Meet the Former Janitor Who Scrimped to Give $1,000 to Hillary Clinton

[Capt. Obvious]

Shortly after midnight on a recent Sunday, Marquis Boston knocked on room 1027 of the Marriott in downtown Little Rock, Arkansas, to drop off a roll of toilet paper to a guest.

A few hours earlier, less than a mile away, Hillary Clinton had just finished delivering a rousing speech to a crowd of 2,000 at the state Democratic Party’s annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner.

Boston didn’t attend (he was napping before his nightshift at the hotel). But, as it turns out, the 34-year-old, Little Rock native who works two jobs, seven days a week is one of Clinton’s biggest donors.

He budgeted and saved up over the past year, cutting back on things like groceries and haircuts, so he could give $1,000 to her campaign – an amount that places him in an elite group: The top 6 percent of Clinton’s first-quarter donors, alongside recognizable names like Sting, Spielberg and Beyoncé.

....

“I went without some things that I would have liked to have, but I just felt like she needed it more than I did," Boston said, "And I didn’t mind sacrificing to give it to her."

ABC

[MoonRiver]

1. Wow, that's amazing!

I hope he gets a lot of recognition from the campaign!

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. I don't have much money but if someone started a pay pal I would donate to (him)

nt

[PoliticAverse]

2. "but I just felt like she needed it more than I did" - I'm guessing she doesn't,

as Hillary Clinton's net worth is estimated to be greater than $20 million.

[MoonRiver]

5. But he clearly wants her to win very, very much.

I'm impressed with his commitment to her candidacy!

[PoliticAverse]

16. Yes, he clearly does. I just find it sad when someone working 2-jobs and 7 days a week

is "sacrificing" to give money to a rich person. It's his money and he is certainly free to do with it what
he wants. Best wishes to him.

[FlatBaroque]

32. You said it!

To me its no different than a pensioner giving money to a TV preacher.

[840high]

79. xactly

[MoonRiver]

43. I think he believes that her presidency will benefit him.

I wish him the best also.

[NCTraveler]

62. I think he is the type of guy who isn't doing this for himself.

He is doing it for his children and the rest of us. Completely selfless. Thanks river.

[brooklynite]

10. If Clinton used her own money on her campaign...

...some people would be complaining that she was "buying" the nomination.

[PoliticAverse]

20. She used $13.2 million of her own money in her 2008 campaign btw...

See: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a33YvqB4RHSM

[wendylaroux]

18. lol,no kidding

plus, he would not even get a christmas card.

[madokie]

4. All I'll say

what an idiot. Hillary is not, I repeat, is not, one of us.

[MoonRiver]

6. YOUR opinion.

The vast majority of Democrats disagree. Fail.

[madokie]

7. Whatever

What part is wrong?
He's an idiot?
Hillary is not one of us?
Which is it?

[MoonRiver]

13. All of the above.

And who is "us?" Certainly isn't the 68% of Democrats who say they will vote for her, versus the 16% of Democrats who say they will vote for Sanders.

[madokie]

19. Two plus months in

compared to 20 plus years and he's already garnered 16%, you say. Hillary has been on a quest for becoming the first female President since bill first walked into the the oval office. Made no bones about it either. Name recognition has all to do with the numbers as they are today. Hide and watch and see if I'm right on this.

Lots of miles between now and when people start voting
I'll stick with the man who has been the same from the time he first ran for office.

[MoonRiver]

23. You stick to whoever you want.

I think it is incredibly rude and counter productive of you to insult the supporters of Hillary Clinton. But it's clear that's how Bernie's supporters roll.

[madokie]

26. I think its pretty rude what you did

"But it's clear that's how Bernie's supporters roll." is a crock

[MoonRiver]

28. You are welcome to your opinion.

I hope you will give me the same courtesy.

[dionysus]

85. i guess then Hillary supporters roll on scamming a poor man out of his hard earned cash, because

that's what it looks like

[MADem]

76. Why do I think that this janitor's "problem" here is that he gave the money to what some here

regard as the "wrong" candidate?

If he'd given it to the one with the Volvo driving, financially comfortable, liberal, caucasian constituency, he'd be cheered. "Right on!" "What a cool guy!!" "He knows what's important!" "Yo, bro!!!!"

Where you stand is where you sit, I guess....!

[840high]

80. None are wrong.

[London Lover Man]

12. After the debates, the majority of the Democrats will shift their opinion

AND it won't be for Clinton.

[AtomicKitten]

66. Precisely why the DNC is stalling on debates. <nt>

[Cali_Democrat]

8. So....he really likes Hillary....

You think he's an idiot for donating to her campaign?

That's a very mean thing to say...

[madokie]

11. Why would someone

cut off their nose to spite their face?

I call that stupidity

[MoonRiver]

15. Way to win hearts and minds for your candidate.

[madokie]

22. Again

Whatever.
It always comes back to, "way to win hearts and minds for your candidate."

Bernie will take this one.

[MoonRiver]

25. We'll see.

Right now that looks very unlikely.

[madokie]

27. Two plus months in

compared to 20 plus years, yes we'll see

[840high]

81. What? - he can't state his opinion?

[Cali_Democrat]

57. That's an awful thinig to say about fellow Dems, madokie

You're better than that.

[LordGlenconner]

74. Poor, stupid blue collar worker

If only he had someone like you to show him the error of his ways.

[NCTraveler]

63. Goes beyond mean.

It's downright hateful. Appearantly, when Hillary said it takes a village, this person has made it a goal to prove her wrong.

[dionysus]

86. anyone who saved and scrimped money to give to a politician would be an idiot...

[NCTraveler]

21. You are no different than the people who walk by him every day making the same judgement.

Your comment speaks volumes, just not with respect to the individual you have attacked.

[madokie]

24. Nor are you

My comment was/is spot on. Make of it what you may but it is what it is

[NCTraveler]

29. I have made of it exactly what it is.

A statement about you. Not anyone else. I would normally recommend people in your situation to put the shovel down. I just don't think you have any intentions of not digging in deeper. You know everything therefore listening just isn't in the books. Keep going around calling hard working democrats idiots. It is simply a reflection on you.

[MineralMan]

31. So, you're calling a person who saved and donated to

the candidate of his choice an idiot? How rude, in my opinion. Your opinion about Hillary Clinton notwithstanding, calling that person an idiot is just plain way over the top. I doubt you'd say that to him to his face, but you feel free to call him a name on DU. Personally, I think you should self-delete your reply. It reflects poorly on you, I think.

Shameful is what I'd call it. Let people support who they support. Support who you support. Don't attack people who favor a candidate you don't like, please. It's unkind and rude to do that.

[kristopher]

33. Ok I have to ask...

...when we see poor right wingers scrimp and save to donate to a candidate that clearly supports an economic policy agenda that is against the donor's self interest, what do you think of the ability to reason and understand the issues?

You may not use the word "idiot" but I'll bet that's the essence of your judgement about the person's action.

[MineralMan]

34. No, actually, it is not my judgement.

I don't judge people for their donations to political candidates at all. That's up to each individual. Yes, some people donate to candidates I don't support. Mostly, I don't know about those donations, but that's their right in our country.

I'm quite unhappy about donations to PACs by companies and forced donations by employees of those companies, but that's an across-the-board issue for me.

I don't call people idiots or any other names who simply donate to the candidate of their choice. In fact, I'm strongly in favor of individual donations to candidates. That's how I think campaigns should be funded, if not by public funds derived from specific taxation to fund campaigns.

So, no, what you are saying is not the "essence" of my judgement of anyone's actions with regard to campaign donations. I don't actually have such a judgement to make. It's not my call. I make donations, too. I'm sure some people would think my donations are "idiotic," but that's irrelevant to me.

I'm pretty good about making my thinking about things clear in my posts. I don't need anyone else to interpret my thinking, thanks.

[kristopher]

35. Frankly I don't believe you.

The theme of voting against their economic self interest is so prevalent and fully developed that your answer appears disingenuous.

But it was very polite and positive. I always like you for that tone.

[MineralMan]

37. And I don't care whether you do or not.

My reply was not addressed to you, in the first place. It expressed my dislike of calling campaign donors "idiots" by the person whose message prompted my reply.

Your opinion about my truthfulness has no relevance to me at all, and is far off topic in the subthread. I'm perfectly content to leave individual's donations to politicians to the individual's desires. They do not concern me in any way. My opinion about the intelligence of people I do not know and who are not public figures is worthless, so I do not state it.

You took it upon yourself to criticize my opinion in a reply to some other DUer. That's fine. This is a public discussion forum. But then, after I clarified my opinion in response, you implied that I was lying. I wish you wouldn't do that. It's rude and irrelevant to the issue.

[kristopher]

45. It is directly relevant to the issue.

You said you don't like calling campaign donors idiots and I believe you. But I am certain that if that is true it is only the naming that bothers you, not the thought per se, since that same thought is almost universally held here in regard to the way the right wing votes against their economic self interests.

I wouldn't call that "lying" as a lie, IMO, is done with the intent to deceive and I think you genuinely embrace the words you spoke. However, that doesn't make it "true" since there are other categories, such as being disingenuous, which can apply to those not so willing to examine themselves too deeply. It helps grease the skids and eliminate cognitive dissonance.

I obviously think madokie is keying on the theme of voting against one's self interests and you object to the idea that supporting Hillary is working against the gent's self interest. So anyway, feel free to have a final blast at me and I'll accept it and move on..

Aren't elections fun?

[dionysus]

87. i would, MM. a poor, deluded, fool, no matter who they gave their money to. in this case the rube

gave his quid to a filthy-rich woman, who could care less about him.

poor bastard raised quid for someone who doesn't care... he should have kept it for his own family.

[steve2470]

47. I think it's best if the donor makes his own determination in time

Let's say Secretary Clinton wins the Presidency. The donor in the story can then determine, for himself, if his money was "well spent". Granted, he may be so selfless that he doesn't care if he derives any benefit, but most people aren't that selfless.

If HE decides, personally down deep in his heart, that he was an idiot, fine. I think it's up to him to decide that. None of us are going to get everything we want from Candidate X, but as long as we feel that 1) the candidate is not actively hurting us and 2) the candidate is good for the country overall, I think most of us can live with it. I don't know that anyone has ever said that President Obama fulfilled 100% of their wishes. I gave money to the man TWICE, and yes, I didn't get everything I wanted. I think my money was well spent, the pittance that it was.

[quickesst]

50. That's funny...

If that is your opinion of this individual, then you have to admit that every person who is struggling to make ends meet and donates to Bernie Sanders campaign is an idiot also. First it was just Clinton supporters who were idiots. Now it seems as if Sanders hard working contributors are idiots too. Who does that leave in Bernie's camp that's not an idiot?

[brooklynite]

59. Insulting ordinary voters (and working class ones at that)? Great campaign tactic!

Keep up the good work.

[madokie]

60. Talk about squealing like a pig caught under a gate

and old saying btw. The guy is an idiot if he is working two jobs trying to make ends meet so he can send Hillary a thousands bucks. What is $1000 to Hillary? Chicken feed is all, it won't make much more than a couple days worth of meals to her but to him it would be a windfall. "I went without some things that I would have liked to have, but I just felt like she needed it more than I did," Boston said, "And I didn’t mind sacrificing to give it to her," he claims.

LOL I've been out catching up on chores from being gone a few days and come back and you'd thought I'd said fuck the President at the response that that one little reply got from you all, mostly Hillary supporters. I know some say they've not decided yet but my bet is that is bunk too. LOL

The things 'we' pick to fight over here at DU sometimes is laughable to say the least.
My side hurts from laughing so hard, sorry but this really hit my funny bone

Hey I sent Bernie two $20s and a ten spot and fixing to send him another $20 and I never went without anything to do it nor did I think that Bernie needs it more than I do. LOL I did it to show my support to him.

Come on you all, we can fight about shit but not this little shit here, wouldn't you think?

This is all I have to say about this, I hope anyway. I guess we'll see what kind of response this gets to determine that

[MoonRiver]

67. Made him feel good. He felt like he was making an important difference,

which would help improve his and his family's futures. What's sad is that he's mocked by Bernie supporters. You're even using rofl smilies to mock and insult him. I hope he never reads these hideous posts.

[madokie]

69. Whatever MoonRiver, whatever

Did I hurt your feelings? Sounds like I did, mybad. I'm sorry I won't let it happen again.

[cherokeeprogressive]

72. ^THIS^

[Spazito]

73. Your post is appalling...

[moobu2]

78. Calling people nasty names isn't necessary.

The guy was proud to donate all he could to a cause and a person he believes in.

[BeyondGeography]

9. She should put him front-and-center in her mind and dedicate her candidacy to him

[sufrommich]

14. He says he did the same thing for Obama. I love his

commitment to putting his money where his mouth is.

[NCTraveler]

17. He is investing in the future of the ones he loves.

Great story.

[Iliyah]

30. What a nice read while drinking coffee

That's Capt. Obvious!

[ibegurpard]

36. She should give it back to him

Thank him profusely and say considering his situation that that she couldn't possibly accept it.

[Metric System]

61. Bernie should do the same with his donors. Who needs money in a political campaign?

[ibegurpard]

65. optics

She looks good and makes a political statement that resonates. If you think this story is complementary to her you need to get out of your bubble.

[840high]

83. If they are working 2 jobs to

survive - yes.

[99Forever]

38. Hey...

....people are giving to Trump too.

"Never under estimate the power of human stupidity. "-Lazarus Long

[JaneyVee]

39. Yeah, making all Hillary supporters the "enemy" is a winning strategy.

[99Forever]

41. Pot meet kettle.

[JaneyVee]

54. I don't know what that means...

I support whoever the Dem nominee is.

[99Forever]

56. ....

[Gothmog]

40. That is a great story

[steve2470]

42. Great story. I hope Secretary Clinton spends some time with him! nt

[Cheese Sandwich]

44. Reminds me of people eating cat food sending their whole social security check to a tv preacher

This is really sad.

[MoonRiver]

46. And how sad that you are so rude and sanctimonious.

A whole lot of people support Hillary Clinton, many more than support Bernie Sanders. Apparently you think vast swatches of the American electorate are suckers. How pathetic for you.

[Cheese Sandwich]

48. Many more low income people send their money to support Jesus through the 700 Club

So yes vast swatches of the American electorate are suckers

Jesus doesn't need your money.

[MoonRiver]

49. Hillary is not Jesus, unless you know something I don't.

[brooklynite]

71. I think that because of Sanders' focus on income inequality...

...some of his supporters can't accept the idea that any working class person would support someone else.

[840high]

82. ....

[Romulox]

51. Very sad story. :( nt

[AtomicKitten]

64. Very. :( <nt>

[HFRN]

52. about 272 miles (knots) in a gulfsteam g550

(not suggesting that's how it will be spent)

$1000/$5($5fuel price) * (358 -consumption gallons per hour) * (488 cruising speed)

KDFW Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
DFW Corporate Aviation independent
FS $5.00

from
http://www.airnav.com/fuel/local.html



Fuel Consumption, gallons per hour 358

High Speed Cruise, knots 488


from
http://jetadvisors.com/gulfstream-g550-performance/

[HFRN]

55. wish i could claim i've never spent 1k more poorly

but i cant, so I'll just say its a free country - to each his/her own

[seveneyes]

53. If it's the right thing to do, then everyone should be doing it

It's a personal judgment call.

[DFW]

58. Two things I would definitely never do

1.) Scrimp on groceries to donate to any politician

2.) Call someone else an idiot for wanting to do it.

In the eyes of at least one other poster on DU, every single one of us is an idiot.
This idiot (I mean myself) is the last one to go pointing THAT finger at someone else.

[Buns_of_Fire]

68. I salute his commitment and dedication.

I disagree that she needs it more than he does, but Lord Knows I've blown a grand at a clip for things I don't even REMEMBER what they were -- which shows how insignificant they were in the long run.

[a kennedy]

70. but I just felt like she needed it more than I did.....

Holy Crap.

[George II]

75. THAT'S grass roots!

[MADem]

77. It sure is--but boy, I've never seen so many sour grapes!!!

Everything from "He's an idiot" to comparing his donation to a religious appeal.

What pisses people off is where he sent his money, I suspect--not that he exercised his right to make a contribution. If it had gone to a candidate more to their liking, he'd be a hero.

Money is speech, according to the Supreme Court. Until that changes, this guy is making it known, loudly and clearly, who he wants in the Oval Office.

[840high]

84. If he had given this amount to

Sanders - I would still worry. He's working 2 jobs for heaven's sakes.

[dionysus]

89. the fact that people defend giving money to this clown.....

I have no words...

[840high]

91. I doubt those people are being honest.

[MADem]

90. I doubt Sanders supporters would be calling him "deluded" or "stupid" or an "idiot"

had he only given his savings to what they regarded as the "right" candidate.

There'd be recs-a-plenty to tout his dedication to "the cause," and you know it.

The nasty comments about a guy exercising HIS right to do what he pleases with HIS own money are very telling. He made economies that likely extended his life, like walking more and cutting down on sweets. How can anyone find a negative there, except because they are angry at the candidate he chose to support?

Sour grapes--they're what's for dinner!

[dionysus]

88. which is is choice, but that of a deluded fool...