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amborin

(16,631 posts)
Wed Mar 30, 2016, 08:20 PM Mar 2016

A Tale of Two Economies: The Clooney's Fundraiser for Hillary Clinton



The Clooneys’ Fundraisers for Hillary Clinton: A Tale of Two Economies

The contrast between the upcoming George Clooney-Hillary Clinton $353,000 fundraiser and the fast-growing California homeless population illustrates an overlooked and nasty aspect of the presidential campaign and of current politics.


The event is not actually a $353,000 fundraiser. On April 15, the actor and his wife, Amal, an attorney, will host a gathering in San Francisco for which a couple must raise or contribute $353,400 for two seats at the head table. Annie Karni and Kenneth P. Vogel noted in Politico that this is more than four times the average income in San Francisco. Crummier tickets cost less, but are the savings worth the diminished prestige?

The next night, a few hundred miles to the south, the Clooneys will open their Los Angeles mansion for another such event, where guests can dine at the Clooneys’ table for $33,400. B- and C-level seats presumably cost less.

The money goes, Karni and Vogel reported, to the Hillary Victory Fund. Fund beneficiaries are the Clinton presidential campaign, the Democratic National Committee and 32 state party committees.

Why exactly do I call all this “nasty”? And why did Bernie Sanders, Clinton’s opponent for the Democratic presidential nomination, denounce it as “obscene”? He’s raising plenty of money the digital way. And the money for the national committees goes to a good cause—reversing the right-wing tide that has given ultraconservatives control of Congress and a large number of statehouses. The latter development is responsible for the wave of laws limiting abortion rights across the country.

The staggering ticket prices are “nasty” and “obscene” because they illustrate the huge gap between the extremely rich Democrats and the very poor—a gap that will be on display for the rest of the nation if Clinton and Sanders, as expected, fight it out in the June 7 California presidential primary.

The donors will not only get status for their money. They also will get access to political leaders that the poor will never have.

snip

.....homeless encampments continue to multiply on sidewalks, under freeway overpasses and in parks.

snip

The luxury of the Clooney-Clinton fundraisers illustrates the gap between the growing number of poor and the indifferent rich, who prosper in this unequal economy. They are obscene symbols of what’s wrong with our politics.

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_clooneys_fundraisers_for_hillary_clinton_a_tale_two_economies_20160330
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A Tale of Two Economies: The Clooney's Fundraiser for Hillary Clinton (Original Post) amborin Mar 2016 OP
I am very disappointed in Clooney and wife yourpaljoey Mar 2016 #1
That is my feeling also. His pretty face is not going to look jwirr Mar 2016 #3
Not so pretty anymore. 840high Mar 2016 #17
Yeah, but I have a good memory. jwirr Mar 2016 #19
heehee - so do I. He sure 840high Mar 2016 #21
Yes. jwirr Mar 2016 #22
BERNIE IS OUR FINAL Opportunity For A Return To Legit Democracy... Otherwise Tightening CORPORATISM CorporatistNation Mar 2016 #6
The Clooneys know this, making it all the sadder yourpaljoey Mar 2016 #7
prove the Clooney's indifference to homelessness. upaloopa Mar 2016 #2
Shhhhh.... MrWendel Mar 2016 #4
Thank you for your service! Wilms Mar 2016 #9
If that happens all to the good upaloopa Mar 2016 #12
Now see - as much as 840high Mar 2016 #18
Money bomb for Bernie the night of the fundraiser!! Let's do it! jillan Mar 2016 #5
I'm in! Count on me for $27 more! cherokeeprogressive Mar 2016 #13
How much is Bernie contributing to down ticket races? nt WhiteTara Mar 2016 #16
that's a fantastic idea! Bernie should ask for $335K in one night dana_b Mar 2016 #20
who knew george clooney was the worst person who ever... dubyadiprecession Mar 2016 #8
Wait! I was told that the Bernie supporters are the rich and privileged!! Tierra_y_Libertad Mar 2016 #10
The Volvos prove it. nt cherokeeprogressive Mar 2016 #14
It is obscene and must end. appalachiablue Mar 2016 #11
The "others" should just die off per third way dem ideals. PowerToThePeople Mar 2016 #15

CorporatistNation

(2,546 posts)
6. BERNIE IS OUR FINAL Opportunity For A Return To Legit Democracy... Otherwise Tightening CORPORATISM
Wed Mar 30, 2016, 08:38 PM
Mar 2016
http://www.rense.com/general37/char.htm


Fourteen Defining
Characteristics Of Fascism
By Dr. Lawrence Britt
Source Free Inquiry.co
5-28-3


Dr. Lawrence Britt has examined the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia) and several Latin American regimes. Britt found 14 defining characteristics common to each:

1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism - Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.

2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights - Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.

3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause - The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.

4. Supremacy of the Military - Even when there are widespread
domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.

5. Rampant Sexism - The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Divorce, abortion and homosexuality are suppressed and the state is represented as the ultimate guardian of the family institution.

6. Controlled Mass Media - Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.

7. Obsession with National Security - Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.

8. Religion and Government are Intertwined - Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.

9. Corporate Power is Protected - The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.

10. Labor Power is Suppressed - Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.

11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts - Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts and letters is openly attacked.

12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment - Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.

13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption - Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.

14. Fraudulent Elections - Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.

From Liberty Forum

upaloopa

(11,417 posts)
2. prove the Clooney's indifference to homelessness.
Wed Mar 30, 2016, 08:25 PM
Mar 2016

I work with HUD homeless grants in Santa Barbara County. We all pay for the grants through our taxes. My work helps keep many chronically homeless in shelter.

I doubt anyone replying to this OP has any idea of what work is done for homeless in CA.

But use your ignorance to attack Hillary it has no consequences!

 

Wilms

(26,795 posts)
9. Thank you for your service!
Wed Mar 30, 2016, 09:07 PM
Mar 2016

I mean that.

And I'm wishing you a lighter case load and increased funding through the efforts of the Sanders Administration.

dana_b

(11,546 posts)
20. that's a fantastic idea! Bernie should ask for $335K in one night
Wed Mar 30, 2016, 10:52 PM
Mar 2016

from his supporters.

Who is rEALLY more powerful? One person with $335K or thousands contributing up to $335K?

 

PowerToThePeople

(9,610 posts)
15. The "others" should just die off per third way dem ideals.
Wed Mar 30, 2016, 09:44 PM
Mar 2016

We need to eradicate that ideology from the party.

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