How sick is this...

[Red Oak]

We are all very proud of our accomplishment in raising for Bernie over $7.2M dollars from over 262,000 donations in a 24 hour period.

BUT,

One man, Billionaire George Soros, donated $8M in one single donation, to Hillary Clinton's super pac last week.

One Billionaire $8M vs 262,000 working men and women - $7.2M

Our system of political finance must change and Hillary and her super pacs are not the ones to change it.

[Bonobo]

1. It reflects precisely the sickness at our core.

Unfairness and inequality. That's the problem at the heart of it all.

[ErikJ]

32. And Koch's $900 million for 2016 will dwarf that.

Doesnt even include all the $100's of millions they spend on the front groups in every state.

[JackInGreen]

2. Havnt you heard? We call that pragmatism now

Damn the worker, hail the billionaire.

[MissDeeds]

3. Well, there it is

The choices could not be clearer. You stand with the people or the billionaires. I know where I stand.

[mgmaggiemg]

4. personally I don't care

about money....ultimately if it won elections the koch bros would have brought mitt romney to victory in 2012....there is a certain point where money does not matter if one has "enough". Bernie certainly has enough....and I hope you don't have sour grapes when it's HRC that overturns CU

[Red Oak]

7. So what is your definition of "enough"

[mgmaggiemg]

19. Bernie a good guy

he's been in politics for 30 years he IS the very definition of establishment...."establishment" means career politician....the GOP love him...he's got great name recognition...but if you are going to be a sore loser and cry when HRC wins can I watch? because it's impossible to discuss the political issues...without BS supporters jumping all over people if they question him on his campaign promises for more information about how he would accomplish his ideas...all I get from bs supporters is "how dare you question bernie on anything." I know that is because he has a lot of young supporters...it's so ironic because although I am much younger than Bernie we were both raise in an age where the mantra was "question everything"....if the man can't hold up to questioning after 30yrs in politics...he has no business being president.

[Red Oak]

22. So, again, maybe minus the tirade, what is your definiton of "enough"

[mgmaggiemg]

24. you obviously didn't read my post

there is another post by another writer called Bernie Sanders and the Fetishiszng of not knowing on the general primaries thread...I suggest that...other than that why can't people question bernie if he's been in washington for 30 yrs?

[chervilant]

34. It's difficult to read your post.

Perhaps you might write it another way?

Feel the BERN!!!

#NotMeUs

[mgmaggiemg]

45. agree with the not me us part

and the post is called #feelthebern..the festishizing of not knowing...sorry for the murky post

[Justice]

59. post is not difficult to read at all.

[chervilant]

78. Obviously, I could

READ it; I am unclear about what is being said. If it's clear to you, perhaps you can explain?

[uponit7771]

85. I've gotten that a lot in last couple of weeks, if I post some facts that directly refute a Sanders

... meme all of a sudden the reading comprehnsion levels go down a couple of notches

[delrem]

35. I smell David Brock. And I don't even know what Dave smells like!

Strange.

[mgmaggiemg]

46. david krushner...brown university....

can you smell that?

[delrem]

51. The smell of David Brock overwhelms everything. n/t

[Enthusiast]

63. No question.

[delrem]

83. Oh yes, the $billions$ are being spent now.

In fact, Brock's little Rovian "internet only" operation started at least 8 months ago, and it's coordinated with the highest levels of Hillary Clinton's operation. And what is fed down directly from Hillary->Brock is just a drop in the bucket. The money is buying "pundits" all up and down the line. DU is just a petri dish for them.

You betcha they know how to play social media.

It's an education, that's for sure - a bit of deja vu from '08, yes, but ramped up by massive cash infusions several qualitative degrees.

I've never seen anything like it.

[Enthusiast]

87. It makes things decidedly unpleasant.

[delrem]

88. Most unpleasant is, that it means that there will never be a "discussion".

There will never be any listening.

All it will be is dirt.

People want to discuss fact? The response will be trigger words woven into paragraphs, according to Rovian memes.

This will of course set the tone of the GE, and will set the tone of US politics for the next 8 years, in every case as modified by the Republican masters.

[kracer20]

27. Sorry, but your terminology is wrong...

You are using "Establishment" to describe Bernie when "Career" is probably more fitting. One can be a career politician and still be an outsider to the establishment.

Establishment = Good Old Boys Club and all of us here know the difference.

[Divernan]

33. Do yourself a huge favor and buy a dictionary

No, sweetie, you could not be more wrong. "Establishment" does not mean "career politician" and neither you nor the Clinton campaign get to make up your own definitions. According to the actual, recognized definition of "The Establishment", as the sole Democrat Socialist in the U.S. Senate, Bernie was not a member of a dominant or elite group, but a minority of one.

The Establishment generally denotes a dominant group or elite that holds power or authority in a nation or organization. The Establishment may be a closed social group which selects its own members (as opposed to selection by merit or election) or specific entrenched elite structures, either in government or in specific institutions.

The American Sociological Association states that the term is often used by those protesting a small group that dominates a larger organization. For example, in 1968 a group of academics set up the "Sociology Liberation Movement" to repudiate the leadership of the American Sociological Association, which they referred to as the "Establishment in American sociology".[1]

In fact, any relatively small class or group of people having control can be referred to as The Establishment; and conversely, in the jargon of sociology, anyone who does not belong to The Establishment may be labelled an "outsider".[2][3]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Establishment

Oh, and just in case you hadn't heard:

Former NAACP President Ben Jealous endorses Bernie Sanders

Ben Jealous, former head of the NAACP, officially endorsed Bernie Sanders on Friday, drawing parallels between the ideals of the Vermont senator and those of Martin Luther King Jr.

“I recall the words of the late great Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who said a genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus,” Jealous said in a press call organized by the Sanders’ campaign. “And that brings me to why I'm here today. Bernie Sanders has been a principled, courageous, insistent fighter against the evils that Dr. King referred to as the giant triplets of racism, militarism and greed.”

Jealous said Sanders meets King’s definition of a great leader and cited that as the reason he has the best chance to beat the Republican nominee in a general election. “Bernie Sanders is running a positive, principled, people-powered campaign and steadily molded consensus across our nation at such a high level that the polls now say he's hands down the candidate for beating any of the potential Republican nominees at the polls next fall,” he said.

more...
http://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/bernie-sanders-ben-jealous-endorsement-218734

[passiveporcupine]

36. Career politician just doesn't have that same ZING!

[Divernan]

37. I think of myself as a career humanist, but not part of The Establishment.

[passiveporcupine]

38. Me too

[mgmaggiemg]

44. HRC also minority of one...

lone female candidate for white house..also not establishment by your dictionary definition..bernie has never been locked out of the establishment....

[dorkzilla]

56. Okay you’re the magician

and the rest of us are represented by the monkey, reacting to your “Hillary as non-establishment” joke.

[mdbl]

67. Thanks for the reminder that

Bernie is in it to serve the public, not himself. HRC treats politics like a game to be won. The only problem is, if she wins we may all lose. I hope I'm wrong.

[uponit7771]

86. ...Then they spell check you...

[dorkzilla]

53. There is one person who has not business being President, and it aint Bernie

But thanks for the nonsense and the winks, champ.

God, sock puppets are SO 2008.

[uponit7771]

84. +1, great points

[Cassiopeia]

47. Funny

You think Hillary will fight against CU after she can only benefit from it after she's done being Pres.

Thankfully, that won't happen. The US is done with the Clinton's in the WH.

[mgmaggiemg]

48. ok

but you are buying the beer on election nite when she wins in november

[cali]

58. She will lose the general election

Bye bye

[Iggy Knorr]

71. Money cares about you

[mgmaggiemg]

82. money buys

many things..but not votes in a general election....you can employ all the hate media on radio tv and internet...but people are wise to it ...it's sound and fury...hot air....it's an illusion then that money can buy influence at the voter level....people are going to make up their own minds...and they are not going to necessarily choose what you choose....so the best thing to do really is to learn to find common ground ...learn how to work together....negotiate and compromise....HRC did very well tonight...people like her I am not here to convince you .....and you will not convince others with your argument

[rhett o rick]

79. The fact that HRC is using Citizens United for her advantage is what we are against.

Don't you even see the hypocrisy of her saying she is against it but willing to take advantage? Why would you think she wants to change a system that may help her win the WH?

The point of the article is that one billionaire can donate as much power to a candidate as thousands of common folks. And those that are willing to rationalize it because it helps their candidate are not real Democrats.

[mgmaggiemg]

81. really did not help mitt romney now did it...

it's an imagined advantage as opposed to a real one...and has nothing to do with whether or not bernie has a plan ...no plan means even if you have money you can't fix your problems...so it's really the person who has the more support for their plan to be carried out...and that is HRC....but bernie does make a nice rudder for steering the dems in the the right direction...you said a billionaire can donate power...no just money....and I disagree...the power of social media has changed the power dynamic...money doesn't make the person anymore....

[rhett o rick]

89. People do not give millions of dollars or even ten dollars without the idea that it will

have an effect. It would be like saying that advertising or propaganda don't work when we know they do. There were a lot of factors at play in the Romney / Obama race. And we are hoping that similar factors will propel Sanders, the obvious People's choice over Clinton, Goldman-Sachs' choice.

I think it's a bit naive to think that money can't buy elections. Money can buy media including social media.

[mgmaggiemg]

90. you say money buys elections to console yourself

because you are losing

[rhett o rick]

91. So do you say you support the role of Big Money in politics? You support Citizens United?

I am guessing that corruption is ok if your side is benefiting from it.

My side is the People and we will prevail. Your Big Money may be able to buy this election, but we won't sit down and shut up. We are fighting for the 16,000,000 children living in poverty and not Goldman-Sachs' profits.

Here is what the Big Money culture has given us. In the USofA 6 infants out of every 1,000 live births die before they reach 1 year old. All other modern countries do better. In fact 37 countries do better. Why? Because lots of Americans turn their backs on the poor and bow before the Big Money Aristocracy.

We are in a class war and Goldman-Sachs is not on our side.

[mgmaggiemg]

92. that is what you say to anyone who isn't voting for your candidate

even tho it's not true....are you going to have sour grapes when it's HRC that overturns CU?
Bernie supporters have never heard of or even mention GRANNY D

[mgmaggiemg]

93. PS bernie did not invent campaign finance reform

he is not the only one for it

[AZ Progressive]

5. That money goes to her Super PAC, which can only be used to attack Bernie

She can't promote herself with that money. Also, Super PACs have to pay market rate for ads, while candidates get the legally required highly discounted rate, which vastly shrinks the purchasing power of Super PACs compared to Bernie's campaign.

[Cassiopeia]

18. That's not true.

They can run whatever ads they want, positive or negative.

They can't fly her around or pay her staff, but they can say whatever they want, however they want to say it.

[pnwmom]

25. Not true at ALL. She can save it for the General, which is what she's been doing

with most of the Super pac money.

[Divernan]

41. Candidates aren't allowed to control/coordinate spending of SuperPAC $$$$

According to your post, HRC is exerting direct control of "most of the Super pac money". Rather a gaffe on your part to openly admit that. I'm sure your statement is correct, but you're not supposed to publicly admit that she is ignoring/violating the law. What was your source for your claim, if you are free to disclose it?

The already lax rules governing Super PACs are riddled with loopholes. For example, candidates cannot communicate or coordinate with PAC organizers, but they can speak to a group of donors at a fund-raising event and leave the gathering before any planning or coordinating about fundraising occurs.

http://www.factmonster.com/us/government/super-pacs.html

Where a super-PAC differs from a PAC is that it must be independent from a candidate and his or her campaign. Super-PACs cannot donate money to or coordinate directly with the campaign. Instead, the money raised is spent to help a candidate get elected through ads, robocalls, outreach, and voter turnout efforts.
http://news.yahoo.com/super-pacs-explained-katie-couric-201427676.html;_ylt=A0LEVjixMbxWKOcAY5gnnIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTBybGY3bmpvBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMyBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg--

[kristopher]

60. Except for Hillary, that is. She does coordinate by taking advantage of a loophole

This is 'old news' but I missed it and thought others might have also.

How a super PAC plans to coordinate directly with Hillary Clinton’s campaign
By Matea Gold May 12, 2015



Hillary Clinton’s campaign plans to work in tight conjunction with an independent rapid-response group financed by unlimited donations, another novel form of political outsourcing that has emerged as a dominant practice in the 2016 presidential race.

On Tuesday, Correct the Record, a pro-Clinton rapid-response operation, announced it was splitting off from its parent American Bridge and will work in coordination with the Clinton campaign as a stand-alone super PAC. The group’s move was first reported by the New York Times.

That befuddled many campaign finance experts, who noted that super PACs, by definition, are political committees that solely do independent expenditures, which cannot be coordinated with a candidate or political party. Several said the relationship between the campaign and the super PAC would test the legal limits.

But Correct the Record believes it can avoid the coordination ban by relying on a 2006 Federal Election Commission regulation that declared that content posted online for free, such as blogs, is off limits from regulation. The “Internet exemption” said that such free postings do not constitute campaign expenditures, allowing independent groups to consult with candidates about the content they post on their sites. By adopting the measure, the FEC limited its online jurisdiction to regulating paid political ads.

The rules “totally exempt individuals who engage in political activity on the Internet from the restrictions of the campaign finance laws....

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/05/12/how-a-super-pac-plans-to-coordinate-directly-with-hillary-clintons-campaign/

Hillary Clinton plans to coordinate directly with super PAC
By REENA FLORES CBS NEWS May 13, 2015, 10:00 AM

Hillary Clinton's campaign intends to coordinate directly with a newly formed super PAC able to receive unlimited donations, according to a Washington Post report.

The Democratic presidential candidate's campaign will work in conjunction with Correct the Record, an independent rapid-response team, previously a part of super PAC American Bridge, which conducts opposition research on Republican presidential candidates and possible GOP presidential candidates. The New York Times first reported Tuesday that Correct the Record would split from its parent organization to support the Clinton campaign.

Though Federal Election Commission (FEC) rules prohibit direct coordination between super PACs and declared candidates, Correct the Record believes it will be able to coordinate with Clinton without violating campaign finance regulations.

The FEC restricts paid internet political advertisements, making them subject to campaign spending limits and disclosure requirements. However, a 2006 FEC rule exempts "public communications" -- like unpaid posts on websites or blogs -- from such regulations. The rules were initially implemented as a safeguard against regulating the free speech of bloggers and other internet communications...

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/hillary-clinton-plans-to-coordinate-directly-with-super-pac/

[Divernan]

61. If there's a loophole to be found, HRC's your huckleberry!

In the Grand Clintonian tradition of "It depends what the meaning of is is."

[senz]

6. We all know billionaires Get Things Done!™

[Kurovski]

8. I can see Mr. Burns tenting his bony fingers.

Dear and kindly old Mr. C. Montgomery Burns.

[senz]

13. Um-hm.

I could see him with a big ol' ^H on his lapel. Along with an evil grin.

[Kurovski]

16. He dated Jane Fonda,

so anything's possible.

However, Sec. Clinton is a bigger fan of fracking than she is of Nuclear power, which is more of a Cheney pastime.

[zentrum]

9. Super Pac's

…...are organized crime.

[Cassiopeia]

15. legalized crime.

[Mudcat]

10. well, on the bright side...

That's just 1 voter vs 262,000 voters

[Red Oak]

11. Amen to that

I saw a good quote on DU: They have the money and we have the numbers.

Last I checked, it was the numbers that matter!

[liberal_at_heart]

12. The good news is SuperPacs do not necessarily equal a victory.

[Cassiopeia]

14. There is a TRUE grassroots movement happening though.

We may lose, but we will have fought a good fight.

If it burns the party to the ground in the process, so be it. It wasn't worth propping up if that's the case.

[Skwmom]

17. Hey, don't be mean to Soros. He just doesn't want to pay his 6.7 billion deferred tax bill.

[Red Oak]

20. Yes, even moving a bunch of his money to Ireland

to try and avoid taxes.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/george-soros-may-face-a-monster-tax-bill/ar-BBiVTa5

Real fine support of the USA, that.

[Lazy Daisy]

21. That may be

But you have to give him credit where it's due. He could just as well give it to a Republican super pac and still get that deferment.
So lets not heave him into the street with busy traffic

[Red Oak]

23. Either super pac money is good, or it is bad

It can't be a case of "their" super pac money is bad and "ours" is good.

This system is rigged so that Soros, and the billionaires like him, have WAY too much influence in political discourse.

At least Bernie has the guts to say "no super pacs" right from the start.

THAT is the way to change things for the better.

[Lazy Daisy]

28. Agreed

Allowing unlimited funds into our politics is bad. But trashing a supporter of the Democratic Party for doing what is legal doesn't sound like a very good idea either.

[scottie55]

40. Soros Has Used His Money To Get A Lot Of Good People Elected

I am sure they have his back, but it could be worse.

It is still not the way things should be.

He should be limited to $2,700 like the rest of us.

Per candidate for primaries, and the same for the general.

[pnwmom]

26. How "sick" is it that right-wing groups have been spending millions to defeat

Hillary in the primaries so they won't have to face her in the general?

http://www.politicususa.com/2016/02/01/bernie-sanders-super-pac-money-democratic-rivals.html

It is noteworthy that Senator Sander’s “inconsistent” rise to Super PAC pre-eminence is, in part, due to an unusual pairing of the Sanders campaign and Republican and ultra-conservative super PAC spending to attack Hillary Clinton. Of course the conservatives’ intent is simply to “elevate an avowed socialist.” One that Republicans, conservatives, and the Koch brothers believe will be easy to disparage in a general election. Don’t believe conservative PACs are helping Senator Sanders?

In just one recent ad from the influential Republican super PAC American Crossroads, the uber-conservative group spent a substantial amount of its and the Kochs’ $4.3 million against Clinton parroting a constant Sanders’ attack against Clinton for earning Wall Street speaking fees. There have been no small number of pundits who have suggested, not errantly according to the American Crossroads ad campaign, that a fair share of the attacks on Clinton from “alleged” liberals are being funded and promoted by uber-conservative groups.

If one looks at it from that perspective, Senator Sanders’ campaign is being funded and assisted by more than just one special interest super PAC, and at least one of them is run by Karl Rove

[Red Oak]

29. It seems your argument is

that unless Hillary has people like Soros contribute to her super pac, she can't win.

Is that your point?

If so, Bernie Sanders is clearly showing a way forward. Not by triangulation, or half-to-clever administration, but by shear leadership.

"I don't want a super pac!" It takes guts to have that position is this day and age. True leadership is shown there.

And that is a glaring difference between the two Democratic candidates for President.

[grasswire]

30. so THAT is why she's dialing for one dollar donations. nt

[Red Oak]

31. I think Hillary was dialing for dollar donations to

both increase the number of people that she can say donated, and water down the average donation amount.

Imagine how it would look if she said that the average donation amount was $2700 dollars (the maximum legally allowed).

I wonder how close to $2700 she was before coming up with the donate a $1 campaign?

[Divernan]

43. Next up, "Send me a goddamned penny, or else!"

Maybe have Bill stand on a street corner shaking a collection can.

I cannot understand how anyone who can only afford a modest donation would send one red cent to the multi-multi millionaire Clintons . . . . and I would add to the deadbeat Clintons, who stiffed campaign workers and vendors for OVER TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS at the end of her 2008 campaign.

More than four years after ending her 2008 bid for the presidency, Hillary Rodham Clinton is out of the red and debt free.

Clinton finally paid off the last of her campaign debts, which at one time were well over $20 million, according to campaign finance reports filed Tuesday. Now, the Hillary Clinton for President campaign has about $205,000 in the bank as she gets ready to leave the Obama administration as secretary of State — amid calls from prominent Democrats that she run again in 2016.

So how did Clinton pay off her campaign debts?

Since she has been part of Obama's Cabinet, Clinton hasn't been able to engage in political activities such as fundraising. Former President Bill Clinton, however, has done what he could to help his wife, sending out fundraising letters on her behalf, raffling off trips and dinners, and signing campaign memorabilia in exchange for donations.

President Obama also helped in his own way.The Clinton campaign report shows she rented out her list of donors to Obama's presidential campaign, which brought in about $63,000 in October.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/onpolitics/2013/01/23/hillary-clinton-campaign-debt-free/1857991/#

Hope this time around everyone is getting their money up front, because she only paid off the 2008 debts when she needed to have a clean slate to run again.

[dorkzilla]

77. Did you see the "Maddi" tweets this week

Next one will be "give me a fucking penny right fucking now, Maddi"

[silvershadow]

39. Makes me determined, this cycle in particular, to donate the max I am able. If not now,

then possibly never...Bernie *must win. It is that simple. And then some. I hope he has coattails longer than anyone expects.

[Hydra]

42. That's about a perfect sum up

But the beauty of it is how it is seen- Bernie doesn't need the money to get votes, the amount though screams the level of support for him.

Clinton will need 10x this amount to get even close to the same results for it...and she just got painted as being part of the Establishment again by getting such a large single donation.

[merrily]

50. Painted as part of the establishment? No paint job necessary.

[merrily]

49. I just love it when she pretends to oppose money in politics, don't you?

[SamKnause]

52. F**k'em !

It is not going to work this time !!!!!!!

FEEL THE BERN

[restorefreedom]

54. and THIS is why bernie will win. enough is enough. nt

[PatrynXX]

55. I've compared Soros to the Koch Brothers

he is to the DNC as the Koch Brothers are to the GOP and neither of them likes the one the people like in each others parties (Trump is not fan of the Koch Brothers and vice versa) and Ironically being who Soros is , seems to be ironically no fan of Sanders ) yeah pretty sick

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

57. Which puts to rest the notion of "a government of the people, by the people, for the people".

[Enthusiast]

62. Kicked and recommended! Proudly cast the 201st recommendation.

[NurseJackie]

64. Fantastic! I think it's wonderful!! It will certainly be expensive to compete against the GOP ...

... money machine. Thank you Mr. Soros!!

[amborin]

65. somewhat akin to: Average CEO Salary is 331x Average Worker Salary in Same Corp:

http://www.aflcio.org/Corporate-Watch/Paywatch-2014

[jalan48]

66. He's what could be called a "financial super delegate". He's as important as 262,000 other folks.

[questionseverything]

74. xcellant point

http://www.alternet.org/drugs/big-lie-war-against-drugs

hc will continue the failed war on drugs

bernie is the first candidate that has had the nerve to tell the truth and recommend decriminalizing mj

[Ino]

68. And yet I got this "poor me" email from Hillary today...

N --

In the 24 hours after the polls closed in New Hampshire, Bernie Sanders' team says they raised more than $6 million.

One of Bernie's top strategists even bragged: "We are a better campaign … And as of today, I believe we have more resources, campaign to campaign, to expend. We are demonstrating that resource superiority by going on television all across this country.”

N, I think he's dead wrong about who has a better campaign -- but unfortunately, he's right about who has more resources. We were outspent 3-to-1 on television in New Hampshire, and we need to make sure that doesn't happen again. Can you chip in $1 right now to help close the gap?

We have 14 contests in the next three weeks, and we just can't allow our team to be outraised and outspent like this. This team is bigger, more diverse, and more enthusiastic than Bernie’s team -- it's time for us to show it.

Chip in $1 right now -- let's show the world how strong we are and win this nomination:
N, donate $1

Thank you,

Robby

Robby Mook
Campaign Manager
Hillary for America

[WillyT]

69. HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!!

[KoKo]

70. There's so much SICK these days it's hard to keep up with it all...

My sweet cat seems to deal with "Sick" barfing up Fur Balls or food that doesn't agree with her.......

I wish I was so LUCKY to be able to BARF UP the CRAP in our Political Establishment coming out there ...These Days!

So...I have to use this..which is extreme but we LIVE IN ....Very Extreme Times!

[zentrum]

72. And she took it!

Something Bernie would never do.

That difference is the difference that really matters.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

73. I say fuck him! If he keeps doing it- we'll keep doing it.

[TexasBushwhacker]

75. George may have the bucks, but he still has just 1 vote n/t

[orpupilofnature57]

76. 99% vs 1% And all the endorsements don't cancel the fact, You are what You eat .

[Dustlawyer]

80. Makes Hillary the perfect foil for Bernie!

She is the queen of campaign contributions, the very evil we are out to stop! Still, all of that money and the media shilling like crazy makes it hard.