Pro-Clinton PAC moving in with Jim Messina

[Beacool]

Source: Politico



By MAGGIE HABERMAN | 1/29/14

The pro-Hillary Clinton super PAC Priorities USA is moving into the offices of its co-chairman, Jim Messina, POLITICO has learned — a move that underscores the level of influence that President Barack Obama’s former campaign manager will have over the group.

Priorities USA, which last week announced that its reconfigured board would be helmed by Messina and former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, will be situated within the Messina Group in the next few weeks, a source familiar with the move said. Messina is well-known to major donors from his time running Obama’s campaign and brings a level of stature as an adviser to the president.

-------

The question of how Priorities will conduct its ad-buying took on new interest last week when the campaign rolled out its new board, and Messina confirmed to The New York Times that there will be an analytics element to how the TV spots are bought.

He told the newspaper that he planned to employ some of the tools that were developed during the Obama campaign used to microtarget ads to the universe of persuadable voters, based on a variety of factors, including what shows they were likeliest to be watching.



Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2014/01/priorities-usa-jim-messina-hillary-clinton-102804.html?hp=l4

---

Interesting, this PAC will not only focus on large donors, but also on ad buying. Other than staff salaries, the largest portion of campaign funds are used on TV spots. The Obama campaign was very good at microtargeting ads, in some areas outspending the Republicans by 3 to 1.

This level of organization will be great for the nominee, whether it's Hillary or someone else (if she chooses not to run).

[Pterodactyl]

1. I think we need someone new.

I'm all for recycling, but we really need someone with a fresh outlook and who does not have baggage.

[TBF]

2. What's wrong with Messina?

Seemed to run a good campaign for Obama

[Pterodactyl]

3. I meant someone newer than Clinton.

[TBF]

4. Oh, ok. nt

[Beacool]

5. Maybe there'll be someone with new ideas who could win the G.E.

So far, I don't see anyone willing to run who is truly viable and has the name recognition and money to mount a billion dollar plus campaign.

Elizabeth Warren has only been a senator for a year and has repeatedly said that she's not interested.

Bernie Sanders is a Socialist in his mid 70s. He might get elected in France, but not in this country.

Brian Schweitzer seems interested, but he would like to run as the "anti-Obama" (not a good tactic for a Democrat). He also supports the NRA and is not very good on environmental issues.

Joe Biden is a nice, decent man. He is also in his mid 70s and a gaffe machine. The only ones pushing a Joe run is Joe himself and his close advisers.

The rest of the crowd would not run if Hillary runs (Cuomo, O'Malley, etc.). I think that also applies to Biden.

Now, if Hillary decides to sit it out, then it'll be a free for all.

[reddread]

6. Hillary's jobs programs are going to be the centerpiece, FULL employment!

in China and India.
It would almost be worth watching her bully her way into the nomination,
to see her lose and listen to the excuses and scapegoating afterwards.
She may have access to the money, but she cant hide from her liabilities and
negatives.
More than two years to go, and so much will happen between now and then.
Not the least of which is she is going to make the vast majority of voters
sick of her machinations and ambition.
Fortunately for her, as we have seen, there are many ways to skin a cat.
With enough money and the right friends...
unfortunately for her, Jeb Bush is much more likely to have what it takes on that score.
More than two years to go.
She best have the fix in her pocket, because history says
the odds are against it.

[Beacool]

13. Hillary is not "bullying" her way into anything.

People do want her to run. You may not like her, but she is very popular with Democrats (even with those who consider themselves to be liberals).

What machinations? She hasn't even declared her candidacy. If you think that Jeb Bush can win over Hillary, then he would run roughshod over any other Democrat.

There is no fix. People will vote for the candidate of their choice.

[reddread]

15. lets see how many more awards she can collect for C-SPAN coverage

she will even exploit the Benghazi failure.
those machinations.
Outside of a write-in, other choices will be few and far between.
They may not even bother with an Edwards stalking horse this time.
theres more than a few ways to rig a selection.
People voting for the rich because they have the most moneyed support
best be rich themselves.
Its time for an economic litmus test that voters can use to vote sensibly.
Hillary is a perfect candidate for the 1%.
She has nothing to offer the rest of us.

[Beacool]

16. You seem angry at the process, that's not Hillary's fault.

We don't even know yet if she will decide to run. The pressures are from outside her direct inner circle. Some of her closest friends don't want her to run. It's a thankless job.

The pressure is from many within the Democratic leadership. They want to make sure that the Dems keep the WH and they think that she's their best bet. If they thought that someone else would have a better chance, they would be pressuring that person. That's politics.

[reddread]

20. symptom or disease? tough call when they make the policy decisions happen

Yeah, the process where these interests (not US, not the U.S taxpaying voter) determine who the viable candidates are-
Comcast
Verizon
AT&T
Disney
GE
Walmart
Koch Bros
any number of multi-billionaires and consortiums of Government contracting weapons building, finance looting, children shooting technology providers.
I shouldnt hold the former Senator and Secretary of State and WalMart board associate and ex-first lady who obviously
never had any role in the decay and magnified corruption of our political process responsible?
If you say so.
Certainly if I hadnt become acquainted with wealthy, racist WalMart connected friends of hers, maybe I would be a little less
cynical.
or aware.
"we dont even know if she will run"
thanks for the smile!

[juajen]

25. How interesting. If you don't name names, this could all be make believe.

There have been several articles that tell the story of her tenure on the Board of WalMart. Her stated purpose repeated over and over again, was to try to advance women 's rights. She had some success, but not as much as she wanted. She never stopped trying to advance women's rights, and will be the first female President of the United States. How's that for success in advancing women's rights?

It would have been very surprising had the First Lady of Arkansas turned down the opportunity to be on the Board of WalMart. This was my time. As a matter of fact I lived and worked in a prominant Law Firm in Little Rock close to the Rose Law Firm in 1979-1982. My place of employment was Friday, Eldridge & Clark. It was a different time; and I can tell you that WalMart under Sam was a different WalMart than the one of today. I am not saying that the Board was liberal, but, Sam Walton was a loyal American whose motto was "Made in the USA". Even though I had moved to Dallas when she became a member of the Board, I kept up with this dynamic woman and admired her very much. Most women were very proud of this woman sitting on that Board of Directors of WalMart.

[reddread]

32. Hutchison $280 million for their WM shoe concession, ex-wife claim to fame "Hillary's good friend"

Since divorced. Ex hubby drove Bill around in his personal bus on his first (only?) trip to Fresno, where he went to the much smaller town of Kerman rather than time in Fresno other than jogging around Leaky Acres.
Nice collection of exotic convertibles. Shockingly vicious right wing literature in the bathroom.
She was horrific to the mexican employees in her upscale Bentley's Market effort which didnt last 6 months Id say.
Vicious screaming about workers using the bathrooms and despicable remarks about "can you speak English"
while obviously exploiting that labor pool for a market in the wealthiest nook and cranny of town.
Hope this helps.
Obviously, her hands are clean as to Wal-Marts business practices. Im sure she did her best there.
Her husbands approval of MFN for post Tianenmen China and deregulatory practices involving
telecoms arent her fault either. She would surely consider doing something different, right?
More work for the needy people of India, perhaps?
And just because her one friend is a disgusting pig, doesnt mean she is, or that they all are.
And of course, she has shown herself to be actively involved with the spiritual side of WDC
political movers.
Whats the name of that group?
This is not make believe.
None of it.

[juajen]

24. Well, I would be interested in who you would support for the nomination.

Pray tell, do tell.

[reddread]

33. anyone who would support the needs of American workers

none of whom need to be greeters at WalMart in their golden years.

[grantcart]

7. Its an unfortunate dynamic.

Cuomo and all of the others who are thinking about a run should run.

The bigger the field the better, and if Hilary decides to run it would make her a better GE candidate.

For those that run and didn't get the nomination it would provide invaluable experience for the next time and it would help identify who should be the VP pick.

[Beacool]

22. Someone will run.

It won't be a coronation. The question is who is willing to go through the process. It takes a lot out of people to campaign for a year and a half, plus the tremendous amount of money that they would have to raise to be competitive. It also takes a toll on their families.

[Pterodactyl]

9. What about Wendy Davis?

[Beacool]

10. Too soon.

She needs to win in TX first. Although I think that she would be great in a couple of cycles.

[Pterodactyl]

17. I think there could be a great young candidate out there. Obama was barely a Senator when he won.

[Beacool]

18. Obama was at least in a federal position.

It would be too big of a jump. I think that she'll have a great future in the party, but it would be way too soon for her to run for president in another year or so.

[juajen]

26. She needs seasoning!

She's a baby compared to Clinton, and I don't mean age. If she can survive Texas politics, then she might be a viable candidate later. I do admire her very much and want her to be the Governor of Texas. They need her, and she has experience in that state and in that state government, but the knives are out and I hope she survives the fight.

[Whisp]

23. Joe Biden a gaffe machine?

I hear the Fox people say that a lot but I know that there are far, far more ridiculous and lunaticy Gaffes by Hillary.

I would love to spar with you and have examples shown of the both of them and their gaffes.


I'm sure.

[DonViejo]

27. Aaaarrrggghhh! I don't even want to think of the horror...

that would follow such an event: "Now, if Hillary decides to sit it out, then it'll be a free for all. If folk believe '08 was horrendous, '16 could become a real ugly mess if that scenario does play out.

No, I'm not advocating for Hillary or a Hillary unchallenged; I'm just addressing what I think would happen during and after the Convention if there were a Dem Primary free-for-all.

[Beacool]

28. Well, Hillary not running is a possibility.

She's under a lot of pressure to run, but if she really doesn't want it, she might still say no. In which case, people would be coming out of the woodwork to run. It might be a redux of the 2012 GOP primaries.

[DonViejo]

29. Yep, for sure Beacool...

She might not run; sizeable Party war ensues.

[Beacool]

30. Well, let's not get ahead of ourselves.

We still have a long time to go.

[northoftheborder]

8. I like to see this kind of early organization no matter who ends up as the D nominee.

[Beacool]

11. Yep, Democrats won't be caught flat footed, no matter who ends up being the nominee.

[madfloridian]

12. Interesting article about Messina in the Nation 2011

http://www.thenation.com/article/159577/jim-messina-obamas-enforcer

From 2011 The Nation

During the healthcare fight, Messina used his influence to try to stifle any criticism of Baucus or lobbying by progressive groups that was out of sync with the administration’s agenda, according to Common Purpose participants. “Messina wouldn’t tolerate us trying to lobby to improve the bill,” says Richard Kirsch, former national campaign manager for Health Care for America Now (HCAN), the major coalition of progressive groups backing reform. Kirsch recalled being told by a White House insider that when asked what the administration’s “inside/outside strategy” was for passing healthcare reform, Messina replied, “There is no outside strategy.”

The inside strategy pursued by Messina, relying on industry lobbyists and senior legislators to advance the bill, was directly counter to the promise of the 2008 Obama campaign, which talked endlessly about mobilizing grassroots support to bring fundamental change to Washington. But that wasn’t Messina’s style—instead, he spearheaded the administration’s deals with doctors, hospitals and drug companies, particularly the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), one of the most egregious aspects of the bill. “They cared more about their relationship with the healthcare industry than anyone else,” says one former HCAN staffer. “It was shocking to see. To me, that was the scariest part of it, because this White House had ridden in on a white horse and said, ‘We’re not going to do this anymore.’” When they were negotiating special deals with industry, Messina and Baucus chief of staff Jon Selib were also pushing major healthcare companies and trade associations to pour millions of dollars into TV ads defending the bill. (Messina did have allies in the progressive community. Jon Youngdahl, chief of staff at the SEIU, praised him for the “ability to pull together progressives with diverse points of view” on healthcare, while Democratic strategist Robert Creamer noted that “Messina’s mission was to get something passed.”)

It also appears he was one of the 3 in the WH that deliberately snubbed Dean when the new DNC chairman was chosen. Dean was out of the country in American Samoa, and their advice was not to tell him about the announcement.

http://election.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4265517

On January 7, White House political director Patrick Gaspard, a former top labor organizer from New York, called DNC executive director Tom McMahon. Gaspard told McMahon that Obama planned to name Virginia governor Tim Kaine as his new DNC chair and wanted to make the announcement at the DNC the following day. Gaspard asked if Dean would be around. Dean's planning to be in American Samoa, the last U.S. territory he'd yet to visit as DNC chair, McMahon responded. (He'd logged 741,000 miles on the job.) Should he postpone his trip?

If he's already planning the trip, don't tell him to cancel, Gaspard replied. It would be better, in other words, if Dean wasn't there. Administration officials didn't want Obama to face any questions at the press conference about why Dean hadn't received a plum position in the White House. One snub led to another.

Gaspard, ironically, worked on Dean's campaign in 2004, but now served a higher office. "The decision was made by Rahm and Plouffe and (deputy chief of staff) Jim Messina", said the senior transition member. "I was specifically told by a senior administration official, 'It comes from those three guys. They specifically want to do this to Dean.'"
Even the new Camelot wasn't above a little revenge.

...Dean's snub didn't matter because of one man's bruised ego or thwarted ambitions. Rather, his shabby treatment would come to represent a broader abandonment of the party's grassroots base, especially as Obama packed his White House with well-worn veterans of previous administrations who embodied longevity over innovation and connections over change...

[Beacool]

14. I'm familiar with both articles.

Messina is not a politician, he's a campaign manager and a good one. His job was to help reelect Obama and propel his agenda. Whether that agenda was liberal or not, it wasn't for him to decide.

As far as Dean goes, he was used by the three mentioned above and dropped like a hot potato when they didn't need him anymore. I don't feel sorry for him, he was in the Obama bandwagon in 2008 to the detriment of Hillary and her campaign. He definitely didn't stay neutral, as he should have considering the position he held at the time within the party (same goes for Pelosi). What goes around, comes around.

As for the folks who do jobs like Messina's, they are not always nice people, that's not their job. They are just very good at getting their candidate elected.

[madfloridian]

19. Agree he's a good campaign manager.

However as far as Dean taking sides, he was the DNC chairman then. He was very careful about not taking sides.

Incidentally, in spite of the fact that I question Obama's education strategy...my late husband and I donated to and campaigned actively for Obama. As did most of our former local DFA members.

Do you have examples of his not being neutral?

[Beacool]

21. it had a lot to do with delegate counts

and keeping mum when the media bashed Hillary in sexist terms. Dean, Pelosi, et al. would run to a microphone if someone mad some racist remark about Obama (as they should), but when sexist comments were used against Hillary (and Lord knows that the misogyny ran rampant), it would be crickets from Dean and Pelosi. During the summer of 2008, Dean was confronted by a group of women activists who had supported Hillary. They asked Dean why had he never spoken out against the sexism of the media. His response was that he hadn't been aware of it because he didn't watch cable TV. Please.........

[freshwest]

31. Really like Granholm. She's a good spokesperson. n/t

[warrant46]

34. No need to vote in the primaries-- there won't be any

ANNOINTED

a·noint (ə-noint′
tr.v. a·noint·ed, a·noint·ing, a·noints
1. To apply oil, ointment, or a similar substance to.
2. To put oil on during a religious ceremony as a sign of sanctification or consecration.
3. To choose by or as if by divine intervention.

[reddread]

35. they should go the way of debates and journalism

nobody seems to miss those things.

[warrant46]

36. +1

[Le Taz Hot]

37. Resistance is futile.

Surrender now.