July 15, 2012
The rich and the rest of us
Tavis Smiley and Cornel West wrote this Poverty Manifesto, and while not precisely on point for this blog it is close enough.
I want to discuss the Obama dilemma regarding a lengthy article in the NY Times. It looks like Penny Pritzker is tired of raising millions for Obama. Is she upset that she was not given a cabinet post? Perhaps. Was it a snub to not be invited to Camp David? Probably. Or is the real issue that organized labor is attacking the Pritzker family, Penny in particular, because they want higher pay and better working conditions at the Hyatt hotels owned by the Pritzker family? All of the above probably, but it is the Hyatt issue that grabbed my attention.
Those exploited Hyatt workers would normally be considered Obama's base. The Pritzkers and their friends would normally be considered Romney's base. Which is it? And what does this tell us about November and beyond?
While Obama is struggling to keep pace with Romney in fundraising, I am confident that many Dems are hoping that the unions will play opossum now so the Pritzkers will get back into the political fundraising game. And that is the problem. If a Democrat has to pull his punches during fundraising time, what can you expect from him once the election is over? Not much. Last year it was news that billionaire Penny Pritzker was going all-out for Barak Obama. This year it is not a story, or is it?
No one from the administration came to Wisconsin during the uprising and that angered lots of folks. But one must ask, Was it a decision to not stick a finger in Koch's eye? Perhaps a friend of the Pritzkers who might be asked to give $100 million or so to Penny's fundraising pals, the Koch boys? Too cynical you might be thinking, and I would say probably not cynical enough. If both parties drink from the same well the poison hits both of them. More and more lobbyists urge their clients to give generously to both candidates. Cover your bets or butts!
Prediction: The super rich will drop Obama like a bad penny (pardon the pun) and jump on board the Romney express. The result could well be President Romney.
Citizens United is an unmitigated disaster. If Ron Johnson decides to give $50 million to the Republican candidate running for Feingold's seat, we are in deep, deep trouble. Why? Because Obama must then depend on the Pritzkers. Whoa Nelly.
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