October 23, 2009 1:57 PM

A Busy Obama Finds Time for Fundraisers

By
Brian Montopoli
Topics
White House
(CBS)
President Obama is headlining a pair of fundraisers Friday: One for Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and the other for Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd. Both Democrats are preparing for tough reelection campaigns – though it's worth noting that their actual elections won't be taking place for another year.

Earlier this week, the president spoke at fundraisers for the Democratic National Committee and for Congressional candidate Bill Owens. He's also headlining events designed to create buzz and donations for candidates in tough battles, including one this week for New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine and another next week for Virginia gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds.

To date, the president has done 23 fund-raising events since taking office, according to CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller. He has helped generate more than $24 million for the DNC and for specific candidates – and that's not including the figures from events where organizers declined to reveal how much money was raised.

If that seems like a lot of fundraisers for a president with an ambitious agenda and less than a year in office, that's because it is – at least compared to his predecessor. In President Bush's first year in office, Knoller reports, Mr. Bush did only six fund-raisers.

Yet Mr. Bush was able to generate substantially more money than Mr. Obama: he brought in more than $48 million from the six events, more than the current president has raised in nearly four times as many appearances.

At Thursday's briefing, White House press secretary offered an explanation for why the president has done so many more fundraisers than his predecessor.

"I'd remind you that campaign finance rules that were in place in 2001 allowed someone to write a check for an unlimited amount of money to a political party," Gibbs said. "Many did to both parties. So this president doesn't accept money from PACs, doesn't -- or doesn't accept money from PACs or lobbyists and doesn't allow lobbyists to give at fundraisers that he's at as well."

Gibbs is making two different points here. The first is that the rules have changed: President Bush's first year in office came before the 2002 passage of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill, which, among other things, did away with unlimited so-called "soft money" contributions. Under McCain-Feingold, parties can now accept a maximum of $28,500 per year from individuals and nothing from corporations or labor unions.

So while Mr. Bush could generate an unlimited amount of money for his party from each contributor during his first-year in office, Mr. Obama can't – something that has seriously limited how much money he could bring in at each event.

The other point Gibbs is making is that Mr. Obama is operating within his self-imposed rule against taking money from lobbyists or political action committees. It should be noted, however, that PACs still donate to Mr. Obama's party and to individual candidates, and that media outlets have questioned the president's self-proclaimed separation from lobbyist money.

Gibbs' claim that the president "doesn't allow lobbyists to give at fundraisers that he's at" isn't being taken at face value by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which on Friday called on the White House and Chris Dodd to release the names of the people attending the president's fundraiser for Dodd.

"If there are truly no lobbyists in attendance tonight then it should be simple for the White House and Dodd's campaign to prove as much by simply sharing their guest list with voters," said NRSC spokeswoman Amber Wilkerson Marchand.

Add a Comment See all 54 Comments
by pensacola8-2009 October 25, 2009 12:46 AM EDT
I never contributed to any political fund raiser until Barrack Obama ran for President. Now, I give give and give more. He is first candidate that I can honestly connect with and see the wonderful contents of his soul.

His wife Michelle is also a charming and charismatic person. I am not black, but I sure am proud of the Obamas and those in this country who gave the Obamas a chance to lead this country.

The GOP still has problems whitewashing every idea that pops in their limited and discriminating minds.

With Obama in office, I foresee some of the best times of my adult life possible and actually have hope that we can all hand down something wonderful to the next generation, such as health care.

I am also pleased with his recent handling of the latin artists he and Michelle recently hosted. They all danced and made history that has the the Latin World exploding with awe and respect for the USA, never seen in my life. His charisma has opened many doors for others to see more of the finest things the USA has to offer.

Long live the Obamas!! They are truly loved and respected by many!
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by RespectMichael October 24, 2009 4:47 PM EDT
Here's the problem..He's busy..doing what? Pondering Afghanistan? Attacking News Media? Having Parties at the WH dancing..this guy is a joke..His only talent is reading a teleprompter..did you see the protesters in Stamford? OOps that's right this is CBS..they don't do negative press on Obama..
Reply to this comment
by faceofus October 24, 2009 2:37 PM EDT
This country is now in the worst recession since the Great Depression and it seems that the people of this country would be better served if Obama remained in the white house and spent his time working on a solution to this crisis.
Reply to this comment
by stryker54 October 24, 2009 2:31 AM EDT
It's nice to see our POTUS can do two things at the same time. 1st fundraise for his party to gain more control and 2nd run the country into the ground. What a great guy.
Reply to this comment
by barkl October 24, 2009 3:51 AM EDT
A great guy who wins the Nobel Peace Prize for breathing in and out
and making sure his Dem Party followers are re-elected!
by wdh3007 October 23, 2009 11:56 PM EDT
Enough about Bush he is gone no more blaming him for anything anymore when this fraud in chief acts more unpresidential everyday. The sad thing is he really believes he was put on this earth to do wonders when the country is going down the drain even more how pathetic.
Reply to this comment
by hammerheadblog October 23, 2009 11:42 PM EDT
If you enjoy parody and satire that shine a light on this joke of a president (and I know you do) check out some of these responses to his recent screw-ups:
The Olympics Debacle: http://wp.me/pChUJ-4Y
The "Barack Hussein Obama, Mm-mm-mm" public school hymn sing: http://wp.me/pChUJ-4a
Health Care: http://wp.me/pChUJ-u
The "Beer Summit": http://wp.me/pChUJ-1v
The influence that the science fiction subculture has had on the Obama administration:http://wp.me/pChUJ-4A
Reply to this comment
by pigsinlipstick October 23, 2009 7:29 PM EDT
I knew the right wing loons would find something else to crybaby about

what a bunch of anti american losers,


small wonder that only 19 percent of Americans want to be associated

with the joke that is the republiCON party
Reply to this comment
by writer10 October 23, 2009 10:41 PM EDT
true kassandra...ACORN needs money poste haste - if anyone is utterly anti American is' the pig above - he does nothing except make every effort to divide party lines and slam the right as often as possible, even if it's not a politically related story
by gomzee69 October 23, 2009 7:28 PM EDT
And GW NEVER held fundraisers, right?

Mental Midgets.
Reply to this comment
by pigsinlipstick October 23, 2009 7:48 PM EDT
they are fools, that is why only 20 percent of American call themselves conservative republi'CON's

they are all fools, anti american fools
by writer10 October 23, 2009 10:43 PM EDT
lolol...you are such an idiot...but entertaining none the less...by all means, carry on pig.
by borg99 October 23, 2009 7:00 PM EDT
Gee, Obama's fundraiser couldn't be because the Democrats are the party of the little guy, and therefore need to put out more energy finding lots of smaller donations, could it?

Unlike the GOP -- the party of big business and gullible rednecks -- which can collect a few fat checks from a few fatcats in exchange for rubber chicken and go home.

And don't give me that swill about union money floating the Dems -- the unions are at their lowest ebb, financially and otherwise, since 1932.
Reply to this comment
by pigsinlipstick October 23, 2009 7:28 PM EDT
they are all fools, the republi'con's and their conservative masters

would rather see America go down the toilet

then have democratic leadership

they are mindless Evangelical fools
by chevyhotrod October 24, 2009 8:05 AM EDT
hey pig,
you should go do some research and look at the unemployment numbers for 2002,03,04,05,06 (republican control) then go look at the unemployment numbers for 2006,07,08,09 (democrat control) and you will see the trend that is undeniable. Talking about going down the toilet?? You are a complete ignorate fool and our country is paying the price because of people like you. Want to know what happened with the finacial crisis? Follow the link below, you might actually learn something. CSPAN video from 2004 & 05.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4A0RuXhnQA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxMInSfanqg
by stn_sage October 23, 2009 6:55 PM EDT
Well, like it or not...it isn't illegal for him to go to fundraisers!

Certainly, Bush did when he was in office...and what's fair for one is fair for the other!

Personally, I don't care for the practice no matter WHO is doing it!!
But, that's politics!

He needs to get the fundraisers in now...because as his popularity continues to slide, in the future, he will be getting fewer and fewer requests to make appearances!
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