Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Obama losing financial backing of big S.F. donor
San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 2/16/12 | Carla Marinucci, Joe Garofoli, Chronicle Political Writers

Posted on 02/16/2012 9:12:50 AM PST by SmithL

San Francisco philanthropist Susie Tompkins Buell, one of the Democratic Party's most generous benefactors, is keeping her checkbook closed when President Obama holds high-priced California fundraisers this week.

"I want to look him in the eye and say, 'Thank you so much' " for his work, said Buell, who expresses deep disappointment in the president's leadership on environmental issues, especially climate change.

With Obama's 2012 re-election campaign in full swing, "I would just love to write my big check ... or have a high-dollar dinner here" on his behalf, she said. "I can't."

Buell, a co-founder of the Esprit clothing company, has donated millions of dollars to Democratic causes and presidential candidates, including Bill Clinton, John Kerry, Al Gore and her good friend, Hillary Rodham Clinton. In the past 10 years, she has given $25 million to progressive political and charitable causes and has raised $10 million for candidates and committees, her office said.

But as Obama flies from Southern California to San Francisco today to vacuum up donations in the reliable Democratic ATM, Buell will attend neither of his $35,800-per-plate fundraisers in San Francisco, nor a fundraising rally at the Masonic Auditorium.

...

Buell and her husband, Mark Buell, have long devoted energy and money to environmental causes such as the Go Green Foundation, a San Francisco nonprofit designed to get young people involved in environmental causes. She said she is "very concerned that President Obama has not talked enough about this issue."

"I thought that he really did understand 'the urgency of now' on climate change," she said. "He has not been vocal enough ... and I want to encourage him to lead me."

Buell's glaring absence from Obama's fundraising events this week underscores the challenges the president has with his progressive base.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Government; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: 0bama; bho2012; ca2012; donors; election2012; environment; environmentalist; environmentism; fundingtheleft; progressives; sanfranciscovalues; susietompkinsbuell
Not enough of that hopey changey thing, I guess.
1 posted on 02/16/2012 9:12:57 AM PST by SmithL
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

She’ll come around, once there’s a real-life GOP challenger.

Of course!


2 posted on 02/16/2012 9:14:29 AM PST by SmithL (If you reward certain behavior, don't be surprised when you see more of that behavior)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SmithL

Obama won’t care. To him she’s just a typical white person.


3 posted on 02/16/2012 9:16:43 AM PST by Enterprise ("Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." Voltaire)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SmithL

I knew the funny money going to Green could be traced back to San Francisco.

I suspect she’s got indirect connections to Tesla, Solarindra and most of the other Green projects in CA.

This was all about buying her donations.


4 posted on 02/16/2012 9:25:02 AM PST by Zathras
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SmithL
"Esprite". Another line of products on my "Do not buy!" list.

Pass the word!

5 posted on 02/16/2012 9:28:55 AM PST by Redleg Duke ("Madison, Wisconsin is 30 square miles surrounded by reality.", L. S. Dryfus)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SmithL

A professor “friend” told me he can’t understand how B0 can be considered a socialist or Marxist, because hard-core lefties (like him) do not believe that B0 is radical enough.

Of course, Mr. Professor does not consider himself socialist/Marxist/Leninist/Maoist/fascist. He is merely “progressive.”


6 posted on 02/16/2012 9:32:28 AM PST by Zuse
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Zathras
Actually, my Babalionian Friend, it is just the opposite, I believe. Funding for the Green Companies from us ends up being funneled back to the DNC and the Obama Campaign.

It is called "money laundering"...and for non-RATS is against the law.

7 posted on 02/16/2012 9:32:53 AM PST by Redleg Duke ("Madison, Wisconsin is 30 square miles surrounded by reality.", L. S. Dryfus)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Redleg Duke

Buell, a co-founder of the Esprit clothing company,

That’s what I say too. If I did care about labels, which I don’t, I would stay clear of her green clothing line. But, I friends that do, so I will share the little tidbit with them.


8 posted on 02/16/2012 9:32:53 AM PST by Bitsy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Redleg Duke

Esprit

There is no e on the end.


9 posted on 02/16/2012 9:33:43 AM PST by afraidfortherepublic
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Bitsy
You know, Bitsy, a list of "Progressive Products" would be really handy to have on FR. Those firms that, or owners of firms that contribute to the RATS.

There is no reason why we conservatives should be indirectly funding the very creeps who want to destroy us!

10 posted on 02/16/2012 9:37:10 AM PST by Redleg Duke ("Madison, Wisconsin is 30 square miles surrounded by reality.", L. S. Dryfus)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: SmithL

So turning down the Keystone pipeline wasn’t quite enough.

I thought that decision was supposed to appease people just like her.


11 posted on 02/16/2012 9:44:11 AM PST by proud American in Canada
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Redleg Duke

There is no reason why we conservatives should be indirectly funding the very creeps who want to destroy us!

Absolutely. Those rich, smug, arrogant progressive/liberal/marxist/communist/elitists shouldn’t get one dollar from the hard earned cash we have left. We also need a list of conservative industries we can purchase from and do business with. That would be great. I wouldn’t even mind paying more if I knew my money wasn’t going to liberals and their causes. Yep, hit’em where it always hurts - the bank account. No matter how much of a bleeding heart liberal they are they won’t be put in a financial position to have to buy cheaper champagne. Oh, I NEVER, NEVER eat Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. They could tell me that it actually helps you loose weight and I wouldn’t have it touch my mouth!


12 posted on 02/16/2012 9:52:31 AM PST by Bitsy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: SmithL

He’ll find a way to tax it out of her.


13 posted on 02/16/2012 10:54:43 AM PST by wiggen (The teacher card. When the racism card just won't work.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SmithL

if Newt is our nominee she will be writing Barry checks faster than the producers of the Super Terrific Happy Hour wrote them for Jerry Seinfeld.


14 posted on 02/16/2012 12:19:26 PM PST by Buckeye McFrog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Redleg Duke

Nice to have more B5 friends! My favorite sci-fi.

After living in the Bay Area for 15 years, you get used to the political kickbacks. What stumped me was how a city filled with semiconductor engineers couldn’t figure out that building a solar panel plant (ie price sensitive) product on the most expensive real estate on the west coast made any sense.

All I could figure is someone very high in the DNC REALLY, REALLY believed that solar could change California.

This wench seems to be one of the key players.


15 posted on 02/16/2012 12:19:56 PM PST by Zathras
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: SmithL

[ Buell, a co-founder of the Esprit clothing company]

Another brand name to never buy again.


16 posted on 02/16/2012 12:35:13 PM PST by KansasGirl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Zathras
Agree about B5. I have all of the seasons and I think all of the separate movies. Fabulous!

My opinion is that this whole "green" thing is a money-laundering scheme. Chicago Corruption gone national!

17 posted on 02/16/2012 1:13:00 PM PST by Redleg Duke ("Madison, Wisconsin is 30 square miles surrounded by reality.", L. S. Dryfus)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: proud American in Canada
I'm sure it helped with the on-the-ground activists types needed for Get Out The Vote (GOTV).

She's just too demanding and even with her money, she just one woman.

I'd be curious to know what specifically would sway her to open up the checkbook again.

18 posted on 02/16/2012 3:55:04 PM PST by newzjunkey (Santorum has baggage too! Demand an inspection!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Zathras

Something tells me that despite supporting all sorts of green initiatives, she doesn’t drive a Volt, Prius or other green car. Chances are it is hybrid Lexus SUV, from the liberals I know.


19 posted on 02/16/2012 9:29:02 PM PST by matt04
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson