In this case, the Washington Post’s Greg Sargent notes
Some leading gay and progressive donors are so angry over President Obama’s refusal to sign an executive order barring same sex discrimination by federal contractors that they are refusing to give any more money to the pro-Obama super PAC, a top gay fundraiser’s office tells me. In some cases, I’m told, big donations are being withheld. (snip)
Now these and other donors are beginning to withold money from Priorities USA, the main pro-Obama super PAC, out of dismay over the president’s decision. (Some of these donors have already maxed out to the Obama campaign, I’m told.) It’s the first indication that areas in which Obama is at odds with gay advocates — and in fairness, his record on gay rights has been very good — could dampen overall fundraising.
DrewM at Ace Of Spades muses
Wait, you mean to tell me people use donations to politicians to influence policy? That they are more apt to give contributions to office holders who institute policies that they support and withhold those same contributions when they don’t get policies they like?
Why last I heard, when the Koch Brothers (aka Evil Incarnate) support institutions that reflect their political preferences the very life of the republic itself is endangered.
Well, yeah, because when liberals use money to sway politicians it is Good And Right And Just. When Conservatives do it, well, Satan is rising. Neither Firedoglake nor Steve Bennan (at The Maddow Blog) see the rank hypocrisy of supporting the notion of using campaign contributions to sway politicians on their side after spending years demonizing any entity (like Wall Street, Big Oil, Koch Brothers, Crossroads, etc) that does the same but opposes the far left agenda.
PJ Tatler: Straight up: These donors are trying to buy an executive order that benefits their businesses. At least, that’s how Sargent and other leftwing bloggers would write about this if the donors were conservatives withholding money from the RNC or Mitt Romney over some specific issue. Set the gay angle aside for a moment, and we have wealthy donors withholding campaign funds to apply pressure to get an executive order that would set aside federal contracts business they believe is owed them. That’s buying an executive order. If Obama ever signs that EO, then he has been bought. I bet he signs it in September or October, if the polls show that it benefits him.
I’m sure the Occupiers, who’ve spent almost a year complaining about money in politics and stuff, will get right out and picket and boycott these groups, right?
