Top Obama Bundler Urges Donors To Help Retire Clinton's Debt

A fundraising email obtained by the Huffington Post shows that one of Barack Obama's top bundlers has been soliciting donations for a high-profile Thursday night event organized to help Sen. Hillary Clinton retire outstanding debt from her presidential campaign.

In the email, venture capitalist Mark Gorenberg -- who has bundled over $200,000 in donations to Obama so far this year -- makes a specific appeal to "early and proud" Obama supporters who have yet to help retire Clinton's debt, a cause Gorenberg describes as "important." However, Gorenberg also writes, "we realize that what we are about to ask is very hard," a clause that reveals the lingering tensions between the two Democratic camps.

The email goes out of its way to say who Gorenberg is not asking donors to open their wallets for: "We need to help pay off [Clinton's] small vendors in many key states to get motivated for the race in November. The money we raise will not go to Hillary and Bill Clinton or Mark Penn or Peter Hart, etc. It will go to array of vendors who we want to make sure are motivated for the fall election. I would be happy to forward you the link of all the vendors in the debt list. Please hit reply and I will forward the FEC link. Senator Clinton has been true to her word in giving full support to Barack Obama. Now lets show our appreciation in return."

Tickets for tonight's event begin at $500, though individuals who max out at $2300 level will join organizers who have bundled over $5000 in a VIP reception with the New York Democrat in addition to the dinner.

Text of the full email:

From: Mark Gorenberg

Date: July 27, 2008

Subject: Please help Senator Obama retire Hillary's debt; hard to ask from a fellow Obama supporter

DEAR xxxx:

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As a fellow early and proud supporter of Senator Obama, we realize that what we are about to ask is very hard, but it is important.

As the San Francisco Chronicle highlighted today, the three chairs for the Northern California Obama campaign are actively working on helping retire Hillarys debt as are Obama National Finance Committee members all over the country. We would greatly appreciate your support. Any contribution of any size will be very greatly welcome. We are happy to send you a form or offer information on how to contribute.

You can also contribute online at www.hillaryclinton.com/losaltos . If you do, please let me know.

If you have already maxed out to Hillary for President, we ask that you join us, but please try to bring one attendee who has not yet maxed out to Hillary with a check with you.

Please hit reply or email me at [e-mail] for a contribution form, or to get more information.

If you plan to be in Northern California this Thursday or have friends here who would like to meet Senator Clinton, we will be gathering with her on Thursday in Los Altos Hills.

As you know, Barack has asked all of his major donors to contribute to relieving the debt that Sen. Clinton sustained in the primary. He and Michelle have each written personal checks for $2,300 (and President Clinton and Sen. Clinton have written checks for $2,300 each to Barack's campaign). The reason for this is simple: "we are all in this together." We need to help pay off the small vendors in many key states to get motivated for the race in November. The money we raise will not go to Hillary and Bill Clinton or Mark Penn or Peter Hart, etc. It will go to array of vendors who we want to make sure are motivated for the fall election.

I would be happy to forward you the link of all the vendors in the debt list. Please hit reply and I will forward the FEC link.

Senator Clinton has been true to her word in giving full support to Barack Obama. Now lets show our appreciation in return.

Please hit reply or email me at [e-mail] for a contribution form, or to get more information. But please consider this request and go to www.hillaryclinton.com/losaltos.

Thank you in advance,

Mark Gorenberg

Comments

[schicklett3]

It will be a cold day in Haydes before I help retire her debt.
She is out to ruin the convention - SHE wants her name on the ballot to "soothe her supporters".
Hey, if anyone believes that I've got a bridge to sell......

It's time for the democratic party to put her in her place - and fast.

[moda31]

it's a tough ask for people to invest in a failed venture, where they are guaranteed to not to see a return on that investment, particularly when the sen. clinton has more than enough money to settle a debt she amassed long after her campaign was viable all on her own.

[Bozwellian]

IT is TUFF SELL when the C's YET claim to hold 18 million supporters as THEIRS and if so, their debt could be solved by a measly $3 apiece which would leave change left over as well !! TO claim a strangle hold and to continue DIVISIVE manipulatives is NO WAY TO GAIN SYMPATHTIC "donations" to help retire that debt. Even NOW, book seals and documentary films (Bill in Africa with Docu-flim filing) and his promise that come next January, he WILL air his differences publicly in attempt to redeem himself /his legacy/perceivement/etc and blah, blah, blah ) Hillarys INITIAL "end of campaign" set the tone, just as Tery intro'd her as "NEXT PRESIDENT" and she did NOT concede nor congratulate the OBVIOUS WINNER and clung to the notion that she would yet be heard/reckoned with and etc. It has gone beyond the pale at this point , and this couple, so long heralded as PRO's of politics come off as too self centered and egotistical and NOT REALLY FOR THE DEM PARTY EITHER which indicates NOT REALLY THAT SINCERE IN WHAT IS FOR THE GREATER COMMON GOOD OF THE NATION...embittered, they are STILL attempting to cling and remain and fail to realize they are deminishing their prime general support base more and more !!!

[WasteNJ]

Of course it was those little people, the caterers and sound guys and set builders that are left holding the bag. You know, "hard working Americans". But hey, Hillary got what she needed out of them already. She can write her campaign a check for millions, but can't find anything but lint to pay the small people.

You pay them, she's got other things to do.

[Felicty]

Get serious.

Hillary will only pocket all the money and use it against Barack. Or give it to her overlord, McCain.

[PennP]

STOP! There is NO DEBT TO PAY DOWN!

From OpenSecrets.org:

Hillary Clinton
Cash on Hand: $26,046,667
Debts: $25,201,723
Date of last report: Jul 29 2008 12:00AM

http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/summary.php?id=N00000019

[JamieJay]

There were posts just a week ago, on an article that Hillary had retired if not all or most of her campaign debt. We (family/friends) had assumed that the "little guy" had been paid FIRST. This is a shame! Hillary, claims to have a 18M supporters, so why don't they donate to retire her debt? Why aren't all of these people donating to her? Surely they haven't all maxed out!

[kennya23]

Someone please explain to me why her 18 million supporters have not donated at least $1 dollar each, her debt would be wiped out. Can someone please explain to me where are they and if they are such avid supporters how did they allow her to get into the red?

[Carnacamarna]

18 million votes does not translate into 18 million small donors. Such logic is extremely and petulantly obtuse.

[bodo]

That is easily explained. Many of Hillary's voters were the white male blue collar types who only voted for her because she was the only white person on the ticket. They will now vote for McCain, of course, even if she visits them again.

[dadw5boys]

When PENN forgives Hillary Debt I will donate.

Penn bills Hillary for work, he also encrouaged her to stay in the race longer so he is partly to blame for the high debt.

So when he bites the bullet some I will help.

[hphoenix]

What I don't understand is why the small vendors have not been paid by someone who ran a campaign as the champion of the little guy. Her father was in business, so she should know how unpaid debts can impact a small business. It's not like she doesn't have the money.

[kdublya]

If I was an HRC supporter, I'd be thinking,

I am frightened by the possibility of BHO supporters clearing her debt before I did.
Hmm. Better make some noise so that doesn't happen...

[lvdragonlady]

Question is why not pay off the little guys first, then pay the Penn's of the campaign. The little guys need it a hell of a lot more then the big guys.

[kdublya]

Come on people,

Everyone agrees, $5 dollars is a small compromise.

Noone is asking you to agree 100%.

$5 wins an election and preserves your principles.

Does it really matter who goes 1st?

[starfire426]

I agree...if I knew who some of these little guys were, I'd be more than happy to donate...BUT NOT ONE RED CENT of my money will ever go to the Clintons, Mark Penn or anyone else involved in the smear campaign of Senator Obama which now the Repugs are now having a field day with!!! "LIve by the sword"...well you get my drift...

I fear that some of these small vendors will never get paid...UNLESS they take them to court and sue!!!

[edwcorey]

My question is, when will people understand that adding an apostrophe s ('s) is not the way you pluralize a person's name? The Clintons. The Penns. The Huffingtons. The Bushes. Etc.

[Bettysdad]

Champion of the little guy?

What campaign were you watching?

She's the champion of the big money.

[mindyinmoab]

It isn't hard to donate due to lingering tensions. It is hard because it is throwing money away on nothing. Besides, right now Obama and the DNC need the money to win this election. Money sent to retire Clinton's debt will not help put a dem in the white house and in more in congress. Let's work retire her debt after November 4th.

[DavidAF]

So what if Obama doesn't want to help out Hillary. I wouldn't either, for anyone. She accumulated that debt knowing full well. She should just write another book and use the earnings to pay off the debt, simple as that, and it will sell.

[PumaAnn]

Today's news is that Hill will not ask to be nominated at the convention. She'll probably include a formal statement in the keynote speech releasing her delegates and asking them to vote for O.

This letter is good in that it shows some step toward knocking off the ridiculous attitudes that are dividing the party. The tone reveals the still-present currrent of disdain, which continues to be extremely off-putting to Hill supporters.

I'm proud she's a team player and will do the right thing at the party. I'm not so proud of the Democrats who are playing the Hate card.

[WFV]

So you're not proud of your P U M A status? Sorry. Can't have it both ways, Ann.

[kdublya]

She blinked first, cowboy.

Where's your humility?

[Oeht]

And what does PUMA stand for? I guess thats not "off-putting to Obama supporters" right? What about the HIllary donors who are refusing to donate to Obama's campaign? Your candidate lost, not be sexism, by the numbers. There are still groups trying to nominate her for President at the convention, or threatening that Obama MUST make her his VP. That is disrespectful to the person that won the nomination because they EARNED the right to choose who they want. If you Hillary supporters want to vote for McCain fine. Cut off your nose to spite your face. This is why there is still a segment of society that believes a woman can't be President. I'm not one of them, but Hillary's supporters are doing women a disservice. Get over it.

[vonny]

PUmaAnn, you're no puma.......your comments are lies...go back to the bo site.

[lafrance]

I can understand the resentment. Many don't want their money going to Mark Penn and many feel clinton stayed in and ran up the debt long after it was apparent she could not win.
People would probably have been more then happy to help if these two things were not a factor.

[WFV]

You know, his task may be made easier by the former candidate herself, if indeed she were true to her word and threw her full support to the presumptive nominee....

She could renounce, denounce, or reject the efforts of all those groups working against the party for no reason other than spite. She could release her delegates. She could act even slightly enthusiastic when discussing the presumptive nominee, minimizing references to herself or her ridiculous website. If she wants the money, she needs to work for it.

So far, I have seen nothing that inspires me to donate one penny.

[NovaBoy]

Amen

[olivia]

Well said.

[JackND]

Spot on from start to finish.

[Cathi]

Amen...I've seen her as being AWOL in supporting Obama as you stated...why wait for the convention to release her delegates and ask them to support Obama. She, if she were truly wanting to see Obama take the oath of office in January, should be on the trail with him NOW, not later.

[cam]

She continued digging the hole she was in even after it became clear she couldn't ethically win. She had widespread and passionate support in her struggle with Obama but she exceeded her income. She continued digging the hole she was in even after it became clear she couldn't ethically win. One can sympathise with her, but her debt was of her own making and the decision to help her with it is entirely elective.

[JackND]

On those who say BHO supporters are "sore winners", the day that HRC said that winning the nomination process would entitle him to be her VP was the day that his supporters won the right to be as sorely, arrogantly, laugh-in-HRC-supporters-face-ly winners as they pleased.