CNN: Obama 's bumper stickers buyers, etc. included in small contribution

totals being discussed. Most candidates do not count campaign gear buyers as contributors.


Tancredo, Kucinich and two other repukes, plus Obama are the only candidates adding "buyers" into their totals.

No link. Just aired.


edgr

Are campaign merchandise purchases subject to disclosure laws? Is there a certain threshold in terms of dollars one must attain?

Then onto a politically minded question, how many of these merch purchasers made up Obamas donor list that did not also donate money to him?

If its only a couple of thousand, BFD.

When you "buy" (donate in exchange for) campaign items, like bumper stickers and pins, you have to provide your complete contact info and employer info (where you work).

I started out during my first campaign job in 2000 typing all of that info into the IRS-compatible database.

It's annoying, but required. I don't recall counting each $1.00 donor as a "campaign donor," though.

But I guess you could.

I think now the merchandise is separate from actual campaign.

I just bought some stuff from Hillary and didn't have to provide that info. Same in 2004 when I bought stuff from Kerry/Edwards.

You have come to the one stop shop for Hillary merchandise. All of our products are top quality and union made in the USA. HillaryStore.com is owned and operated by Financial Innovations Inc.

Any purchase is for volunteer use and is not a contribution to the campaign. You can make a contribution to Hillary's campaign at www.hillaryclinton.com.

In my 7 years of local, state & national (paid) campaign experience, if campaigns produce the merchandise themselves, purchases are considered donations. If they use outside vendors, they're not contributions.

each donors overall legal allowed limit. ($2300 primary & $2300 general)

The discussion was about how many of the small amounts or donors listed, (5$, $10, $20, etc) were actual purchases and not real donations.

I need a new Hillary sign for my place.

My current one is getting sun bleached.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3380136&mesg_id=3380164

I was informed they all do it.

I haven't checked, so I couldn't say for sure.

They did say it's legal as long as it's made public and reported.

Attendees count toward the 250,000 donors that the campaign says it has amassed this year. So do online purchasers of merchandise who pay $20.08 for an Obama T-shirt or $2.50 for a campaign placard. Campaign spokesman Bill Burton said such small donors account for "less of half of 1 percent of all donors."

"A lot of those folks have given otherwise," Burton said. "It's probably even a smaller number than that."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070717/ap_on_el_pr/campaign_money;_ylt=AuGoX.8G8IpArUEEhUTpiZxp24cA






Hey Hillary folks, when is she going to release her number of donors? She's the only one stalling. Why is that? hmmmmm.

I doubt that this makes up a very large percentage of his total contributors, but the play it will get in the media will overshadow his impressive fundraising numbers...

When I bought Obama merchandise last month off his website it informed me that my purchase would be counted towards my maximum donations to his campaign.

I had never bought campaign merchandise before so it was the first time I'd heard of that rule.

Well, if the other candidates aren't counting merchandise in their totals and Obama was that will obviously take Obama's totals down. I just wonder by how much.

I'd like to see the other candidates numbers WITH merchandise. I think merchandise purchases should be included in the totals. JMO.

They said most people don't know and the donor totals can be misleading.

to FEC by law as a campaign contribution.

Here's who runs Hillary's store:

HillaryStore.com, brought to you by Financial Innovations, is the official resource for "Hillary" merchandise. As the leader in American union-made, licensed merchandise, Financial Innovations is proud of our 27 year commitment to Democratic campaigns.

Financial Innovations was prime merchandise supplier for the last six Democratic National Conventions, official merchandise licensee to the last seven Democratic presidential campaigns and master vendor for 1997 Clinton-Gore Presidential Inauguration in Washington, DC.

We're proud of our Democratic Heritage. We are the only major merchandise company to only supply Democratic campaigns and causes.

Here's the message that appears at the top

Any purchase is for volunteer use and is not a contribution to the campaign. You can make a contribution to Hillary's campaign at www.hillaryclinton.com.

Here's who runs Obama's (as near as I can figure they are unclear)

Before Democrats can effect change in office, they have to win. That’s where we come in…Tigereye Design is one of America’s leading manufacturers and distributors of Democratic campaign products. We are a Union company (proud members of United Steelworkers Local 3210) that exclusively serves Democratic campaigns, progressive organizations, and labor unions.

Democrats nationwide know Tigereye Design provides the highest quality merchandise faster than anyone else in the country. We have supplied every Democratic presidential campaign and Democratic National Convention since 1980, and thousands of Democratic campaigns and organizations in all 50 states. In 2006 alone, we supplied over 100 federal and state Democratic campaigns!

Tigereye Design is committed to helping Democrats at every level. Our staff consultants have experience where it counts, including campaign management, state party administration, field strategy, fundraising, outreach, and creative communications. From retail solutions to last minute event needs, Tigereye Design has the tools to help Democrats win.

And the message at the top of Obama's store:

Thank you for visiting the Obama for America online store. All of our products are top quality, union and USA made and produced. All purchases made on the Obama Store are 100% contributions to the campaign and count toward your overall contribution limit.

An individual may contribute up to $2,300 per election (the primary and general are separate elections). This limit includes contributions made through the Obama Store. If you have already made the maximum contribution and would like Obama merchandise, please contact Obama for America at (866) 675-2008.

Producing their own buttons, T-Shirts and Signs?

Who among other things runs a sweatshop for quilts using th3e resident of the home

"This is hand made quality shit we're talking about"



"Ok everyone turn up your hearing aides, we're gonna extend arts and crafts time by 4 hours today"

He said it was only 1% of their total. And it's perfectly within the rules, so if other campaigns aren't doing it, that's their problem. This sounds like a weak attempt to sow doubt about Obama's dominating fundraising among the ignorant.

They must have figured the MSM would latch onto it to make him look bad!

This was what maybe a few thousand peopleat the very most? Why hand the media and his opponents an easy weapon?

Did some campaign brain think it was important that the number was 250K and not 248K?

It's not a PR mistake at all. It's a mistake by the Clinton-serving press.

They had an unbelivibly impressive amount of donors and they just handed people a way to dismiss it.

And for what? To get an extra 1000 donors or so? Even if it was 20K donors, Obama would still be destroying his opponents in that dept. Hell it could 50K and he would still nearly double his nearest competitor.

So why include them?

Has anyone said they weren't supposed to?
If they hadn't done it, you'd be criticizing them for not following the rules.
This is only getting play in a few places, so the only people hearing about are the politically obsessed (like myself) and the only people dismissing it are the diehard Clinton supporters.

They didn't have to report merch sales as contributions.

Obama Was A Constitutional Law Professor:

At A Recent Fundraiser, Obama Claimed He Was A "Constitutional Law Professor." "'I was a constitutional law professor, which means unlike the current president I actually respect the Constitution,' Obama told an audience at a campaign fundraiser." (Brendan Farrington, "Obama: Bush Fails To Respect The Constitution," The Associated Press, 3/30/07)

* On The University Of Chicago Law School Website, Obama Is Listed As A "Senior Lecturer In Law (On Leave Of Absence)." (University Of Chicago Law School Website, http://www.law.uchicago.edu/faculty/obama, Accessed 3/30/07)

Obama Made This False Claim In His 2004 Senate Race. "Several direct-mail pieces issued for Obama's primary campaign said he was a law professor at the University of Chicago. He is not. He is a senior lecturer (now on leave) at the school. In academia, there is a vast difference between the two titles. Details matter." (Lynn Sweet, "Obama's Book: What's Real, What's Not" Chicago Sun-Times, 8/8/04)

Obama's Parents "Got Together" Because Of The 1965 Selma March:

In His Selma Speech, Obama Said His Parents "Got Together" And He Was Born As A Result Of The Selma March. Obama: "Because some folks were willing to march across a bridge. So they got together and Barack Obama, Jr. was born. So don't tell me I don't have a claim on Selma, Alabama." (Senator Barack Obama, Remarks At Brown Chapel AME Church, Selma, AL, 3/4/07)

* "Earlier In The Day At A Prayer Breakfast, The Illinois Democrat Said: 'If It Hadn't Been For Selma, I Wouldn't Be Here.'" (Anne E. Kornblut and Peter Whoriskey, "Clinton, Obama Link Selma March To Present," The Washington Post, 3/5/07)

But Obama Was Born In 1961, 4 YEARS BEFORE The 1965 Selma March. "Barack Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4th, 1961." (Obama For America Website, www.barackobama.com, Accessed 3/6/07; Anne E. Kornblut and Peter Whoriskey, "Clinton, Obama Link Selma March To Present," The Washington Post, 3/5/07)

Obama Was A Constitutional Law Professor:

At A Recent Fundraiser, Obama Claimed He Was A "Constitutional Law Professor." "'I was a constitutional law professor, which means unlike the current president I actually respect the Constitution,' Obama told an audience at a campaign fundraiser." (Brendan Farrington, "Obama: Bush Fails To Respect The Constitution," The Associated Press, 3/30/07)

* On The University Of Chicago Law School Website, Obama Is Listed As A "Senior Lecturer In Law (On Leave Of Absence)." (University Of Chicago Law School Website, http://www.law.uchicago.edu/faculty/obama, Accessed 3/30/07)

Obama Made This False Claim In His 2004 Senate Race. "Several direct-mail pieces issued for Obama's primary campaign said he was a law professor at the University of Chicago. He is not. He is a senior lecturer (now on leave) at the school. In academia, there is a vast difference between the two titles. Details matter." (Lynn Sweet, "Obama's Book: What's Real, What's Not" Chicago Sun-Times, 8/8/04)

Obama's Parents "Got Together" Because Of The 1965 Selma March:

In His Selma Speech, Obama Said His Parents "Got Together" And He Was Born As A Result Of The Selma March. Obama: "Because some folks were willing to march across a bridge. So they got together and Barack Obama, Jr. was born. So don't tell me I don't have a claim on Selma, Alabama." (Senator Barack Obama, Remarks At Brown Chapel AME Church, Selma, AL, 3/4/07)

* "Earlier In The Day At A Prayer Breakfast, The Illinois Democrat Said: 'If It Hadn't Been For Selma, I Wouldn't Be Here.'" (Anne E. Kornblut and Peter Whoriskey, "Clinton, Obama Link Selma March To Present," The Washington Post, 3/5/07)

But Obama Was Born In 1961, 4 YEARS BEFORE The 1965 Selma March. "Barack Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4th, 1961." (Obama For America Website, www.barackobama.com, Accessed 3/6/07; Anne E. Kornblut and Peter Whoriskey, "Clinton, Obama Link Selma March To Present," The Washington Post, 3/5/07)

Foreign Policy

Obama's foreign policy experience includes graduating from Columbia University with a degree in political science with an emphasis on international relations. In the U.S. Senate Obama is unique among Senators in that he serves on three of the four Senate Committees dealing with foreign policy issues including the Foreign Relations; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; and Veterans' Affairs committees and is the Chair of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Relations which is responsible fore U.S. relations with European countries, the European Union, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (i.e., NATO). When comparing Obama's foreign policy experience with other candidates for President you have Democrat Joseph Biden who is Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Democrat Hillary Clinton who is a member of the Armed Services Committee and John McCain who is the Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee yet there is no Senator except for Barack Obama who serves on three of the four committees that deal with foreign policy.

Foreign Relations Committee

Obama service on the Foreign Relations committee has placed him in an unique position in that he is the Chair of the Subcommittee on European Relations and serves on the Subcommittees on African Affairs; East Asia and Pacific Affairs; and International Development and Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs, and International Environmental Protection. This cross-section of subcommittees places Obama in a unique position of having knowledge about Asian, African and European issues. The only other member of the Foreign Relations committee who is running for President is Democrat Joseph Biden who is Chairman of the full Foreign Relations Committee yet unlike Obama he does not serve on any of the other foreign policy committees and his experience is limited to foreign policy issues covered by the Foreign Relations Committee.

Obama has also traveled extensively in his capacity as a member of the Foreign Relations Committee and has visited Russia, Ukraine, and Azerbaijan in Asia; Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, and the Palestinian Territories in the Middle East; and Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Africa in Africa. Obama has also co-sponsored the "Lugar-Obama Act" with Republican Senator Richard Lugar who was Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations at the time. This act was a bi-partisan effort to increase U.S. security in terms of the elimination of conventional weapons and weapons of mass destruction. This legislation came out of Obama's trip with Senator Richard Lugar to Russia, the Ukraine and Azerbaijan.

Obama has also sponsored legislation such as the "Democratic Republic of Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act" which was signed into law by President Bush on December 22, 2006. Obama has co-sponsored immigration related bills related to his service on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee including the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act. His extensive foreign policy experience exceeds that of every other Presidential candidate including his trips abroad in the performance of his official duties as a member of committees dealing with foreign relation issues.

While some have criticized Obama's foreign travel claiming that he is the most traveled freshman Senator in doing so they often fail to mention that as a result of his extensive trips abroad is legislation such as the Lugar-Obama Act instead preferring to make the political connection between his travels abroad to his run for President yet others will recognize the experience he has gained as a result of his foreign trips and recognize that as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that he is expected to travel extensively and that his travels often were with the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee.

Among the three top freshman who have received attention along with Obama in terms of foreign travel you have Barack Obama who serves on three committees dealing with foreign policy, Republican Richard Burr who serves on the Select Committee on Intelligence and Republican Tom Coburn who serves on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and it must be noted that such travel was part of an official delegation and was approved and paid for by the Senate.

http://www.obamapedia.org/page/Does+Barack+Obama+have+e...

FACT: Obama's campaign is receiving the proceeds of these t-shirt sales. That means they are REQUIRED to record these sales as donations.

FACT: Hillary's campaign outsourced the t-shirts to a private vendor. Her campaign doesn't see a penny of the money spent on t-shirts. Therefore, those sales do not count as donations.

FACT: Obama's campaign received more in small donations (under $200) than all other Democrats COMBINED.

LIKELY FACT: No one would want to pay money for a Hillary t-shirt.

Here's who runs Hillary's store

HillaryStore.com, brought to you by Financial Innovations, is the official resource for "Hillary" merchandise. As the leader in American union-made, licensed merchandise, Financial Innovations is proud of our 27 year commitment to Democratic campaigns.

Financial Innovations was prime merchandise supplier for the last six Democratic National Conventions, official merchandise licensee to the last seven Democratic presidential campaigns and master vendor for 1997 Clinton-Gore Presidential Inauguration in Washington, DC.

We're proud of our Democratic Heritage. We are the only major merchandise company to only supply Democratic campaigns and causes.

to an outside private vendor?

Not that I can blame them--not much of a market for Hillary gear.

P.S. This entire story is a weasel story pushed by Hillary's campaign to obfuscate to overwhelming disparity in small donors between the two campaigns.

Obama also turned over merchandising to an outside vendor, they just collect the proceeds.

Which is strange because near as I can tell they paid that vendor some $250K just in the 1st Q.

http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/expend_detail.asp?ID=N00009638&cycle=2008&code=C10&Page=1

"Not that I can blame them--not much of a market for Hillary gear."

Wow, you're a laugh riot.

Maybe you can wear your Obama '08 shirt to Hillary's inauguration. :evilgrin:

For the Hillary supporters on this board. Not exactly taking the high road on this one people. I am off to buy some Obama gear. Previously I just donated, now that I can get a cool shirt and have it count as a donation I am all over it!

Score one for Team Obama!

...Just another desperate attempt by Hillary supporters and their henchmen to slam Obama, regardless of how bogus and seemy the charge.

They came out an stated Obama was correct. He had to report the number or break the law. Next time do your research.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: