Politics

Liberal Fundraising Groups Raise $10 Million for Obama, Democrats

Liberal Fundraising Groups Raise $10 Million for Obama, Democrats, SEIU, ADSCMEWASHINGTON (The Blaze/AP) — Outside fundraising groups supporting President Barack Obama and Democratic candidates raised a combined $10 million during the first six months of 2011, providing the first glimpse into how Democrats intend to compete with outside Republican groups planning to pour millions of dollars into next year’s elections.

Priorities USA and Priorities USA Action, independent groups founded by former Obama White House aides Bill Burton and Sean Sweeney, said Friday they raised more than $5 million while the research arm for the outside Democratic groups, American Bridge, collected $3.07 million. Political action committees supporting Democrats in the House and Senate raised more than $2 million.

The fundraising totals were dwarfed by Obama’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee, which collected a combined $86 million from April through June, as many top donors focused on Obama’s initial fundraising quarter.

Supporters of both parties have created outside groups designed to influence the 2012 elections, taking advantage of a landmark 2010 Supreme Court decision that allowed these groups to spend lavishly on campaigns with few restrictions.

Republicans aggressively deployed the outside groups after the Citizens United ruling by the Supreme Court eased restrictions on corporate spending in political campaigns. American Crossroads and its not-for-profit arm Crossroads GPS, which have ties to Karl Rove, President George W. Bush’s top political adviser, spent $38.5 million to defeat Democrats in the 2010 midterm elections, raising money from large donors, many of whom went undisclosed.

Crossroads spokesman Jonathan Collegio said it currently had “about a 2-to-1″ advantage in fundraising over the Democratic groups combined. Crossroads has said it will spend $20 million this summer on a series of ads critical of Obama and Democrats in the House and Senate. Through mid-June, American Crossroads had raised about $3.8 million and had nearly $3.3 million in the bank. It was expected to disclose its full fundraising totals for the first six months within the next few days.

Obama has criticized the Supreme Court ruling and the kind of unregulated, undisclosed spending it allowed, but Democrats moved to create the groups after the party lost control of the House and relinquished several Senate seats.

Most of the Democratic groups are considered “Super PACs,” which allows them to accept unlimited donations, but they must disclose their contributors to the government.

Priorities USA and American Bridge both operate two funds: one that can work full time to influence elections and must disclose all its donors, and other not-for-profit arms, which allows them to raise unlimited amounts of money and keep their donors secret while limiting the type of political activities they can conduct. Priorities’ nonprofit brought in at least $2 million, while American Bridge’s foundation collected about $1.5 million.

Majority PAC, which supports Senate candidates, raised $1.25 million, while its House counterpart, House Majority PAC, raised $985,000.

“The overwhelming support we have received in getting each of our groups off the ground shows that Democrats won’t be sitting on the sidelines in 2012,” the Democratic groups said in a joint statement.

Priorities USA has set a goal of raising $100 million for the 2012 campaign. Prominent Democrats are expected to support Priorities, including Ellen Malcolm, the founder of EMILY’S List which supports female candidates who back abortion rights, the Service Employees International Union and Hollywood mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg.

American Bridge filed its report with the Federal Election Commission on Friday, while its Democratic counterparts were expected to file by Sunday. Among American Bridge’s biggest donors: $200,000 from Peter Lewis, chairman of Progressive Insurance Companies; $150,000 from Stephen Bing, a film producer and real estate developer who has raised money for President Bill Clinton; and $100,000 from West Coast businessman Stephen Silberstein. Labor unions AFSCME and the SEIU both contributed $100,000 and writer-director J.J. Abrams donated money.

Nearly all the donations – more than half of big checks greater than $10,000 – streamed in from liberal-leaning congressional districts: the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City and Portland, Ore.

Comments (152)

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  • Cold War Vet
    Posted on July 30, 2011 at 12:22am

    Moonbat money.

    I’m pretty sick of Obama telling us to do without or to make do with less. Attacking CEOs and the super-rich, while he’s totally silent on his puppetmaster George Soros.

    Come on, Big O. Let’s see you get up there and holler for George Soros to sacrifice some of his billions to solve the debt crisis that YOU and YOUR ADMINISTRATION created.

    I really hope you burn up every last red cent of your reelection war chest, and fall flat on your lying socialist face.

    Every Real American who values life, love and the pursuit of happiness wants to see your campaign tank like a lead brick. I’d vote for a lead brick before I vote for you, Obama.

    Report Post » Cold War Vet  
    • GeorgieJo
      Posted on July 30, 2011 at 12:59am

      I would vote for a CAN of PEAS over Obummer

      Report Post »  
    • Cold War Vet
      Posted on July 30, 2011 at 1:46am

      A can of peas has more integrity!

      Report Post » Cold War Vet  
    • bigbear_awake
      Posted on July 30, 2011 at 10:28am

      How about a SH** HOUSE before BHO the Socialists

      Report Post » bigbear_awake  
    • knockered
      Posted on July 30, 2011 at 11:02am

      AMEN to that. He tells everybody to conserve but will collect and spend 1 billion dollars to try and get 4 more years as the thief in charge. What hypocrocy he and his wife show to the world and yet people still believe in him.. Go figure…

      Report Post »  
    • robert
      Posted on July 30, 2011 at 1:40pm

      I’d give my eye teeth to get my hands on that donor list before the baloon goes up after economic armageddon.

      Report Post »  
    • DeliverUsFromEvil
      Posted on July 30, 2011 at 2:10pm

      Is the phrase “good money after bad,“ or ”bad money after good.” Oh well, you know what I mean.

      Report Post »  
  • Patriot 101
    Posted on July 30, 2011 at 12:19am

    Forlath, you say you are a Minnesota democrat? Well, that’s not saying much considering you
    elected Al Franken. You say you are a vet? Did you have a dishonorable discharge? My brother in
    law is a 3 star- he said everyone thinks Obama is a joke! We are going to take this country back! If
    you want th threaten people—I say bring it! We are not afraid of you! You sound like the typical
    sociopath democrat

     
  • forlath
    Posted on July 30, 2011 at 12:19am

    Captain Crunch, so now I must be confused? Wow, I guess there really is no middle ground any more. Not sure what I was hoping to accomplish, guess I was hoping dialogue was still possible. So I’ll just restate my original point and be on my way – go ahead and do what you want but don’t come to my door and try to force your views down my throat. I may be a Democrat but despite what you might have been told on your shows I will defend me and mine against any aggression. Just saying. Hope it doesn‘t come to that but the talk you’re throwing around, well it’s concerning.

    Report Post »  
  • therealamerica
    Posted on July 30, 2011 at 12:17am

    yee-ha

    (wait– what are we talking about? oh yeah! get dem mexicans outta here!!!!!)

    Report Post »  
  • CatB
    Posted on July 30, 2011 at 12:09am

    LOL .. narrow minded is voting like your daddy and his daddy .. this isn‘t the Democrat party of the 1950’s or 60′s … this is the SOCIALIST Democrat party .. and you FORLATH are a fool if you don’t see that and that the biggest “**********” in the country is sitting in the White House ready to take away those RIGHTS like the 2nd ammendment you say you are for!

    TEA!

    Report Post »  
  • Captain Crunch
    Posted on July 30, 2011 at 12:05am

    You sound pretty confused. We have the same interest as you. Your good welfare and liberty. You’ve been listening to the wrong people.

    Report Post »  
  • forlath
    Posted on July 30, 2011 at 12:03am

    Hey 70′s kid, are you kidding me? You tell me I need counseling and then tell me some sob story about latch key and dead beat dads. Seriously, I’m not even sure what your point as you and I have nothing in common. Serving in the military is an honor where I come from.

    Restored One, hate him for all I care, he’s still the president of this country and deserves respect for that reason if for nothing else.

    Report Post »  
  • junior1971
    Posted on July 30, 2011 at 12:01am

    forlath is threatening people on this website. Perhaps he sould be considered a potential danger and be looked into.) Oh, by the way foreskin, welcome home! Now re-enlist or was it dishonorable!?

    Report Post » junior1971  
  • therealamerica
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 11:55pm

    how exactly is this newsworthy?

    politician raises money for campaign”

    right. um, thats what…they do.

    i love the blaze though. the only www that could possibly get upset about someone raising money for their side. Now if the headline read “Conservative Fundraising Groups…” we‘d all be like ’yee-ha‘ and ’hell yeah brother’.

    the blaze: where racists with dial up internet go to play.

    Report Post »  
    • SPOT_OF_TEA
      Posted on July 30, 2011 at 12:02am

      10 million dollars…I’m sure a lot of charities they care so much about could have used that money

      Report Post » SPOT_OF_TEA  
    • Captain Crunch
      Posted on July 30, 2011 at 12:13am

      What an insult! There aint no dialup here … I run T1 fiber optics. Sorry your so slo.

      Report Post »  
  • Restored One
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 11:54pm

    Well, the rag head that is running this country is about to take away your 2nd ammendmant too. So we have something in common.

    Report Post »  
  • 70S_KIDS_FIGHTING_SOCIALISM
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 11:52pm

    Calm down. You need counseling. My generation joined the military out of patriotism. Not for a weekend paycheck or college. We had little to no benefits and were under Gramm-Rudman. We were the children of these hippies and have seen progressive history in action. We are the original latch key children. Hippie dads left and left moms with kids to work for the first time. Dads didn’t pay child support and courts did nothing. We saw poverty as kids that hadn’t been seen sense the great depression. That’s why Beck, Palin and others in this age group are fighting for freedom so hard.

    TEA!!!
    USAF under Ronald Reagan.

    Report Post » 70S_KIDS_FIGHTING_SOCIALISM  
  • me85
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 11:47pm

    I’m not a Republican or not the way you think I am. (Technically I view myself a libertarian conservative, but otherwise I have no party.) We live in a Constitutional Republic thus hence all Americans are in fact Republicans of this great nation, wether they like it or not. I support the men and women who serve us and protect our liberties, like any other good American Citizen would do. So please relax my friend, you are among friends here. May God bless you, and thank you for your service.

    Report Post » me85  
  • Captain Crunch
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 11:42pm

    This is our stimulus money being funneled back to the Liar-in Chief. But all the money in the world isn’t going to help that s.o.b. get elected again. It’s quite startling to me how I get more angry with each passing day this traitor sits in the White House. I have never felt this way about any other person or even politician anytime in my whole life. Everytime he opens his disgusting mouth or makes one of vile speeches my blood pressure goes up. I hope he chokes on one of George Soros’s turds.

    Report Post »  
    • ADNIL
      Posted on July 30, 2011 at 9:15am

      I know exactly how you feel. I cannot watch him or listen to anything that comes out of his lying mouth anymore.

      Report Post »  
    • teapartyguardian
      Posted on July 30, 2011 at 7:30pm

      you are a mind reader!

      Report Post » teapartyguardian  
  • Dr. Frank Lippenheimer
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 11:42pm

    LIBERAL FUNDRAISING GROUPS RAISE $10 MILLION FOR OBAMA, DEMOCRATS

    That’s nice. Meanwhile, Barry’s approval number has dropped to 40% — which, as we all know, is inflated by the fact that the MSM pollsters cook the sample pool in favor of liberal (socialist) and Democratic (communist) respondents.

    Report Post » Dr. Frank Lippenheimer  
    • Restored One
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 11:50pm

      But if the Republicans do not come up with a viable canidate, then our money will re-elect this POSPOTUS. I beleive that our only chance in this race, is the race care. Obama v.s West.

      Report Post »  
    • Captain Crunch
      Posted on July 30, 2011 at 12:50am

      I could vote for a West-Palin ticket. Or even a Palin-Bachman ticket. Any of the people running would be great next to Obama. Except for Romney…I’d have to do a write-in for HIllary over Romney…just joking.
      I’ll run for president myself. President Captain Crunch. And I know I‘d do a better job than O’liar.

      Report Post »  
    • SFsuper49er
      Posted on July 30, 2011 at 2:05pm

      No joke… palin-Bachman ticket is what i’m hoping for.

      Report Post »  
  • sooner12
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 11:42pm

    From this old vet to you young whippersnapper (sp?), I ain’t worried about you.

    Report Post »  
  • WhiteHorse
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 11:41pm

    The socialists and union thugs are worried SICK their puppet boy king won’t get reelected. They’re worried SICK that their STRANGLE HOLD on their MONEY LAUNDERING SCHEME to give to DEMOCRATS FOR THEIR CAMPAIGNS is in jeopardy. Well, IT IS, and I’m pretty well convinced that no matter HOW much money they raise, it will all be IN VAIN.

    Sorry socialists, but the majority of Americans have already had enough of the kenyan, period, end of story. They see what he has done to the country so far, AND IT’S ALL BAD, REAL BAD, and no amount of your fund raising to tell LIES about his EPIC FAILURES, and to hear MORE EMPTY CRAP from him is going to make us vote for him. Nope, not going to happen. In fact, I see the kenyan either being run out of the White House on a legal rail after Hawaii says “there is no BC” Tuesday when the Federal Subpena get served, or he’ll simply lose in a LAND SLIDE.

    Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. Only the truly retarded, the socialists, and people that hate this country will vote for Soetoro again.

    Report Post » WhiteHorse  
    • the wireworker
      Posted on July 30, 2011 at 12:15am

      to forlath,
      maybe that’s your problem. voting democrat just like your dad and his dad did. i respect your service but didn‘t it teach you to think for yourself because the democrat party is not the same party of your dad’s dad.

      Report Post » the wireworker  
  • spirited
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 11:41pm

    …raise that kind of money
    for a political campaign,
    when politics is used to manipulate money?

    Hmmm!

    >and, …especially at a time like this. (tsk, tsk)

    Report Post » spirited  
  • Cold War Vet
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 11:36pm

    Congratulations, moonbats!

    Now take that money and donate it to Obama’s Debt Crisis!

    Report Post » Cold War Vet  
  • Ron_WA
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 11:34pm

    The Obama fund raising machine is not something to be taken lightly. Money = air-time = media = message = buying votes. They Will out fund the GOP nominee probably by quite a bit.

    The anti-Obama candidate must rely on voter turn-out if they have a chance of winning. We can beat him but it must be at the actual ballot box.

    Report Post » Ron_WA  
    • 70S_KIDS_FIGHTING_SOCIALISM
      Posted on July 30, 2011 at 12:20am

      Its not about a sob story but about a generation that was self sufficient and the generation that was in the houses as children of the hippies that spat on the troops. We listened as children not to our parents stories but to those WW2 grandpas and grandmas. We listened with the respect they deserved and leaned from what they lived through. Your entitlement generation does no such thing. They know it all. Hows that unemployment working out for them? They were fooled by Obama(Jimmy Carter the 2nd) my generation was not fooled by the original Jimmy Carter. We latched on to Reagan. We recognized the real deal, not phony rhetoric.

      Report Post » 70S_KIDS_FIGHTING_SOCIALISM  
    • 70S_KIDS_FIGHTING_SOCIALISM
      Posted on July 30, 2011 at 12:29am

      Sorry top post for: @forlath

      Report Post » 70S_KIDS_FIGHTING_SOCIALISM  
  • SHOESHINEBOY
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 11:31pm

    Sep 18, 2008 · WASHINGTON — Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden said Thursday that paying more in taxes is the patriotic thing to do for wealthier Americans.

    Welllllll…….. instead of giving it all to the DNC….shouldn’t they be more “”"“patriotic””"”" huuhhhhhhhh

    Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on July 30, 2011 at 7:58am

      The problem with most Republicans is they are the average person, strapped financially and unable to give a lot. You think a small business man doesn’t have to make payroll? I’ve said it before, if all the congressmen had to pay for their own staff out of their paycheck, they’d understand small business owners. And no, I’m not a small business owner. I see my husband’s boss paying all his employees out of his savings so as not to have to lay anyone off. Democrats that are big contributors are probably getting a kick back from Obama. Look at how may friends he employed…

      Report Post »  
  • sooner12
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 11:28pm

    OK folks, we must keep up with these damn Dems. Let’s see what can be done. This guy in the white house must be replaced in 2012. This country cannot be won with four more years of Obama. So please, do what you can.

    This is NOT an advertisement. This is just one guy in Oklahoma who is worried sick that this country is going down and I will not go down without a fight.

    If you can’t contribute with your funds, do so with your participation in the system, your community, your neighborhood and your family. We are at a crossroads if I may be so cliche.

    But I get sick to my stomach thinking about the possibility of four more years of this man (and I’m keeping this clean.)

    As Glenn has urged us, we must be diligent and we have to do whatever we can to make this country what our founding fathers created it for us. This country has lost it’s way over the years, but we can right this ship to be what it was once.

    May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you – good Americans.

    Report Post »  
    • Eaglesnest
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 11:33pm

      Amen brother, amen.

      Report Post » Eaglesnest  
    • Tyr
      Posted on July 30, 2011 at 1:34am

      Sooner, I put money, sweat and lots of time getting my Kansas Rep. Tim Huelskamp elected. He was one of the 22 Republicans that held out today against this lie upon the American citizens they are calling a budget bill. I’ll pull my weight, the rest of you do the same!! I know most of you are really devout Christians, I am not! But if I may, at least try to do a little more than praying. It might help, but it won’t fund or staff a campaign

      Report Post » Tyr  
  • kalli
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 11:17pm

    Luv it, N37BU6! I say they can pull in all the money they want. They already are known as crooks, and even with all the money in the world, this is still a country with free elections. And we will vote these uncivil, uncompromising, unintelligent toads out of office who do not listen to “we the people.” And we will have an AG who will prosecute those who have failed to uphold the oath they took to protect and serve the people of the United States. Then, we will throw them in gitmo and confiscate their wealth to pay down the debt they have stolen from us.

    Report Post »  
    • enufznuf
      Posted on July 30, 2011 at 4:48am

      I hate to say but I don’t think money/ads will matter much. Our government (this administration) is more currupt than any before. I am willing to bet 2012 will be a stolen election. Holder will look into it though, so no fears…

      Report Post »  
    • ADNIL
      Posted on July 30, 2011 at 9:07am

      The money will not be spent on ads as much as VOTES!

      Report Post »  
  • commonsenseguy
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 11:15pm

    what is the big deal about the debt ceiling?? with all of this money being poured in for presidential campaigns, we should be able to cut the debt down quit a bit, why tax americans,when all you have to do is ask them to send in a few dollars each and we could pay down the debt and still have money to burn, the debt battle has nothing to do with saving jobs,our economy or america, it is about who can raise the most money to elect their people, this is a shame,both parties should be embarrassed. just think how many people we could put back to work or help them keep their homes,with all that wasteful money,

    Report Post »  
  • TheCenturion
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 11:10pm

    Good, I hope they drain supporters dry, and then we’ll drain the swamp and fill it with TEA!

    Report Post »  
  • N37BU6
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 11:06pm

    The “please don’t tax me” donations.

    Report Post » N37BU6  
    • Shiroi Raion
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 11:36pm

      Exactly. Obama doesn’t need money. The whole country learned the hard way what kind of person he is. The only ones likely to vote for him this year are the ignorant, the stupid Socialists, the corrupted, and racists. Still, that’s a lot of Californians and union fools.

      Report Post » Shiroi Raion  
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