How much have the Super Delegates been paid?

by nikkid, Thu May 15, 2008 at 10:41:31 PM EST

Someone sent me this link from Feb, 2008:

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/ 2008/02/obama-clinton-s.html

Back in Feb, Obama paid $694,000 to SD's campaigns vs. Hillary's payments to SD'S campaigns of $195,000.

The article points out that 40% of elected officials who endorsed Obama received contributions from him. In contract, only 12% of the SD's that endorsed Clinton received money for their campaigns.

The article points out that making political contributions to Super Delegates campaign is legal, but it shows how SD's can be influenced to make their decisions based on these contributions.

As democrats, this should raise a concern as to the entire Super Delegate process.  If their votes can be purchased, then this by it's very nature would appear undemocratic.

I would be very curious what supporters of either Obama or Clinton think about this and if anyone has any updated information on contributions paid.




Tags: super delegates, obama, clinton, contributions, election, candidates, nomination, democrats (all tags)

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Re: How much have the Super Delegates been paid? (2.00 / 9)

Why don't you look it up?  opensecrets.org has full information about campaign contributions. Then come back and report.  Otherwise, this is unsubstantiated nonsense.


We care about politics because we know politics matters for people's lives and opportunities.
by politicsmatters on Thu May 15, 2008 at 10:43:15 PM EST

Re: How much have the Super Delegates been paid? (2.00 / 4)

This smear is hilarious - it claims that they've been bribed, but acknowleges that Hillary Clinton donates to superdelgates too.  Just less.

She's not innocent, she's cheap.


Unable to rec or rate. But I've got phantom mojos for miles.
by Agent77 on Fri May 16, 2008 at 12:00:58 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: How much have the Super Delegates been paid? (2.00 / 4)

You're WAY too sane to be posting here.


by DeskHack on Fri May 16, 2008 at 12:14:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: How much have the Super Delegates been paid? (2.00 / 1)

She's broke. What is she going to give them? Spunk lessons?


by Rationalisto on Fri May 16, 2008 at 02:10:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: How much have the Super Delegates been paid? (none / 0)

Maybe one of her "cajones" depending on how many Carville thinks she has.


Users who are excessively bashing the Democratic Party, or being Republican trolls, will be banned.
by Massadonious on Fri May 16, 2008 at 07:17:16 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: How much have the Super Delegates been paid? (2.00 / 1)

Rationalisto, you said:

"She's broke. What is she going to give them? Spunk lessons?"

So I'm going to ask:

Pardon this old woman but what are "Spunk lessons"?

Yes I'm asking. Seriously.


by 12 dogs and a blog on Fri May 16, 2008 at 11:27:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: How much have the Super Delegates been paid? (none / 0)

I'm waiting.


by 12 dogs and a blog on Fri May 16, 2008 at 11:27:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: How much have the Super Delegates been paid? (none / 0)

Sorry to keep you waiting.

Spunk lessons--as in Mary Tyler Moore, she's got spunk. Etc.

But if you really need me to spell it out for you, then here it goes: The only thing Clinton has going for her is her stubbornness/tenacity--as there's no money, math, or momentum.

I was being kind and calling it "spunk".


by Rationalisto on Sat May 17, 2008 at 01:07:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: How much have the Super Delegates been paid? (none / 0)

Thank you.

I asked because on the internet the term has ALOT of meanings.

You might want to take a moment to look them up.


by 12 dogs and a blog on Sun May 18, 2008 at 12:48:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: How much have the Super Delegates been paid? (2.00 / 12)

Key passage from your article: "...going back to 2005."  You know, when neither candidate realized that they would have to rely on superdelegates, and before they may have even considered the 2008 presidential campaign.

Democratic politicians give money to other Democratic politicians in order to strengthen the party.  This is a good thing.  It helps us win.


by rfahey22 on Thu May 15, 2008 at 10:46:33 PM EST

Clinton has been paying her SD's (2.00 / 5)

For many years. How many of her supporters got their first major positions within the party during the Clinton administration?


by highgrade on Thu May 15, 2008 at 10:47:36 PM EST

Most members of congress have PAC's. (2.00 / 8)

The difference with Barack's is the amount of money he has been able to raise and the consistency of it over the past three years.

Here is a link for you: http://hopefundamerica.com/aboutus/

The point of this PAC has always been to help elect fellow Democrats.


by The Distillery on Thu May 15, 2008 at 10:49:46 PM EST

So Hillary was outmaneuvered. (2.00 / 2)


"McSame: He's Constipated and Ready to GO!
by Al Rodgers on Thu May 15, 2008 at 10:56:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: So Hillary was outmaneuvered. (2.00 / 2)

No, Al, you miss the point.  The point is that Clinton demonstrated virtue and values back in '06, when she shared precious little of her senate campaign warchest with other Democrats.

And now, she's demonstrating Democratic values by having a campaign that's deeply in debt, owes more than $11M, much of it to small businesses that have delivered services to her campaign, and has self-funded her candidacy with more than $10M of her own money.  That's what we need in a nominee!  Not some Johnny Come Lately who raises more than he can spend and shares it with other Democratic candidates.


by deminva on Thu May 15, 2008 at 11:14:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: So Hillary was outmaneuvered. (2.00 / 1)

Sounds like you would've liked Romney--self funding and all.


by poserM on Thu May 15, 2008 at 11:27:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

that was about the only honorable thing (none / 0)

that tool ever did.


by JJE on Thu May 15, 2008 at 11:38:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: So Hillary was outmaneuvered. (2.00 / 1)

sarcasm sensor needs a tune up.


Visit DebateScoop
by demondeac on Thu May 15, 2008 at 11:44:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: So Hillary was outmaneuvered. (none / 0)

Double snap.


by Rationalisto on Fri May 16, 2008 at 02:12:43 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: So Hillary was outmaneuvered. (none / 0)

Thanks for covering my back.  I thought my irony was so broad, and my claims so absurd on their face, that no one would mistake my meaning.  Strange days here at MyDD!


by deminva on Fri May 16, 2008 at 10:26:21 AM EST
[ Parent ]

precious little? (2.00 / 2)

I remember reading an article that said she had raised over a hundred million dollars for that "senate campaign warchest".

what are you smoking?  Clinton's problem isn't the ammount of money she's raised, it's how she SPENDS it.  That has always been her biggest problem.  She spends money like she'll never need more.


by DawnG on Thu May 15, 2008 at 11:36:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: precious little? (none / 0)

"shared precious little"


by interestedbystander on Fri May 16, 2008 at 02:15:52 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Most members of congress have PAC's. (none / 0)

to the likes of Joe Lieberman, over Lamont, who's going to the republican convention to give a speech against the democrats -  


by suzieg on Fri May 16, 2008 at 02:28:22 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Most members of congress have PAC's. (none / 0)

Lieberman is Obama's appointed mentor in the Senate.  They have a complicated relationship.  I'm sure Lieberman's endorsement of McCain has only further complicated that.


by The Distillery on Fri May 16, 2008 at 05:15:40 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Giving money to help get democrats (2.00 / 5)

elected is a bad thing?


Student Guy=JoeMentum. No really Student Guy=JoeMentum, after all JoeMentum was an embarrassment so is Student Guy. This sig is FAIL!!
by Student Guy on Thu May 15, 2008 at 10:50:37 PM EST

Re: Giving money to help get democrats (2.00 / 4)

Only when they aren't DLC hacks.

/snark


by ProgressiveDL on Thu May 15, 2008 at 10:59:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: How much have the Super Delegates been paid? (2.00 / 4)

The question is, why has Hillary been so freaking stingy with her money??  We are trying to build a party here.



Lost rate and rec for issuing a '1' to a trollish comment. The troll, not so much.

by map on Thu May 15, 2008 at 10:51:49 PM EST

Re: How much have the Super Delegates been paid? (2.00 / 1)

Someone has to pay for all those yellow pantsuits.


by mydoubleds on Thu May 15, 2008 at 10:58:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: How much have the Super Delegates been paid? (none / 0)

Lovely plumage, the Chappaquiddick Yellow!


by deminva on Thu May 15, 2008 at 11:15:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

This what I was wondering (2.00 / 4)

and someone reminded me, they're entire plan was based on a decisive, overwhelming Super Tuesday win.  they didn't hedge, they laid it all on the line.


"McSame: He's Constipated and Ready to GO!
by Al Rodgers on Thu May 15, 2008 at 10:59:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: How much have the Super Delegates been paid? (2.00 / 4)

Hey, she had to spend $36 million in order to defeat Tasini by 36 points (how about that!).  There wasn't enough to go around.


by rfahey22 on Thu May 15, 2008 at 11:00:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: How much have the Super Delegates been paid? (2.00 / 2)

They thought that would scare off opponents, all part of the inevitability strategy.


We care about politics because we know politics matters for people's lives and opportunities.
by politicsmatters on Thu May 15, 2008 at 11:06:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Exactly (2.00 / 1)

Very true.  When you look at how badly run her NY campaign was and how much money they spent unecessarily, her current primary campaign makes a lot more sense.



Lost rate and rec for issuing a '1' to a trollish comment. The troll, not so much.

by map on Thu May 15, 2008 at 11:07:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

alot of that was 2008 related (2.00 / 2)

they used alot of that to build databases they could use for the 2008 campaign.

Also alot of those commericials weren't aimed at New York per say, but shared media markets in PA, NJ, CT, even Florida (for example, Florida tranplants who watch the Yankees and Mets via satellite or cable, received Hillary commericials).

which is perfectly fine.  


"McSame: He's Constipated and Ready to GO!
by Al Rodgers on Thu May 15, 2008 at 11:18:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: alot of that was 2008 related (2.00 / 1)

Interesting.  But, would that really be effective years away from the presidential race?


by rfahey22 on Thu May 15, 2008 at 11:20:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

16 months (2.00 / 2)

say mid october 2006 to Feb 5th 2008 - that's less than 16 months.

remember she eventually kept $10 million  and transferred that to her '08 campaign fund.  I guess they thought $10 million is the most they could hold over without raising issues of purposely raising money in one cycle with the intent to pass it to her '08 campaign.  

again, it's a loop hole, but that's cool.


"McSame: He's Constipated and Ready to GO!
by Al Rodgers on Thu May 15, 2008 at 11:58:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

About HopePAC. (2.00 / 5)

HopePAC, the PAC Obama setup to raise money for Democrats in Congress was extremely successful, as would be expected from his phenomenal fundraising in this election campaign. He was also not connected to it once the Presidential campaign began. The PAC spread the money very widely to get Democrats elected, including giving money to Hillary Clinton for her Senate re-election campaign. So unless you're arguing that working hard to get fellow Democrats elected is a bad idea, then this diary is just a lot of innuendo and bull.


John McCain supports privatizing Social Security.
by Travis Stark on Thu May 15, 2008 at 11:05:57 PM EST

Re: How much have the Super Delegates been paid? (2.00 / 2)

So when super-delegates are coalescing around a candidate, it is because they are being paid off? Please.


by unionfield on Thu May 15, 2008 at 11:09:07 PM EST

Re: How much have the Super Delegates been paid? (2.00 / 7)

Only those that coalesce around Obama.  There can be no other explanation.  The 100+ supers who endorsed Clinton before Iowa did so because they had carefully studied all the candidates and determined she was the best.


by deminva on Thu May 15, 2008 at 11:17:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: How much have the Super Delegates been paid? (2.00 / 1)

Right, I'm sure that all the SD's that Hillary started with before the primaries had nothing to do with the Clintons calling in IOUs from Bill's/Hill's white house years.


Let the children lose it Let the children use it Let all the children boogie
by toyomama on Thu May 15, 2008 at 11:27:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Hey toyomama, sup? (none / 0)

Long time no see.


I trust Senator Obama.
by GFORD on Fri May 16, 2008 at 01:04:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hey toyomama, sup? (2.00 / 1)

I've been around. I'm trying to behave myself and not contribute to the heightened tensions and animosity as this primary season comes to an end (finally).


Let the children lose it Let the children use it Let all the children boogie
by toyomama on Fri May 16, 2008 at 01:12:09 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: How much have the Super Delegates been paid? (2.00 / 3)

That money was not "payment" you know-nothing ignoramus, they were campaign donations.

There's a world of difference.


by Deano963 on Thu May 15, 2008 at 11:12:05 PM EST

Re: How much have the Super Delegates been paid? (none / 0)

Money is like manure you spread it around to make the little flowers grow?

Paraphrase of Dolly Levi in "Hello Dolly" the movie.

OOOOOOHHHhhhhhhhhhhhh. I see.

So it's not that one candidate is better at say domestic policy it's that one candidate knew how to "grease" palms.

Again.

OOOOOOOHHHHHhhhhhhhhh. I see.

I was confused cause back home the call that bribery.

So in politics that's known as a "free love offering".

OOOOOOOOHHHHHHHhhhhh. :P


by 12 dogs and a blog on Fri May 16, 2008 at 12:07:17 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: How much have the Super Delegates been paid? (2.00 / 1)

Donating to other Democratic campaigns is bribery.

Ooooook.

And Clinton's also guity of bribery too then...just not as much.

Oh wait, you neglected that part.

Even when you're making up your own reality out of whole cloth, you can't even keep that logically consistent.


by upstate girl on Fri May 16, 2008 at 02:48:16 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: How much have the Super Delegates been paid? (none / 0)

Upstate, this comment to me or someone else?

I asked because I'm surprised that you'd take the time to even recognize something I had to say. What with me not earning your respect and all. LOL.

Cause, Upstate, if that comment was to me?
I didn't specify either one or the other ducky.

Cause if that comment was to me?
You just took it upon yourself to ASSume that I was taking sides. And then you decided just which side I was taking. :O Yeah. You did. :D

If that comment was to me?
Is there anything else you'd like to ASSume?
Like meebee I'm not a feminist?

I swear UpState. We have just been beside ourself with laughing about how you don't think I'm a feminist. I mean ROFLOBO!!!!!!!! Thank you, sweetie,  We needed that laugh this week. Yes we did. :D

You have a good weekend Upstate. Tell your mama that I have great hope that someday I will earn your respect. What with you being the expert of all things Feminist. :D

Cya.


by 12 dogs and a blog on Sat May 17, 2008 at 12:23:13 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: How much have the Super Delegates been paid? (2.00 / 2)

You appear to be either a Republican troll or a zealot.

Democrats spread the money around.  So do Republicans.

Not new.  Not illegal.


by Reaper0Bot0 on Thu May 15, 2008 at 11:18:36 PM EST

Telling them apart is like trying (2.00 / 2)

to determine the gender of a goldfish.  That's partly because the H44 crowd frequents the republican sites and pilfers their talking points.  They've formed an unhealthy alliance to prevent Obama from getting nominated/elected.


I trust Senator Obama.
by GFORD on Fri May 16, 2008 at 01:08:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: How much have the Super Delegates been paid? (2.00 / 2)

Obama helps get Democrats elected.

The Clintons?  Eh, not so much.  Just check what happened in 92-00.


by Bobby Obama on Thu May 15, 2008 at 11:19:37 PM EST

Making the Rec List... (2.00 / 1)

....doesn't mean they're all going to be gems...Cool down there's always tomorrow and many Obama-bashing ideas out there for you.


I'm Ready For A Good Old GOP & John McCain Ass Kickin'!!!
by hootie4170 on Thu May 15, 2008 at 11:19:49 PM EST

Let's (2.00 / 2)

not be naive.  I want a party leader who has the ability to raise money and who seems to have no problem spreading that money around to get democrats elected.  Someone touched on it in a previous post, I would have thought Clinton would have given even more.  Let's face it, Bill was a walking ATM for the last 8 years.  He could have done 1 day fund raisers in 50 states and raised 25M (500k per state) with 200 person, $2,500 a plate dinners.  

The thing people fail to realize about the Obama fundraising machine.  The longer the race goes the stronger it gets.  

How?

As the donor base grows he becomes less and less dependent on any of individual needing to contribute a large amount.  

example once he gets to 2M, if he can get them to contribute $25.00, that's $50,000,000.

I really was a brilliant strategy.  


"The best way to show that a stick is crooked is not by arguing about it or spending time denouncing it, but to lay a straight stick alongside it" -DL Moody
by nextgen on Thu May 15, 2008 at 11:32:10 PM EST

The Real Superdelegate Question (2.00 / 1)

Why is it that elected officials (governors, senators, congresspeople) have provided a majority of their votes to Obama over Clinton? Doesn't this attest to the concept that Obama has a better working relationship with them, which will lead to a REAL working majority after this November? Also, these people who have to actually face the electorate want him at the top of the ticket.  

Furthermore, why is it that unelected, insider, superdelegates support Clinton? Is it possible that they are more ingrained in the status quo? Remember, this election is about the failures of not only Republicans, but also DC insiders. I would say that we should be weary of an insider-backed candidate.  


by irish09 on Thu May 15, 2008 at 11:33:45 PM EST

Re: The Real Superdelegate Question (2.00 / 1)

It always bothered me that the only reason she had more superdelegates than him was because she had more DNC superdelegates.  That lead too is about to be erased.  He's about 5 DNC superdelegates short.  Then she is leading in no category.


by The Distillery on Thu May 15, 2008 at 11:55:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: How much have the Super Delegates been paid? (2.00 / 2)

Indeed, I know one prominent Superdelegate Obama paid off. She's the junior senator from New York.

God, Obama's such a dick, huh?


Hooray for John McCain!
by ragekage on Fri May 16, 2008 at 12:18:23 AM EST

Re: How much have the Super Delegates been paid? (2.00 / 2)

Now when she endorses him in a month we'll know why.  That insidious bastard.



Lost rate and rec for issuing a '1' to a trollish comment. The troll, not so much.

by map on Fri May 16, 2008 at 12:53:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: How much have the Super Delegates been paid? (2.00 / 2)

What's up with these smear jobs?

alegre, this dude.

You guys are self combusting before our eyes.

You're taking this reaaaal bad.


Everybody loves the Engels.
by spacemanspiff on Fri May 16, 2008 at 12:54:51 AM EST

Re: How much have the Super Delegates been paid? (2.00 / 3)

Wait until Bloomberg finds out.He could bribe us all.


by Politicalslave on Fri May 16, 2008 at 01:05:18 AM EST

Re: How much have the Super Delegates been paid? (none / 0)

recommend this diary, lets get this on the wreck list asap


by soros on Fri May 16, 2008 at 01:16:52 AM EST

I'm a superdelegate (2.00 / 1)

And I got $4.36 from Gravel. In pennies. I reciprocated by endorsing him for the Democratic nomination. The only people to notice was an alternative bi-weekly paper in Nome, AK.


by elrod on Fri May 16, 2008 at 01:30:55 AM EST

Barack gave me a new Xbox (2.00 / 1)

and I'm not even a super.  It was just for my vote.  I was pissed because I really wanted a Playstation so I voted for Hillary instead.


by JJE on Fri May 16, 2008 at 01:51:54 AM EST

I personally bribed many supers (none / 0)

by giving them my own 2 cents. Repeatedly. A few are bordering on having enough of my "cents" to buy a cup of coffee by now.


by myddfree on Fri May 16, 2008 at 02:14:55 AM EST


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