Why don’t politicians have fundraisers for the country instead of themselves?
Recently, all we hear are complaints from elected politicians about how hard it is to “find” money to fund their spending. Isn’t it time that politicians thought more about the country than getting their privileged, lard-laden hindquarters reelected, particularly this early in the election cycle?
As we know, campaigns are becoming increasingly expensive. Øbama and others have already begun their fundraising efforts, in the belief that he/she who has the most money inevitably wins. Michelle Malkin points out that even today, Øbama is off to Chicago to do some birthday fundraising. The Congress is off for the month of August, no doubt holding fundraisers rather than town hall meetings. How can they take an entire month off when the Dow is plunging, the economy is in a shambles, and the Senate can’t seem to find the time to present a budget? Isn’t being a president or congresscritter supposed to be a full time job? Do non-incumbent candidates get to campaign on the job? Are they even allowed to keep their jobs while campaigning?
Given that the pols are doing this fundraising on our time, using government resources (see Air Force 1, franking privileges etc.) that only benefit incumbents, wouldn’t their efforts be better directed towards raising money to shrink the debt that they have created? During the 2008 presidential election, Øbama raised $750 million (now finally under review by the FEC). Why can’t he use some of that skill at getting people to voluntarily donate to his causes, those who support his policies? Could it be that he realizes that his programs are simply not popular with a majority of Americans, and tapping the pool of “revenue” through involuntary “contributions” is the only way to get the bucks?
Sure, Øbama isn’t anywhere nearly as popular as he was in 2008, when he was a complete cipher, and before we knew what he was all about, but couldn’t he spare a taxpayer financed trip or two to help the country? Where is the line of Øbama supporting Hollywood millionaires with their checkbooks open? Where are the bundlers that raised over $76 million for him 2008 (and off to a good start with over $40 million for the 2012 election)? Where are those millions of untraceable small donors that funded Øbama in 2008 now?
Maybe this president could really live up to his “historic presidency” by helping the country more than himself, and working to save us from his bad policies. Wouldn’t that be a better investment in his reelection campaign? Likewise for the rest of Washington D.C. Try helping to pull the wagon rather than cracking the whip on those of us who are.
For once, isn’t it time to think about really “doing it for the children” instead of “doing it to the children”?
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This was a good read, but really depressing. ?There aren’t very many politicians on either side of the aisle who will put their country before their political careers, and certainly not the ‘boy president’! ?I believe term limits would go a long way toward improving the way our Congress works, and maybe we’d actually get some real representation instead of the joke this group has become. ?There’s a reason why our Congress has become as totally dysfunctional and overwhelmingly unpopular as it is. ?Lets get these professional politicians out of Washington and give the Government back to the people!
A.k.a. the TEA party….
You could write a sequel of posts on the cost of elections period. I’ve been involved in campaigns formally since I was 16 years old. I am saddened and disgusted by the waste.? I don’t mind town elections where most money to print signs, brochures and newspapers goes to small (sometimes local) businesses.? As you move up the ladder in General Assembly state elections, unions pay their members to make phone calls and send out preposterous ads, e-mail blasts and packets of applications for absentee ballots. Candidates start hiring paid “consultants”. The idea is if you pay for it you get better quality than us old volunteer relics of hundreds of campaigns.? You just add millions and millions of $ as you move up the ladder and more and more corruption. Most have no idea who the person really is that they are supporting. This is done by all political parties.
We need a shorter election cycle, England is not wrong in everything they do in politics. We need to understand that a grassroots campaign done like it was in the 50’s and 60’s? CAN work. You need street captains, to work to get everyone of like mind to vote in their town. We need to get the apathetic charged and out to vote on Election Day.? Person to person…
On election day, I was disheartened to hear how many wrote in to say they hadn’t voted in years. How many eligible voters stayed home? In some cases only 100 voter swing would have changed the result. Jim and the Tea Party have done everything they can.? 2012 is a MUST Win to me.? Start talking to everyone you can, NOW.? We will probably not be able to raise as much as BHO, so we need to pick ONE candidate to unite behind. Please this is not the election for 3 parties. Sorry, sermon over.
Dims,
To me, it’s simple.?Their supporters pony up a relatively small amount of cash to get?them elected so that, when in office, they can force or coerce everyone else to pony up tax cash to fund their pet projects. Or in this case, statism/socialist redistribution. This is also why the progressive tax code, with all it’s loopholes and credits, works so well for donors.???
It is sickening to see the amount of money going to any politician for re-election these days.? How much of it comes from donors outside their district calling in favors.? Representatives are always running for re-election since they are up every 2 years.? Senators, you don’t hear from them for 5 years then it’s re-election time and they love you again.? This?President has been running for re-election since Jan 21, 2009.? George Washington didn’t?even want to be President, it was a priviledge for congress to represent their constituents..it was even a part-time job back then.?? We now have career politicians who?only care about their district when it’s re-election time, they?vote the party way or else they don’t get funding from their respective?national committees.? I remember this Eddie Murphy movie back in the 90’s “The Distinguished Gentleman” and how much that mirrors what’s going on today.? I don’t know if there is any solution to this mess.
Company born in March, donates $1M to Romney in June, folds in July. Job Creators In Action.
Can you say “money laundering”.
That’s what I call the countless unverified donations to ?bama from Mickey Mouse et al., the money bundlers and the “voluntary” union contributions.
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You are just a tad off topic, crystal.