Fundraising by candidates and the $ amounts they ask for

[undeterred]

I'm on a strict budget now because of the long period of unemployment I went through this year. But I still want to contribute to campaigns, and I still want to attend events. It irks me when there is a door price set so high that I can't even consider it. The Democratic party in my state held an event to pay tribute to women and start a Womens Caucus this week, but the bottom contribution price was $50 per ticket. That's just too much for me. I called the phone number on the site and never got ahold of a live person to see if I could get in for less- so I didn't go. I didn't want to be embarrassed at the door.

When I have hosted fundraising events, I never set a price. I just said, all contributions gratefully accepted. I don't want people who can only give $5 or $10 or $20 to feel like they can't come out and meet a candidate without bringing a check for $50. I have one elected official who wants "friends" who will support him for $100. I'm sorry, but no matter how well I'm doing he's not getting that out of me. So even though I like him I send nothing. I want to support more than one person.

Do candidates who say they care about the poor not realize that even people with low incomes want to contribute but cannot drop $50? I've heard that Obama gets contributions of all sizes, but he's coming to my city, and tickets to the event are $30. I would like to see him, but not for $30. If I were a student I could pay $15, but I'm not a student. I'm just someone who was unemployed for 5 months this year.

Don't they get it?

[DesertFlower]

1. i rather give my money to the poor

than to political candidates. when they're out there campaigning i'm sure they're staying in nice hotel, flying first class or a private jet. i'm sure there eating in fancy restaurants.

as far as events, i'm not willing to pay $500 a plate to see any one of them.

contributions to politcal candidates are not tax deductible either.

[undeterred]

2. Welcome to DU, sweets

Well, it does make more sense to give money to people who need it to eat than people who need it to advertise themselves! Our system is crazy. And I didn't have any candidates throwing fundraisers for me when I was out of work for 5 months.

[DesertFlower]

4. thanks for the welcome.

i've been lurking around for awhile.

our system is crazy. our elections should be taxpayer funded. that way even the "little guy" who doesn't have any money can run, and no one would be "beholden" to the special interests.

[halobeam]

3. I completely agree with you. They should say all contributions gratefully accepted.

They are fools if they don't realize that 5 bucks from more people goes a lot further for a possible vote, than 30 bucks from less people. I know the money is important, but the vote is what they are really after, is it not?


And I would love to know if and what percentage goes toward their accommodations. I would think anything over whats necessary, should come out of their pocket. I realize they are living on the road, but if they can't live like the rest of us, it raises questions in my mind. If they choose not to live like most people and have incredible accommodations, I'd like to know they pay the difference.

Is there total transparency in these matters?

[DesertFlower]

5. i kept getting e-mails from john edwards campaign

asking for money. i e-mailed them back saying "edwards just built a 27,000 sq. ft. house -- he doesn't need my money".


i will give edwards credit though. when he first announced his candidacy he was on chris matthews and someone in the audience asked about the huge amounts that are raised. edwards agreed that it should be taxpayer funded.

[undeterred]

6. It should not be months and years of begging.

Its really annoying when you get repeat requests from people you don't even plan on giving to. The only person I don't mind supporting at all is Feingold because he's my senator, he doesn't live high on the hog, and he helps lots of other candidates. You give money to his Progressive Patriots Fund- he spends it on good candidates I wouldn't even know about. And I don't send much, but I think he has a lot of people that send like $25, and that adds up.

[DesertFlower]

7. both my senators are repubs.

i've sent a few bucks to a few candidates, but don't tell DH.