What is it with rich people spending fortunes in California to get elected?

[Manifestor_of_Light]

Michael Huffington, scion of the Huffington Center, Arianna's ex, spend a huge amount of money running for Gov. of California.
He lost.

Now we have Meg Whitman spending $120 million of her own money, running for Governor, and it looks like sh ewill lose.

And Carly Fiorina, formerly CEO of Hewlett Packard, running for Senator.

I just wonder about rich people spending that kind of money, when they are not fit for office and it's a futile campaign. Maybe it's part of being the economic aristocracy. They're rich so therefore they think they are smarter than the average working stiff, and have the right to buy an office to rule over them.

:shrug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I think you're right.

They think their wealth entitles them to run the state...and when they win, they do...right into the ground!

But really, they must think they're smarter. Who knew?

[RandomThoughts]

4. I believe in representative democracy, with good education.

Because I know I don't know enough to run a country, and no other single person does either. Once you think you have all the answers, you stop learning.

So best ideas, discussed with sharing and learning of the most people possible, seems to be best idea.


Also why leaders have to avoid the bubble that can come with power, and that is not an easy thing to do, since isolation is an attempt to break empathy.

[pinboy3niner]

9. You're right--theyTHINK

Did you see the debate tonight? Meg Whitman--who poured $119 million of her fortune into her campaign--got her ass pwned in the debate by Jerry Brown--who had far fewer resources.

Woo Hoo! The money's usually a big deal--but not in this case.

[tabatha]

2. Because it is one of the largest economies in the country.

And it helps Dems win national elections. It has a huge chunk of votes.

[stranger81]

3. Anyone remember Al Checci?

He ran against Gray Davis, maybe, sometime in the '90s. Spent something south of $50M on his own campaign, which I remember thinking at the time was completely outrageous. Meg makes Al look like a cheapskate.

[Le Taz Hot]

18. Huffington's Ex as well.

He tried to buy his way into the Senate but Republicans hated him so much they stayed home.

[jobycom]

5. Poor people have to spend fortunes in California to get elected, too.

It's just that rich people have the money to spend. As for them thinking they are smarter than the average person, most people believe that, but they don't have the money to make others believe it.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

6. Boredom and Narcissism

Little more,

[napi21]

7. I think it's lust for power. Once $$ becomes imaterial

and they have more than they could possibly spend on desires, power becomes the ultiate desire.

[pinboy3niner]

8. Did you see the debate tonight?

Meg Whitman, who spent (so far) $119 million of her fortune on the race, was KILLED by Jerry Brown.

Money in campaigns is important--but not necessarily decisive.

We've had a few threads on the Brown/Whitman debate:






"... winner it's Brown (narrowly). At least he seemed like a human being. ... "
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9220065

Jerry Brown campaign celebrates debate victory
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9219941

Jerry Brown: "That surplus didn't drop down from the tooth fairy. I created that damn thing."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9219577

IMO Brown clearly won the CA GOV debate against Whitman.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9219241

HEADSUP: Brown-Whitman CA Gubernatorial debate tonight, 9 Eastern, 6 Pacific
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9218754

Meg is lying through her lips
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9219001

NO Ground Support for Whitman prior to debate. Brown support is evident.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9218582


From what we're seeing, money isn't buying it. Even my local Fox affiliate said Whitman lacked the splash that Jerry Brown had in the debate. Brown came off as human, while Whitman was cold and wooden.

Meg also engaged in distortions and outright lies about Brown's record. Factcheckers will have a field day with that!

[inna]

15. thank you so much for this! i missed the whole thing completely, appreciate the links! nt

[Radical Activist]

10. It happens in other states.

Sometimes they get elected. Other times they don't. They don't call the Senate a millionaire's club for nothing.

[Scuba]

13. How long before it'll have to be changed to "Billionaires Club"?

[customerserviceguy]

11. Only the rich, or the very well known

are able to get elected in CA. There's probably no way for an unknown to get the votes needed in such a vast part of the landscape, without either some sort of fame, or some big pile of money.

[Scuba]

12. Altruism?

:sarcasm:

[RadiationTherapy]

14. It is merely an investment and a business decision.

Politics is simply the industry where they are "opening" a new "company".

[KharmaTrain]

16. It's Happening All Over...California Is Just More Expensive

Look at the amounts Linda McMahon is throwing around. The GOOP loves self funders and will gladly let them spend...so they can focus their resources on other races. For many of these people, election is ego, vindication...proof they are the masters of their universe. The GOTB has always been the party of big business and love the corporate suits as some kind of proof that running a company is the same as running the government. They aren't. Governments aren't meant to make a profit. But its a mantra that has helped the rushpublicans bamboozle the electorate for years and it still works.

I'm hoping AG Brown beats Ebay Peggy big time...but it will be a bigger blow to her ego than her bank account. She'll just spend another million on a new wardrobe or big vacation.

Sadly money does go a long way in today's political world...and a major reason Progressives and Liberals have a problem breaking through. This year it will cost a minimum of $1 million per House seat and $10 or more in the Senate. This money doesn't come from the $25 or $100 dollar donors but from those who write the big checks. Many are lobbyists and other special interests and those are the ones who get the real attention. Without those big bucks many of these candidates don't stand a chance to compete (especially against the Rover Billionaires Club and the Kochtapus) and thus they pander to the big money and only care about the voters in the closing days of an election.

[lunatica]

17. They want to deliver California to the Republicans

and to Corporations like Enron. California is one of the Golden Geese in the US. In good times it could be a whole country all its own economically.