(crossposted at Steviemo, Heideho and Friends)
This is about who is funding our candidates and what they could expect in return for their support.
On Wednesday night's installment of Hardball, Mike Barnicle (subbing for Tweety), Howard Fineman and Eamon Javers were discussing the Clinton and Obama campaings and their fund raising capabilaties. This little exchange caught my attention as I was preparing dinner for me and the missus...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/...
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BARNICLE: ... How much money is there for politics in this country?
FINEMAN: I think there‘s a certain elasticity of demand, so to speak. I think there‘s a lot of money. But the interesting thing going on is that Hillary is sort of running the way George W. ran in 1999. She‘s running on inevitability, on money, on family power. In this case, it‘s not the father; it‘s the husband. And she‘s telling all these big funders up in New York, not only do we want you to give to us, we‘re going to make sure that you don‘t give a penny to anybody else. So they are playing it very, very tough.
And by the way, between now and February 10th, when Barack Obama‘s supposedly going to have his big announcement, official announcement in Springfield, Illinois, Hillary is going to make it as tough as possible for him to raise money.
JAVERS: They‘re trying to strangle the Obama candidacy in its cradle right now. And it might be working. I‘ve talked to a couple of big Democratic money men who were saying, you know, I just can‘t go with him.
I must say I find this a bit disturbing. Who are these big funders up in New York? What exactly are Hillary's people holding over their heads to prevent them from giving a penny to anyone else? What will she owe them if and when she makes it to the White House?
Is this not exactly the sort of thing we are trying to get away from? Isn't this the kind of relationship the Republicans have had with K Street for the last twelve years? Not to bash Hillary or anything but I gotta say this is a bit of a turn off for me.
I would recommend some folks help shine a bit of light on this so as not to have it get swept under the rug.
How are these guys getting around the $2000 limit. Are they bundling? Do we have Pioneers and Rangers, now? Again, who are these big money guys and what could they expect from a Clinton White House in return for their support?