MSNBC, quoting the L.A. Times, is reporting that the Obama Campaign is refusing to pay the "traditional" Philadelphia Street Money PAYOLA for the Primary Election.
It's custom in Philly for Democratic Party insiders to get "Walking Around Money" for thier GOTV efforts.
Folks, it's EXACTLY this type of near-corruption that we MUST stop.
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/...
The Los Angeles Times: "Flush with payments from well-funded campaigns, the ward leaders and Democratic Party bosses typically spread out the cash in the days before the election, handing $10, $20 and $50 bills to the foot soldiers and loyalists who make up the party's workforce.
It is all legal -- but Obama's people are telling the local bosses he won't pay. That sets up a culture clash, pitting a candidate who promises to transform American politics against the realities of a local political system important to his presidential hopes."
"Obama's posture confounds neighborhood political leaders sympathetic to his cause. They caution that if the senator from Illinois withholds money that gubernatorial, mayoral and presidential candidates have willingly paid out for decades, there could be defections to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York. And the Clinton campaign, in contrast, will oblige in forking over the money, these ward leaders predict."
This could be HUGE in Philly....
The message here is that Obama is willing to stand on PRINCIPAL, and not engage in the "Traditional" vote-buying, but that Clinton is MORE THAN WILLING to pay for votes.
And you wonder WHY holding office in the Democratic Party has become the ROAD TO RICHES for many of the Establishment Dems?
How can we whine about Republican Corruption, when this is considered "traditional" within the Democratic Party? If we accept it in this instance, how can we be surprised when our Super-Delegates are whoring themselves out at Convention for the best offer?