Mr. Smith Movie Blog - Primary Politics

I'll vote for you, but I am giving money to the other guy.

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 07:06:00 -0700

Jeff heard that over and over again in his campaign. Campaign contributions are the life-blood of a campaign. Anyone who wants to be considered a viable candidate has to prove that he or she can raise funds, and lots of them, first. That is a tall order for someone not tied to the political establishment. When you go into the voting booth and cast a ballot, no one knows what you are doing, but everyone knows when you write a check to a campaign. There are a lot of people out there who have been investing in the current political machines and dynasties for a long time. The ability to go back to these donors election after election is a giant advantage for these dynasties. The last thing many of the donors want is to have their name pop up on the list of donors to a rival campaign. All of that prior investment would be for naught then. So in addition to having the advantage of a rolodex filled with the names of potential donors, dynasties have the added advantage of being able to chill donations to rivals simply because of the fear of retribution should the rival not be victorious. Obama and Edwards seem to be running into this same dynamic. Are people giving out of loyalty or fear? "Both, says Hindley. 'When [Clinton fundraiser Terry McAuliffe] gets up there and says, 'If you don't give, and she wins, we'll remember you, 'that's very unnerving.'" Mike

Money trumps principles in American politics......

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 07:57:00 -0700

This is a bit of old news, but it is so relevant to the message of Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore? that we would be remiss to ignore the fact that while we were in Europe, Tom Vilsack endorsed Hillary Clinton for President. This is a critically important endorsement for the 2008 Democratic primary, not because Vilsack has national import, but because he has one of the best political machines on the ground in Iowa. A good ground game is necessary to win the caucus set-up in Iowa. Winning Iowa is a big first step to winning the nomination (see what it did for John Kerry in 2004). It may seem strange that Vilsack, a vocal opponent of the war in Iraq, would so quickly endorse Clinton, who is without question the most pro-war of all Democratic candidates. It would seem strange at least if our politicians actually held the principles they espouse in greater regard than money. Vilsack said the endorsement was in part a result of the former first lady's fund-raising efforts on his behalf during his first campaign for governor in 1998. Are the American people going to let Hillary Clinton buy the presidency, just like they let George Bush? Our democracy should not be for sale. Mike

What could I do with all that money.....

Tue, 10 Apr 2007 06:24:00 -0700

Whenever the lotto prize gets up around $100 million, I always go buy a ticket. Being a finance guy who works with numbers all day long in my regular job, I know the odds of winning are so long that I am throwing away a dollar every time I do it. Since I am a really cheap person, it is difficult for me to throw away a dollar, but I do because it is worth the price of admission just to be able to daydream for a little while about what I would do with all that money....I have pretty much settled on starting a community garden program; I know it's not your fast cars, fancy boats and high fashion, but none of that stuff really suits me anyway, whether or not I could afford it. Now I can be true to my cheaper self because all I have to do is look to the 2008 Presidential Primary to be able to daydream about all that money. $125 MILLION, that is what the 2008 Presidential candidates raised collectively in the last quarter. The Washington Post says that the price of admission for the 2008 primary is $100 Million per candidate. Wow!!!! What could we do with that money??? I grew up in New Orleans; the people down there could put some of that money to good use. I'm sure there are a few school districts around the country that could use some of that money as well. Charities all over the country are struggling to get people to make donations to support their good work, yet we decide as a society that it is more important to plow hundreds of millions of dollars into political campaigns. On one hand, I am very happy to see candidates like Barack Obama and John Edwards raise money from ordinary people. It is a great way to engage people in the political system. When someone has donated money to a candidate, they have a vested interest in the candidate and are more likely to volunteer or engage others in the campaign. We need lots more of the latter in America. Still it makes me sick to see the amount of resources we collectively throw away on political ads, paid consultants, and other needless campaign spending. There is a whole industry of parasitic insiders that has grown up around the piles of cash we throw at campaigns. Do you know that Democratic political consultants get paid a significant percentage of the amount candidates spend for political advertising on television? Is it any wonder that they all recommend running TV ads with poll tested platitudes? I remember hearing of the millions that Joe Trippi made from the money we all contributed to Howard Dean at the same time Howard was struggling for money to continue his campaign. It made me furious; that's our money they are stealing (albeit it legally). While many political consultants start their careers with good intentions, most quickly become jaded by the cash and power. It has been interesting to see how the DC insiders react to Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore?. Most call us naive. They think it is a cute movie but not the way the world really works. Mr. Smith can only get to Washington in their world if he raises a bunch of cash and hires them to tell him how to do it. I think they are wrong. Most Americans are sick and tired of the cynicism and cronyism in DC. That is why John Edwards and Barack Obama are keeping up in the fundraising race so far. Americans in the heartland are ready and willing to use their own money in the Presidential Race if there is a chance of kicking the insiders out. We saw this same sentiment in the last Congressional election. So, while it would be nice to have all that money ($125 MILLION in one quarter) to spend on schools, invest in alternative energy or use for the multitude of other pressing needs in America, we may have to wait a few years. For now let's use our money, our time and our voices to help kick the cynical insiders, the special interests and the lobbyists out of our government. Don't just give money, volunteer for the candidates that represent YOUR interests. Nothing is more powerful than the heart of a volunteer. If we succeed, it will be money and time well spent. Then we can start working on changing the campaign finance laws and the way we run elections in this country so that any Smith, Jones etc. can get to Washington if she or he is the best representative for the PEOPLE and not special interests. Now, back to daydreaming about what we will do with all that money when we kick the special interests out of government....... PS Sorry for the long time with no posts. We were in Europe showing the movie and just got home. More on that soon. Mike

Clintons and Obama to appear in Selma this weekend...the power of Dynasty on display.

Sat, 03 Mar 2007 16:09:00 -0700

Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are vying for the black vote this weekend in Selma, Alabama. From NPR: The political news of the week includes this Sunday's Selma, Ala., commemoration of the 42nd anniversary of the Selma-to-Montgomery voting rights march. Sen. Barack Obama, Sen. Hillary Clinton, and former President Bill Clinton will all be in attendance. Without question, political analysts say, Clinton comes to Alabama and elsewhere with powerful tools: more money to spread her message, a tested campaign organization and the advantage of being seen as the early front-runner. Her campaign machine was on display recently in South Carolina - which is slated to hold the South's first Democratic primary on Jan. 29 - when Clinton picked up key endorsements from two black politicians. Clinton Machine Isn't it interesting that Bill has been scacely seen on the campaign trail until this weekend when he will be front and center? Without question, Hillary knows how to use her powerful name and the machine she inherits to their fullest potential. It will be interesting to see if any of the contenders can overcome her formidable advantages. At screenings of Mr. Smith more and more people are telling us how tired they are of the same families controlling our government election after election. Maybe the tide is changing out there. It is interesting how the obstacles that Jeff Smith faced in his race are popping up again in the Democratic primary for 2008. Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore?

The Next President Bush

Sun, 25 Feb 2007 13:09:00 -0700

It seems impossible to imagine but some people believe that another Bush could be on the ticket as soon as 2008! Eleanor Clift of Newsweek has a column this week that speaks of The Christian Rights Dream Candidate and his name is Jeb Bush. She writes, "Watching the Republican candidates elbowing each other for position on the right is a classic Washington spectator sport. Nobody quite measures up, and they all look a little craven trying. The prize theyre seeking: theevangelical vote, which is crucial to success in the GOP primaries. Republicans cant win the White House without them, and social conservatives so far have been lukewarm toward everybody in the field. Theres one politician the Christian right could get excited about: John Ellis (Jeb) Bush." Clift recounts a recent talk at Politics and Prose in D.C. By S.V. D?te, the Tallahassee bureau chief for the Palm Beach Post and author ofJeb: Americas Next Bush. "Jebs ambition, his intellect and his tenacity have not dimmed. Combine these personal characteristics with his ability to raise money and youve got a potent political force". D?te wrote a piece for the Washington Post in January before the State of the Union titled What Would Jeb Do? which is a must read for those that rule out a run by Jeb in the future or even in 2008. She concludes, "and ultimately, if Jeb is hobbled by the myth or reality of "Bush fatigue," one cure seems certain: Hillary Rodham Clinton. Should the junior senator from New York run away with the Democratic nomination, Jeb would have a ready answer for those who lament a Bush Dynasty. "We're going to have a dynasty either way," he could respond. "The question is: Which one do you want? My family or hers?" 2008 could take the rise of political dynasties and the political establishment to a whole new place. Hopefully people will find Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore? As an alternative vision for how we can not limit our choices to a few families. There are lots of talented new voices that deserve to be heard.

Money, money, money.....MONEY!!!!

Sat, 24 Feb 2007 06:57:00 -0700

From the Washington Post Vilsack, First Democrat In, Is Quickly Out Former Iowa Governor Cites Financial Demands in Ending Bid for Presidency "This process has become to a great extent about money -- a lot of money," Vilsack said at a news conference in Des Moines yesterday. "And it is clear to me that we would not be able to continue to raise money in the amounts necessary to sustain not just a campaign in Iowa and New Hampshire but a campaign across this country. So it is money and only money that is the reason that we are leaving today.".... Strategists predicted yesterday that the same problem could befall other second-tier candidates -- particularly later this year, a point when fundraising generally becomes more difficult for most campaigns. So what does it cost to run for President? The High Cost of Running for President If the campaign plans of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton are any measure of whats to come, the upcoming race for the White House will be the most expensive contest in the history of the United States of America. Clinton is one of 10 announced Democratic contestants, and lets not forget the six Republican wannabees. The Clinton fundraising machine has told its supporters that they should plan to raise $100 million in the next year. Can anyone raise that kind of money? Clinton can. Her successful U.S. Senate campaign cost $34.4 million, and on Election Day she had $11 million left in the bank. Is it possible for any other candidates to have a chance in the face of the fundraising advantages of a well-oiled political machine? Flashback: June 30, 1999 -- Bush announces he has raised $37 million: Shocking both political commentators and his opponents, Bush announced that he had raised $37 million in just three months. (McCain raised $6.3 million, Dole $3.5 million, Gore $17.5 million and Democratic hopeful Bill Bradley $11.7 million). Bush's fund-raising success broke all records. I guess that kind of proves that having the most money does not necessarily mean you will make the best President.

Racial politics in America, Jeff Smith and Barack Obama face similar obstacles.

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 09:57:00 -0700

Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, a group of 43 black Democratic members of Congress, said she was 99% sure her group would not support Obama en masse the way the powerful women's political organization Emily's List is backing Hillary Clinton. Many of the members, she said, would wait and see how the race shapes up. Can Obama Count on the black Vote? Debra Dickerson, an African-American writer, even declared that Obama isnt black. Recent polls suggest that Mr. Obama trails one of his rivals for the Democratic nomination, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, in the battle for African-American support. On its face, it seems like Obama should find it easy to wrap up support from the majority of black voters long as no other black candidate enters the race. There have been only a handful of black candidates for President in our history. Among those, Obama most likely has a better shot than of any of his predecessors to win the presidency. Nevertheless, Hillary appears to be garnering more support from black voters than Obama. Certainly some of her support is attributable to the fact that Bill Clinton, was so popular among black voters that novelist Toni Morrison dubbed him "the first black president". Yet the struggle that Obama is now encountering has an eerie similarity to the struggles of Jeff Smith in Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore? as he sought support from black leaders in St. Louis. Despite the fact that Jeff had dedicated his life to addressing racial inequality and injustice and clearly understood the issues that face the black community more than any other candidates in the race, he struggled to get support from black politicians and business leaders. In analyzing Jeffs struggle, Sylvester Brown had this to say: Sylvester Brown Interview from Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore? Some of the parallels between Jeffs race and the 2008 Democratic primary for President are striking.

Dynastic Politics a Liability for Hilary Clinton?

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 16:31:00 -0700

Robert Cohen asks the question of whether Hillary Clinton's last name is a political liability? New York Times Article. (Sorry it requires a subscription to get the whole article) By the time our next President is sworn in to office we will have had 20 solid years of Bush, Clinton, and Bush, actually 28 if you include George Bush Sr.s 8 years as Vice President. The thought of another 8 years of a Clinton potentially followed by another 8 years of Jeb Bush is certainlytiresome to many and doesnt exactly seem American. That being said, it should be starting to be obvious to anyone watching that whatever liability that the Clinton name may bring Hillary is overcome by the political fundraising and operational network she inherits. As a result of her powerful name most of the rest of the field is being discounted by the press, special interest groups and voters, all compounding her immense financial advantage. The establishment likes to be with a winner and is afraid to take a stand for the candidate that best represents their interest in a primary out of fear of political retribution should their candidate lose. As a result, new voices face incredible obstacles to ever be considered viable candidates in the face of an entrenched political family. This is perhaps the biggest problem with dynasties. Consider the case of Hassan Menazee. Hassan Nemazee is a very powerful Democratic fund-raiser. As one of the premiere money people in a pivotal check-writing town, Mr. Nemazees apartment has been the site of visit after visit by prospective 2008 candidates hoping for a taste of his homemade Chinese food and considerable financial influence. Practically since the day the 2004 race ended, he has obliged, arranging small audiences of key donors on a regular basis. Thats all over now. Just three days after Hillary Clinton officially entered the race by announcing the formation of a presidential exploratory committee, Mr. Nemazee winnowed his dinner list down to her alone. You basically dont want to deal with this stuff anymore, because you are taking too much time out of your day, Mr. Nemazee told The Observer. I mean, youve seen all these people. Just sit down in the last 24 hours and make your decisionand just go with it. Fundraising Article Hillary Clinton is a bright, capable and experience leader and may very well make a great President, but it is critical that if we are to elect the most capable people to lead our country, many voices need to be heard and considered. The democratic process is stronger when it provides a platform for new voices and ideas from people like Barak Obama, John Edwards, and our own Jeff Smith.