardt campaign, and the failed Gore campaign are on board. Donors include, of course, illuminati from Hollywood and the trial bar.
When will the "money-men" and the strategists who run this party realize that big donors from Hollywood, plaintiff attorney groups, and other elite sources spell defeat for Democratic candidates? The Republican party has spent the last 40 years building a populist party, in many cases getting $5 and $10 donations from individuals of modest means. Meanwhile, the "money-men", candidates, and campaign strategists continue to court big money donors from elites with little connnection to ordinary people and real issues.
Another offensive aspect of this is the cynical strategy that early courting of big money donors will choke off these sources for other potential candidates. Somehow, this doesn't sound like democracy.
Of interest, Clinton's early strategy was compared to George W. Bush's strategy while governor of Texas. Court big money, big donors, choke off competitors. The citizens be damned.
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