President Obama's 2013 inauguration is going to look a bit different from the 2009 version. Four years ago, Obama declined all corporate donations to his inaugural committee, choosing instead to pay for the 1.8 million-attendee, $53 million Washington, D.C. celebration — during which he attended 10 balls — with gifts from individual donors, which he capped at $50,000 for single people and $100,000 for couples. This year, he'll be accepting unlimited money from any person or institution willing to fork it over (with the exception of lobbyists and PACs), and the festivities will be be limited to "a candlelight ball for members of Mr. Obama’s national finance committee, a military ball and a large presidential ball." While some Obama supporters are disappointed by the news, his party planners have concluded that they need to "expand their fund-raising efforts," since many Democratic donors are feeling drained by the presidential campaign.
via nymag.com
You gotta pay to play.
Posted by: Jonathan | December 10, 2012 at 07:33 AM
He's not running for re-election, and not being a grateful man, he is stiffing his donors and volunteers by not going to the expense and bother of inviting them to parties. LIke Clinton, he doesn't care if they stop donating to other Democrats.
Posted by: Eric Rasmusen | December 10, 2012 at 07:37 AM
Yeah - now he's fundraising for his library and expanding the Rolodex to try to follow in Bill Clinton's footsteps as the man to make the most money out of the presidency ever.
Posted by: Michael Tinkler | December 30, 2012 at 05:39 AM