The entrance fee to Ms Clinton's 'grassroots' conversation campaign is $1000 - $2700.

[Luminous Animal]

[shraby]

1. That's a little stiff for "grassroots" isn't it?

[Luminous Animal]

5. I have nothing against political fundraisers but the use of 'grassroots' is a bit of

a mischaracterization.

[Warpy]

27. It's fucking insulting, you mean

Grassroots are a rumpled dollar at a time, liberated from a food budget that has been pared down to nothing by 40 years of falling purchasing power as a few billionaires have Hoovered up all the money in this country.

A thousand bucks to breathe the same air? That's upper middle class and higher, preferably higher.

[truebrit71]

50. No shit right?

Tone deaf much?

[GummyBearz]

122. Geez... to our rich oligarchs, anything less than 5 figures per hour is "grass roots" apparently

To me, $2700 is damn close to 2 months of rent in california

[Jackpine Radical]

129. It's about 6 months payment on our mortgage.

[Jackpine Radical]

128. Upper middle class (at least) and

armed with a wish list.

[840high]

133. That really irked me.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

120. "Cashroots" is more like it.

[840high]

134. ...^ that

[Art_from_Ark]

15. To the Really Big Money guys,

that's considered "chump change"

[LuvNewcastle]

94. I guess it depends on

what kind and what amount of grass they're talking about.

[pnwmom]

147. Compared to getting a billion from 2 Koch's brothers, yes, $3K can be considered grass roots.

[NYC_SKP]

2. Is she still doing that "Conversation with Hillary" thing". Lord, that's a tired phrase.

It sucked 8 years ago and it's worse today.

Though an apt fit with "Listening Tour".

I can't wait for this to be over.

Ewwwww.

[PADemD]

102. It's what corporations do.

[LanternWaste]

3. Yet in another thread we're admonished that it's not the fees being charged, but rather the content

Yet in another thread (http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026763390 ) we're admonished that it's not the fees being charged, but rather the content of those speeches.

[Exilednight]

22. No truly working class individual can afford to hear the content. Isn't that convienent?

[cali]

24. where in that unrelated thread does anyone

say that? And you're making it sound like masses of bernie supporters are being hypocritical.

What a steaming pile

[roguevalley]

29. I guess you could consider it cover for those who can pay to come as opposed to the

real grass roots who will be serving the drinks there.

[sabrina 1]

98. Well, since there is no way anyone I know has $1,000.00 to spare just to hear a candidate speak for

an hour or so, I'll stick with the one I can afford, which Bernie Sanders.

This is not going to help her at all. They are so out of touch with the people.

[libdem4life]

4. Kind of says it all. Doubt she'll have standing room only there. What an

amazing difference in the styles...ultimately will show up. Does not indicate a commitment to the middle class in any way, shape or form.

[brooklynite]

33. So she should run her campaign the way a non-supporter thinks she should...

...good to know; I'll pass it on.

FWIW, the plan is to roll out policy positions in the Summer and start traditional political events in the Fall.

I'n the meantime, feel free to come to her free campaign event on June 13 in NYC. Maybe you'll hear something you like.

[libdem4life]

35. Thank you for sharing. But I fail to notice how I told her how to run her campaign.

And since they are already "inferring" Bernie is a racist for whatever the reason be which is beyond me, seemed that the comparisons "out of the shoot" indicated some differences.

[brooklynite]

37. You complained about how she's raising funds...

And please point out anything the campaign has said about this "racism" issue. All I've seen is the anonymous chatter here.

[cali]

42. if she actually cares about those outside the monied

classes, for each of these type of meet and greets,she should hold a first come first served meet and greet where the minimum is $25 or so, or hold town halls where after she speaks, people can line up at a mic to ask a question. To date, Hillary has met with far, far far more of you lovely "salon" people than people who are struggling to get by. I'm sure you think that's just how it should be.

[sabrina 1]

101. No, she can run her campaign anyway she wants to. I will stick with the candidate who seems capable

of speaking to over 5,000 people without hitting them up for over $1,000.00 which would feed a family for a week.

If she doesn't want to speak to ordinary people, that's her choice, I guess they will vote for the one who does speak to them.

I understand that a thousand dollars is pocket change to those with oodles of money, but they are very much in the minority in this country today since the destruction of the working class began several decades ago.

No, Hillary is free to speak to her own 'class' if that is her choice. Just don't expect us not to point that there IS someone who considers the rest of us worth speaking to on the same level.

[cali]

6. I wouldn't have a problem with this if she was accessible

to voters who don't have big bucks, but in the first six weeks of her campaign it's about 100 to 1. Got $$$$? Madame Hillary will have a "grassroots" conversation with you. Peons? Madame Hillary has no time for your questions.

[Kingofalldems]

39. Why the personal attack on a loyal Democrat?

Madame Hillary?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

70. I call her St.Hillary

According to Catholic canon all a person needs to do to be a saint is to do good work and perform two miracles... Hillary has done a lot of good work and I can attest to a miracle. I had uncontrollable flatulence, turned on the tv, she was speaking, and it went away.

So she's just one miracle short of sainthood.

[Kingofalldems]

96. Lame.

And BTW, a saint has to be deceased in order to be canonized.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

97. Why so serious?

[Quackers]

107. "Loyal Democrat"

And the question is:

Name two words that would never describe Hillary Clinton?

[840high]

135. Very true.

[dlwickham]

116. how long has Bernie been a Democrat

[Kingofalldems]

117. I was talking about Hillary, but I have

absolutely nothing against Bernie. Admire him.

[Luminous Animal]

125. As long as he has been caucusing with them. His entire federally elected career.

[dlwickham]

158. but he's never run as a Democrat

he's always run as an independent

just saw a couple of articles that said he would register as a Democrat if he had to in order to get on primary ballots

[Luminous Animal]

159. He can't register as a Democrat. His state of Vermont does not allow him to do so.

Vermont has no party affiliation registration.

Howard Dean was never a registered Democrat, either.

What you saw were articles saying he would run on the Democratic ticket. Just like Howard Dean did without being a registered Democrat.

[dlwickham]

161. but he's never run as a Democrat

you're missing the point

this is straight from his congressional website

Bernie Sanders is serving his second term in the U.S. Senate after winning re-election in 2012 with 71 percent of the vote. His previous 16 years in the House of Representatives make him the longest serving independent member of Congress in American history.

He says he's an independent and has run as an independent in the past.

Patrick Leahy's site says he's a Democrat

Patrick Leahy was elected to the United States Senate in 1974 and remains the only Democrat elected to this office from Vermont. At 34, he was the youngest U.S. Senator ever to be elected from the Green Mountain State.

This article states pretty clearly that Sanders has never been a Democrat

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2015/04/30/bernie_sanders_joins_2016_field_--_as_a_democrat_126448.html

But, until Thursday, Sanders has not ever been a Democrat in name, and he has been proud of that distinction. Since Sanders first ran for federal office in 1972, he has identified as a third-party or unaffiliated candidate.

In his first bid for Senate, Sanders ran under the Liberty Union banner. When he successfully ran for Burlington mayor a decade later, he identified with the Progressive Party, which he launched in Vermont with that race. Since 1988, when Sanders unsuccessfully sought a seat in the House of Representatives, he has run as an Independent.

[workinclasszero]

7. Oh so Bernie is not accepting any money

from his backers? Hmm wonder how he runs his campaign that way?

If people want to give Hillary money to help her campaign what exactly is wrong with that?

I gave her 10 bucks. Am I Satan on earth now? Ridiculous.

[Luminous Animal]

9. Like I said above, I've nothing against fundraisers but characterizing the events as

"grassroots" is a mischaracterzation.

[bunnies]

10. You dont have to pay to see Bernie.

You just RSVP. Which is great because many people wouldnt get to see him otherwise.

[morningfog]

11. How dumb. He doesn't require a couple grand for access.

And he doens't pitch $2k fees as grassroots.

[brooklynite]

34. So you're saying Bernie Sanders will NEVER hold a campaign fundraiser that you have to pay for..

Can I hold you to that?

[TBF]

36. Are you having trouble with vocabulary today -

morningfog didn't use the word "never" - you are the only one saying that.

Honestly, we know that Hillary's supporters are deep pockets. You never tire of telling us. Why pretend now?

[brooklynite]

40. You're saying he "doesn't require a couple grand for access"

Either he won't do any fundraisers at all, or he won't do any high-dollar ones. I'm asking how confident you are in those assertions.

[TBF]

47. He hasn't yet -

if that changes I will let you know. I imagine it depends upon how far along he gets in the process. We are still dealing with capitalism so nothing will surprise me (personally).

I do know that Obama held some private fund-raisers in Houston when he was running. I was not invited. Just read about them in the Chron after the fact - invitation type events at trial lawyers homes. I imagine those were much higher than $1,000/plate. This has been status quo for awhile. Whether Bernie can buck that trend remains to be seen.

[brooklynite]

118. Understand, I don't hold it against Bernie if he does...

...it's the Holier than Thou supporters who can imagine it's possible to run for President on a shoestring. Bernie has some great positions, but he's been in politics long enough not to be naive.

I'm informed by the fact that Bernie had no problem supporting the DSCC's summer retreat for deep pockets donors who could cough up $38,000 each to support the Party's candidates...where my wife and I had dinner with him in 2007.

[Fawke Em]

140. What they're trying to tell you is that he would

never hold a high-dollar fundraiser and call it "grassroots."

That is all.

[brooklynite]

146. ...and neither did she...

...the announcement said that the fundraiser was in support of her grassroots campaign.

Will her campaign have an immense number of volunteers? Yes.

Will her campaign have mostly low-dallor donors? Yes.

I think the problem is that some people don't want to admit how popular Hillary Clinton actually is in the Democratic Party.

[Luminous Animal]

43. He might. He won't call it a grassroots event though if it is organized by

his campaign staff.

[cali]

44. I hope he does. the difference is that he meets and talks

with people who aren't of your rarified economic class, day after day.

[morningfog]

59. Bernie will not charge $2k and call it grassroots, yes,

hold me to that.

[upaloopa]

61. And he can't afford to run against the repub

in the general. It takes lots of money to win the White House in 2016.
Wishing and hoping won't get you there neither will large crowds at free events.

[morningfog]

67. One person one vote.

If he can beat the Clinton machine he can beat a repub machine. Which are no different funding-wise or nasty-campaigning-wise.

[upaloopa]

76. He isn't going to beat anyone.

[morningfog]

77. Then you should just hide thread by keyword: Bernie Sanders president.

Save you trouble repeating yourself. Is appreciate it.

[Mr. Robot]

126. Oh really? Tell that to Romney, who had the money edge...

or Nelson Rockfeller....

In honesty, if the grassroots campaign takes hold, and it has - over 100,000 volunteers in all 50 states, ready to work for Bernie, and more can easily be recruited as staffers, etc. Many will either volunteer, or donate their time, and it will happen.

The M$M is giving Bernie plenty of free air right now, and he's going to be on tonight at the Late Show with Seth Meyers, and hopefully will get more new voters on a daily basis ready to work for him.

Hillary has the money edge, however, she is being inaccessible and I'm really trying hard to support Hillary, but she isn't just as accessible as Bernie is.

[Lancero]

13. The issue is that she is trying to pass herself off as good for the middle class...

But then she charges extremely exorbitant amounts for a simple meet n greet.

I don't know any middle class people who can afford such costs. I'm pretty sure a lot of her base (Read - banks) can afford such though.

The easiest way to see who a candidate will work for, is to see who they speak to. At a thousand or more bucks each, I don't think she'll be speaking to many in the middle class.

[cali]

16. bernie is out everyday talking to and taking

questions from all and sundry, not kissing up to wealthy people at one fund raiser after another. Your ten bucks won't buy you one syllable.with Hillary. Want to ask Bernie a question? Just show up and get in line.

[Segami]

20. Hillary is like

a Da Vinci painting on tour........at selected galleries for the price of admission.

[Exilednight]

23. Except a Da Vinci is worth the price of admission.

[Lancero]

26. Better a Da Vinci then this though...

[img]?b0313b[/img]

Sold a couple years back for 44 million.

[roguevalley]

31. that is a p.t. barnum-davinci ;)

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

121. Bernie is such a breath of fresh air. Hillary could learn a thing or two from him.

[jwirr]

18. No one is saying that. We are saying that even if all you can give is $10 or $5.00 like I did there

should not be invitation only access.

[hifiguy]

74. Well, how else are you going to keep the riff-raff

and the great unwashed Teeming Millions out? Standards, after all.

Need I add

[cui bono]

65. Accepting money, however much someone can give, and charging someoe $1000

is not the same thing at all.

You don't really think so, do you?

As to your last line of comments, yes, extremely ridiculous as it doesn't apply at all. Do you think a $10 donation is the same as being required to pay $1000 to see her speak?

Get it together man. You're not making any sense.

[PADemD]

104. Bernie accepts money; he just doesn't charge admi$$ion.

[LondonReign2]

112. I like your strawman

Do you get a better deal buying them by the gross?

[Man from Pickens]

8. What a great honor!

normal fee for her presence I understand is in the neighborhood of $250,000 - at this price, the value is like a windfall in cattle futures!

[Cerridwen]

17. "cattle futures" Wow. There's blast from the 90s. n/t

[Divernan]

80. Reminds me of white water rafting in Arkansas!

[Man from Pickens]

123. better be careful

and make sure the kayak doesn't roll over one more time

[Cerridwen]

145. And ken starr. Weren't those just the days. n/t

[BeyondGeography]

12. The prices are much lower on Stubhub

[Vinca]

14. That's stunning.

I can't afford to be either a friend or a supporter. Guess I'll stick with Bernie.

[Art_from_Ark]

130. I'm wondering what kind of friendship

I could buy for $1000? Would it be like a Facebook "friend" type of relationship, where I'd get to be on a "friend" list? Or would it be just a "one-hour friend" type of relationship?

[FlatBaroque]

19. Maybe grass roots have their 1%

elite grass roots that live in McMansions and have their own yard man to keep control of the 99% grass rooters.

[azmom]

21. That's too much money for working class folks to pay.

[Maedhros]

25. By contrast, Bernie has a weekly town hall meeting on Thom Hartmann's radio show

entitled "Brunch with Bernie." Anyone can call in and ask a question, and Bernie gives straight answers.

https://www.freespeech.org/collection/brunch-bernie

[Autumn]

28. 'grassroots' campaign? I can't afford her

[hifiguy]

52. Ridiculous, ain't it?

"Grassroots" my shiny metal ass.

[Autumn]

55. Can you imagine Hillary asking for a $5 donation and saying if you can't afford it I understand?

Because I sure as hell can't fucking picture it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=6732710

[hifiguy]

64. They'd never let me on the same side of the velvet rope as HRC.

Which suits me just fine.

Eight years have not diminished her deservedly legendary tone-deafness one bit.

[TheCowsCameHome]

30. That's like babysitting money in Chestnut Hill.

Not bad.

[darkangel218]

32. I dont know what the problem is, you guys!

It's only a grand minimum. It's not like she's asking for 100 K! Anyone can afford it, right? I really don't see the problem here.

[Ruby the Liberal]

38. Undoubtedly will be a very different 'conversation'

than the one(s) that is/are free and not held in the middle of the afternoon...

[libdem4life]

57. Surely you are not suggesting that the message might be different, depending

on the group? I'm shocked...shocked, I tell you.

[Ruby the Liberal]

88. Who me?

[libdem4life]

99. LOL

[Beaverhausen]

41. Dems go to Blue states/cities to raise money. They go to red states to raise support

Reps do the opposite.

For instance, I'm in Los Angeles. It is very rare for any Democrat to come here and have a free rally. Why would they? They know they will have tons of support here. They come for fundraisers. Just like Hillary is doing in Boston.

Also, she may also be having free events on top of these other fundraisers.

[Luminous Animal]

46. I'm not objecting to the fundraising. I object to misnomer "grass roots".

[Beaverhausen]

48. Remember the $40,000 a plate dinners Romney used to have?

compared to those, this is cheap.

Also, if Sanders gets the nomination, he will most certainly have to raise lots more cash than he is now to fight the Koch machine.

[cali]

95. It still shuts out the people she says she's working for and wants to listen to.

and she's doing plenty of those very expensive Romneyesque fundraisers too.

[LiberalElite]

45. What's the big deal? Park Avenue has grassroots:

[libdem4life]

62. And people who mow them...but the taxis aren't waiting for them.

[libdem4life]

62. And people who mow them...but the taxis aren't waiting for them.

[hifiguy]

49. I can only say

[workinclasszero]

51. Make sure no well to do or rich people like oh....FDR...ever give Bernie any money.

It's unholy money

[Luminous Animal]

58. Like I said several times in this thread. I've no problem with fundraisers. It's the "grassroots"

characterization of the event that I find laughable.

[Fumesucker]

53. Oh good grief, that's not even the cost of a decent Hooptie

What, an intimate conversation with the most admired woman in the world isn't worth the cost of a car the driver has to enter and exit through the passenger door?

[peacebird]

72. Most admired woman in the world? How about Aung San Suu Kyi? Nobel PeacePrizeWinner Malala Yousafza?

[Fumesucker]

87. Mea maxima culpa, she's only #1 in America, #3 worldwide

https://today.yougov.com/news/2015/01/31/hillary-clintons-most-admired/

[peacebird]

89. I would have thought Elizabeth Warren would rank higher here, but I guess corporate M$M wants HRC

[tritsofme]

103. Really, you would have thought that? You do realize this was a poll of the public, and not DU.

Outside of political junkies, most people have no idea who Warren is. Some bubble to live in.

[840high]

136. She is definitely not the most admired

woman in the world.

[tularetom]

54. If I pay the whole $2,700 will she talk to me in her fake hick accent?

That was so transparently bogus I didn't know whether to just guffaw at her or cringe with embarrassment for her.

In the end I guffawed but was embarrassed about doing it.

[brooklynite]

124. Oh, so southern voters are "hicks"...

...good way of expanding Bernie's voter base.

[tularetom]

139. It's not important what I think

I'm not the one condescending and pandering to them by adopting an accent so outrageously phony it's embarrassing and insulting.

[cherokeeprogressive]

150. It made me guffaw, and I didn't even feel guilty about it.

That fake accent was fuckin' funny.

[Throd]

157. How would you feel if she gave a speech in Brooklyn sounding like Vinnie Barbarino?

[brooklynite]

160. Well, I've never met anyone in Brooklyn who speaks like that, so it would be pretty silly

As for her "southern accent" I'll leave it up to the people who were there to tell me if they were bothered (I'm guessing the answer was "no&quot

[bigwillq]

56. I wouldn't pay a $1 to see Hillary

But for those who can afford it, I hope they enjoy themselves.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

60. She must be Dead Broke again.

[darkangel218]

69. !

[azmom]

81. LOL

[grasswire]

114. hahaha!

WELL PLAYED

[LittleBlue]

131. ...

[cui bono]

66. Wow. What a tone deaf idea.

Grassroots campaigns cost a minimum of $1000 to attend?

[peacebird]

68. Guess that tells us who her Grassroots is, eh? Hint: it's NOT the middle class.

[Kalidurga]

71. I'd be friends with people who paid me 1,000 dollars too.

Well not really, I am stubbornly not into being around people too much and people throwing money at me wouldn't change that. Still thousands of dollars apparently can buy the attention of certain people.

[mrdmk]

113. That is the friend price to talk with Hillary as a friend

To become her friend, it will cost you $2700, of course proof of purchase is contingent on the seller's internal study.

[Kalidurga]

119. Yeah

this really doesn't seem grass roots to me. But, whatever. In my circle of friends if we got an extra 1000 dollars it's most likely going to end up with the bill collector. We might celebrate the "extra" with a nice meal out, but that will be about the extent of our extravagance.

PS I don't care how she raises funds. But, words mean something.

[sadoldgirl]

73. I wonder whether the "friends"

are allowed a question or only the convenient
supporters.

Well, if these are grassroots events, then the lower
middleclass or the poorer people should have doubts
about her being on their side.

I bet you that the event in NYC on the 13th is for a
speech and carefully selected questions, if any at all.

Oh well, "let them eat cake" comes to my mind.

[PowerToThePeople]

75. Because to the Neo's

You do not matter unless you have much excess capital.

Neoconservatives and Neoliberals are one in the same imho.

[Thinkingabout]

78. Is it required to donate $1000 to $2700? No one is being forced to attend.

There are lots of people willing to give this amount to Hillary.

Maybe some one should try to sell Bernie and perhaps the donors would come through for him. Gotta sell your candidate. Doesn't look like trashing Hillary is bringing in very much for Bernie.

[cali]

82. Bernie ain't for sale. And this wouldn't bother me if she held meet and greets

for voters who can't afford this kind of donation. So far with Hillary it's about 100 to 1- fat cats v regular people who are struggling to get by, who she says she cares about so much. I don't believe her.

[Art_from_Ark]

137. It takes big buck$$$$$$ to become a champion

[Luminous Animal]

83. Like I've stated many times, I've no problem with fundraisers. But to call these "grassroots" events

is a mischaracterization.

The contact person for these events, Julie Leja, is an employee of the staff.

http://www.p2016.org/clinton/clintonorg.html

[Thinkingabout]

106. I think it says grassroots campaign. Obama ran grassroots campaign.

What does a grassroots campaign mean:


A grassroots movement (often referenced in the context of a political movement) is driven by a community's politics. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures. Grassroots movements are often at the local level, as many volunteers in the community give their time to support the local party, which can lead to helping the national party. For instance, a grassroots movement can lead to significant voter registration for a political party, which in turn helps the state and national parties.

[hatrack]

79. Yeesh. Did she rehire Mark Penn and not tell anyone?

.

[IVoteDFL]

84. I saw Bernie Sanders yesterday for free

[azmom]

85. Woo hoo!

[Divernan]

86. HRC seeking 20 new donors of $5 to $10 million each.

Just last Friday, she was in a Florida mansion charging a minimum of $2,700 per head for the pleasure of her company. So no pesky reporters taking notes on whatever she promised her donors in exchange for their support. But pity the fools who thought they'd get personal consideration for a measly $2,700.

As documented below, the Clinton campaign's goal is to get 20 new donors of $5 to $10 million each. Now THAT is how you get some input on selection of Supreme Court Justice nominations.
May 29/day-before-yesterday:
http://www.clickorlando.com/news/hillary-clinton-to-attend-central-florida-fundraiser/33281818

Presidential candidate and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be in Central Florida on Friday.

Clinton is attending a fundraising event at the home of prominent Orlando attorney John Morgan. The event takes place at Morgan's Heathrow mansion.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, the minimum donation for attendance is $2,700 to Clinton's campaign fund, which is the maximum allowable under federal law per election.

And HRC is not doing well with raising the record amount she believes is the path to the presidency. This same report was carried in the New York Times today as well.

http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/democrats-need-richer-donor-list-to-keep-up-with-

"Ickes, who is a Priorities USA board member, and other Clinton supporters are discussing how to raise up to $300?million for Democratic outside groups. That is almost twice as much as Democratic super PACs and other outside groups spent to help re-elect President Obama in 2012, when conservative super PACs far outspent liberal ones.

This ambitious goal will require the emergence of a new class of at least 20 Democratic donors who can give $5?million or even $10?million each. Ickes said recruiting them would not be easy. “Our side isn’t used to being asked for that kind of money,” Ickes said. “If you asked them to put up $100?million for a hospital wing, they’d be the first in line.”

The hurdles begin with the candidate. While Clinton has committed to meeting with potential super PAC donors, people close to her say she has not dealt with the kind of big-donor courting that has framed the early months of the Republican race.

Clinton also faces a perception that neither she nor her husband, former President Bill Clinton, is lacking cash. Together, they earned at least $30?million in the past 16 months. And Bill Clinton’s aggressive courting of donors, in the White House and now as head of the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, has been an enduring source of controversy.

The article points out that the Conservative PACs far outspent Obama, but still lost to him. Golly, gee whiz, boys and girls, is it just possible that HRC learned nothing from that fact? She & Bill are so fixated on socking away vast amounts of money and the life styles such cash affords them, that they do not understand that $$$$ are not necessarily the winning path to the Oval Office.

[Luminous Animal]

90. $5 - $10 million each? Yeesh.

[Divernan]

91. Like I said, that will get ya input on USSC nominations.

[tularetom]

132. You may be onto something here

She & Bill are so fixated on socking away vast amounts of money and the life styles such cash affords them, that they do not understand that $$$$ are not necessarily the winning path to the Oval Office.

Isn't it possible that socking away vast sums of money is the goal here, and not finding the winning path to the Oval Office? If she can scam enough cash out of a bunch of rich dudes, she and Bill can turn that whole foundation thingy over to Chelsea, take the money and go buy a nice big place in Kennebunkport, so he can spend his remaining years with his adoptive family.

[Octafish]

92. Geesh, Luminous Animal. If ya gotta ask, ''How much?''...

...ya probablyy can't afford the ticket.

[YOHABLO]

93. I can't help but believe that this is more about Hillary being the first woman president .. than

being the savior of the middle class, working families, the sick and the poor. Screw that.

[cyberswede]

100. I hope some DUers go, and can give us a summary.

A friend of mine was invited to one of her coffee shop chats a few weeks ago; she wrote up a report for the local paper, which was fun to read.

[SoapBox]

105. Youza...that would leave me out and every person I know out of those events.

Guess I should have been a 1%er.

[Sienna86]

108. Doesn't sound like she's interested in hearing my thoughts

I was just remembering how she had so much trouble paying off debts from the 2008 campaign...

[L0oniX]

109. It's amazing how down to earth she is with the everyday common person.

[HooptieWagon]

110. "Grassroots"

Tone deaf as usual.

[TM99]

111. Grassroots campaign?!

[beam me up scottie]

115. It must be nice to be rich enough to buy your own politician.

For the rest of us there's Bernie.

[HooptieWagon]

127. For their $2700, do they get a fake Boston accent from Hillary?

[840high]

138. lol - probably.

[cherokeeprogressive]

152. Pahk the Cah At Hahvad Yahd.

[MFrohike]

141. Wow

Now, that's the kind of easy mistake no serious contender should ever make. I get that whoever made it up thought it'd be cute to make the riches feel like they can be faux commoners for a couple of hours, but it's pretty stupid. There's this thing called the internet, guys. All the stupid stuff like this will find its way onto it.

That's some amateur hour shit, seriously. One mistake like this will just hurt a little. The problem is that if the staff is this dumb after all these years, what the hell else are they going to do?

[Hekate]

142. Oh the horror, the horror! It's called fundraising, ffs. I got to hear both Clintons for FREE ....

....back when he was POTUS. Of course I was in a crowd of many thousands both times because THAT is the freaking grassroots.

[Buns_of_Fire]

143. Is there a difference in the "conversation" between the $1000 and $2700 versions?

Do the $1000 folks have to stay in the kitchen so they don't cross-contaminate the $2700 people? How about the munchies? Do the $2700 folks get caviar on crackers and champagne while the $1000 peons get yesterday's leftover Doritos and salsa and Mountain Dew? Do we get to keep the plastic forks and knives if we only donate $1000?

Even though my unlimited Social Security budget will allow me to attend several such salons over the next year, I still want to get the biggest bang for the buck, y'know?

[brooklynite]

153. Do you want a serious answer? or is the purpose here just to vent....

(note - I get slammed for talking about my financial resources, but I only do it when there's context, and this is one of those instances).

First, some legalese. $2,700 is the maximum you can give for any Federal office Primary. $1,000 is a standard amount for a Presidential or Senate candidate event (lesser known Senate candidates might ask for $500; House races usually do $250).

These events are usually at someone's home or office; rarely they'll be at a rentable venue (costs more). They are usually 90 min-2 hours). There's usually wine/soda/seltzer and appetizers for everyone.

The distinction between pricing is in two flavors. An all-$2,700 event (the one I went to) will have fewer people (say 30-40) for more intimacy and more face-time (which, with a Presidential candidate is still very limited). A mixed price event will be 50-75 people and will usually include a "VIP session" -- the same exact event, but with the higher dollar people coming 30 min earlier.

Now, the obvious unasked question here is: why does it cost $1,000+ to get in? And the answer is, to be blunt, that it's not worth a campaign's time to ask for less. You can certainly do small dollar events, like any party, but it's a huge commitment of the candidate's free time for not a lot of return. Either you need to invite a lot of people (say 500) in which case 1) you need to rent a space, which is an additional cost (private homes can be contributed) and 2) it'll be impractical for attendees to ask questions or raise issues they're concerned about (I'm able to ask a question at almost every event I attend--when I was at Hillary's event, I asked about her plans for dealing with CU), or the financial return is going to be so low that the candidate would have better spent his/her time doing something else.

You're welcome to complain about this situation; but this is the real world where campaigns cost real dollars. Let's see what Sanders and Clinton report to the FEC at the end of June, and then we can judge if he'll have the resources he'll really need for a national campaign.

[davidpdx]

144. I have two comments about this thread

1) Hillary Clinton has the right to run her campaign as she sees fit to and raise money from big donors who can afford to shell out that kind of money. At the same time, calling the event "grassroots" wasn't the smartest move. With the number of words in the English language one could think of 10 alternative ways in less than 10 minutes.

2) That being said, I don't think these types of threads are productive on DU. It is divisiveness on top of divisiveness and just breeds more of it.

The only example I can use that might be close is the vortex at the end of Ghostbusters. Yes, that negative energy is zapping DU.







and here's what we end up with:



Enjoy your marshmellows

[brooklynite]

151. She DIDN'T call the event "grassroots".......

She said the event was in support of her "grassroots campaign".

[cali]

162. Her campaign isn't even remotely relateted to a grassroots campaign

but she's on her listening tour alright. Listening to the people she always listens to: wealthy donors at "salons".

[brooklynite]

163. Please define your terms?

Supported by millions of Democrats? check

Lots of volunteers? check

Lots of LOW dollar contributions? check

[Hekate]

167. IOW, those who can afford it fund those who can't. I'm starting to think people in these threads....

.....have no idea how a campaign is funded or how it operates beyond knocking on doors. Precinct walkers may be volunteers, but the paper goods they give away are not produced for free.

No clue at all.

[cherokeeprogressive]

148. Damn. $2700 buys a lot of grass...

What did the old bumper sticker say? Oh yeah...

Ass, gas, or grass: nobody rides for free!

[pnwmom]

149. And what are the 2 Kochs brothers paying for their "entry" to the Rethug's campaign? A billion.

On a historical basis or even against the current competition, events costing less than $3000 do qualify as grassroots.

[questionseverything]

154. fair enough

so you and brookdude can afford her...and she can ignore the rest of us

the thing is there are hundreds/thousands of us compared to you 2

can't you see why we are so turned off?

it is like current potus's dea STILL prosecuting mmj when 90% of the country wants it stopped

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141108254

[pnwmom]

155. I'm not paying $3000 to see her. She will have many events that are free or have

low ticket fees.

[brooklynite]

156. Perhaps this is more up your alley?

http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2243878.1433266286!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_970/demactpac1.jpg

[KoKo]

164. Well...it's what she does...is it acceptable.... Why should it be?

[Rex]

165. Way out of my price range.

[Avalux]

166. She was in San Antonio today for the same thing.

I don't know anyone who can afford 2.5K a plate.