Mitt Romney’s (remember him) Superpac calls this a flip flop.I call it dealing with reality. They need to battle the Koch brothers, Sheldon Adelson, and other rich Republicans.
Rockn is right. The tours have been closed as a very visible cost saving measure. Apparently, ANYONE who enters the White House for a tour gets a Secret Service quick check and guards, extra SS, tour guides, and other service providers have to be compensated for the time with tourists.^The donors seeking access – and let’s call them what they are – LOBBYISTS – are paying a “self tax” for the opportunity to talk to the President. While this has gone on for decades, if not centuries, in our nation, Citizen’s United has made worse and more prevalent than ever. It would be better if these people seeking access would hire 10 workers at 50k apiece, or some other “job creating” event. ^It is distasteful, and in my opinion, wrong. Congressmen spend 4-6 hours a day in a building near the Capital building where, instead of doing the people’s business to move our nation forward, they make calls to political donors. This is just a matter of visibility and degree. Both parties are doing this and both parties are wrong to do so.Respectfully,C.
This matter says a lot about our govt, but of all the things this Prez has done, this – ruining people’s vacation plans among other things – best demonstrates his childish pettiness. He’ll go down in history as President Petty. It’s revolting that we have such a self-centered, vengeful man in the White House.
Hello Scott,On your first point, I know it isn’t a tax – that is why I put self tax in quotations. I identify the people paying the money as lobbyists and even said the money would be better spent on hiring people who need jobs. Reports say the funds to be raised will be used in the 2014 elections to advance candidates who will support his programs.^ On the second point…Started what? I accused both parties for a long tradition of spending more time catering to donors than working for their electorate and noted that CU has made this situation worse. Did you mean something else?^On the third point, I understand the implied intent of CU, but how it has been put into practice has given voice to a very small number of people. ^ 9% of our citizens control 90% of the money available and they are sitting on that money in order to protect their businesses and to invest in candidates who will, they hope, pass legislation favorable to their goals. I can certainly join with 100 other citizens, but I will still not have as much money as a Soros, or a Koch.^Thank you for the tone of your reply. I look forward to our continuing discussion.Respectfully,C.
Oh please. You all are getting so wrapped up in partisan bull shit you have lost touch with reality. Obama’s staff thought closing the tours would be a dramatic illustration of the “catastrophic” effects of the sequester and it back fired on them. Just a cursory glance on the web and you come up with pages of stories about Fox news anchors offering to pick up the tab for the tours, of course getting no response from the White House. Focus here, it’s a 2% cut in the GROWTH of spending next year. Get some perspective, politicians of both parties blanch at cutting any kind of spending because sooner or later it will impact their political realm and that’s a politicians greatest nightmare.
Obama’s continual campaigning on this issue failed and the American people are sick of the political wrangling over government spending. His poll numbers dropped over this issue and my wish would be Obama and congress could quit screwing around playing political games and responsibly deal with this spending issue. The waste and fraud alone that has been pointed out by a myriad of congressional committees and budget “watch dog” groups have identified billions that could be cut. It’s a hell of a lot more than what it costs for tours of the White House.
Although Citizens United gives citizens the right to band together to lobby, it is impractical to do so. First off, there has to be a heirarchy and responsibilities doled out, and the citizens may not be able to agree on small bits. Also, even if you have 100 people in your group, the amount of money each will need to pony up for production costs, air time, and legal representation will be prohibitive.
Although in theory it levels the playing field, in practice it gives those with unlimited funds the ability to campaign incessently in print and through other media. There is no accountability, since no one needs to be identified. Marketing people know how to twist words to make us feel good about things we should feel bad about (example, “clean coal”; see if you can find anything like that). And if we don’t know who’s behind it we can’t be sure whether they’re really on our side.
Also, this is not limited to Americans. China can produce ads that implore us to pursue policies that will continue to ship jobs there. Radical Islamists could use the process to promote how peaceful and trustworthy they can be, and on and on.
I submit that there is much more abuse potential by large-moneyed interest than there is ability for ordinary citizens to affect change. Overall, Citizens United is an insult to “people”, and a travesty of law. Talk about legislating from the bench…
@ many others:
As far as ACORN is concerned, I don’t know everything, and don’t pretend to. However, regarding the guy who made and doctored the tapes (the same one getting arrested for voter fraud by trying to prove he can commit voter fraud), the ACORN guy who “helped” him determine how to best market his prostitute did what he was told to do when illegal activity was suggested: he kept them talking, learned all he could, and then called the cops when they left, telling them all he knew. That’s how they found this guy as early as he did. So at least some of the ACORN mess is manufactured.
Acorn is having the last laugh. The Acorn employee Juan Carlos Vera won $100,000 and an 11 word apology because in CA it is illegal to tape someone without his or her knowledge.You DO know that Acorn hasn’t existed for 3 years?
Selling Access is not statesman-type behaviour for any president…Wm Clinton or B.Obama. It should be a prosecuted crime, IMO.-the point of this Bok cartoon, IMO, is that while Obama’s only White House “cut” was the tours for the public of the White House, saving $74,000 a week, the Obama family continue living without “cuts” in expenses and continue costly travel, one trip to Florida to play golf with Tiger cost $millions and Obama keeps using the taxpayers’ Credit Cards!!!
Hmm – $74k/week. I agree with disgustedtaxpayer’s points whole-heartedly, but I’m just curious about that figure s/he was given – does that include salaries – of people still employed? Such figures usually do. I heard most of the people who actually work in the tour office were volunteers; are we talking about the salaries of security people? And if so were they laid off to actually save anything? Again, just curious about that dollar amount.
Hello Mickey, thanks for correcting some of my comments. In you first comment, you properly point out that “No drama Obama” and his staff are over dramatizing rather than communicating as he has only recently begun doing.^The people I accuse of sitting on money, an over generalization on my part, assets is a much better word, thank you again – range from people who are legitimately concerned about losing their businesses in hostile takeovers to the people I accuse of reserving funds to invest in candidates instead of training and company infrastructure. While there have been reports that would generally support my comment, they are argumentative and nuanced without more research than I’m prepared to do at this time. I certainly was not intentionally pigeonholing people by class/caste/income. It must be noted, the reports of wealth disparity I saw last week came from several sources and shows a real problem in our society. The fact that there are many who give to charity – some give amounts way beyond the tax benefit – does not detract from those who abuse or game the system.^On the third point, we are in almost in total agreement. I do see value in certain taxes that would most effect the “1%ers”, a 0001% tax on stock trades for instance, and a luxury tax on high end items exceeding “X” in value, would not be out of line or unprecedented. However, your statements on the need for education, training, the domestic upgrading of our own people’s abilities, and your final paragraph on waste have my total and loud support. When we can find a way to take to the streets and make the noise you call for, know that I will be at your side and just as loud. I just wish I knew how to get the best qualified people to not only be willing to run for office, but how to bypass our broken electoral system in order to elect them.^Thank you for the great reply, Mickey. I wish I had made some of those points and as well as you did.Respectfully,C.
Howie, I cannot tell you how angry I was when I heard that story. I saw some CEOs on a news program last week, one of them is in charge of the NASDAQ…they said no American would run their household or personal business the way our legislature and administration is running our nation and went on in length on what was wrong and why. Perhaps if the USA were to stop giving so much money to our “allies” for a year or two, while it wouldn’t make much of a dent in our debt, would make nations appreciate what we’ve been doing over the decades, and the sacrifices our taxpayers have made. I’m sorry for the problems those nations are having, but if Warren Buffet to give away every dollar he has to help every US citizen, he would still not eliminate poverty and would himself be impoverished by the effort..Sadly,C.
Here’s that story, you must have missed it when O’keefe was ordered to pay the ACORN employee $100,000. Is Forbes educated enough for you? …..…….http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2013/03/08/james-okeefe-pays-100000-to-acorn-employee-he-smeared-conservative-media-yawns/
rockngolfer about 11 years ago
Mitt Romney’s (remember him) Superpac calls this a flip flop.I call it dealing with reality. They need to battle the Koch brothers, Sheldon Adelson, and other rich Republicans.
chazandru about 11 years ago
Rockn is right. The tours have been closed as a very visible cost saving measure. Apparently, ANYONE who enters the White House for a tour gets a Secret Service quick check and guards, extra SS, tour guides, and other service providers have to be compensated for the time with tourists.^The donors seeking access – and let’s call them what they are – LOBBYISTS – are paying a “self tax” for the opportunity to talk to the President. While this has gone on for decades, if not centuries, in our nation, Citizen’s United has made worse and more prevalent than ever. It would be better if these people seeking access would hire 10 workers at 50k apiece, or some other “job creating” event. ^It is distasteful, and in my opinion, wrong. Congressmen spend 4-6 hours a day in a building near the Capital building where, instead of doing the people’s business to move our nation forward, they make calls to political donors. This is just a matter of visibility and degree. Both parties are doing this and both parties are wrong to do so.Respectfully,C.
eepatt about 11 years ago
Why don’t you tell us what Acorn did that was wrong or illegal? Because you can’t. You should check out the lies before you repeat them.
rockngolfer about 11 years ago
Let’s face it. If President Obama was still giving tours, you haters would be railing against spending money on tours.
SClark55 Premium Member about 11 years ago
This matter says a lot about our govt, but of all the things this Prez has done, this – ruining people’s vacation plans among other things – best demonstrates his childish pettiness. He’ll go down in history as President Petty. It’s revolting that we have such a self-centered, vengeful man in the White House.
chazandru about 11 years ago
Hello Scott,On your first point, I know it isn’t a tax – that is why I put self tax in quotations. I identify the people paying the money as lobbyists and even said the money would be better spent on hiring people who need jobs. Reports say the funds to be raised will be used in the 2014 elections to advance candidates who will support his programs.^ On the second point…Started what? I accused both parties for a long tradition of spending more time catering to donors than working for their electorate and noted that CU has made this situation worse. Did you mean something else?^On the third point, I understand the implied intent of CU, but how it has been put into practice has given voice to a very small number of people. ^ 9% of our citizens control 90% of the money available and they are sitting on that money in order to protect their businesses and to invest in candidates who will, they hope, pass legislation favorable to their goals. I can certainly join with 100 other citizens, but I will still not have as much money as a Soros, or a Koch.^Thank you for the tone of your reply. I look forward to our continuing discussion.Respectfully,C.
Mickey 13 about 11 years ago
Oh please. You all are getting so wrapped up in partisan bull shit you have lost touch with reality. Obama’s staff thought closing the tours would be a dramatic illustration of the “catastrophic” effects of the sequester and it back fired on them. Just a cursory glance on the web and you come up with pages of stories about Fox news anchors offering to pick up the tab for the tours, of course getting no response from the White House. Focus here, it’s a 2% cut in the GROWTH of spending next year. Get some perspective, politicians of both parties blanch at cutting any kind of spending because sooner or later it will impact their political realm and that’s a politicians greatest nightmare.
Obama’s continual campaigning on this issue failed and the American people are sick of the political wrangling over government spending. His poll numbers dropped over this issue and my wish would be Obama and congress could quit screwing around playing political games and responsibly deal with this spending issue. The waste and fraud alone that has been pointed out by a myriad of congressional committees and budget “watch dog” groups have identified billions that could be cut. It’s a hell of a lot more than what it costs for tours of the White House.
I Play One On TV about 11 years ago
@ScottPM
Although Citizens United gives citizens the right to band together to lobby, it is impractical to do so. First off, there has to be a heirarchy and responsibilities doled out, and the citizens may not be able to agree on small bits. Also, even if you have 100 people in your group, the amount of money each will need to pony up for production costs, air time, and legal representation will be prohibitive.
Although in theory it levels the playing field, in practice it gives those with unlimited funds the ability to campaign incessently in print and through other media. There is no accountability, since no one needs to be identified. Marketing people know how to twist words to make us feel good about things we should feel bad about (example, “clean coal”; see if you can find anything like that). And if we don’t know who’s behind it we can’t be sure whether they’re really on our side.
Also, this is not limited to Americans. China can produce ads that implore us to pursue policies that will continue to ship jobs there. Radical Islamists could use the process to promote how peaceful and trustworthy they can be, and on and on.
I submit that there is much more abuse potential by large-moneyed interest than there is ability for ordinary citizens to affect change. Overall, Citizens United is an insult to “people”, and a travesty of law. Talk about legislating from the bench…
@ many others:
As far as ACORN is concerned, I don’t know everything, and don’t pretend to. However, regarding the guy who made and doctored the tapes (the same one getting arrested for voter fraud by trying to prove he can commit voter fraud), the ACORN guy who “helped” him determine how to best market his prostitute did what he was told to do when illegal activity was suggested: he kept them talking, learned all he could, and then called the cops when they left, telling them all he knew. That’s how they found this guy as early as he did. So at least some of the ACORN mess is manufactured.
rockngolfer about 11 years ago
Acorn is having the last laugh. The Acorn employee Juan Carlos Vera won $100,000 and an 11 word apology because in CA it is illegal to tape someone without his or her knowledge.You DO know that Acorn hasn’t existed for 3 years?
disgustedtaxpayer about 11 years ago
Selling Access is not statesman-type behaviour for any president…Wm Clinton or B.Obama. It should be a prosecuted crime, IMO.-the point of this Bok cartoon, IMO, is that while Obama’s only White House “cut” was the tours for the public of the White House, saving $74,000 a week, the Obama family continue living without “cuts” in expenses and continue costly travel, one trip to Florida to play golf with Tiger cost $millions and Obama keeps using the taxpayers’ Credit Cards!!!
SClark55 Premium Member about 11 years ago
Hmm – $74k/week. I agree with disgustedtaxpayer’s points whole-heartedly, but I’m just curious about that figure s/he was given – does that include salaries – of people still employed? Such figures usually do. I heard most of the people who actually work in the tour office were volunteers; are we talking about the salaries of security people? And if so were they laid off to actually save anything? Again, just curious about that dollar amount.
chazandru about 11 years ago
Hello Mickey, thanks for correcting some of my comments. In you first comment, you properly point out that “No drama Obama” and his staff are over dramatizing rather than communicating as he has only recently begun doing.^The people I accuse of sitting on money, an over generalization on my part, assets is a much better word, thank you again – range from people who are legitimately concerned about losing their businesses in hostile takeovers to the people I accuse of reserving funds to invest in candidates instead of training and company infrastructure. While there have been reports that would generally support my comment, they are argumentative and nuanced without more research than I’m prepared to do at this time. I certainly was not intentionally pigeonholing people by class/caste/income. It must be noted, the reports of wealth disparity I saw last week came from several sources and shows a real problem in our society. The fact that there are many who give to charity – some give amounts way beyond the tax benefit – does not detract from those who abuse or game the system.^On the third point, we are in almost in total agreement. I do see value in certain taxes that would most effect the “1%ers”, a 0001% tax on stock trades for instance, and a luxury tax on high end items exceeding “X” in value, would not be out of line or unprecedented. However, your statements on the need for education, training, the domestic upgrading of our own people’s abilities, and your final paragraph on waste have my total and loud support. When we can find a way to take to the streets and make the noise you call for, know that I will be at your side and just as loud. I just wish I knew how to get the best qualified people to not only be willing to run for office, but how to bypass our broken electoral system in order to elect them.^Thank you for the great reply, Mickey. I wish I had made some of those points and as well as you did.Respectfully,C.
chazandru about 11 years ago
Howie, I cannot tell you how angry I was when I heard that story. I saw some CEOs on a news program last week, one of them is in charge of the NASDAQ…they said no American would run their household or personal business the way our legislature and administration is running our nation and went on in length on what was wrong and why. Perhaps if the USA were to stop giving so much money to our “allies” for a year or two, while it wouldn’t make much of a dent in our debt, would make nations appreciate what we’ve been doing over the decades, and the sacrifices our taxpayers have made. I’m sorry for the problems those nations are having, but if Warren Buffet to give away every dollar he has to help every US citizen, he would still not eliminate poverty and would himself be impoverished by the effort..Sadly,C.
feverjr Premium Member about 11 years ago
Here’s that story, you must have missed it when O’keefe was ordered to pay the ACORN employee $100,000. Is Forbes educated enough for you? …..…….http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2013/03/08/james-okeefe-pays-100000-to-acorn-employee-he-smeared-conservative-media-yawns/
feverjr Premium Member about 11 years ago
By the way, Hannah Giles, O’keefe’s accomplice was also ordered to pay $50,000 to the ACORN employee.………http://www.bradblog.com/?p=9916