I'll keep this sort.
I had planned on giving another couple hundred to Obama this week. Then I saw that they are planning a $2+ Million dollar election night party in Grant Park, and the bill is being paid by the campaign.
I'm kinda pissed about this.
This is not what I signed up for when I contributed money to his campaign.
I was giving money to pay for tv ads, phone calls, yard signs etc. Not a celebration party.
If he has an extra 2-3 million to blow on a party, he should be giving it to down ticket candidates, or holding onto it in case there is a legal battle, or keeping it for use in the 2010 elections.
You want a party? Fine, have a party. I'll even attend, but you should charge the people who are attending in order to pay for the cost of the party. Taking some poor persons 10 bucks a month that they contributed for change in the country and spending it on a celebration like this is NOT the kind of decision I have come to expect from Obama.
Update to address some of the posts:
- This is OUR campaign
When people contributed to this campaign, it was to help it win. Do you think people would have contributed the same if they were told that their money was going to be spent on a party instead of GOTV operations?
- You are a troll/probably never gave any money anyway
I was donating to Obama before he was a Senator, so put a sock in it.
- He's going to win in a landslide so who cares?
I want everyone who is saying this to take a moment and think about how they will feel if Nov 5th comes along and we didn't win. Was it stolen? Did the Bradley effect actually happen? Did the voter purge do it's job? You shouldn't be counting this thing before it is over.
- Why are you so petty?
If I give another 200 bucks to Obama, where is that money going? Up until now I thought a) he could use some extra money and b) he would use my money to help ensure democrats are elected (including himself). He clearly doesn't need any more money and anyone who gives more money at this point should do so knowing that their money might not go towards anything related to the election. Fair?
- Why do you care, it's the campaigns decision
It is. They have every right to do it. But if we lose a few house seats by a few votes, where extra money could have helped, then isn't that a shame that we had the resources to help those candidates and instead we spent it on a party?
- Isn't this a good thing: a party for everyone to celebrate
Yea sure. But this isn't why people donated their hard earned money.
- I donated and am glad he is doing this
That's fine. I'm not.
- This isn't even a "party"
Whatever you want to call it. A "gathering" a "celebration" a "get together" whatever. Lots of money is being spent (mostly on security and police) that should be spent on a) ensuring that Obama wins and b) helping down ticket races.
Finally, I would just like you to consider 2 things.
First, if you were making minimum wage, and are already fighting to keep you home warm as the temperature drops, how would you feel if you found out that the campaign contributions you sent it were not being used to help any democrat get elected, but instead were being used for security at a giant election day rally? I think most people in that situation would feel jipped.
How many congressional seats could be won/lost by a 2% swing where an extra 50k could have made a difference?
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Another update:
I LIVE in Chicago, so I am not some guy who is pissed off that he can't attend the celebration. So there is no need to accuse me of that.
Also, to answer some of you, yes I am donating money to the down ticket races that I had hoped Obama would be helping with his fundraising. That was my whole point (which I guess I didn't communicate well), that there are lots of races where some extra money could really make a difference, and I just think Obama should be doing everything he can to help those guys out as well.