Obama's Campaign Staffers Get Bonuses

New York Daily News:

Barack Obama ended his campaign so flush with cash he's telling staffers to keep the change - and then some.

Long-suffering political footsoldiers who toiled tirelessly, at least since September, to put Obama in the White House recently learned they will be getting extra paychecks worth a month's salary, the Daily News has learned.

Read the whole story: New York Daily News

Comments

[Aabby]

This does several things.

1. It rewards a job well done
2. it assists people who are out of work during a difficult job searching season
3. It puts a little money into the economy during the holiday season
4. It puts a tremendous amount of good will between staffers and the campaign that when its time to ask them to sacrifice again in four years, they’ll remember how they were treated.

Well Done, CEO in Chief! (

[ChaiKat]

I think it's great for him to offer those who worked hard on his campaign some extra money. I would also love to see some of that money go to a few worthy charities, like for kids and animals.

[terragazelle60]

There are laws about where that money can be spent...not on clotheing, hair stylists, makeup artists...etc. It canot go to charities but must be spent on what would be campaign costs...like staff pay and or bonuses, I think some can be saved for future campaigns but I am not for sure on that.

[sandpiper1]

I think that's such a grand idea...shows he really appreciates what his staff have done and he acknowledges that he couldn't have done it without them. BRAVO CIC Elect.

[TomPaine07]

I ,along with millions of others gave countless donations to Obama's campaign. Toward the end they (Obama,,Biden, etc) were flooding me with email requests for money because they claimed that they needed it to advertise etc.... Now it turns out that they didn't need all the money they collected from me and others. Instead of giving away blackberrys, computers, and perks of a month's salary, they should reimburse the people who gave them the money in the first place. I for one did not make a donation so that the money could be given to staffers. What about giving it to the DNC for current and future use? Additionally, many other gave their time for free. This is a bad decision when so many people are out of jobs, homes, and medical care.

[OutsiderSA]

Now that is sour grapes, many of these staffers are likely out of work - think about that.

[TomPaine07]

To OutsiderSA
Anyone that enters a movement understands that when the campaign is over they are once again on their own. We are adults. Right?. Since when are the contributors to the campaign responsible for post-campaign job prospects? Sour grapes are food that can be digested.

[bygollymissmolly]

This is true. Many of them left jobs to work for Obama. This person is not someone who ever donated to Obama. It is just another one of the right wingers who are so angry and bitter they come on progressive websites and pretend to be a "progressive" so that they can try to undermine our faith in Obama. They are pretty transparent.

[TrooAmerican]

The money also pays their salaries all campaign long as well.
I'd rather see the people who were doing the work on the ground get something extra for a hard fought job well done, than the top level "advisors" that infest every campaign including McCain's and Clintons, getting paid Millions and Millions and in their cases, losing efforts and pathetic campaigns compared with Baracks.

I gave money as well, and i couldnt afford it, but i have no problem with the people that literally worked their butts off to finish this thing off getting a little something especially now that their jobs are pretty much terminated and will have to go find other work.

Many campaigns get stuck with bills afterward they have trouble paying. im glad they didnt end up that way and had plenty of cash to do what they needed to do up to the minute he was declared winner.

Some of these people got up on election day, voted, and then went out to work till late at night to get people to voting stations, and convince last minute undecideds to vote for obama.

Its a Lot better to give out these little bonuses to hard working people, as opposed to the Bush administration's puppeteer Paulson handing over Billions of our tax money to AIG's Execs to burn through with 5, yes 5 separate vacations over the past 10 weeks.

[kalli007]

Your comment is a contradiction in itself. You say you "donated" to the campaign - meaning that you gave the money willingly, for someone else to use as they see fit. Well now they see fit to pay the people who worked tirelessly to get the results they desired, but you want it back? Donations ARE used to pay campaign staff, and it is certainly an investment in both the present and the future.

[Liberty Belle]

Oh, please. I donated towards the end (and from the beginning) and it is worth EVERY penny. Those people worked like dogs to get this country back on track and I am glad to help them,!

[got2stayfly]

For one, nobody forced you to donate. Two, its called a donation, meaning you willingly gave to the campaign so they can use it at your discrestion. ONce you donated it, its no longer you money. Look on the bright side, you were a huge part of history.

[Jamchinadian]

Just yet another classy act by a classy human being.

[bayside]

Put most of them in your cabinet if you want to get something changed..The people you are putting in your circle do not think like the ones that put you in office.. Did you notice.

[bygollymissmolly]

So, are you saying that you don't trust Obama's ability to chose the right people for the right job?

[terragazelle60]

So you want other folks to work with Obama? Ok...so who would you like? Who has worked in a Democratic President's administartion that would have the expertese that Obama needs? Who was the last Dem President? CARTER. Now as fine a man as Pres. Carter is...I imagine his employees are fairly long in the tooth...like 80ish?

And gee its not like we prospered under Clinton. I mean we sure went through an economic melt down. Our soldiers died in wars of selection..our liberties as well as our Constitution was trashed... no? Really? So can you tell me why those who helped give us the best two terms of any president is a bad thing? You want brand new people..who have no experience in government that works? Come of of it...Obama is the lead in his administration...he is not quite a shrinking violet to let others walk over him. We voted for Obama, trust him...he has done pretty good so far. Obama does not have the personal failings of Clinton...but every bit as much smarts and maybe more.

[zenaby56]

Ii am so glad to hear this. The staffers worked extremely hard. Options for employment are very thin right now so this might give them some ability to transition with grace into the next work they do. I contributed regularly to the Obama campaign and am glad to see that President Elect Obama is taking care of people. that is the right thing to do and its great!!!!

[glitterik]

Good for them. They deserve the bonus 10 times over. I hope they have a wonderful holiday this winter. Thanks to them we're all going to have a much better next-8-years. BIG THANKS TO THEM ALL.

[DBJ]

I am very happy that my contributions were put to good use. These people did a tremendous job and they deserve it. Some of us gave $ and others pounded the pavement - they had the hardest part. It was a team effort and I am happy that together we succeeded with our goal.

[goodtomeetyou]

Talk about paying it forward. He is a great leader.

Thank you staffers for all that you did and continue to do. Superb job.

[Grunty1]

This is the first time in a long time I've read about bonuses for SUCCESS.
The business world runs on bonsues for FAILURE.

[lesterbud]

I was part of the $88 per contributor campaign.
I am glad a couple of my bucks are left over to share with those that workest hardest to make this happen.

[quantumspin]

Money WELL SPENT, and congratulations to all those who wore out shoes and brains for this great victory.

Ever Onward Obama team, wherever you may be.

[marinade]

A bonus is well deserved. Congratulations and good luck to all of those hard working individuals!

[NationalTreasure]

their health insurance benefits are also being extended

[ccmd]

wow

[sparkal]

They deserve it. If you donated money, I would consider this monwy well spent....