Obomination: Obama Campaign Goes On Under a C4

In an earlier Obomination we detailed how even liberal groups were outraged over the selling of the White House by Organizing for Action.  The liberal groups are just making noise and really not intending to do anything.  (Isn’t it funny how liberal groups are most critical of Democrats when elections are furthest away? )

But at least those liberal groups are admitting that what the President is doing is wrong.  Of course this is a problem even more serious then selling the White House, it sure looks like breaking the law.   Organizing for Action was Obama for America which was President Obama’s reelection campaign.  It does not look any different now except for the fact it can take unlimited contributions.  For the White House and this supposedly independent 501c4 are directly coordinating.  Check out the following email from an RNLA member:

Mike,

 

I sent in a comment on sequestration to WH, but got back below email same day from OFA.  Curious direct connect.

 

From: Organizing For Action <info@barackobama.com>
Date: Mon, Mar 4, 2013 at 10:13 AM
Subject: Thanks For The Email Re: SEQUESTRATION: What is really happening….Keep Bitching---or, Get Real and Awake to the Next "Crisis"
To: REDACTED

Friend,

Thanks for your email.

If you have a question about Organizing for Action or need support, please write us at support@barackobama.com or call (571) 403-1776.

Click here for a list of Frequently Asked Questions.

And if you have a question about the 2012 campaign, including those regarding your contribution(s), merchandise, or an invoice, please contact Obama for America at info@obamabiden.com.

Thanks again,

Organizing for Action

Can you imagine the uproar if the Bush White House had the NRA respond to any question on guns?  Can imagine the media firestorm that would develop if questions on taxes to the Republican House were responded to by the Heritage Foundation?   How can you have a question from a “privately operated” group that is addressed to support@barackobama.com?   According to OFA website “ it was privately established and will be privately operated,” if this is true why is it answering the White House’s mail? 

RNLA will keep calling attention to this but at a minimum the Obama’s campaign “son” Organizing for Action activities do not pass any smell test and are an Obomination. 

Obomination: Obama Group Accused of Pay-to-Play

The campaign committee Obama for America has morphed into a ‘nonprofit’ Organizing for Action.  Questions are raised about this new group as OFA also seems to offer donors exclusive access to Obama in exchange for a contribution.  This Obomination is so outrageous that even those on the left are criticizing it.

The New York Times reported that for a donation of $500,000, you join the OFA Advisory Board, which grants you quarterly meetings with Obama.  A “Founders Summit” also brought together OFA donors with former Obama officials in Washington, D.C.  The New York Times, although it wanted to endorse OFA’s ideas, condemned the group as “disturbing” in an editorial called “The White House Joins the Cash Grab.”

As a 501(c)(4), the latest version of OFA is not subject to federal contribution limits, prohibitions on White House officials soliciting contributions, or campaign committee reporting requirements.  But is it really so different from its predecessor that it is a new entity?  The same OFA initials are not the only things Obama for America and ‘nonprofit’ Organizing for Action share. Organizing for Action controls Obama's e-mail list and Twitter account.  There are many ties to the White House with Obama operatives at the helm of OFA. 

Many left-leaning groups have come out against Organizing for Action.  Common Cause President Bob Edgar said, “If President Obama is serious about his often-expressed desire to rein in big money in politics, he should shut down Organizing for Action and disavow any plan to schedule regular meetings with its major donors. Access to the president should never be for sale.” Fred Wertheimer of Democracy 21 said, “Organizing for Action is unlike any entity we have ever seen before tied to a president. This group is so tied to Obama himself, that it creates opportunities for corporations and individuals to buy corrupting influence with the administration – and at a minimum, to create the appearance of such influence.” Progressives United’s executive director Cole Leystra said OFA is exactly “what selling access looks like.”