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ENCINITAS — Francine Busby is telling supporters that Friday night's disruption by sheriff's deputies of a fund-raiser for her congressional campaign shows that she is a “right-wing” target. Busby is asking for campaign contributions to reach a goal of $200,000 by the end of Tuesday. “I am going to fight even harder to stop this hateful intimidation,” Busby said in a letter e-mailed to supporters late Monday. “I hope that I can count on you to fight this battle with me ... Your contribution will show that you aren't afraid to stand with me.”

The Senate Republican campaign operation is citing a Tuesday exchange between California Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer and U.S. Army Gen. Michael Walsh in its latest fund-raising pitch to supporters. During a hearing before the Environment and Public Works Committee, Walsh referred to Boxer as “ma’am,” a moniker the chairwoman did not appreciate. “Do me a favor, can you say ’senator’ instead of ‘ma’am’?” Boxer said, interrupting the Army general. “It’s just a thing. I worked so hard to get that title, so I’d appreciate it. Thank you.” Smith responded: “Yes, senator.” In an email pitch to supporters, National Republican Senatorial...

Note: The following text is a quote: THE BRIEFING ROOM THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary _______________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release June 19, 2009 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT DSCC/DCCC FUNDRAISER Mandarin Oriental Hotel Washington, D.C. June 18, 2009 7:06 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Well, it is nice to be among friends. I want to thank Bob Menendez, the DSCC chair. I want to thank Chris Van Hollen, the DCCC chair; my great leaders in Congress, Harry Reid and Madam Speaker Nancy Pelosi, for their outstanding leadership. To all my colleagues and former colleagues who I see...

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks at the DSCC/DCCC democratic fundraiser at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Washington, June 18, 2009

WASHINGTON, June 19 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama used a congressional Democratic fundraiser in Washington to jab critics of his domestic and economic plans. Obama, speaking Thursday at a joint fundraiser for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, ripped Republicans who have criticized the administration's efforts on economic stimulus spending and reforms to the nation's healthcare financial regulatory systems, The Hill reported. After ticking off legislation that he has signed into law, Obama took on Republicans who have attacked his administration for several of his big and costly initiatives.

Theboard of directors of the National Stonewall Democrats are dropping their support for a June 25 DNC fundraiser with Vice President Joe Biden over, they wrote in an email obtained by POLITICO, a combination of policy slights and the claim that they've been cut off from traditional party funding. In the email to Tom Petrillo, who runs the party's substantial gay fundraising operation, the board members write: [W]e are incredibly disappointed that the DNC has made a decision to withhold any financial support to National Stonewall Democrats this year but is in turn asking us to help raise money for...

Please keep in mind that with this media that we have nowadays, we should always be skeptical of the information that we're getting, especially if it is in English. I really want to send out a warning to all members about any information that we may be receiving about the Iran election. Being that I used to blog on McCainSpace during the election, I had remembered this vital piece of information that may be of use to us now: Obama and Ahmadinejad may be on the same side. Why do I say that? Obama and Ahmadinejad are actually connected through...

Two prominent gay figures, activist David Mixner and widely read blogger Andy Towle, have pulled out of a Democratic National Committee fundraiser later this month amid growing calls to confront the administration at what was supposed to be its first large scale opportunity to bring in gay cash. "I will not attend a fundraiser for the National Democratic Party in Washington next week when the current administration is responsible for these kind of actions," Mixner wrote of a motion to dismiss a challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act that drew a parallel between same-sex marriage to incestuous marriage. "How...

This much is clear: Palin was invited to be the keynote speaker at the dinner. What happened next, however, is a matter of hot dispute. Party officials say she accepted and reneged. Palin loyalists say she was merely mulling the offer. Either way, the party moved on and invited Gingrich to be the substitute keynoter. In recent days, Palin was reinvited to the event, but that invitation was rescinded over concerns that the darling of the conservative base would steal the spotlight from Gingrich. Palin, reportedly angered that the party establishment was slighting her again, let it be known that...

The 2009 GOP House/Senate dinner raised almost $14.5M, the NRSC and NRCC announced this evening. "Thanks to the generosity and dedication of my Republican colleagues, this year's Senate-House Dinner raised $7.25 million in support of Republican Senate candidates nationwide. As we look forward to the 2010 election cycle, we understand what's at stake and the principles that we are fighting for on behalf of voters across the country. By working together, the Republican Party will succeed in to restoring the checks and balances and the conservative leadership that we need in Washington. We are confident that we will have the...

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is planning to attend the joint House-Senate fundraising dinner tonight, according to sources familiar with her schedule, ending a back and forth between the vice presidential nominee and the two congressional campaign committees that goes back for months. Palin was initially invited to keynote tonight's gathering, which will benefit the National Republican Congressional Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, as the keynote speaker. Depending on whom you believe, Palin either accepted and then reneged or never accepted in the first place. Either way, the two congressional committees moved on -- inviting former House Speaker Newt...

In another sign of the sway that Sarah Palin and her supporters in Palin Nation hold over the GOP, NRCC chief Pete Sessions is working behind the scenes to get Palin reinvited to the big GOP fundraiser tonight, GOP sources say. It’s the story of the day that GOP leaders have been battling over who’s to blame for the fact that Palin was “snubbed” when she was disinvited from a speaking role at the big fundraiser, which is for the two Congressional committees, the NRCC and the NRSC. Politico laid the blame on NRCC chief Sessions, claiming he didn’t want...

Sarah Palin’s on-again, off-again appearance at Monday night’s gala GOP fundraising dinner is off — again. After being invited — for a second time — to speak to the annual joint fundraiser for the National Republican Congressional Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Palin was told abruptly Saturday night that she would not be allowed to address the thousands of Republicans there after all. The Alaska governor may now skip the dinner altogether, and her allies are miffed at what they see as a slight from the congressional wing of the Republican Party.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is using her public profile to draw attention to the needs of those with autism and other developmental disabilities in the New York metropolitan area. The former Republican vice presidential candidate is scheduled to join a fundraising walk for the group Autism Speaks in Westchester County on Sunday morning. Then she is to be honored on Long Island later Sunday at an anniversary celebration for Independent Group Home Living Inc. Palin's youngest son, Trig, has Down syndrome.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is coming to Long Island on Sunday to address a fundraising dinner in St. James hosted by an agency for the developmentally disabled. Palin, who rocketed to fame last summer when Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) picked her to be his vice presidential running mate, will speak to and be honored at the $125-a-plate dinner of Independent Group Home Living, her spokeswoman confirmed yesterday. Palin's 1-year-old son, Trig, was born with Down syndrome. Palin declared herself an advocate for developmentally disabled children during her September speech to the Republican National Convention. "We wanted to honor her as...

LOS ANGELES — Even as he conceded there is still much hard work to do, President Obama was in a boastful mood Wednesday night, telling a star-studded crowd at a fundraising dinner that he "would put these first four months up against any prior administration since FDR." The president, speaking to a dinner that included Hollywood A-listers like Kiefer Sutherland, Marisa Tomei, Jamie Foxx, Ron Howard and Steven Spielberg, lauded the legislation he has signed since taking office but added that he is "not satisfied." "I'm confident in the future, but I'm not yet content," Obama said. The celebrity dinner,...

The Brevard Tea Party will take place Sunday, April 19th from 1-4pm at the main event pavilion at Wickham Park next to Brevard Community College. We have confirmed US Congressman Bill Posey, “watchdog” Clerk of Courts Scott Ellis, political pundit Chris Ingram and local entertainer Mark Vance as guest speakers. One of the goals of the event is to harness the energy and get folks “plugged in” to organizations that will help to make a difference now and when the 2010 mid terms roll around. To this end we are offering tables for local clubs and organizations are available at...

New York, NY (LifeNews.com) -- Late-night NBC talk show host Jay Leno is coming under fire for plans to host a fundraising event later this month for a prominent pro-abortion organization. A pro-life group is taking Leno to task for announcing that he will host a dinner for the Feminist Majority Foundation.

Sarah Palin's dinner date with Republicans in Washington may be off, but she's still planning a political trip in two weeks to Indiana to attend a Right to Life fundraiser. Her political travel is likely to raise new questions. Her spokeswoman said she would not commit to a Senate-House GOP dinner in June because she was focused on Alaska state business -- not politics. On April 16, Palin will be attending the Vanderburgh County Right to Life dinner in Evansville, IN, as well as a breakfast the next day for S.M.I.L.E., a nonprofit organization for people with family members who...

Instead of the hysterical, "anonymous sources" contortion on the Politico and FOX pap articles about Governor Palin's "disinvitation" here a more serious article. Some important excerpts: ~snip A spokesman for the Senate GOP committee, Brian Walsh, said Palin's team informed the campaign committees that her responsibilities in Alaska prevented her from committing to the speech until the end of the legislative session.~snip "We completely understand and respect Governor Palin's focus on her official state business; however, there is obviously an enormous amount of planning that goes into this annual event. For that reason, we invited and are honored to have...

Congressional Republicans decided Tuesday to ditch the former GOP vice presidential nominee in favor of the former House speaker for the critical House-Senate fundraising dinner in June 8 in Washington. It's the marquee Republican event to raise money for GOP House and Senate candidates. Just weeks ago, the House and Senate Republican campaign committees were giddy at securing the telegenic Palin for the dinner. But then things grew murky. At the time, the Alaska governor's office told FOX News that Palin was still considering the invitation and had not yet made a decision. Meantime, spokespersons for the committees insisted that...

Remember this? She was in, then she wasn’t in, now she’s out. The official word from the congressional committees is that she had to decline due to “gubernatorial responsibilities in Alaska,” but sources tell Politico that the dithering by her staff forced them to pull the plug as the deadline approached:

Congressional Republicans are replacing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as the headliner of their big spring fundraising dinner with former Speaker Newt Gingrich after the party's former vice presidential candidate vacillated publicly about the appearance, sources familiar said Tuesday.

Just when you thought it was safe to start checking your e-mail and snail-mailboxes again, possibly the two biggest names in political fundraising today are hitting the money trail again. President Barack Obama. And Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Is this a very early pre-season matchup for 2012, at least moneywise? The new president will headline an event for the Democratic National Committee in Washington on March 25, just before he starts his first overseas trip as chief executive. It will be an early test of Obama's presidential moneyraising skills, given the complications of a sour economy and what D.C. Democrats...

The National Republican Congressional Committee is holding a NCAA basketball tournament "pick 'em challenge." Winners will receive two tickets to the June 8th GOP dinner, where Governor Palin will be delivering the keynote address.

Looks like Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will continue to have a future as a Republican fundraiser. Palin will deliver the keynote address at the June 8 Senate-House Dinner in Washington D.C. The annual dinner is a fundraiser for the Republican Party's congressional re-election efforts. Here's a statement from the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas: "Governor Palin has quickly emerged as one of the most popular and recognizable faces in the Republican Party, and we are honored to have her deliver the keynote address at the Senate-House dinner. As a proven leader in her home...

Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom confirms that the former Massachusetts governor is helping put together a Boston fundraiser for the Louisiana governor and a possible rival in 2012. --snip- Jindal is up for reelection in Louisiana in 2011, a race that, if — as he's indicated — he enters it, could well rule out a presidential bid.

Top brass flew to Baghdad with publicity-shy empowerment businessman Mzilikazi Wa Afrika, Jessica Bezuidenhout and Andre Jurgens Two of the ANC's most powerful officials travelled to Iraq with a controversial Johannesburg businessman just weeks before he landed a R1.2-billion state oil deal. Sandi Majali is one of about 270 people around the world who have been named in an alleged sanctions-busting scam involving oil from former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's regime. The names appeared in Iraqi State Oil Marketing Organisation documents found after the fall of Saddam. Majali, 41, who heads the media-shy empowerment company Imvume Resources, has for the...

Barack Obama has been embroiled in a cronyism row after reports that he intends to make Louis Susman, one of his biggest fundraisers, the new US ambassador in London. The selection of Louis Susman, a lawyer and banker from the president's hometown of Chicago, rather than an experienced diplomat, raises new questions about Mr Obama's commitment to the special relationship with Britain. American commentators denounced the selection of a rich friend to the plumb post, regarded as one of the most prestigious in the president's gift, as worthy of a "banana republic". They said it was proof that Mr Obama...

What’s this world coming to when you can’t trust Vogue magazine to be impartial? Turns out that cover story featuring Michelle Obama in fancy-schmancy designer fashions was written by editor-at large Andre Leon Talley. And it turns out Talley also hosted an $1000 per plate fundraiser for Barack Obama along with Vogue editor Anna Wintour and designer Calvin Klein. “With her long, lean, athletic frame, she moves as if she could have danced with Alvin Ailey in another life,” the article gushed. “Curled up in the corner of a huge taupe velvet sofa, wearing knee-high boots as she nestles into...

The final note of Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign may very well be sung by Jon Bon Jovi. The musician is performing at a fundraiser for the former presidential candidate as she tries to close out her campaign debt, which stood at $6.3 million as of last month. The Jan. 15 performance at Manhattan's Town Hall is being billed as "a final evening in support of Hillary Clinton for President Debt Relief." Ticket prices range from $75 to $1,000. The former first lady and New York senator has been working to pay down her debt to clear the way for...

Despite the grim economy, Wikipedia will still be with us in 2009, or at least through the end of June. The Wikimedia Foundation today announced it hit its goal of raising $6 million in donations, which is enough to keep Wikipedia running and its 23 staffers paid through June 30, 2009. Call it the "PBS" model: Wikipedia shuns commercial advertisements, but when it needs money, it runs "appeals" for donations in the form of banner ads. Could Wikipedia tote bags be far behind?

NewsMax: Left-wing billionaire George Soros is hosting a fundraiser on Thursday night to help Democrat Al Franken win the recount in Minnesota’s Senate election. The gathering at Soros’ Manhattan home will raise money to help Franken’s campaign cover the cost of monitoring the statewide recount. “The special guest: Al Gore, who knows a thing or two about recounts,” the New York Post reports. Republican Sen. Norm Coleman leads Franken by just over 200 votes at last count, out of 2.9 million cast. The results of the hand recount are not expected to be released until mid-December. Coleman remains confident. His...

The general election is over but why all these fundraisings? OBAMA Tele-Fundraising Vets WANTED! Raise $$$ For Non-Profit Orgs - (Mid-Wilshire ) img <<et ceteraOBAMA Tele-Fundraising Vets WANTED! Raise $$$ For Non-Profit Orgs - (Mid-Wilshire ) img <<nonprofitOBAMA Tele-Fundraising Vets WANTED! Raise $$$ For Non-Profit Orgs - (Mid-Wilshire ) img <<sales OBAMA Tele-Fundraising Vets WANTED! Raise $$$ For Non-Profit Orgs (Mid-Wilshire ) Reply to: recruiter@donorservicesgroup.com [?] Date: 2008-11-16, 2:31PM PST Donor Services Group has been making our world a better place for over 25 years – one phone call at a time, and with NO cold calling! We fundraise for a wide range of progressive non-profits that include the nation's...

Rahm Emanuel: The House Rahm Built FROM THE ARCHIVES: Rahm Emanuel was seething. He was hurtling down an asphalt road in upstate New York on the 47th trip of his ferocious campaign to win back the House. A lecture, even from his friend James Carville, was the last thing he needed. Carville and pollster Stan Greenberg telling him he had to make each of his handpicked candidates shift from attack mode and strike a conciliatory note in their final campaign ads. "James. No James, YOU LISTEN," Emanuel barked into a cell phone, about to release a string of profane invectives...

I just got called by the Obama campaign. They asked for a donation. I let the woman finish her schpiel (sp?) and asked if she was aware about Obama's association with unrepentant terrorist William Ayers.They then said that it was disinformation and asked for $250.00.I then asked the Obama campaign worker if she was aware that Obama is a socialist.She didn't know how to respond to that, but then asked me if I would like to contribute $100.00 to the Obama campaign.I asked her if she knew that Obama wants to dismantle our military and help our enemies by weakening...

Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden said during a Bay Area visit Saturday that he's optimistic that Barack Obama will be elected president, but he cautioned supporters not to be too confident. The Delaware senator noted that Democrats Al Gore and John Kerry were also well ahead in polls just weeks before Election Day in 2000 and 2004, but both lost their presidential contests to President Bush. "We've been here before. We've been poised to win the presidential election," Biden said. "The last two times we underestimated how successful virulent attacks are." Biden spoke to about 150 Democratic donors at...

Julie Lee, the Sunset District community organizer and political fundraiser who illegally funneled state grant money into a campaign account of former California Secretary of State Kevin Shelley, was sentenced Friday to five years of probation for state crimes that included grand theft, embezzlement and forgery. Lee pleaded guilty to the state charges in July, just days after being convicted of similar federal crimes. Last month, U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton sentenced Lee to a year and a day behind bars and denied a request from Lee's attorneys that she be sentenced to probation and house arrest. On Friday, San...

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CHICAGO -- Jailed political fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko, the Chicago real estate developer who helped launch Barack Obama on his political career, is whispering secrets to federal prosecutors about corruption in Illinois and the political fallout could be explosive. Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich, whose administration faces multiple federal investigations over how it handed out jobs and money with advice from Rezko, is considered the most vulnerable. Rezko also was friendly with Obama -- offering him a job when he finished law school, funding his earliest political campaigns and purchasing a lot next to his house. But based on the known...

CHICAGO - Jailed political fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko, the Chicago real estate developer who helped launch Barack Obama on his political career, is whispering secrets to federal prosecutors about corruption in Illinois and the political fallout could be explosive. Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich, whose administration faces multiple federal investigations over how it handed out jobs and money with advice from Rezko, is considered the most vulnerable. Rezko also was friendly with Obama — offering him a job when he finished law school, funding his earliest political campaigns and purchasing a lot next to his house. But based on the known...

CHICAGO - Jailed political fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko, the Chicago real estate developer who helped launch Barack Obama on his political career, is whispering secrets to federal prosecutors about corruption in Illinois and the political fallout could be explosive. Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich, whose administration faces multiple federal investigations over how it handed out jobs and money with advice from Rezko, is considered the most vulnerable. Rezko also was friendly with Obama — offering him a job when he finished law school, funding his earliest political campaigns and purchasing a lot next to his house. But based on the known...

If you don't believe Sarah Palin's Carson rally was originally slated for Orange County, I can show you the press badges they gave us: "McCain-Palin, Orange County, CA," with a drawing of surfboards stuck in the sand. She finally did make it here by Saturday evening, for her big fundraiser at Segerstrom Hall in Costa Mesa. Newport Beach's Dale Dykema, one of the VIPs in attendance, said he'd heard 1,200 attended and that $2 million was raised. I've heard enough inflated accounts of fundraisers to want to see the federal campaign filings, but it was clear that this was a...

Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin was slated to attend a political fundraiser in Burlingame Sunday morning with more than 1,00 people paying as much as $2,500 each to sit down with her for brunch. Palin supporters and anti-war protestors were both expected to rally outside during the brunch at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Aiport. Palin has spent the weekend accusing Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama of "palling around with terrorists" for his association with a former 1960s radical. Palin was referring to Bill Ayers, one of the founders of the Weather Underground. The group took credit for bombings,...

BURLINGAME, CA -- Supporters and protesters planning to gather outside a Burlingame hotel Sunday morning are hoping to catch a glimpse of vice presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who will offer remarks over a fundraising brunch scheduled to take place inside.

Fresh from the most-watched vice-presidential debate in history, GOP vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin will appear at a Burlingame brunch fundraiser Sunday. Organizers said Friday they expect about 1,500 people, a capacity crowd, to hear Palin speak at the Hyatt Regency shortly before noon. Tickets are no longer available. ... "We're trying to find room for an extra 200 people,'' said Kristen Heuter, who is leading the fundraising effort. Heuter and local GOP party officials said the phones have been ringing off the hook since Thursday night's debate, which was seen by 69.9 million people, a record for a vice-presidential debate....

DOWNTOWN DALLAS -- Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is making a stop in Dallas, just a day after her closely-watched debate with Democratic rival Joe Biden. Palin arrived at Love Field late Friday morning and was whisked in a motorcade to the Fairmont Hotel in downtown Dallas. Dozens of supporters and protesters gathered near the Fairmont chanting and carrying signs. The anti-Palin signs included one that read "Dick Cheney in a Dress" while Palin supporters chanted "we want Sarah."

Idea for Paulson and Bush: Why not have a fundraiser in order for Americans to open their wallets and donate to this bailout cause? I mean, we're asked to open our wallets for many things -- hurricane relief, Sept. 11th fund, overseas natural disasters (tsunami, etc.) -- why not have Americans write checks to benefit the U.S.? Also, Obama's campaign has made over $460 million in the past 2 years, and McCain has made less. Why not donate all of this campaign money to this cause after this election cycle is over? Finally, where are our allies and why don't...

VIP coffee with Palin at fundraiser? $25,000By Sara Burnett, Rocky Mountain News Updated September 24, 2008 at 7:35 p.m. Gov. Sarah Palin's private fundraiser at Centennial Airport next month will include a $25,000-per-person "VIP coffee" with the Republican vice presidential candidate. The McCain-Palin Victory 2008 Breakfast is scheduled for Oct. 4. It's $1,000 per person for breakfast, according to the invitation. For $2,500 per person, the donor also will get a photo taken with Palin. The VIP coffee, scheduled to begin a half-hour before the breakfast, requires the donor to contribute or raise $25,000. The fundraiser will mark Palin's third...