Obama donations... Paypal?

[complain jane]

Petty as this might be, I try to avoid using credit cards when I can so I went to Obama's site tonight (payday) to donate and see there doesn't appear to be a Paypal option.

Just wanted to post this here in case someone might see it who is connected to the campaign/website/fundraising/whatever enough to possibly work on adding that as a feature to the site?

I don't know if other candidates have that as an option because I've never donated before :) If worst comes to worst, I'll do the credit card thing but prefer not to.

[Hawkeye-X]

1. Have you tried the Paypal plugin?

I think that allows you to use it anywhere..

[complain jane]

4. No

Where would I get that? Is that a plugin for my browser?

Starting to sound easier to just blow the dust off the credit card

[Hawkeye-X]

5. Log on your paypal account

and there should be an link with "plugin" on it. :shrug:

Can't use it - I'm running Linux

[babylonsister]

2. Have you seen this, from Skinner?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6350692&mesg_id=6350692

[complain jane]

3. I did, thanks! But it doesn't allow paypal either.

Unless I'm totally missing something, and that's always possible

[babylonsister]

6. I thought it did. I use

CCs myself, and my balances are still A-OK. And I also buy stuff off the internets via CC, and have for years. I think sites have gotten better at security.
Why is paypal better?

[complain jane]

12. Because

if you're surfing the web and come across something you want to buy/donate to, all you have to do is DO it if they offer Paypal.

Click Paypal and log in, and you're done.

If not, you know you have to go get the credit card and you think twice about it and figure ah you'll do it "later" and move on...

It's all about convenience.

[babylonsister]

13. Ohh, noes!!1! The inconvenience!

:rofl:

Admit it, that's pretty funny.

Do you have a paypal balance? Does it go on a credit card? If so, what's the diff? Or do you already have money there and just spend it?

Whatever. Enjoy!

[complain jane]

17. Um, no, that's the whole point

Besides not having a balance and not being a credit card (comes right out of a bank account), it's even convenient!

Imagine that!

Modern technology, Babylonsister!

(I mean really, are you serious? LOL)

[babylonsister]

23. I have a card that works like a check; I buy something, it

comes out of my checking account. What's that called? Very convenient!

[complain jane]

27. Good Lord

The point is that the campaign should add Paypal for the impulse "buyer" who is at the puter and can simply click a button to donate.

Doesn't get much more convenient than that... why wouldn't they want to take advantage of such a thing?

Modern technology's really a beautiful thing.

[BlooInBloo]

7. You should comment on that to the campaign - i betcha they'd jump on that fairly quickly.

[complain jane]

11. I did just now,

did that before commenting here.

I hope they add it. When you're sitting at your computer and suddenly see an opportunity to donate, if Paypal is an option, you simply DO it. If you are only given credit cards as an option, you know you have to get up and go get your credit card, and figure, "I'll do it later.." which is what I just did.

[gblady]

8. I agree...

I'd much rather use Paypal...I'll write them, too.

[shireen]

14. me too ....

i have emailed them about using paypal too, still waiting. it's so convenient. if they're looking for impulse donors, it a good thing to have.

if anyone from the Obama team is reading this, please hear our pleas:

<<<< P A Y P A L >>>>

[ericgtr]

9. Agreed I would be able to give more if I could use paypal

It's too bad they don't use it.

[IntravenousDemilo]

10. I for one refuse to have a credit card, mostly because everybody tells me I absolutely HAVE to...

... or else I'll be treated like a second-class consumer despite having first-class money. What these folks don't seem to understand is that I am much smarter than they are and therefore I shouldn't have to do what they say. Just who in the hell do they think they are, anyway? If I had my way, I would destroy the credit card industry outright, and then I'd set my sights on the insurance industry.

I don't want a cellphone either, damn it...

[blogslut]

15. I would imagine this has to do with FEC regulations

PayPal hides identity. Donations must be above board.

If you want, you could mail yours in and use a money order. There's a form on the site just for that. Look at the text at the bottom of the page:

https://donate.barackobama.com/page/contribute/main

[shireen]

16. it can be done

PayPal hides identity. Donations must be above board.

i seem to remember using paypal in the past for political donations, just can remember when and where. Or it may have been a PAC.

Anyhow, i don't think it's a problem. The donor fills out the standard form, then hits the "pay" key to send the donation. At that point, i don't think it makes any difference if the money comes from a CC or Paypal.

[blogslut]

18. I'm looking into it

Looks like PayPal and Google Checkout have both implemented payment options for non-profits and political campaigns via:

http://www.thepaypalblog.com/weblog/2008/01/helping-non-pro.html
http://checkout.google.com/seller/contribute/index.html

Just the same, I still wouldn't use PayPal if I were running a major political campaign. I'd get my own shopping cart, secure server and license. PayPal is such a freaking headache and they take too much in merchant fees. Besides, they're a red company.

[shireen]

29. i think they're a purple company

:P

seriously ... if you go to http://www.campaignmoney.com/
and do a search on paypal for the '04 and '08 election, it's a mixed bag.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

19. The Pay Pal plug-in isn't available for MAC users, sadly :(

[complain jane]

22. Well then that leaves me out.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

25. That's why I haven't donated to DU yet. I'll have to send in my contribution when I get paid.

Money is a bit tight right now. I will donate to DU and Obama as well as Al Franken and Mark Udall's races.

[barack the house]

20. Another way could be is to give the money to a friend after they donate on your behalf....

some friends you know may feel fine with the online method.

[Diamonique]

21. You can use PayPal even if a site doesn't accept PayPal.

Downloan the PayPal Plug-in. It allows you to generate a secure virtual credit card number, expiration date, etc. when shopping online at a site that doesn't take PayPal.

[Coexist]

24. you can use your debit card like a credit card

does that help?

[cbayer]

26. That's what I do.

I no longer have any credit cards. If the money is not in the bank, I just can't buy something.

[complain jane]

28. Strangely enough,

This is what comes up on Google's search page if you Google "Obama" and "Paypal"

Barack Obama | Change We Can Believe In | Contribute
Official Website of Barack Obama 2008 Presidential Campaign. ... You will be prompted to provide your PayPal account information upon clicking the 'Process ...
https://donate.barackobama.com/ - 49k - Cached - Similar pages

But it doesn't seem to really be on the page.