Romney Sells Inauguration Access, Nine Months Early - $50,000 a head

BuzzFeed ^ | 04/19/12 | Ben Smith

[Fred]

Former Governor Mitt Romney is already offering top donors access to a special "Presidential Inaugural retreat," planned on the assumption that he will be elected president this November.

The offer, in a fundraising email circulated by a top Georgia supporter to fellow Republicans and obtained by BuzzFeed, is one of several goodies offered to those who contribute more than $50,000 to the joint fundraising committee known as "Romney Victory," a program whose outlines were first reported by POLITICO.

Those donors will be named "Founding Members" of Romney Victory and invited to a California retreat with Romney and offered "yet to be determined access at the Republican National Convention in Tampa in August."

They will also "have preferred status at the first Presidential Inaugural retreat," the email says.

The copy of the email obtained by BuzzFeed was forwarded by Richard Stormont, a former executive at the Marriott hotel chain, on whose board Romney sat.

[doc1019]

Cheeky

[katiedidit1]

I don’t know whether to throw up, cuss or cry like Boehner. The visual of Romney as the gop nominee is scary.
Would imagine Trump will buy a few of those tickets.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

A fool and his money are soon parted.

[unkus]

This is beyond stupid.

The rats will use this in campaign commercials.

[GeronL]

This is the kind of thing that makes Mittens look out of touch. It’s like they do it on purpose to make themselves look bad.

[Dogbert41]

He should do what Obama does and throw in a $1.00 raffle for one lucky chump from the smelly masses to maybe win a ticket and give he and Marie Antoinette cover. Ta da! Man of the people! Just as long as they eat in the kitchen...

[Bigtigermike]

We learned that Romney was already selling access to the White House even before he even wins the nomination and now we learn that he is selling inauguration access as well.This is the very kind of thing Sarah was talking about in her Sept 3 speech last year on crony capitalism. This is the reason why this country won’t be saved with Romney in the White House because “ It’s NOT ENOUGH to just change up the uniform. If we don’t change the team and the game plan, we won’t save our country.”

[Psalm 144]

Lord Fauntleroy is a rather cocky lil’ godlet.

[Bigtigermike]

Of course Obama and the Dems are going to run ads against Romney about this and of course, Romney will point out that Obama did it too -— the problem is that voters across the board hate this kind of stuff period but don’t have a candidate in the race that separate themselves from the other guy. When nobody really likes both candidates then I tend to think that this helps the incumbent. Obama probably doesn’t care if people doesn’t like him just as long as people don’t care just enough to vote for the other guy (Romney)

[dalereed]

Hoping for a misscarrage or an abortion before the 9 months are up and he has to refund the deposits!

[unkus]

Good points. And the MSM will cover for 0bama and play the class warfare card against Romney or whoever the Republican candidate will be.

[rawcatslyentist]

Flop horse flopping as hard as he can!

[Bigtigermike]

Yep!! The media and the Obama campaign has yet to go full throttled against Romney and when they do I expect Romney and his establishment advisers to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and do a meltdown eventually

[Gator113]

Romney assumes that he already owns our votes. I find him to be a presumptuous arrogant ass.

Will he use Obama’s Greek columns?

[Jim Robinson]

Presumptuous SOB. Maybe he can buy a place on Mt. Rushmore.

[Irish Rose]

He should have more class - not to mention humility.

[unkus]

It’s going to be unpleasant to watch.

Of all times when we need a real conservative........

What we’re seeing happen to our great country is very sickening.

[mmanager]

This is politics and fund raising. Every runner has done the same thing. I am beyond the point of saying “I hate Romineeeey”. I hate the communist we currently have in office.

We have been dealt our cards and we don’t like what we have been dealt with. We know we can beat the dealer. What are you going to do? Fold and loose money?

My heart is struggling with the prospect of Romney. My check book is dying with Obama. My country is crying.

Ladies and Gentleman, we can not allow this man in the White House to have another term. As much as we don’t support Romney the alternative is the destruction of our Republic.

Anyone that flames me for supporting Mitt is full of shit. I have given $100 to Cain and $350 to NEWT. Last election I gave money to Thompson. I am a monthly here at FreeRepulic and I sure hope that I can continue with that pledge.

We are at a cross road. Romney vs. Obama? I can’t stand either but by G_D and G_D knows who is the worst.

G_D help us and please continue to bless us.

Jim Thompson, please save this!

[cripplecreek]

This is the kind of thing that makes Mittens look out of touch. It’s like they do it on purpose to make themselves look bad.

He is out of touch. He has nothing more in common with me than Barrack Obama does.

[livius]

Romney’s whole campaign has been like this - and the tactic has been very effective. In 2008, he simply decided that he was going to be the winner, was immediately backed by the GOP E because he’s their type of guy, spread some money around to buy a little Tea Party support from people like Rubio, told the media he was the GOP candidate, and was on his way.

In other words, being presumptuous was how he got where he did. He has never had any ideas or any suggestions for change, and in fact he doesn’t want to make any changes. In other words, he didn’t really campaign, he just stepped up, flashed the money and said “here I am, your next Presidential candidate.”

He simply kept stating that he was the next GOP Presidential candidate as if it was inevitable, and he had the personal wealth that could support him in doing nothing else for the next four years. The result was that he was treated by everybody from the press to the other candidates as the annointed one, and their campaigns were portrayed as acts of insurgency against the rightful candidate.

He has assumed since 2008 that he owns our votes, and because of the weak and idea-free GOP establishment, he has gotten everything he wanted. But he still couldn’t buy love, so he’s not popular and he’s not going to win the Presidency, and even the GOP establishment knows that. They just don’t care, because most of them are fine with Obama and they didn’t think anybody could beat him in the first place.

[Shady]

Gee Has he created the “Lincoln Bedroom Founders
“for special overnight consultations in the Oval Office” complete with spring water and cookies AFTER January 20, 2013?

[carriage_hill]

Ditto that, bigtime, unkus.

[Diogenesis]

FOX "News"'s #1 Romney-Pimp and Anchor-Wife-in-Training:
“We at FOX know about Romney's failure as a Governor.
And YOU know, we are never gonna talk about it.
And YOU won't find us revealing that
Romney, himself, imposed RomneyCARE AND
gay marriage AND covered up the BIG DIG.
Mitt Romney has the perfect height.
And his feet are the perfect shape.
And his hair is perfect, too.
Willard smells so good, that Brit Hume
and I tingle together.
Romney we will forever be the "frontrunner"
here at FOX/BAIN News
… even when you laugh on the floor knowing
it is obviously not true."

[Leep]

It takes a lot of nerve to do something like that...so why don’t they use that nerve for good?
There is some many opportunities to take a strong stance and Romney comes across as someone who doesn’t really have a handle on the situation. He also comes across like someone whose uncle got him the job.
When it comes to Romney, same as it was for Obama, your guts knows somethhing is not right.
Its what they are not doing, and to a lesser extent saying, that is the worry.

Go Newt!
Go Sarah!
Go Brokered Convention!

Go away Romney!

[mo]

Welcome to the United Soviet States of America..where the Pravda State Media “vet” the candidates to the pleasure and needs of the RinoCrat UniParty.

This “election” will be a non-election...featuring the state approved “candidates”-whose only distinction is whether they are black or white.

[presently no screen name]

How do you sell something that isn’t yours - that’s robbery.

[COBOL2Java]

Wait'll Romney gives his next speech!

[montag813]

Bush did the same thing in 2004. C’mon people...don’t get hoodwinked by Ben Smith and the DNC pressroom known as “BuzzFeed”.

[presently no screen name]

Ads like - this is how the rich get very rich - they take from you with promises. Typical used car dealer mindset. Those with a ABO mindset, beware. VOTE NEWT!

[MichaelCorleone]

Pay no attention to things like this, folks.

You simpletons, you pureists, you conservatives are just not smart enough to understand what us big boys in the GOPe are up to.

So shut up and just pull the ‘R’ lever.

Yours,
Karl and the boys.

[presently no screen name]

your guts knows something is not right.

EVIL KNOWS NO BOUNDS!

[newzjunkey]

This doesn’t seem unlike something prior nominees would’ve done to entice their donors and bundlers.

[cotton1706]

This is dangerous. Even if he is going to be the nominee, he shouldn’t be getting arrogant, believing his election is a sure thing. We all know what happened with President Dewey!

[Jagdgewehr]

Bump to that one!

[greyfoxx39]

News flash! WH denizens rolling on the floor laughing at Romney’s belief he can defeat Obama’s machine.

[newzjunkey]

It sounded like something W might’ve done with his Pioneers but I had no specific recollection.

[Leo58]

Well said

[Doofer]

If Obama gets a second term I can see sights like FR vanishing from the Internet.

[bibo_ergo_sum]

“The rats will use this in campaign commercials.”

Not if Obama has done something even more outrageous, which is usually the case.

[EDINVA]

That $1 raffle is really for the purpose of expanding their emailing lists, to be used for this and future campaigns. For a fundraiser, it’s invaluable.

As to the currently discussed Romney email to potential major donors, I really doubt it’s at all out of the norm. The campaign needs major $ infusions, and should reflect optimism both as to getting the nomination and winning election. All candidates express optimism and enthusiasm right up to the day they withdraw or lose.

As it stands today, Romney has a very strong shot at being the GOP nominee and a 50/50 chance to win in November. His campaign has no choice but to send out this type of fundraising email. THO, for really big bucks, it’s usually done one-on-one, not thru emails. And there is always a quid pro quo for major donors. If there weren’t, there wouldn’t be any major donors. Political campaigns aren’t charities.

[COBOL2Java]

It’s like they do it on purpose to make themselves look bad.

Kind of like how the McCain campaign was run. Deja Vu all over again?

[COBOL2Java]

They just don’t care, because most of them are fine with Obama and they didn’t think anybody could beat him in the first place.

The GOP establishment is perfectly happy with an Obama second term because they'll still be eligible to grab the scraps that fall off of TheWon's table. Romney to them? "Ehh...it was his turn - where's the next lobbyist party?"

[Uncle Miltie]

Whore Futures!

I knew Mitt 0bamney was brilliant, but this is a whole new financial vehicle that involves someone being screwed, and you can be sure it’s us!

[Dengar01]

STUPID!!! Y’all can call me a nut but I am a very superstitious person. This would be like buying World Series tickets today because the White Sox are 7-6. Meaning, the likely hood of them going to the World Series is probably 100-1, although I haven’t checked Vegas they may be more optimistic than I am.

[Dengar01]

I don't know what happened to Trump. I will admit his hotel in Chicago rocks, his TV show sucks. When he relies on Third World Beauty Queens as Celebrities, I stop watching his show!

I liked him earlier when he was constantly ripping Obama but now he seems to just simply ONLY talk Romney. Romney needs to grow a pair and start talking himself or Bozo will rip him apart even with the 100s of scandals unfolding daily with this disgusting Administration. I forgot where I saw it but someone told me she calls Moochelle the Deficit Queen! With all her vacations it sure makes sense to me :)

[unkus]

If Obama gets a second term I can see sights like FR vanishing from the Internet.

---

And Rush and Hannity and Levin and............

[katiedidit1]

Sites like Free Republic will grow stronger. Also, IF the republicans win control of the senate and maintain control of the house..the conservatives can accomplish as much as Newt did against Clinton when he served as speaker of the house AND the gop E will be sent a message..loud and clear.
There is a conservative fight going on in this county..time to shake up the RNC!

[katiedidit1]

SEND THE RNC A MESSAGE! TIME TO SHAKE UP THE ESTABLISHMENT!