Cowlesy
04-21-2010, 08:01 AM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/20/AR2010042005183.html?sid=ST2010042100120
The nonprofit Center for Responsive Politics, in an analysis done at the request of The Post, calculated, however, that administrative and fundraising expenses consumed about $60 million of Democratic revenue in this cycle through the end of February, or 59 percent of total revenue that exceeded $100 million. For Republicans, the amount exceeded $74 million, or 68 percent of $109 million in revenue.
"There is a class of [political] donors who expect to be wined and dined and who expect to have gala receptions as part and parcel of giving a donation," said Anthony J. Corrado, a Colby College professor specializing in campaign finance. But he said many current expenditures "are not the type that are going to translate into a large financial boon . . . such as spending on charter flights, limousines, entertainment, food and beverages at party headquarters."
Spending reports at the Federal Election Commission offer vivid illustrations of luxurious tastes. When RNC Chairman Michael S. Steele and colleagues took several dozen party donors on a retreat last August to Jackson Hole, Wyo., for example, golf and tennis fees were paid, whitewater rafting and trout fishing guides were contracted, and limo drivers and photographers were hired. Flowers worth about $1,300 decorated tables filled with food from three caterers.
Including rooms at the Four Seasons Resort, which promotes itself as offering "pampered adventures," the event appears to have soaked up more than $170,000 from party coffers, the data show.
The Democratic Party racked up a similar bill -- $176,000 -- to cover 14 months of catering at events at the Washington Hilton.
Last month, the RNC spent $260,476 on a single meeting in Hawaii and $14,937 on Dallas Cowboys football tickets, according to its report Tuesday. It also paid hefty cancellation fees to Ritz Carlton and Four Seasons hotels.
Lots more at the link.
And the RNC wonders why some of us don't funnel money to them?
Clearly you must spend money to make money in fundraising. Everyone gets that. But the party of "Conservatism" shouldn't need to take Henry Kravis and all the other big shots to Jackson Hole just to solicit donations.
What a joke.
The nonprofit Center for Responsive Politics, in an analysis done at the request of The Post, calculated, however, that administrative and fundraising expenses consumed about $60 million of Democratic revenue in this cycle through the end of February, or 59 percent of total revenue that exceeded $100 million. For Republicans, the amount exceeded $74 million, or 68 percent of $109 million in revenue.
"There is a class of [political] donors who expect to be wined and dined and who expect to have gala receptions as part and parcel of giving a donation," said Anthony J. Corrado, a Colby College professor specializing in campaign finance. But he said many current expenditures "are not the type that are going to translate into a large financial boon . . . such as spending on charter flights, limousines, entertainment, food and beverages at party headquarters."
Spending reports at the Federal Election Commission offer vivid illustrations of luxurious tastes. When RNC Chairman Michael S. Steele and colleagues took several dozen party donors on a retreat last August to Jackson Hole, Wyo., for example, golf and tennis fees were paid, whitewater rafting and trout fishing guides were contracted, and limo drivers and photographers were hired. Flowers worth about $1,300 decorated tables filled with food from three caterers.
Including rooms at the Four Seasons Resort, which promotes itself as offering "pampered adventures," the event appears to have soaked up more than $170,000 from party coffers, the data show.
The Democratic Party racked up a similar bill -- $176,000 -- to cover 14 months of catering at events at the Washington Hilton.
Last month, the RNC spent $260,476 on a single meeting in Hawaii and $14,937 on Dallas Cowboys football tickets, according to its report Tuesday. It also paid hefty cancellation fees to Ritz Carlton and Four Seasons hotels.
Lots more at the link.
And the RNC wonders why some of us don't funnel money to them?
Clearly you must spend money to make money in fundraising. Everyone gets that. But the party of "Conservatism" shouldn't need to take Henry Kravis and all the other big shots to Jackson Hole just to solicit donations.
What a joke.