Barack Obama's 2008 bundlers flee political 'machine'

[David Gill]

"When Senator Barack Obama began running for president in 2007, a small handful of determined, inspired supporters found a new political calling. A new group of professionals - from a San Juan jewelry story owner to a West Coast biotech executive - raised hundreds of thousands of dollars each for him and their “bundling” was crucial in helping Obama offset Hillary Clinton’s profound financial and institutional advantages.

Four years later, many of those new bundlers say they won’t be coming back. For reasons ranging from disillusion and dissatisfaction to an overriding sense that the once idealistic Obama crusade has become yet another soulless political behemoth, that inspired cadre of early Obama supporters has largely been replaced by professional Democratic Party operatives.

Campaign officials deny that there’s any “enthusiasm gap,” and indeed the new operation appears to be on track to raise as much money as Obama did in his record-setting 2008 campaign. But the identity and mood of the campaign is very different..."

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0711/59517.html#ixzz1SkGE6XHS

[PassingFair]

1. "Enthusiasm Gap"

That's a nice way to characterize the
aftermath of betrayal.

[_ed_]

2. "professional Democratic Party operatives"

That means corporate whores.

[RaleighNCDUer]

5. The DLC machine which had backed Hillary last time around,,

now that Obama has shown his true colors.

[Chimichurri]

3. Unfortunately, I feel the same way.

[leveymg]

4. Hate the messenger (Politico), but the message is clear enough.

The campaign is being run by the same permanent political class Party hacks and Wall Street moneymen who have destroyed everyone in Washington. The Democratic base has been thrown overboard - we don't count anymore and aren't really welcome, anyway.

All I have to say to them is good luck trying to coordinate the campaign with traditional Democratic constituencies and local party organizations. As things stand, there will be little or no legitimate grassroots GOTV for the top of the ticket in '12.

[Bandit]

6. Where else are you going to go, do you want the boogy man as President?

:shrug: They understand that the very great majority of americans are just plain uninformed, and if they win over them they don't care about you.. I saw a t-shirt a few days ago that describes to a T the Average american. It said "I don't have any idea, and I don't want one"

[digitaln3rd]

7. How sad.

Obama had the opportunity to be an outsider to the political system and not be part of the same old crud - instead he's abandoned all aspects of transparency and independence. He's fully entrenched in the system.

I know I was hopeful in 2008 that he could be the last hope to safe the political system but now it's clear. Washington is broken and there's no fixing it. 2012 will just bring more of the same.

[NightWatcher]

8. Vote for him in 2012, for sure, but please dont hurt yourself giving him money this time

Last go round, I'd look at what I had extra and then make my donantions accordingly, but this time he's out to raise a shitload and 99% can/will come from huge corporate donations and related PACs.

So all I'm asking is that you dont hurt yourself this year when it comes to your donations. He'll be ok, he's running against a yet to be determined idiot, and shy of an Iranian-hostage October Surprise will win hands down.

If you feel the need to give, give of your time and man a phone bank. I dont see the corporations being able to supply foot soldiers this time.

Lastly, if you really care about this election, PLEASE volunteer to be an Elections Monitor in a troubled district.

[digitaln3rd]

15. It doesn't really matter in 2012, anyway.

Citizen's United clearly says that you and I don't matter when it comes to elections, anyway.

Elections are now only for corporations and special interests.

[Tatiana]

9. It's Politico, which I can't stand, but the following quote reads authentic to me:

“I will obviously vote, but I don’t think we’re going to be actively involved in raising money,” said Willard Taylor, a New York lawyer who, along with his wife Virginia Davies, hosted one of the first New York City Obama events in 2007, bucking the city’s nearly unified backing for Clinton.

“I think he’s done a terrible job with Organizing for America and for his base, and with the recognition of the people who worked for him,” Taylor said. “I frankly think the staff, the reelection staff, are incompetent fools.”

Sad. I'm certainly not wealthy enough to be a "bundler" but I know exactly how these people feel.

[in_cog_ni_to]

10. Oh, PESHA!

They're just a little angry right now. By November 2012, all will be forgiven. :sarcasm:

That's what the Democratic Party thinks every election cycle and they are usually correct...because people keep voting for the same crap...over and over and over and over and over and over. And they do that because of the meme....'the Repukes are worse.' Well, guess what? The differences between the 2 parties have blurred to the point of being damn near the same. No more. Enough is enough.

[G_j]

11. "yet another soulless political behemoth,"

ouch! the truth sure hurts sometimes..

[mod mom]

12. +1

[City Lights]

13. That jumped out at me, too! eom

[Snotcicles]

14. It went from clean money to big money. nt