Donors withhold 90 million if Biden stays in the race.. isn't that blackmail??

[Peacetrain]

Is this why we have 19 members of congreess asking the President to step down... Blackmail??

Are we supposed to bow down to this group blackmailing our elected officials ..?

Is this even legal?

https://www.nbc26.com/politics/america-votes/presidential-election/democratic-megadonors-to-withhold-90-million-if-biden-stays-in-race-report-says




Story says they are also suggest not to have Kamala Harris..

What the hell is going on here..

[LisaL]

1. Only 90 millions?

They think they can rule the world for 90 millions?
Kind of cheap.

[flying_wahini]

2. We don't need their filthy money.

I don’t need slogans or number stickers. Keep it.

[former9thward]

16. You do not speak for the campaign.

They want (and need) the money.

[LisaL]

23. So for that money, we should sell our president down the river?

LOL.

[former9thward]

32. Who is "we"?

Nobody is asking you to do or not do anything. You said the money was not needed. Not needed by you, but by the campaign.

[LisaL]

35. Did you not read the article?

Money is being withheld, unless Biden is forced out. Whose campaign needs the money? As for we, we are Biden's supporters.

[former9thward]

43. You really think the Biden campaign does not need money?

[LisaL]

45. But for Biden campaign to get this money, Biden has to step down.

How does that make sense to you? Are you suggesting he has to step down for 90 millions? His campaign already collected way more than that. How does that make any sense?

[former9thward]

50. The money goes to PACs, not the campaign itself.

PACs are desperately needed by campaigns at the national level.

[LisaL]

52. Again, the condition to get this 90 millions is to force Biden out.

I don't care for the terms of this offer.
Or whatever you call it.

[DemocraticPatriot]

76. BLACKMAIL! Peacetrain had it right.

[edisdead]

74. You aren't making sense.

The miney is not for Biden or one of his pacs. It is for the representatives that they are holding the money over.

[edisdead]

73. I am confused.

They are withholding the money from the representatives no?

[sl8]

92. "... donors told the largest pro-Biden super PAC, Future Forward, they would would not produce $90 million ..."

According to a New York Times report, Democratic donors told the largest pro-Biden super PAC, Future Forward, they would not produce $90 million unless the president were to drop out of the race. The Times cited two sources briefed on the conversations."

[DemocraticPatriot]

75. They are promising to NOT give it to him unless he quits,

in such case they won't be giving it to him at all, will they?

Heads they win, tails President Biden and the rest of us lose.

[LeftInTX]

110. I believe the funds will go to the nominee if Biden quits. It won't go to Biden. The funds are going to a super PAC.

In the end, I think some donors will reinstate their contributions if Biden is the nominee. They're using this to try to control the process.

If Biden isn't the nominee, there will also be an exodus of donors due to the perception that what happened to Biden was unfair.

[we can do it]

80. Hell Oooo - they are not giving the $$ to Biden, they want him out.

[flying_wahini]

97. It's IF we throw Biden overboard.

[Trueblue1968]

28. Remove Tilson from the pac. Tilson does not speak for me. Why can he control the money ???he sounds like a bad evil man.

[FarPoint]

64. The campaign will get what they need easy enough...

We small donors want to live in a Democracy...sacrifice is understood...We will fill that void. We can kick up donations...we have done it so very often before.

[former9thward]

66. No, it doesn't work that way in real life.

Super PACs have been running the campaigns of both parties for a long time now.

[edisdead]

77. ok. We all gon die then.

Such defeatism.

[former9thward]

113. Reality is reality.

It is not defeatism or optimism. Ignoring reality is always defeatism. And yes, all of us are going to die at some point.

[FarPoint]

89. We will be fine....Biden/Harris big win in November

Why I feel this....major forces and drivers are...

tRump MAGA platform....dictatorship goals. Biden maintains and improve Democracy.

Women's rights/ the right to choose reproductive rights will mobilize both men and women to vote for Biden ....massive voter turn out...

Immigration laws/ rights that 45 wants to make every male/white driven

The destruction of Democracy with 2025 Manifesto

Supreme Court imbalance could get worse with tRump and Biden can change this all when elected in November.


I also see a massive voter turnout with support for Biden....

Media is now owned by tRump far right billionaires so we are NOT getting an accurate picture.

[edisdead]

72. Ohhh well then that makes it alright to sell democracy down the drain.

[we can do it]

78. Whose campaign wants and needs the 90M if Biden/Harris step down? Are you psychic?

Please, fill us in.

[Takket]

3. uh, no, making a personal choice what to spend your money on is not "blackmail".

[LisaL]

6. Seems like they are withholding money unless

congress critters force Biden to resign.

[Igel]

56. Strikes me as really similar to a boycott. n/t

[Peacetrain]

8. we can agree to disagree about that.. this is the definition I used

BLACKMAIL Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
Blackmail is the act of attempting to force someone to do something or give up something valuable by threatening negative consequences if they don’t, especially revealing negative information about them.

[onenote]

115. Dictionary definitions are irrelevant. Federal law defines blackmail narrowly.

18 USC 873:
Whoever, under a threat of informing, or as a consideration for not informing, against any violation of any law of the United States, demands or receives any money or other valuable thing, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

[texasfiddler]

4. I'll take the 200+ Million in the bank with Biden/Harris they will lose. A big part of me is in that total. So FUCK EM

[Srkdqltr]

5. Ya, pretty much. Blackmail sounds right.

No one ever says. WHO?? they only complain but have no alternative.

[we can do it]

7. How bout us little people band together and boycott these peoples' then?

[LisaL]

10. 90 millions isn't even that much.

If everybody donates.

[Trueblue1968]

30. How about we sue these bastards ?????? They are evil !!!!!!

[MichMan]

59. Sue them for what?

Not donating their own money how they choose?

[flying_wahini]

9. Another nay sayer trying to negate OUR VOTE.

Who this is here….
https://www.opensecrets.org/donor-lookup/results?cand=&cycle=&employ=&name=Whitney+Tilson&order=asc&page=10&sort=D&state=NY&zip=

[Peacetrain]

13. Thank you.. I do not know how the heck I missed this story today or put 2 and 2 together

[texasfiddler]

11. I used to give to other Democrats. Not anymore, I will give to Biden/Harris exclusively until this shit ends.

[JohnSJ]

18. That is exactly what I am doing right now. Hakeem Jeffries better

get the few House Democrats to stop running to argue this through the press. We long like a bunch of clowns.

We don’t need the media privy to Democratic discussions.

[yorkster]

85. Right. After that speech tonight in Detroit

this question should be finito, done, wrapped up. He was on fire and so were the people.

This whole thing is damn suspect at this point.One by one they come creeping out with their belated concerns. And who the hell do they have in mind?

We have a terrific Pres. and a helluva smart, formidable VP should anything happen to him.
We the People are getting damn angry.

[shrike3]

81. My plan exactly. No money from me until I get a statement of support for Biden.

[live love laugh]

12. As was apparent, this has zero to do with Biden or his age.

[Peacetrain]

21. That was just about the first thing that crossed my mind when the story finally clicked with me

I just breezed right over it today.. I did not read it.. and coming back online it was in my newsfeed and I stopped and read it.. holy crap..

[JohnSJ]

14. I blame a lot of this crap on Carville. He should not be privy to

any Democratic meetings.

[BunkieBandit]

61. Many "old school" democrats

along with James Carville are complicit. I wonder if there is a deep state in Washington. Most are not progressive nor looking inward for the Democratic Party.

[JohnSJ]

62. Without a doubt.

[we can do it]

15. Here's an easy one to boycott- Whitney Tilson- investment "research" scam newsletter.

Whitney is the lead analyst for Stansberry Investment Advisory, our flagship newsletter.

Wonder if he finally had to pay some tax?

[LisaL]

17. It sure sounds like he thinks he can order everyone around because he is rich.

Not so fast.

[Qutzupalotl]

19. I take it as a challenge.

Can we raise that much or more? Maybe if they keep PISSING US OFF.

[LisaL]

26. If everybody donates, for sure we can raise 90 millions.

NT

[MOMFUDSKI]

20. Money is god.

This is sick. Judas comes to mind

[Funtatlaguy]

22. I think this money comes back after both conventions when

Biden starts showing leads in the battleground states.

[Irish_Dem]

39. He probably sold out his party, president and country for a lot less than that.

We will be shocked when we learn how little it took for people to betray everything.

[unblock]

51. It still doesn't make sense. Himes is running for his 9th term in a safe district.

He doesn't need that kind of money, at least not to get elected himself.

Maybe he's building up a war chest to increase his influence by helping other candidates, I don't know.

[bluestarone]

25. FUCK THEM

I'm riding with Biden!!

[Butterflylady]

27. Before this day ends I will be donating to Bidens campaign.

Don't have a lot, but anything to help get elected.

[msongs]

29. one notices the article does not include a list of all of those donors nt

[LisaL]

31. The article does have a name.

NT

[msongs]

36. one but not all. only one? not credible nt

[LisaL]

40. I guess Whitney is their spokesperson.

NT

[MagickMuffin]

70. Mike Novogratz is someone who is behind this push to oust Biden

I don’t know if he was exposed in the article as I didn’t read it but Mike Novogratz is also helping with this bs. There was info posted here yesterday.

[brewens]

33. What are they afraid of? Do they have some insider information on something Joe has planned for a second

term?

Maybe Joe plans to really lower the boom on some bullshit?

[edisdead]

82. They don't want to pay taxes

This shit goes back a ways. And by back a ways I mean all the fucking way back to the beginning of this country.

[Irish_Dem]

34. So who is their favorite candidate?

Maybe this answer will shed some more light on what the H is going on?

Time to put some puzzle pieces together.

[FarPoint]

42. NO ONE.....

No one else has stepped up to claim the throne on the Democrats side.. So that suggest this is all hyper- spin bullshit.

[Irish_Dem]

48. If there was one very ambitious person stirring up the pot,

that might make sense.

And add cash bribes.

[edisdead]

83. It appears to be Trump

[Irish_Dem]

90. I think you may be correct.

[FarPoint]

37. I honestly don't believe it...

I just feel there is way, way too much unrealistic, unsubstantiated claims out in the media.... It just does not fit....

I will do spell check later..

[Irish_Dem]

44. People selling out for cash makes more sense than anything else at this point.

[FarPoint]

47. Well...

Who has followed the money? Where is the banker?

[Irish_Dem]

49. This is the next step to see if this hypotheses has merit.

[Quixote1818]

38. That's what Elon Musk called it when advertisers said they would not advertise on Twitter

No, not blackmail in the slightest. It's their money.

[dchill]

41. It's just politics. You know, the blackmail part of politics.

Like Clooney is trying to do.

[AllaN01Bear]

46. so you want a convicted con man to run the country again. up yours.

[AllaN01Bear]

53. i was hoping to get ultra big money out of the political game but along comes citzen united enabled by

the ultra clown court. pox the rich.

[sop]

54. It's looks like Biden signaled the big bucks Democratic party donor class he wouldn't go along with a lot of

their narrow special interest demands in his second term. Things like letting the Trump tax cuts expire, for one. I think Joe wants to be remembered as more of a friend to the working class than the investor class.

[Peacetrain]

55. Ohhhh now that starts to make sense..

[Deminpenn]

103. Trump tax cuts for the rich don't expire, it's the ones for regular folks

that expire in 2025 and revert to what they were before the tax cuts became law

[sop]

107. The top individual tax rate will revert to pre-TCJA levels after 2025: 39.6%

Federal gift and estate tax exemptions, allowing the ultra-wealthy to transfer tax-free assets to the next generation, would also revert to their lower pre-TCJA levels, costing the ultra-wealthy much more money. There's more, but I'm not a tax expert.

It's clear the extremely rich stand to benefit greatly if Trump's tax cuts are extended, and average Americans would suffer from cuts to important programs to make up for the lost federal tax revenue:

"Permanently Extending the Trump Tax Cuts Would Cost $4 Trillion Over the Next Decade. Permanently extending the Trump tax cuts would cost $400 billion per year and give the largest tax cut to extremely rich households."

"An extension would provide, on average, a larger tax cut for extremely rich households than for everyone else. Households with incomes of more than $500,000 per year—roughly the top 2 percent of households by income—would receive a larger tax cut than households making $200,000 per year, not just in dollars terms but also as a percentage of their after-tax income. And the households making $200,000 per year would receive a larger tax cut than those making $50,000 or less per year."

https://www.americanprogress.org/article/permanently-extending-the-trump-tax-cuts-would-cost-4-trillion-over-the-next-decade/

[CoopersDad]

57. Whitney Tilson says no to Kamala Harris? So I looked him up.

He's an asshole. Fuck him.

https://edreform.blogspot.com/

And:

"Whitney Tilson, a longtime Wall Street investor and Democratic donor, has accused Joe Biden of “deceiving the American people” about his mental fitness for office — and is demanding that he “step down immediately” as the party’s 2024 presidential candidate.

The 57-year-old money man — who made a bundle during the financial crisis, only to shutter his hedge fund Kase Capital in 2017 — told The Post that Biden should allow a younger rival to take on Trump and save the US “from a four-year nightmare” following his CNN debate debacle last week."

[Mister Ed]

91. Complains that she'd be shoved down our throats, while trying to shove his demands down our throats.

"I am absolutely emphatically opposed to simply anointing or coordinating Harris as the nominee," Tilson said. "I think there would be an absolute outcry among all Democrats at the party bosses or Biden to have a candidate [shoved down] our throats... I would...support her, but she has to earn it."

[Deminpenn]

105. Now that Biden has total immunity for official presidential acts,

he can just call up the head of the IRS to do an indepth audit of Tilson's businesses. Jmho, but anyone running a hedge fund likely has done a lot of creative bookkeeping.

This guy got rich off other people's financial catastrophies and the taxpayer funded bailouts after all.

[tazkcmo]

58. Dirty $&@!!

1. Our 14 million primary votes for Biden aren't for sale. If they were, he's still 910 million dollars just for mine. (I would double cross him and take his money)

2. His football analogy is based on a false premise. We aren't down 14 but up by 1 in some polls. No link but I did read it here on DU. Also, we,re still in the 2nd quarter with halftime being in August/Septemberish and the second half being Septemberish/October until election day. Certainly not 2 minutes.

3. Dewey wins! Lol

4. This guy and his f stick meat bag buddies have no clue how passed people will be. I think the "not Shitzinpantz so might not vote or only down ticket" people could be irked at the hubris of these rich $&%#![%÷=;%!!!! that they actually vote for Biden. Americans don't care too much for bullies and I'm not talking about Magats because they're bullies too.

[Think. Again.]

60. This tilson guy said this...

"...it is clear that there is virtually zero support among all Democratic members in Congress, House and Senate for remaining the nominee, and that will be communicated with him," Tilson said."

Obviously not a credible person, probably doesn't even have control of the 90 million anyway.

[LisaL]

67. The amount of arrogance in his statement is astounding.

Biden has to go? Kamala has to earn the support? They won the primaries. This guy couldn't care less about that. It's all about what the rich donors want.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

63. It shows why Citizens United should be repealed.

[DBoon]

87. it shows why we need a wealth tax in this country

No small group of oligarchs should have so much money that they can force a major political party to change its voter-chosen candidate.

[Freethinker65]

65. Suggest they donate to Democrats running for Congress instead.

They will need someone to try to keep checks and balances on the judicial, and especially executive, branch should Trump win. They might be fond of Trump's deregulate everything , drill everywhere, sell off all public resources policies, but not so in love with cozying up to foreign dictators, arbitrary reactionary tariffs, dumbing down of public education (sure they need non-critical thinking gullible grunts, but they also need high performing quality employees), and decimation of the middle class that use their services and buy their products.

[LisaL]

68. These people should keep their money.

They clearly think that because they donate, when they say jump, everybody should be asking how high.

[madibella]

69. This only makes me dig in my heels for Biden even more.

They are playing with fire. These Dems can turn off voters in such a way that Congress becomes in jeopardy.

I really cannot afford to donate due to some personal issues regarding an accident and my husband. But, I will. What I’ve been doing is donating $5 or $10 here and there. It is extremely satisfying to be able to donate even a small amount knowing that these dummies have awakened Joe’s base and caused the opposite of their intended mission. Not going down without a fight. I love it.

Dumbass traitorous assholes.

[Bonx]

71. No. Not even remotely close.

[NoMoreRepugs]

79. Sorry, anyone here that thinks this is even 1% okay or reasonable is a moron. Voters over donors.

[OAITW r.2.0]

84. Well, fuck them, then.

We'll do it ourselves.

[Sogo]

86. Well, Biden got over 80 million votes in 2020.

Last edited Sat Jul 13, 2024, 12:25 AM - Edit history (1)

If each of us who voted for him gave a dollar, we could thumb our noses at the frozen 90 mil.

[wryter2000]

88. Don't know if it's blackmail

But it's bullshit.

[Kaleva]

93. How is that blackmail? It's their money.

[Shrek]

94. "I won't spend my money unless I get what I want" is not blackmail

It happens all the time everywhere.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

95. What would be illegal about it?

[CarlYasutomo]

96. I saw that article and immediately donated another $500

It doesn't make up for $90 million but hopefully others will react the same way I did.

[bigtree]

98. bribery if anti-Biden pols accept the money

[Sympthsical]

99. Nominations have always been determined by money

If you don't have financial backers, your chances of landing a presidential nomination in a major party is just about zero.

Is it right? No.

Is it our system? Always been. Every major candidate we've ever had is determined by the amount of money they can solicit. No one goes to Silicon Valley for fun. It's very dull there.

Is it weird people are mad about it now that it may be affecting things in a way they don't like but were extremely chill with when donors made these decisions in ways that aided the candidates they preferred in previous races?

Well, it's a bit precious.

It's not blackmail. It's just now that it's cutting in a way disliked, everyone's, I guess, pretending they didn't know this is how all this worked and that every major candidate has always had this sort of thing going on?

Ok, I guess we're pretending that now. Sure.

[LisaL]

101. But in this case, nomination have already been determined.

Voters voted in the primaries and picked the candidate. These rich donors decided they don't like whom the voters selected, and think the results of the primary should be cast aside in favor of whomever the rich donors think is suitable for them.
Hardly seems like that should be legal.

[Sympthsical]

106. The donors feel it hasn't

They clearly feel the nomination is not yet set in stone - which it isn't, by the way. Not until the convention. That's why we use the term "presumptive nominee" instead of just plain nominee. Some donors have decided they'd like someone else, and they're voting with their wallets. How is that illegal? Do you feel you can compel people to give their money to a politician they don't like? It's a bit weirdly authoritarian, don't you think? And don't we, by donating, signal our approval or disapproval of a candidate? Why are we free to make our donation choices but they are not?

And these are wallets that people are extremely ok with when it's benefiting their preferred candidate. Hell, we brag about it, don't we? "Such and Such Raised a Bajillion Dollars This Quarter!" I know I see those kinds of articles approvingly shared on the regular and used as proof of not just viability but the strength of the campaign compared to its competitors.

But the second it cuts in a way disliked it's, "There is gambling afoot!"

Tch. Ok. This has to be disingenuous. Just has to be. There is no way anyone who considers themself a political junkie or follows party politics does not know this donor stuff goes on nonstop. Hell, we have a poster here who tells everyone all about major donor activities behind closed doors fairly often.

It's not blackmail. It's not illegal. It's just how politics works. And our candidates take vast quantities of money from the wealthy all the time - that Clooney fundraiser didn't exactly involve a lot of poors. Because America is pay to play and always has been, and you don't get into the dance unless you can buy a very expensive ticket or get donors on board who will buy the ticket for you.

But no one is obligated in any way to buy you that ticket. They can donate or not for any reason that enters their heads.

I'm glad to see people pissed, even if that anger is extremely situational. It's a shitty system, to be sure. But it's precious to think what's going on is somehow suddenly out of bounds.

These have always been the bounds.

[LeftInTX]

109. They are misinformed if they feel that can control the convention.

[Sympthsical]

111. Oh, probably

I have no idea what effect this will or won't have. I'm not in on those phone calls. If the President digs in and decides to stay, I don't see a scenario where they can do that much about it. Unless there was some mass delegate rebellion, which seems extremely unlikely, and I cannot imagine donor decisions would play any significant role in that almost impossible event.

But it's not blackmail or illegal or any of the others sorts of things people are saying.

Just say "I think these donors are wrong." There, done. And best of all, it's a totally valid opinion.

[LeftInTX]

112. It appears like "blackmail" or "bribes", but it is legal. Boycotts are also legal.

Since extortion and bribery are also legal terms.

Maybe in some countries this would be illegal, but it isn't in the US. For instance, I believe the UK has very strict campaign finance laws, which leads to their no-frills elections. I doubt if things will change in the US in the near future.

[LeftInTX]

108. Biden has more than the required number of pledged delegates needed for the nomination.

When I went to my county and state convention, I signed up to be a Biden delegate. At the state convention, the national delegates are elected. (I didn't file for national delegate). Biden needed 1,968 pledged delegates to win on the first ballot. He has 3,896.
You are pledged to the candidate. Most delegates are district delegates.





In 2024, there are an estimated 4,672 delegates: 3,933 pledged delegates and 739 automatic delegates—more commonly known as superdelegates.[2][3]

To win the Democratic nomination, a presidential candidate needs to receive support from a majority of the pledged delegates on the first ballot: an estimated 1,968 pledged delegates.[4][2][3] Biden has 3,896

If the convention is contested and goes to a second ballot or more, automatic delegates—commonly referred to as superdelegates—are able to vote and a candidate must receive majority support from all delegates—2,258 votes. Previously, superdelegates were able to vote on the first ballot. This rule changed after the 2016 presidential election, when the Unity Reform Commission proposed several ways to reduce the number and power of superdelegates.[5][6]

Pledged district delegates are distributed and elected at the congressional or state legislative district level.
Pledged at-large delegates are distributed and elected statewide.
Pledged PLEO delegates are party leaders and elected officials. Pledged PLEO delegates are most often selected in a similar manner to at-large delegates.

https://ballotpedia.org/Democratic_delegate_rules,_2024

Rules:
https://democrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2024-Call-for-Convention.pdf
https://democrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DNC-Charter-Bylaws-10.09.2021.pdf


___________

What they're trying to do with all this money is to force Biden to quit. However, the delegates are pledged. Some states have laws requiring the delegates to abide by their national parties' rules. Delegates are bound by the DNC rules. Sure, there are always delegates breaking rules and causing trouble at almost every convention.

The end result: Biden will be the nominee. He will be weakened by all of this drama. He will have less funds going into the general election due to donors pulling this stunt.

[JohnSJ]

102. Yes it is, and that this is not a violation of campaign finance laws seems very wrong. Big money is bribing

Congress people to speak out against President Biden in exchange for campaign donations, to try and force Biden out, as a way to get around the Democratic rules of pledged delegates.

It is a blatant use of money and corruption in politics.

[Mme. Defarge]

104. This has the feel of

Russian meddling.

[brooklynite]

114. Answer: no

Donations are voluntary.