Should President Obama donate the remainder of his election fund to disaster relief efforts?

[toddwv]

A bit of brainstorming here.

I just thought this would be an interesting idea with the glowing reviews that our President is receiving for his proactive response to Superstorm Sandy.

The President has over $93,000,000 on hand according to FEC.

Take a large chunk of it and donate it to the disaster relief effort. The loss of funds would be compensated by the tremendous act and would be repeated and repeated over the weekend and Monday.

Would this be considered to blatantly political or a magnanimous gesture?

[LisaL]

1. And what if they need money for re-counts and courts?

[Tx4obama]

18. The legal bills might end up being huge. See below

DU OP here: http://election.democraticunderground.com/1251195957

[HERVEPA]

2. Sure. Just as soon as the republicans concede all elections

[UTUSN]

3. Yeah. "interesting" and "brainstorming" at the same time. n/t

[rightsideout]

4. He has over $93,000,000?

I just gave $15.00. LOL.

After all debts are paid, I think any left over money should be split between the DNC and disaster relief. The DNC is going to need all they can get to get the House back.

But sure, a donation to disaster relief would be a good gesture. But it shouldn't be too self egrandizing.

There could be rules about how the money is spent though.

[Historic NY]

12. I sent another one again was invited to a conference call...

[Hekate]

19. OP should provide us with a link for that claim

While I'm mightily impressed with how well we small donors have done, somehow I don't think it comes to THAT much in Obama's re-election treasury.

I'm giving $30 a month plus some extras from time to time, and count it as money well invested in our future. I don't begrudge it and never will.

As is pointed out below, there are laws (not rules, laws) about how campaign donations can be spent. I'm pretty sure it would be illegal for Obama to re-allocate funds into donations to charity.

What he and his surrogates can do is urge the rest of us to send a bit to the Red Cross or similar -- as we have seen, if enough of us give small donations it adds up quite nicely.

Hekate

[toddwv]

22. Here's the link:

http://www.fec.gov/disclosurep/pnational.do

[IMG][/IMG]

It's common for campaigns to keep a bit of cash on hand because the bills keep rolling in after the election.

[Historic NY]

24. right here......

As an extra thanks, you're also invited to join President Obama for a special call with supporters this Friday, November 2nd.

To join the online call, RSVP here, and we’ll be in touch with more details.

http://my.barackobama.com/November-2nd-Supporter-Call

[ohheckyeah]

5. No -

it would be seen as political pandering. It's a terrible idea.

[Cali_Democrat]

6. Donate all of his money while Romney and his Super PAC's spend their cash, win and dismantle FEMA?

Brilliant.

Not.

[MADem]

7. Absolutely not.

The bills won't be in for another three months, at least. He's got no idea how much paper he's got out there--the ground game has been vigorous.

Mitt Romney is the guy who thinks that disasters can be mitigated by "donations." He thinks we don't need a FEMA if everyone would just hand in that dusty can of beets and that sack of disposable diapers that your niece left behind last family gathering.

Disaster relief should be spearheaded by the government. Go on and donate if you would like, but let's not make it a "must do" for politicians to divert their campaign funds to these purposes.

[former-republican]

8. absolutely not

It's still a war in some states .

[TwilightGardener]

9. Is that even legal? No, I don't think it's a good idea.

I'm sure there are rules governing what he can and can't do with the money, and it has to be managed correctly to cover expenses.

[q_e_d]

10. Most certainly not!

To do such would be daft.

[pnwmom]

11. No. First, it's not legal. Second, he'll help them more if he retains the Presidency. n/t

[KT2000]

13. No - too much left to do

after he is re-elected and the court cases have been settled then maybe.

[Michigan Alum]

14. If the Repubs and all their cronies do the same.

I don't know if I would be spreading this far and wide and then make it look bad if he doesn't do it.

[jsmirman]

15. Stay away from heavy machinery

[Tx4obama]

16. NO. The election is not over and there will still be bills to be paid ...

and other democratic candidates that he can donate to.

Folks did not donate the money to him to give away, they donated it to elect Democrats!

[hughee99]

17. He should announce he'll donate whatever is left after his last election

to disaster relief. After next week, he will most likely never run for an elected office again.

[Hekate]

21. It's not "his" to do with what he will. There are laws...

... about what may be done with "left over" political donations. Also, there will be lots and lots of bills to pay for months to come, possibly even legal battles, given who we're running against.

Hekate

[hughee99]

23. Once he has paid off any existing bills,

existing laws allow a candidate to donate political donations to charities (or to political parties, or to the government). He may even hold some back for future expenses (like legal expenses). There are a number of other options as well. It is "his" decision which of the available options he chooses to take.

[blogslut]

20. Donald Trump should donate that 5 million dollars

...to hurricane relief efforts.

Well, except for the fact that he doesn't have five million dollars.

[JI7]

25. no, what he needs to do is what he has wanted to do as

President all the time when it comes to taxing the wealthy, rebuilding, strengthening infrastructure, supporting FEMA etc.

and of course in ways to deal with climate change.