[quote=Allan from Fallbrook]afx: When you look at the sums of money necessary to buy (and, let’s be honest, that’s exactly what’s happening) the Presidency, it becomes patently obvious who and what are behind the scenes.[/quote]
It begs the question, who does Obama answer to then? Barbara Streisand? Maybe Jay-Z? Does he then get to ignore everyone who backed and donated to McCain? Are you claiming that the power-brokers who once backed Bush changed their donations to Obama as soon as it was clear that he was going to win, so that they might get something in exchange?
Of course some of this takes place, but I still don’t buy the whole “vast money-wing conspiracy.” Who exactly “installed” Obama with their fat wads of cash? Israel? China? Bill Gates?
REALITY CHECK: Obama Received About the Same Percentage from Small Donors in 2008 as Bush in 2004
Obama also raised 80% more from large donors than small, outstripping all rivals and predecessors
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These totals force a reality check. In McCain’s case, a $100 million figure from bundlers would represent almost all of the money he raised from large donors ($122 million). In Obama’s case, one should combine the estimated $90 million or so he received with the help of bundlers through August with the remaining $120 million or so from other large donors, and then compare it to the $119 million he raised from small donors through August. The comparison should make one think twice before describing small donors as the financial engine of the Obama campaign.
None of these findings denies the importance of either Obama’s appeal to repeat donors or his innovative use of online social networking tools to interweave appeals for contributions and critically important campaign volunteers. In particular, Obama did attract repeaters who have not been part of the traditional large-dollar, reception-attending fundraising crowd. The fact is that Obama’s financial juggernaut broke records at all contribution levels. The reality does not match the myth, but the reality itself was impressive.
I’m not naive enough to believe that money doesn’t talk, but when there is a lot of money coming from everywhere, who does he answer to? If he chooses to answer to the highest bidder, there are going to be a lot of pissed off lower-bidders.
