MSNBC-Obama Refusing To Pay Philly Dem Machine Payola!

[kpete]

MSNBC-Obama Refusing To Pay Philly Dem Machine Payola!
by IndianaDemocrat
Fri Apr 11, 2008 at 09:54:57 AM PDT

MSNBC, quoting the L.A. Times, is reporting that the Obama Campaign is refusing to pay the "traditional" Philadelphia Street Money PAYOLA for the Primary Election.

It's custom in Philly for Democratic Party insiders to get "Walking Around Money" for thier GOTV efforts.

Folks, it's EXACTLY this type of near-corruption that we MUST stop.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/...

The Los Angeles Times: "Flush with payments from well-funded campaigns, the ward leaders and Democratic Party bosses typically spread out the cash in the days before the election, handing $10, $20 and $50 bills to the foot soldiers and loyalists who make up the party's workforce.

It is all legal -- but Obama's people are telling the local bosses he won't pay. That sets up a culture clash, pitting a candidate who promises to transform American politics against the realities of a local political system important to his presidential hopes."

"Obama's posture confounds neighborhood political leaders sympathetic to his cause. They caution that if the senator from Illinois withholds money that gubernatorial, mayoral and presidential candidates have willingly paid out for decades, there could be defections to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York. And the Clinton campaign, in contrast, will oblige in forking over the money, these ward leaders predict."


http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/04/11/877410.aspx
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/4/11/124223/530/500/493764

[NJmaverick]

1. Is Camp Clinton paying?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Can they afford to?

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

14. Its the maxed out donors who come up with the money

From comment at The Field:


“Street money,” traditionally, is not reported: It comes from donors that have maxed out and distributed as cash. One simply does not see the kind of expenditures that one ward heeler suggested in that story - $400,000 to $500,000 for Philadelphia - ever mentioned on FEC filings. The “walking around money” (another common term for it in field lingo) traditionally comes from a slush fund.

It’s a potential public relations nightmare for Obama because it doesn’t just traditionally go to ward chairmen, but also to church ministers.

http://ruralvotes.com/thefield/?p=1036#comments

[Neshanic]

17. "Church ministers?" I feel a baby Jesus crying jag coming on.

[Neshanic]

18. Who cares? Shes in this to win, not to be some crybaby hypocrite.

[GarbagemanLB]

3. I think they are instead paying in stale donuts leftover from Penn.

[Tyler Durden]

12. I think Philadelphia is IN Pennsylvania.

Last I checked on the map, anyway.

[Kaylee]

19. I think they mean Mark Penn...not the state.

[Tyler Durden]

21. AHA. Hokay.

Just sounded odd.

[scheming daemons]

4. Fast Eddie will pay out of his own coffers on behalf of Clinton..... that's how he rolls...

...

[alcibiades_mystery]

5. Hey! All I got in Chicago was a six-pack of Old Style!

I feel took!

[The Magistrate]

7. Indeed, My Friend: We Are Going To Have To Step Up Our Game Here

There are reputations at stake....

[samdogmom]

22. You were double "took"...Old Style is a Wisconsin beer! (Pabst). n/t

[alcibiades_mystery]

24. Well, yeah

Everyone knows that. But it's a Chicago tradition, ya know?

[samdogmom]

27. Really? I didn't know! Back here in Wisconsin we call it "Old Stool".....

Anyway--I'm glad you got a six-pack of this "stuff" out of the bargain!

LOL!

[alcibiades_mystery]

29. Basically, the way you identify a dive bar in Chicago is as follows

It has no sign indicating the name of the bar. It just has an Old Style sign over the door. Seriously.

[samdogmom]

32. Funny! Go "Old Stool"!

By the way--I'm Sorry if I've offended any Old Style fans!

[samdogmom]

6. Go Obama!

Take back our country please!

Why does this not surprise me?

Just my opinion, but it took one look/listen to the current PA governor and I just sensed that things aren't squeaky clean in Pennsylvania politics. Rendell appears "slimy" to me.

[JackintheGreen]

8. Are you kidding me?

The only place slimier than my adopted hometown of Philadelphia is my real hometown of Chicago.

GAAAAH!

On edit: Gobama!

[samdogmom]

16. HA! You are probably right!

The saving grace for Chicago is that the rest of the country doesn't have to watch your "elected" officials over and over again like we have had to stomach Rendell over the past several weeks. Be honest--this guy is a slime ball, isn't he?

[JackintheGreen]

20. Lord yes!

But he's our slimeball. I voted for him and I'd do it again against ANY PA republican. It was our misfortune to give the nation Rick Santorum *and* Tom Ridge. Yech...

Honestly, though, after years of mayors Washington and Daley, and now with Emil Jones et. al., Philly politics is like a cool spring shower.

Ok...not really.

[Pirate Smile]

9. I agree, kpete. Here is an earlier thread on the topic.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=5454486&mesg_id=5454486

[Tatiana]

10. Damn. The aldermen in Chi-town never give out cash. I feel cheated!

Alls I got was a slice of cheesecake!

[Neshanic]

11. Chicago politician will not play nice in Philly. Suddenly he has morals.

I guess those pure Chicago years and real estate gymnastics are so above board, those corrupt Philadelphians, how dare they.

[berni_mccoy]

13. Better Title: OBAMA SAYS NO TO PHILLY DEMOCRATIC CORRUPTION

[Neshanic]

15. He could hand out ice cream vouchers. Yummers.

[global1]

23. Street Money - Walking Around Money - Code Name For "Buying The Vote"..........

what is the going rate for a vote in Philly these days?

[hfojvt]

25. it's not buying a vote as much as rewarding volunteers

People who spent a whole Saturday walking around, driving around, knocking on doors. I'm not sure I care for it. Volunteers should be volunteers, but a little reward like that probably brings out more volunteers and helps to cover gas and meal expenses for volunteers who might be on a tight budget.

[K Gardner]

26. And the SECOND Obama did it, we'd be hearing screams of "Vote Buying" from you know who. Good for

Obama. Smart move.

[thevoiceofreason]

28. Then they ain't volunteers, is they?

[hfojvt]

31. no, but if they get $20 for spending six hours driving around in their own car

they aren't exactly getting minimum wage either.

[formernaderite]

30. I'm curious to see what he'll do in the GE

cause that's where walking around money is really necessary. I'm not being facetious either...it's just the price of doing business in the cities. Especially in states that are close....Problem is people are complacent.

[azmouse]

33. K&R