Dean Campaign Spent $7,000 on Chocolates

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040204/ap_on_el_pr/brf_dean_chocolates&cid=694&ncid=2043

WASHINGTON - Forrest Gump remarked in the eponymously named 1994 movie that "life is like a box of chocolates — you never know what you're gonna get." Former Democratic front-runner Howard Dean (news - web sites) might say the same.


Dean's presidential campaign spent at least $6,779 last year at Lake Champlain Chocolates, a premium truffle maker in Dean's home state of Vermont, on thank-you gifts for hosts of major fund-raising events. The Burlington-based chocolatier's specialties include the "Chocolates of Vermont," a box with a different bonbon for each season.


Dean outpaced his Democratic rivals in 2003, raising a record $41 million and spent nearly $32 million. But so far this year, the White House hopeful has faltered in the primary race, winning none of the nine states that have voted.


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[LuminousX]

1. Seeing the poster didn't give an opinion, I'm assuming this is supposed to

be negative. Ohh, look how wasteful.

Of course, note who got the chocolates. How much money was saved? (edit: I read it as 'host' and though these were to people who hosted out-of-state visitors, it now makes even more sense that the gifts were given to hosts of fundraisers.

This is just ridiculous. Not the chocolates, but the fact that buying thank you gifts for people who SAVED the campaign money is now considered a bad thing. Fuck that. Only people who donated money have a right to complain.

I'm not complaining.

[THUNDER HANDS]

3. well, since I donated, I'll step up and complain

What, Hershey's kisses wasn't good enough? :)

[LuminousX]

4. How are Hershey Kisses emblamatic of Vermont?

I guess he could have given them Vermont Teddy Bears instead.

[THUNDER HANDS]

7. dude it was a joke

You know, funny ha ha. :)

[LuminousX]

9. And I took it as such, thus the Vermont Teddy Bear comment

[Bertha Venation]

5. I donated, and I'm not complaining.

It's 0.017% of what the Dean campaign raised from us donors.

A campaign should offer tokens of thanks to those who lend a hand.

Get over it. This $7,000 isn't why he won't be our nominee.

[SheilaT]

2. And how much money was raised

by all those fundraisers?

I'm not complaining either.

[KoKo]

6. Dean wasn't the only one into chocolate. What about the Clark bars?

Frankly I think chocolate is a good idea. Beats giving contracts to reconstruct countries we invade, or tickets to skybox seating at your local campaign contributor's latest sports extravaganza.....I could go on about what the Repugs give their contributors.....but most here know there's a huge difference. ;-)

[Jerseycoa]

20. I don't know

I've never heard of the Clark campaign buying Clark Bars, although they may have done. It was the grassroots supporters who emptied the shelves of Clark Bars.

[Toucano]

8. Seems reasonable to me.

It's quite reasonable to give a token of appreciation and thanks to people who've helped you.

Good marketing, in my opinion. Promotes a Vermont business and makes a nice impression.

[Hoppin_Mad]

10. Damn - All I got were pins and bumper stickers :-( -nt-

[LuminousX]

11. I had to PAY for my pins... dammit

Not even a free pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream.

[Hoppin_Mad]

16. But that was at a $100 a head function - I shoulda got chocolates !

[no name no slogan]

18. Dunno if Dean would give those away, though

Ben Cohen endorsed Dennis Kucinich

:D

[redqueen]

12. OMFG!!!!

You mean the Dean campaign had the audacity to send nice thank you gifts?! What the hell were they thinking?!!

I'm shocked and outraged beyond words!

/sarcasm


Come on! :eyes:

[TacticalPeek]

13. Next - cooked to order crepes.

A certain death knell.

:silly:

[chocolateeater]

14. MMMMMMM....Chocolate Truffles

I'm sorry, you were saying?

[MarkTwain]

15. Life is like a box of chocolates...

.... — you never know what you're gonna get.

Well in this case, how 'bout :

Financial irresponsibility ?
Fiscal mismanagement ?
Managerial incompetence ?

This from a man who blows tens of millions of dollars on the first two primaries which results in the prevailing capture of neither. Who then must default on the next seven states.

And this is the man who we want to offer as the "responsible" alternative to DimSon, Rove, and their cabal?

Yep. Right.

Never was this more appropriate: Physician. Heal thyself.

[Cuban_Liberal]

17. Yeah, so?

I imagine his return was at least 100-fold, so where is the problem? :shrug:

[no name no slogan]

19. At least it wasn't no-bid contracts in Iraq

like certain pResidents have been known to give away for "support".

[lurk_no_more]

21. A box of "Eggo's" would've been a lot cheaper

And then there were none!
” JAFO”