YES OR NO. DOES/WILL HILLARY PAY STREET MONEY IN PENNSYLVANIA?

[thevoiceofreason]

Obama has already sworn off this practice. Clinton should be asked whether she will allow it or not, and forced to respond "yes" or "no." Let's shed light on the primary process.

For those who don't know, street money is the payment of money to ward heelers, churches and other community organizers for "expenses" that has been found, in some instances, to be quite akin to buying votes.

(Edit to add)

Here is a more thorough discussion, courtesy of willyourvotebecounted below (Thanks for the excellent suggestion)

Barack Obama may lose support in Philadelphia over 'street money'

Candidates traditionally get out the money to get out the vote. That sets up a culture clash for the April 22 primary.
By Peter Nicholas, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
April 11, 2008

Fourteen months into a campaign that has the feel of a movement, Sen. Barack Obama has collided with the gritty political traditions of Philadelphia, where ward bosses love their candidates, but also expect them to pay up.

The dispute centers on the dispensing of "street money," a long-standing Philadelphia ritual in which candidates deliver cash to the city's Democratic operatives in return for getting out the vote.
Flush with payments from well-funded campaigns, the ward leaders and Democratic Party bosses typically spread out the cash in the days before the election, handing $10, $20 and $50 bills to the foot soldiers and loyalists who make up the party's workforce.

It is all legal -- but Obama's people are telling the local bosses he won't pay.

That sets up a culture clash, pitting a candidate who promises to transform American politics against the realities of a local political system important to his presidential hopes. Pennsylvania holds its primary April 22.

Obama's posture confounds neighborhood political leaders sympathetic to his cause. They caution that if the senator from Illinois withholds money that gubernatorial, mayoral and presidential candidates have willingly paid out for decades, there could be defections to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York. And the Clinton campaign, in contrast, will oblige in forking over the money, these ward leaders predict.

... more at the link
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-streetmoney1...

[berni_mccoy]

1. Maybe Mark Penn will pay them... he's taking $101,600 per day of her campaign money.

[quantass]

2. If the press do their homework (doubtful) they will ask her during the debate

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

46. "Street money" traditionally, is not reported: It comes from donors that have maxed out and ...

A comment posted at "The Field" in reference to this story says:

As an old (small f) field hand, I see an LA Times story written by reporters that - all too typical for the profession - have zero understanding of field organization, GOTV efforts and the nature of “street money.”

Their claim that “It is all legal” is laughable to those of us that have been field directors in campaigns.

“Street money,” traditionally, is not reported: It comes from donors that have maxed out and distributed as cash. One simply does not see the kind of expenditures that one ward heeler suggested in that story - $400,000 to $500,000 for Philadelphia - ever mentioned on FEC filings. The “walking around money” (another common term for it in field lingo) traditionally comes from a slush fund.

It’s a potential public relations nightmare for Obama because it doesn’t just traditionally go to ward chairmen, but also to church ministers. One must read these paragraphs of the LA Times story for the full context:

“A neutral observer, state Rep. Dwight Evans, whose district is in northwest Philadelphia, said there might be a racial subtext to the dispute. Ward leaders, he said, see Obama airing millions of dollars worth of television ads in the city — money that benefits largely white station owners, feeding resentment. People wonder why Obama isn’t sharing the largesse with the largely African American field workers trying to get him elected, Evans said.

“They view it that the white people are getting all the money for TV,” said Evans, an African American and former ward leader. “And they’re the ones who are the foot soldiers on the street. They’re predominantly African Americans, and they’re not the ones who are getting that TV money.”

more at the link
http://ruralvotes.com/thefield/?p=1036#comments

[MNDemNY]

3. Will Obama cough-up his IL Senate records? YES or NO?

[Araxen]

4. They are public records

What is there to cough up?

[MNDemNY]

5. Where are they????????????

He says he "lost " them. gimmi a break.

[BlueIdaho]

9. Public Records

means they are available by request from the state - if you think they are so damn damaging - why not request them and scoop the nation? Hey you could be famous by Friday - or not.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

43. Its clear that the PA machine is all about getting paid off

PARTY BOSSES:

"They caution that if the senator from Illinois withholds money that gubernatorial, mayoral and presidential candidates have willingly paid out for decades, there could be defections to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York. And the Clinton campaign, in contrast, will oblige in forking over the money, these ward leaders predict."

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

47. The Field Money Issue could used as wedge - still it reinforces Obama's cleanliness at politics....

More in the comments at The Field's article on this story:

Given that the rival camp has tried to make the guy’s pastor - and with him, African-American churches and ministers in general - a wedge issue in this campaign to scare white and Latino voters, can you imagine what they would do if Obama were to put on his FEC reports that he doled out half-a-million dollars to ministers and such?

Add to that the fact that a church isn’t allowed, under law, as a tax exempt entity, to accept such money from a political campaign for getting out the vote (as opposed to, say, the rental of a church basement for a meeting), and what they’re talking about is that they’re upset that he’s not spending illegal money.

Yet if he did, the Clinton camp would crucify the guy, and use it to paint a picture that further encourages and inflames bigotry.

There’s a double standard. Nobody in the press is going to make an issue out of the Clinton campaign spreading street money around, but if the Obama campaign were to attempt the same, well, here we go again with another round of the pastor-bashing.

I also think, by the way, that the story - although not its intent - plays well for Obama because it reinforces his relative cleanliness at politics and also helps lower expectations for Pennsylvania.

Just my two cents.



link
http://ruralvotes.com/thefield/?p=1036#comments

[MNDemNY]

55. Cleanliness???? You mean like REZCO?

[thevoiceofreason]

62. Shouldn't you say something snarky about Michelle now?

Let's see, we've heard Wright, Rezco,...

[redqueen]

16. Liar. His senate records are public. He didn't keep a SCHEDULE.

:eyes:

[MNDemNY]

22. Liar, he didn't RELEASE his schedule. If you believe he didn't keep one you are an idiot.

And his saying as much makes him a LIAR !

[redqueen]

26. If you believe I trust Clinton's evasions more than Obama's you are the idiot.

Politicians evade.

[MNDemNY]

29. I said nothing of Clinton.

[redqueen]

36. Ahaahahaha... and?

She's the other Dem candidate... those are my choices.

I pick the one I trust more. They are both politicians... I expect both to evade...

[MNDemNY]

48. Neither can win the GE.

Hello President McCain

[redqueen]

53. Oh stop with the melodrama.

[MNDemNY]

56. And just accept President McCain? NO!

[anigbrowl]

65. You're the one that keeps saying McCain is gonna win

Don't like the idea? then quit talking him up as an unstoppable force.

[Auntie Bush]

73. If Obama doesn't win...It's because of his ridiculous supporters

and that's putting it mildly.

[DevonRex]

37. You know, a little further down I started to call you an

idiot or some other name. But then I decided that it wasn't the most civil thing to do. THEN I read some of your other posts in this thread. Now I have decided that I have no reason to BE civil to you. Nonetheless, I won't call you names. I'll just put you on ignore and then go take my second shower of the day.

[MNDemNY]

49. Be sure you get behind your ears.

[Exilednight]

51. I've known many state level Senators................

and very few keep schedules on the state level. State Senators are not under the microscope like a Federal Senator.

[MNDemNY]

54. Tis crap.

[Exilednight]

60. It's true. Many don't. n/t

[DevonRex]

8. His RECORDS are public. Do a little homework. Or, don't, if

all you want to do is spout "misinformation."

[MNDemNY]

23. Obama can do no wrong....Wright?

[thevoiceofreason]

28. The quiver runneth bare, I see.

[MNDemNY]

30. As bare as Obama's experience and candor.

[thevoiceofreason]

OK, Woody

All men are mortal
Socrates was a man
Therefore, all men are Socrates.

[Alter Ego]

59. I lost count of all the tired old chestnuts that poster dragged out.

God, it was like a dead horse-clubbing fest.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

63. Street money is not people-powered politics.

Obama’s refusal to distribute “street money” in Chicago caused a local stir and there was some speculation that the breaking of this so-called tradition would cost him votes in the primary. It didn’t.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

24. when will you stop beating your spouse? n/t

[MNDemNY]

25. As soon as Obama does.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

40. So Hillary's last minute surprise - PAID PARTY BOSSES WHO CHARGE

This street money reeks of Mafioso tactics.

[MNDemNY]

50. What is your point?

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

57. The fact that these “volunteers” threaten to swing to Clinton if not paid off

further emphasizes that the shadowy nature of this payola.

Does anyone think that all or most of this money actually goes to the "volunteers"
instead of the Party Bosses' pockets.

[thevoiceofreason]

6. Or is her street money plan part of her $4 billion crimefighting package?

[Justitia]

68. ROFL!

[LisaM]

7. Oh, like the concert tickets Obama gave away

to lure people waiting in line for a Hillary event?

[thevoiceofreason]

10. That's why they gave them away? Really? Wow!

Well Elton gave it away too. No, wait, he charged $500 a pop - -but gave it all to Hillary - and that was just fine under the campaign finance laws!

[LisaM]

13. Look, I don't care if he gave tickets away or not

But to come to people waiting in line for a Hillary event so they would leave and not attend her event - not that this speaks very well of the people who dropped out of line - is really a little bit nasty. However, I know that to many, St. Obama does no wrong and has never employed any campaign tactic that is less than perfect.

[thevoiceofreason]

14. No one came to them and said

"Look, you will fail your class if you don't leave now."

They had the right to choose. They chose. More stayed than left. Get over it. It's just like "cut in with victory speech before the other person finishes their speech gate" that went on near/around Super Tuesday.

Lisa - this is different. This is payola. This is bad stuff. No matter how you cut it. It's not about hurt feelings or edgy campiagning or interrupting speeches. It's about graft.

[LisaM]

18. Well according to THIS article it's all legal anyway

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-streetmoney11apr11,1,6250467.story


Man, that's an annoying picture of a conceited person! (Don't yell at me! that's just how he looks to me!)

[thevoiceofreason]

21. Gary Indiana threw a bunch of street money folks in jail

Local laws govern. But the point is transparency. Let's get rid of the secrecy.

And your comment was unnecessary - we need to raise the discourse level at DU above name-calling over pictures. I won't play that game with you.

[LisaM]

27. Oh, I know it shouldn't annoy me. I've just developed an actual aversion

to him, and when I googled the issue you referenced, that picture came up and it just rubbed me the wrong way!

I only mentioned it because my feelings are starting to be actually visceral about this election. If I even hear Obama's voice, I need to turn off the radio or TV.

[thevoiceofreason]

31. I'm not a fan of hers, but if she's the candidate, I'm voting for her.

Just say "President McCain" a few times. Actually, I can't.

[LisaM]

38. Oh, vice versa, don't worry.

I'll vote for him if he's the candidate. I don't vote Rebublican, and I don't skip elections.

My MONEY, however, will go to women candidates.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

64. Their claim that “It is all legal” is laughable to those of us that have been field directors

comment in The Field:

Their claim that “It is all legal” is laughable to those of us that have been field directors in campaigns.“Street money,” traditionally, is not reported: It comes from donors that have maxed out and distributed as cash. One simply does not see the kind of expenditures that one ward heeler suggested in that story - $400,000 to $500,000 for Philadelphia - ever mentioned on FEC filings. The “walking around money” (another common term for it in field lingo) traditionally comes from a slush fund.

http://ruralvotes.com/thefield/?p=1036#comments

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

32. "those leaders will most likely take Clinton money." (Party bosses)

I wish the OP had linked to an article and provided more context.
The thread would be much better then.

Here goes:

Barack Obama may lose support in Philadelphia over 'street money'

Candidates traditionally get out the money to get out the vote. That sets up a culture clash for the April 22 primary.
By Peter Nicholas, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
April 11, 2008

Fourteen months into a campaign that has the feel of a movement, Sen. Barack Obama has collided with the gritty political traditions of Philadelphia, where ward bosses love their candidates, but also expect them to pay up.

The dispute centers on the dispensing of "street money," a long-standing Philadelphia ritual in which candidates deliver cash to the city's Democratic operatives in return for getting out the vote.
Flush with payments from well-funded campaigns, the ward leaders and Democratic Party bosses typically spread out the cash in the days before the election, handing $10, $20 and $50 bills to the foot soldiers and loyalists who make up the party's workforce.

It is all legal -- but Obama's people are telling the local bosses he won't pay.

That sets up a culture clash, pitting a candidate who promises to transform American politics against the realities of a local political system important to his presidential hopes. Pennsylvania holds its primary April 22.

Obama's posture confounds neighborhood political leaders sympathetic to his cause. They caution that if the senator from Illinois withholds money that gubernatorial, mayoral and presidential candidates have willingly paid out for decades, there could be defections to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York. And the Clinton campaign, in contrast, will oblige in forking over the money, these ward leaders predict.

... more at the link
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-streetmoney11apr11,0,6553901.story

[Divernan]

44. Got a link on that, please? Who wouldn't choose free Dave Matthews concert over screeching HRC?

[Clovis Sangrail]

11. ZOMG!!!

I heard that wasn't a concert at all but an alien anal probe test facility!

[mrreowwr_kittty]

34. *shhh*

Ixnay on the analay obepray!

[mrreowwr_kittty]

12. Do they accept IOUs? If not, then I'd say no. nt

[AtomicKitten]

15. They better get it in cash up front. No checks!

[thevoiceofreason]

17. New concept - street coupons for Chick Fil A

[Debi]

19. Does she have any money to pay? I don't think folks are gonna take

IOUs for walk around money - well, some may....:crazy:

[1776Forever]

20. Great question!!! Right on - I am going to send this to David Gregory new show & Verdict too!

:thumbsup:

[WolverineDG]

33. They did it in Texas

going rate was $25/head.

dg

[thevoiceofreason]

35. I will not comment on what went on here in Houston

Because I do not want to be considered a witness - but it was lousy.

Our Obama camp was all volunteer, all the time.

[WolverineDG]

39. Yup

I had a friend run for a local race a few years ago. Got calls from the "canoneros" offering to bring in 300 voters for the low low price of $3000. And I got the $25/head rate from a comment I overheard at the precinct convention: "I'm only here because the boss is paying me $25." So if the voter was getting $25, the canonero was getting more.

dg

[Divernan]

45. WHO is "they" - HRC or Obama?

nt

[WolverineDG]

67. The South Texas political machines

who backed HRC.

dg

[anonymous171]

41. Are you kidding? Of course Hillary won't refuse to grease palms.

Especially if she can get an edge on Obama. The worst part is that the media will let her get away with this, b/c it has nothing to do with bookbags or personal religious choices of the candidates.

[Divernan]

42. I question how neutral Rep. Dwight Evans is - DeWeese leads him around by the nose.

Let's sell the LA Times reporter a bridge in Brooklyn next. He writes:

"A neutral observer, state Rep. Dwight Evans, whose district is in northwest Philadelphia, said there might be a racial subtext to the dispute. Ward leaders, he said, see Obama airing millions of dollars worth of television ads in the city -- money that benefits largely white station owners, feeding resentment. People wonder why Obama isn't sharing the largesse with the largely African American field workers trying to get him elected, Evans said."

I wasn't surprised that Evans' name was not included with the other Philly council people and state reps who endorsed Obama. Evans is Appropriations Chair in the House, serving at the pleasure of the all-powerful Clinton backer, Bill DeWeese. When a rep would really get in trouble with his constituency on a given issue, De Weese magnanimously allows them to be "neutral". Evans' Phillie district is 95% black, and Evans realizes he can't openly oppose Obama there. Evans doesn't dare offend Massa DeWeese - it would definitely cost him that lucrative appropriations committee chairmanship.

I agree with the poster who commented Hillary can't afford the $500,000 walking around money. And you know what? The voters will come out for Obama whether some teenager leaflets their house or not. If Evans had ANY integrity, he would jump on this opportunity to exhort his ward heelers to do what's right for their community and country and not sell out their best interests for a lousy $10 dollar bill!

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

58. her "maxed out" donors likely would fork over the money to the party bosses I mean GOTV bosses

“Street money,” traditionally, is not reported: It comes from donors that have maxed out and distributed as cash. One simply does not see the kind of expenditures that one ward heeler suggested in that story - $400,000 to $500,000 for Philadelphia - ever mentioned on FEC filings. The “walking around money” (another common term for it in field lingo) traditionally comes from a slush fund.

http://ruralvotes.com/thefield/?p=1036#comments

[thevoiceofreason]

61. Oh, I don't think she'll be paying the money out.

Remember those friends of Corzine's and Carvell's who wanted to "pay" for the Michigan redo? I bet the mopney will find a way out there. What I would hope we would see is a bold, affirmative statement from her campaign saying: "We do not condone street money, we do not support street money, and anyone affiliated with out campaign paying street money will be dismissed because it cuts against the fabric of transparent democratic politics."

[AnarchoFreeThinker]

52. they better get it up front

[Auntie Bush]

66. Your innuendo type question/post is disgusting!

Shouldn't this be the type of question you ask McCain?

It's this type of post that turns people off Hillary. The Obamites all suck it up as truth. There you have it another crooked Hillary deal! It's all speculation and looking for trouble AND YOU WONDER WHY SO MANY CLINTON SUPPORTERS HESITATE TO VOTE FOR OBAMA OR WILL DO SO WHILE HOLDING THEIR NOSE.(And don't bother alerting because I didn't say I wouldn't vote for Obama. Who I vote for is private and I wouldn't telling you)

I never heard of this practice myself...and you accuse Hillary! Nice!
Don't bother saying you didn't blame Hillary because you did it by Inonu or indirectly...but your INTENTION was to smear Hillary.

God, I hope she wins...just so you have to live with her, her evil ways and lies, and Bill roaming in the White House unattended :sarcasm: and your high blood pressure caused by hatred of Hillary for the next 8 years. :woohoo:

[thevoiceofreason]

69. I watched it happen in Houston, sweetie. It sucks.

I'm not accusing. I am saying she needs to get out in front (like Barack did) and condemn the practice.

[Auntie Bush]

72. Sorry to reject/disappoint you...but I'm not your sweetie!

You must be thinking of someone else.

[thevoiceofreason]

74. Anyone with the name Auntie - it's a southern family thing.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

70. you should be asking Sen Clinton and her campaign the question , not us

[redstate_democrat]

71. I'm glad Obama is refusing to pay out Street Money

Honestly, these thugs (party bosses) don't deserve the amount of money they claim they need. They don't do anything besides get a few kids in each neighborhood to hand out some flyers and stuff. NO STREET MONEY!!