Top donors threaten Dems: Do the right thing on guns, or no more money

[kpete]

Source: Washington Post

Top donors threaten Dems: Do the right thing on guns, or no more money
Posted by Greg Sargent on March 28, 2013 at 12:54 pm


With red state Democratic Senators remaining skittish about embracing Obama’s gun proposals, at least two top Democratic donors are stepping forward and vowing to withhold any and all future financial contributions from any Democrats who don’t support the centerpiece of Obama’s plan: Expanded background checks.

Kenneth Lerer, a New York businessman who is chairman of Buzzfeed.com, and David Bohnett, a technology entrepreneur and philanthopist based in Los Angeles, are both major financial supporters of Democratic candidates, having each given scores of large contributions over the years. They are both key players in the political fundraising world and wield influence among other donors and fundraisers.

Neither will give another dime to any Senate Democrat who does not support expanded background checks, I’m told — and both will suggest to other donors that they do the same. The move underscores the rising importance of gun control as an issue in Democratic politics — and the rising frustration in some Democratic circles with elected officials who continue to regard gun politics as a third rail, at a moment that presents a real opportunity to achieve serious reform, with a policy that enjoys near universal public support.

“At some point you have to draw a line in the sand — for me that time is now,” Lerer told me in an interview. “If candidates or officeholders can’t support something like comprehensive and enforceable background checks, then I wouldn’t think of giving them any money going forward.”

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/03/28/top-donors-threaten-dems-do-the-right-thing-on-guns-or-no-more-money/

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. That should get their attention,

finally.

[Fearless]

2. About time!

[MinneapolisMatt]

4. Exactly.

About time!

[MynameisBlarney]

3. Awesome.

Where were these top donors on all the other issues the Democratic Leadership has wimped out on the last 4+ years?

Gitmo
Global Climate Change
This damn never ending war on terror
This damn never ending war on drugs
Healthcare

etc. etc. etc.

[CincyDem]

27. You left out "the damn never ending war". n/t

[MynameisBlarney]

31. DAMMIT!

That too!

[awoke_in_2003]

5. The only thing politicians hear...

is the sound of money

[hack89]

6. Universal background checks are a no brainer

my state has them and it is not an issue for gun owners.

[IveWornAHundredPants]

10. It's not an issue for gun owners?

Not a one of them? What grand news.

[hack89]

12. Not in Rhode Island - universal background checks have been the law for a long time.

there is no effort here to change the law - a truly none event.

[IveWornAHundredPants]

14. Okay, so it's not an issue in the tiniest state in the country.

But it must be an issue with some gun owners somewhere. The question is why?

[hack89]

15. Lack of trust I would suspect.

with so much hate and vitriol going both ways, there is a lot of mistrust on both sides.

[thucythucy]

20. Tiny in terms of geography, but

Rhode Island out ranks Montana, Delaware, South Dakota, Alaska, North Dakota and Wyoming in terms of population.

As to why some gun owners have an issue with this, they'll have to speak up for themselves.

[pscot]

30. Enjoy your brief stay here

[One_Life_To_Give]

13. Not really an issue in Mass either

Now 30yr police officers who can't get concealed carry permits are another story. May issue has become a, Are you politically connected or not.

[premium]

22. Not in Nevada.

Overwhelmingly in support for UBC.

[NutmegYankee]

25. It's been the law on handguns in Conn. for 2 decades.

It's such an obvious step that I'm shocked it hasn't passed.

[TBF]

18. I would like to see that. Don't like guns -

but I have a lot of family that does hunt & that meat gets them through the winter. A lot of folks in the country do eat what they kill and it is probably more humane than many slaughter houses out there. If we can just get some controls on who is buying these things, put some $$ into mental health, and leave hunters alone we should be able to come to some sort of compromise here.

[Blanks]

26. Chickens can be killed with a knife.

I'd bet real money that anyone that lives off of wild game could raise as much food for less money than they have invested in their 'hunting operation'.

Not that I'm against hunting, I just doubt it's cost effectiveness as a way to put food on your family when compared with raising chickens and gardening.

I'm sure some hunters do it cost effectively, but what I see in the Natural State looks like a cash cow for everyone involved in anything to do with 'outdoor sports' except the actual hunting part. It just looks like an expensive hobby to me.

[TBF]

37. Sure - chickens are easy but some folks like red meat.

It's not the cost - for most folks I know it's the sport and the fact that they like the meat.

Personally not my thing, and I would love a ban on assault rifles. But at the very least we ought to be able to register everyone. Right now you can buy a deadly weapon more easily than you can obtain Sudafed in your pharmacy.

[Blanks]

38. You could probably raise your own beef...

For what some of these people have invested just in camouflage garb.

Personally, I think deer meat is too gamey. Again, I don't really have anything against hunting; my family has always hunted (my grandmother who died last fall hunted until the very end) it's the 'saves money' argument that I'm questioning.

If these people love to wear camoflage so much, why didn't they join the military? Same thing with assault rifles; if they want to play with assault rifles, why didn't they join the military. I didn't think either one of them were that much fun personally.

[premium]

7. I think that most of them do support the UBC,

what they don't support is the AWB and mag. limits. That's why Sen. Reid separated Sen. Feinstein's AWB and mag. limit from the main bill.

[WinniSkipper]

39. When push comes to shove

they don't care about magazine limits either. that should go w/ UBC in the "pass" column.

The mag ban had no impact before and won't again - it's a bargaining chip

The AWB is the issue

[premium]

40. I agree.

Add the mag. limit to the main bill and I think it would pass, the AWB? Definitely not.

[Jefferson23]

8. K&R. n/t

[WilliamPitt]

9. IT IS ABSOLUTELY FUCKING ASTONISHING

that it has to come to this on an issue like fa-chrissakes background checks, which almost 90% of the country vigorously supports.

FUCK THESE FUCKING PEOPLE.

God DAMN it.

[skinnytrees]

21. well

According to CBS and CNN more than half of Americans actually dont want any new gun laws.

47% do

[PSPS]

35. That's simply not true.

Background checks are supported by overwhelming majorities in every conceivable group -- even republican voters.

Enjoy your pizza.

[sheshe2]

11. Kick and Rec!

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

16. Good. I just hope they target ONLY those Democrats who are joining Republicans to block gun

control measures. (That includes Harry Reid.) I hope they don't punish ALL Democrats by not suppoting the DCCC and the DSCC.

[BrainDrain]

17. What does it say......

When 20 dead kids and six dead teachers are not enough to get some politicians on board with universal background checks, but the threat of no money does??????

Makes me wanna puke.

[AAO]

19. Hopefully we will see what happens in all it's hypocritical glory!

[Teamster Jeff]

23. I'm against cruelty to animals with one exception

Beat, whip, abuse Blue Dogs all day long for all I care. They are useless.

[slackmaster]

24. No more money, and then what?

This seems like a hollow threat. What are those donors going to do if they don't get their way? Create a third party dedicated to gun control?

Politicians listen to their donors, but they also have to listen to their constituents.

[Timbuk3]

34. A-fucking-men

Thanks for posting this.

[MoclipsHumptulips]

28. Past Time

Fuck the gun nuts, they are all about right wing bullshit.

Period.

[NYtoBush-Drop Dead]

29. Bohnet and Lerer should

use their bucks going after incumbent Repugs, both Senate and House on the same issue... guns.

[bvar22]

32. I hope "Democrtatic Donors" can get together on issues like:

*Jobs Programs, Jobs Programs, Jobs Programs, Jobs Programs, Jobs Programs, Jobs Programs

*Raising Taxes on The RICH (Pre-Reagan)

*Making EFCA the Law of the Land

*Labeling GMO foods

*Renegotiate NAFTA (End "Free Trade" and admit it was a scam)

*Breaking Up the Too Big to Fails

*Applying Fair Competition Regulations (Sherman Act) to protect Mom & Pop Businesses (Locally Owned)
from Interstate Big Boxes like Wal-Mart

*National Publicly Owned Government Administered Health Insurance

*Banning For Profit Private Prisons

*Ending the Failed Drug War

*Cutting Military Spending

*Repealing the Patriot Act

*Closing Gitmo and every other secret Prison for "terrorists"

*Ending the Drone Bombings

*Restoring the 4th Amendment

*Auditing the FED

*Jailing Wall Street Criminals

*Jailing War Criminals

*End funding of "Private Universities,
re-direct that funding to Public Universities for Universal Free Higher Education


There are more, but you get the picture.

[Timbuk3]

33. Well, that sucks

Now big money is in control of the Democratic party, and "liberals" are celebrating it.

[IdaBriggs]

36. Money has ALWAYS been in charge of politicians.

Acknowledging reality doesn't mean we celebrate it.



We are CELEBRATING (eye roll) the fact the donor organizing folk are wielding the stick.

If you can't get donations, but your primary challenger can ... and these people "threatening" to withhold support are "proven big money."

It is time for "listening ears" if they are wise.

[frylock]

41. now big money is in control of the democratic party?

now?!! you been in a coma or something?