Organizing For Action Reverses Course, Opts Against Corporate Donations

[flpoljunkie]

Source: Talkingpointsmemo Livewire

Organizing For Action Reverses Course, Opts Against Corporate Donations

TOM KLUDT 7:44 AM EST, THURSDAY MARCH 7, 2013


Jim Messina, former campaign manager for President Barack Obama, wrote in an op-ed published Thursday that Organizing for Action — the nonprofit spawned from Obama's campaign operation — will not accept corporate donations, an area for which the group had drawn criticism.

In the piece published by CNN.com, Messina, the national chairman of Organizing for Action, tried to provide clarity on the purpose of the group, which was launched in January.

"There has been some confusion about what Organizing for Action is and is not," Messina wrote. "Organizing for Action is an issue advocacy group, not an electoral one. We'll mobilize to support the president's agenda, but we won't do so on behalf of political candidates. The president has always believed that special interests have undue influence over the policymaking process, and the mission of this organization is to rebalance the power structure."

Organizing for Action has been the subject of intense scrutiny for its ability to raise unlimited amounts of money from corporations, given that many of the former Obama campaign aides running the organization were previously critical of big money donors. The Karl Rove-led group American Crossroads released a video earlier this week that lampooned the apparent hypocrisy on the part of the Obama team. But Messina wrote Thursday that the group has shifted its position on that front.


Read more: http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/organizing-for-action-reverses-course-opts-against-corporate

[peace13]

1. I have to wonder why this was ever an issue.

If they intended to take money from the corporations then why should the little guy even bother to kick in his ten dollars. While I thought this organization showed promise I think it is all about the dollars. Very sad that it has come to this.

[Plucketeer]

2. Sad and disheartening. nt

[loudsue]

3. Without corporate money, or some huge influx of money, which is the gasoline this

country REALLY runs on, there will be difficulty reaching the masses on teevee and radio. Of course, the ads that really should run on teevee to curtail corporate abuses, would never be allowed to air on teevee by the very few owners of the airwaves. If Organizing for Action just want to have tea and cookies, then they don't need corporate money. If they want to be a force to reckon with, they're going to need a LOT of money. The corporations own all the money.

[peace13]

4. Obviously...just like 2004....not.

Or at least that is what we were told.

[Arkana]

5. Probably a good idea.