Obama Bundlers From 2008 Disappear In 2012 Campaign Fundraising

[onehandle]

Source: Huffington Post

WASHINGTON –- In politics, as in life, no good deed goes unpunished. Just ask President Barack Obama. Facing a tidal wave super PAC spending from the likes of GOP-backing billionaires Sheldon Adelson and the Koch brothers, the Democratic president lacks countervailing help from the super pack of well-heeled allies he drew in 2008 -– and rewarded with government jobs abroad.

Call them the Bundler-Ambassadors: wealthy individuals, most of them with deep ties to the business community or corporate law, who gave money of their own, and, more importantly, hit up wealthy friends for “bundled” Obama cash.

In exchange, though no one exactly called it that, the president nominated many of them for plum diplomatic assignments, in cities from Paris, London and Berlin to Tokyo, Amsterdam and even Bratislava, Slovakia.

There is no sign that the ambassadors are eager to come home and bundle again. Indeed, a Huffington Post sampling on background via email revealed that none were planning to return to bundle campaign contributions for the president's reelection.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/19/obama-bundlers-2012-campaign-fundraising_n_1607614.html

[mia]

1. Surprised that Eric Holder is on this list. n/t

[Chiyo-chichi]

2. Bundling is not as important in the wake of Citizens United, is it?

The HuffPo piece argues that bundlers are relatively more important than ever. Maybe I'm wrong.

[Crow73]

3. Guess it is lucky that Mitt sucks at everything but screwing people then.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

4. "In exchange ... plum diplomatic assignments" = pay to play

This is the way that many top political jobs are handed out in Chicago. Why should it be any different in DC?

Why should the author believe that arranging for "plum diplomatic assignments" in exchange for campaign fundraising is a "good deed"? Why should the author rationally believe, if they do, that somehow a "good deed" is being punished?

[NYC Liberal]

5. Chicago? It's the way the game has been played everywhere

essentially for the entirety of human civilization, as long as there have been offices and positions of power.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

11. If true, those who prosecuted Blagojevich should prosecute your governor as well.

[NYC Liberal]

15. I think corruption (that breaks the law) anywhere should be prosecuted.

[BumRushDaShow]

6. Huffington needs to look up the definition of "Patronage"

[Bandit]

7. The big question though is WHY

Why do so many feel Obama has either abandoned them or let them down in huge fashion? There must be some reason......If Obama fails to give an iron clad promise he will veto any extension of the Bush* tax cuts for the wealthy he will lose a few more as well I am afraid.. already seven or eight "Democratic" Senators are making noises about extending tax cuts for ALL and President Clinton initiated it a week or so ago by suggesting the same thing.. If Democrats allow this to happen it will spell the end of all our hopes and dreams... this is the line not to be crossed...

[goclark]

8. K and R

[MjolnirTime]

10. He has already said he will not extend the cuts for the wealthy.

You just ignored him and listened to Bill Clinton.

and please do not overestimate how many feel "abandonded". There aren't that many of you.

[Bandit]

13. The OP is about donors not showing up for him, not about me..

I heard what he said, and I heard what he said about Gitmo as well. He, like most politicians, say one thing and then do another.. I would like him to say without any ambiguity that he would veto any attempt to extend those tax cuts.. I doubt he will do that, and there lies the problem...

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

14. I know you're happy at this and all, but it is still too early. Bundlers will come around

as we get closer to the convention.

Thanks for playing, though.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

12. He's going to extend tax cuts for the super-rich. It's a done deal.

[MjolnirTime]

9. and yet he is collecting more money than ever. Does that disappoint you?