| By Todd Beeton, Courage Campaign - Mar 26th, 2007 at 3:16 am PDT |
| Also listed in: California ATM Watch |
It's a cliché but it's true: Presidential candidates treat California as an ATM. They swoop in to raise money, maybe have a big, splashy event at thousands of dollars a plate, then they move on and spend California dollars to secure Iowa votes. We think it's time the candidates spoke with all California voters, not just those who can afford the privilege. We’re asking the candidates to go ahead and take the money, but don’t run without telling us what you’ll do for California!
This is the sixth edition of The Courage Campaign Presidential Candidate ATM Watch, where we track the movements of the 2008 presidential candidates as they visit California both to raise money and, hopefully, to actually listen to the concerns of Californians. This series is meant not only to inform you of the comings and goings of the candidates, but also to hold these would-be Presidents to account on the issues that matter to us here in California.
This week, all the big names including Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, Bill Richardson, John Edwards, and Hillary Clinton made a visit to the Golden State. Let's review their events, and then we'll give you a preview of who's planning a visit next week.
Who Made a Withdrawal From ATM California This Week?
Last weekend, Barack Obama came to the Bay Area for a public rally in addition to a withdrawal from the ATM. As for the fundraiser, it was held at the tony Mark Hopkins Hotel. From someone on the inside:
There were two separate rooms - one with probably 300 or so people who were supposed to have all been committed to donating $2300 and an ajoining room with probably 500+ who were supposedly the $1000 givers. Decent food in both with an open bar in the former and beer, wine and soda in the second.
Unlike many other candidates in the race, Obama has made a point to give face time to the public even as he swoops in for money. Here's Todd's amazing video of Obama's huge rally in Oakland, where some 10,000 people came out to watch.
Click here for more video and commentary from Todd.
While Barack Obama was in northern California, Mitt Romney was raising some serious money in SoCal at a fundraiser in Dana Point in Orange County. Intrepid OC blogger atdleft tried to crash the rarified gates but saw nothing but limos coming and going, which, of course, speaks volumes.
He asks:
Why doesn't the Republican Party like its own voters? Why won't the GOP candidates talk to the people who will be making a huge decision next February? Why do the candidates only come to Orange County for the big money, and avoid everyone who could not possibly afford to join the big money at these extravagant fundraisers?
Excellent question. And thanks to atdleft for finding some video of Mitt at that very fundraiser, care of Jon Fleischman, the same guy who brought us the McCain video last week. I must admit to video envy -- in an ironic twist, while the Republicans are less accessible to the public, their fundraisers are more accesible to us via the Internet. Go watch the videos HERE. In addition, Fleischman interviewed Mitt. Here's his take on healthcare reform, wherein he pretends that conservatives really are all about personal responsibility.
Mitt: Well, my proposal in Massachusetts was people either pay for their own healthcare and demonstrate their ability to pay by having a sufficient health savings account or other savings account or they buy insurance, because currently in this country if someone does not have health insurance and they don't have money of their own, then they go to the hospital and they get free care. And that's not an option that should be available to people who can afford insurance. So I agree that -- and I want to make personal responsibility mean that people either pay for their own healthcare or they buy insurance, one or the other. But no more showing up and expecting other people to pay your way. That's not personal responsibility. That's the welfare state. And currently what we have, and I think this is something that people don't often appreciate, currently what we have in most of America and in California, like Massachusetts, is a sick setting, where people don't buy insurance, even those who can afford it don't buy insurance and go get free healthcare. And that's simply not personal responsibility.
Bill Richardson is spending some time in Southern California this week as well. First stop was Laguna Beach on Wednesday where he held a $500-per-person fund-raiser in Laguna Beach and a $1,000-per-person fund-raiser in Laguna Hills. He then headed up to Los Angeles on Thursday for a small get together with supporters at a talent agency. While there wasn't a price of admission per se, he was definitely making his pitch for money. From someone who was there:
First thing he mentioned was the earlier primary and how CA is more than just $. No field in CA yet, but he promises to spend more time on the ground here. Thinks he can relieve our traffic problems through a different allocatiuon of resources. Played up foreign policy solutions.....get nuclear out iran and secure Israel.
Richardson will be the keynote speaker at the Human Rights Campaign's 2007 Los Angeles Gala Dinner on Saturday. The festivities will be held at the Century Plaza Hotel in Century City starting at 5:30pm.
And since the March 31 reporting deadline is fast approaching, you know we're gonna see the heavy hitters back in our neck of the woods making withdrawals.
Today it's John Edwards.
Edwards' $2,300-per-person event, which includes cocktails and a co-chair dinner, will at the home of attorney Skip Brittenham and actress Heather Thomas, both prominent fund-raisers in recent election cycles.
And tomorrow it's Hillary Clinton:
Clinton already has visited twice in preparation for her March 24 gala, which will be at the Beverly Hills home of Ron Burkle. Tickets are $4,600 for a VIP reception and dinner, and $2,300 just for the dinner. (The campaign is raising money both for the primary and the general election).
Coming Up: Week of March 25
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