- @
- Followers:
No Tweets Found
CNN POLITICS ON FACEBOOK » | CNN POLITICS ON TWITTER »
Overheard on CNN.com: Some readers duel over campaign donations after speech
Editor's note: This post is part of the Overheard on CNN.com series, a regular feature that examines interesting comments and thought-provoking conversations posted by the community.
Among the thousands of comments and iReports that flooded in after President Barack Obama's State of the Union address, our readers have been talking about sending in donations to the candidate of their choice in response to the speech. Money in politics has been a hot issue recently, and CNN iReport has been asking people who've made small political contributions to share their stories, so it's been interesting to see that reflected in our story comments.
Defiant Obama challenges Congress on sticky issues
For example, take this exchange. Our commenters seemed to mostly support Obama's speech, but there was considerable opposition as well.
Sphy: "I sent in $50 for Obama's reelection. The SOTU is a great excuse."
truindep: "I sent $250 to Newt. The SOTU was a reason :)"
This poster claimed to be an independent who was swayed by the speech to the point of donating a few bucks.
fatcongress: "I'm a 34-year-old average American. I'm a very independent voter. In fact, I dislike the very premise of two-party politics. Doesn't make sense to me that anyone can fit my ideas and how I solve problems into either box A or box B. So this independent voter just donated $20 to the 2012 Obama campaign. I know what I heard tonight. I will pick wisely in my congressional elections. I want to carefully vote for my senators and reps. I've had enough baloney. Put some bills on the desk of the president. No more pork, and congress is king of pork. You're fired, Congress."
We saw some positive feedback on the speech, but it wasn't entirely a love-fest for Obama. Some aren't sure Obama's presidency is built to last. There were readers opposing Obama who pledged to donate to Newt Gingrich.
bluecorsair:Â "I'll be calling Newt with a donation, ... and the libbies wonder why people are calling Obama the food stamp president!"
AÂ few commenters said they objected to some aspects of Obama's policies, but they did support his speech. Some were longer-term donors.
CashTheGreen:Â "I don't really like Obama. He's made some decisions I strongly disagree with, but one trend I've noticed over the last three years is, when I hear someone criticize him, they usually sound like they failed grade school. I mean, really, can't anyone make a logical argument without name calling and saying 'lib' every other word? At least his supporters don't sound like complete morons. The Democrats' arguments aren't always right, but they at least make sense."
DoNotWorry:Â "I agree. I didn't vote for him in 2008, for the first time I didn't vote at all. Reading the insane and ignorant comments, I found myself arguing for the President against ridiculous charges. When the Republicans showed their lineup, I donated for the first time ... to Obama. Tonight, I made my fourth donation to Obama. I disagree with a lot of his decisions, and I don't like the financial industry getting off without jail time, but I will vote for Obama in 2012. My first Democratic vote in 40 years."
There was also some backlash specifically targeted at Obama's small donations.
justoneguy62:Â "(Obama's) real urgency is making sure $5 donations (come in) through online campaigning and win his re-election. Come on people, all smoke and mirrors about everything he says."
But these readers talked about giving more weighty donations to Obama.
REMAKER: "Speechless ... just speechless. I have been sitting here since the President last spoke, reflecting, and I just donated $1500 to his campaign. I'm not rich, in fact, I'm just barely scraping by, but a President like President Obama makes me proud to be an American and gives me hope. Get the job done, Mr. President."
GhostColin: "If you have $1,500 to donate to a presidential campaign, you are not scraping by."
franny60: "Remaker, I've been donating $15 a month since he was elected, and I also intend to donate some more. He is one of the few who doesn't trash America, or Americans. He's also one of the few trying to initiate a jobs bill. He's done pretty good considering the hatred, and obstructive behavior of many in the Republican, and Tea Party. I'm very pleased he can keep his cool, and not get nasty. He's got class, intelligence, and more civility in his little finger compared to the whole bunch of Tea Party members. We need more Eisenhower Republicans, and less of the Nixon, Reagan and Bush. Where are those Republicans? Now they really loved this country!"
Some commenters cautioned that we should be careful about money in politics.
shalurkdows: "The only way for politics to work in this country is to get money out of politics. Either every campaign should have the same amount of money and the same amount of allotted air time, or one donation per person/corporation and no donations over, lets say, $1000 and complete transparency about where they came from."
What do you think about individual political contributions? Have you ever donated to a candidate, and why? Would you? Share your opinion in the comments area below and in the latest stories on CNN.com. If you donate to campaigns, tell us why via CNN iReport or sound off on video.
Compiled by the CNN.com moderation staff. Some comments edited for length or clarity.
On Twitter
@cnnbrk on Twitter
Also the POTUS is passing legislation that will deny anyone civil action against the big banks even if your mortgage is completely fraudulent. Let's not forget the 389 small banks that have been shut down under Obomber.
Looked up your statistics, 1 place called black listed blog had your info on it, 10 others said he was going after the banks. You picked out a blog that said the worst thing about President Obama and ignored the rest.
You should see the Bridgette Gabriel wanna be QUEENS of Kansas losing their minds here in Leavenworth Kansas as they see 20 years of world police jobs melting before their very eyes in favor of rebuilding the real America with no hope of a PALIN drone victory or a Joe Frazier Cain Newt in sight– they parade the streets to free the Leavenworth 10 whom they worship as no others. A SAD CREW cut off from the real America: left behind: obsolete.
Just looked her up, she came up on a blog Loonwatch.
Today is..that is because of the greedy banks, not Obama. I bought my house because I could pay for it, I was not swindled and did not get a fraudulent loan. The problem is that my home kept losing value and my bank refused to refinance my mortgage. My theory is that because I was paying my mortgage on time every month they were getting their 7.5% interest no matter what so why would they want to decrease that % and lose money. It would not be in their best interest, as far as they are concerned screw the homeowner.
I agree the banks are notoriously greedy but when the POTUS says "I will help 5 million mortgage holders" I expect him to do what he says. You know today in the U.S. There are 4.5 million homeless and 18.5 million vacant homes ?
So Obama is expected to help YOU about because YOU made a stupid decision buying a house that wasn't within your means? Get real.
Default on mortgages is not the only problem increased since Obomber took office. Student loan default has risen 2%. You can't pay off a student loan working at McDonald s. Obombers work training plan for Americans is " take them out when their golden brown".
Rich, as it was Repubican policies that made them have to apply at Mickey D's in the first place.
Voters who don't think for themselves are the ones most susceptible to the influence of campaign advertising.
I read the candidates' platforms, decide what will be most beneficial to me and my family, and then vote accordingly. I don't ask gurus, preachers, or journalists how I should vote.
I donated money to Obama's campaign, but my donations to the Republican Party during Ronald Reagan's presidency were made regularly and enthusiastically because that era was so prosperous for me.
I even used the same stuffed Christmas Tree ornaments as those on the Reagans' White House tree. I never bought jelly beans, though.
OK STEPHEN, LETS SEEE OH NO MONEY! FOR MILITARY,LETS JUST DISOLVE THEM! AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS? USELESS, GET RID OF THEM! FEDERAL POLICE, FBI, CIA, ATF,DEA THEY CAN GO! YEAH STEPHEN YOUR A TYPICAL WHINNING BRAINLESS TEA BAG REPUB! ENJOY YOUR RANTS!
I have read some extreme views on this board today.
I am a centrist Republican who thinks independently.
I remember when both Democrats and Republicans were less extreme and much more cooperative.
Obama wants more cooperation from all of Congress.
I certainly support him on that, but today I have read posts by Democrats who may not even realize that they don't want the President to cooperate with Republicans at all.
It might help if we all tried to work together.
I totally agree
I agree with you too, JIF, but the comments are about equally disparaging, wouldn't you say?
We need to get past the party boundaries and do what is for the betterment of *everyone*.
Joey, I agree. the Republicans of the Eisenhower era are gone. I can remember when most Republicans cared more for this Country than this bunch does. Since when did moderation become a dirty word to this group of RaTs? (Republicans and TeaParty members). They've all become so extreme standing on the far right side of all issues. They also take their orders from Norquist, and not the American People. I'm done with this bunch, and will be voting for the only Adult in Washington. President Barack Obama! So far? He's the only one not trashing America, or its People!
What in the holy hell?? NAMBLA member or WHAT??
Who miderates this blog, anyway? Blind people? Anal donations shouldn't be allowed!
uh...unfortunate wording in this sentence...lol.
The only ones campaign ads get to are the ones watching TV religiously. As if the TV were an alter and the talking head the holy man. How many hrs. does the avg. American consume watching the boob tube? No, not the ones in the kitchen, bathroom, and bedrooms. Just the one in the non-living room.
I don't know how anyone would be able to reach an informed decision on a candidate based on a thirty-second blurb...that's never been how I have evaluated and made my choice on who to vote for.
And forced anal donations should be banned.
Notice that I said forced, as in raype.
I've been donating to the Obama Campain since he was sworn in, but after his State of the Union address? I just upped the amount! Obama/Biden 2012!
Just because it will fit in your ear doen't mean that's where it goes. Even a simple examination of the human waste removal system reveals that it was designed for removing poop, not accepting broomsticks.
America economy and manufacturing is the the toilet, middle class like my self are now the slaves of America keeping the rich and poor at float ...In my business we manifacture teeth for for the public of curse through a Licensed Dentist. In the last decade most Dentist have been dealing with Labs in China for this service as it is so cheap, just to give you an idea a crown made in America can run up to $ 185.00 with materials approved by the ADA safe for the public, but from china it is $ 28.00 dollars with materials unknown and if not approved the FDA, thence putting the public at risk the Dentists are not telling their patients their teeth are made in China. Dentist are maximizing profits as if they are not charging and making enough already? it is to the FDA job to oversee this and they are not ? so the public is in danger and exposed to who knows hazards chemicals, Dentsply in Pennsylvania is one of American a leading Company that started this illegal operation why would or Government allow this illegal practice then political people tell us Americans it is not right to lose jobs overseas? there are contradictions here and even a conspiracy theory. I say close our doors to manufacturing in China now, and expand our home made manufacturing.