Posted on 05/13/2010 8:21:25 AM PDT by Kaslin
President Obama has been happy to beat up on Wall Street "fat cats," but tonight he'll be even happier to take their money.
The President is slated to headline a superswank, $50,000-per-couple fund-raiser for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee at Manhattan's gilded St. Regis hotel on Fifth Ave.
The high-dollar affair will feature fine French food, a bevy of Wall Street titans and 23 Congress members - including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
Not everyone is thrilled that Obama and Pelosi are looking to use New York as a campaign ATM at the same time that they are trying to rein in Wall Street, the city's biggest job and tax generator by far.
At least one ex-congressional campaign committee giver said he's decided to boycott the event and will send his money to the GOP instead.
"I'm a New Yorker first," said the once loyal Dem, who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of inciting the White House. "We are depending on our congresspeople to defend New York, not to just go along with Nancy Pelosi for the ride."
Kathryn Wylde, president of the business-backed Partnership for New York City, was considerably more welcoming - but still drew a link between Wall Street's health and its ability to bankroll political campaigns.
"We are really happy he's coming and hope he brings good news," said Wylde, adding pointedly, "New York's future as a place to raise money hangs in the balance!"
Organizers said they expected 185 guests to fill out St. Regis' main ballroom, where Obama will hold forth beneath a vaulted, cloud-dappled ceiling and gilded chandeliers.
Ticket prices start at $15,000 a head, or $30,000 a couple, which will get you dinner and a picture with the Prez.
Couples that shell out a full $50,000 also get to attend a VIP reception with Obama, who earlier in the day will be chatting up factory workers in Buffalo.
The food, at least, should be five-star: A topnotch lineup of chefs from the French Culinary Institute in SoHo - including Jacques Pepin, Alain Sailhac, Jacques Torres and Andre Soltner - are prepared to do the honors.
The chairman of the event is Rep. Steve Israel (D-L.I.), who earlier this year was persuaded by Obama not to run in a primary against Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).
"It's always an honor to chair an event with the President of the United States," Israel said, "and it's an even bigger honor to host him in New York."
After beating up Wall Street 'fat cats,' President Obama ready to take their money in NY fund-raiser
High rent sheeple.
They’re acting like abused spouses.
They know that dispite all the flak they take, in the end they still have power and access. And get gobs and gobs of taxpayer money sent their way.
Is French food on Michelles diet? I know lobster with melted butter is. Michelle, have you lost that stubborn 30 lbs yet? Be careful the fat police are going to turn on you :)
“President Obama has been happy to beat up on Wall Street “fat cats,” but tonight he’ll be even happier to take their money.”
The question is why do they keep giving money to him, unless all the tough rhetoric is just fodder for the masses and the real deals are being done behind closed doors.
Its all for show. Cap’n’trade guarantees that they’ll be masters of the freakin’ universe. Masters of the freakin’ universe.
this all a charade as Wall Street has been a heavy supporter of Obama all along.
I believe the correct term is “extortion”.
Goldman Sachs donated almost $1,000,000 to Obama’s campaign and much more to other Democrats through the years. It’s hard to believe that their bailout wasn’t payback for loyalty.
I agree
not 1 cent !
Right you are. Nothing more than crony capitalism at its finest. The deal is: the government keeps shoveling them our money, with the proviso that, if there’s a populist eruption to be exploited for political purposes, the fat cats will agree to act as whipping boys for a temporary period. This allows the administration and congress to pretend to be concerned about the ordinary citizen, while all the time allowing them to run down free-market capitalism (which of course this is NOT) as evil — which furthers their ultimate endgame, which is the destruction of American capitalism and its replacement with a command economy, run by the pols and the fat cats.
Who are these imbeciles?
Anyone who is fool enough to even *go* to this fundraiser, much less make a donation to Obama, is too damned stupid or corrupt, to handle *my* money.
Watch what they do, not what they say!
always, always, always!
If only just one of them would stand, and lob a few tomatos at the president.
Steve Israel is not unlike the members of the Jewish Ghetto Police in the Third Reich, always willing to help the leader and seem even crueler than he.
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