Only Top Shelf for the Obama Campaign (Lavish Spending)

Weekly Standard Blog ^ | July 28, 2008

[rightwingintelligentsia]

The Obama campaign is not just spending thousands on coffee. It's also racked up a fairly sizable bill for wine and assorted booze. In total, the Obama campaign has charged over $6,100 at Sam's Wine and Spirits in Chicago. And the luxuries don't stop there. They spent nearly $2,800 on 14 meals at an Italian restaurant in Des Moines, Iowa, each averaging close to $200. The Obama campaign spent another $2,200 on three meals at Smith & Wollensky in Chicago. They even spent $149 on a single meal at the uber-posh Stone Lotus, which calls itself a liquor spa. These kind of charges may not be unheard of on Wall Street and at New York City law firms, but they are unheard of on campaigns.

The Obama campaign makes a fuss about the percentage of contributions it receives in the form of small donations of $50 or less. It paints the picture of a donor base that is engaged in politics for the first time, of people just barely making ends meet -- but who believe in Obama's message so desperately that they're willing to make a sacrifice in contributing to his campaign. If Obama staffers actually believe this narrative, you would think it would instill a sense of modesty in their expenditures. Sure, they would spend every penny they can to ensure their guy is elected, but they wouldn't indulge their every whim. No matter how much of it their campaign raised, they would dispense with luxuries -- perhaps even red wine.

[rightwingintelligentsia]

I know this is over a week old but I just heard this reported on a radio show this morning.

[twntaipan]

This is not surprising, really. This is just how the ruling elite in any Communist country lives.

[wolfcreek]

“Well, we’re movin on up”

[rovenstinez]

Sounds like the CHANGE we can believe in.

[MortMan]

They spent nearly $2,800 on 14 meals at an Italian restaurant in Des Moines, Iowa, each averaging close to $200.

I don't believe I have EVER had a $200 meal.

Socialism at its finest...

[wolfcreek]

Give a bum some CHANGE and they’ll blow it on booze.

[kcm.org]

Doesn't anybody get it!!!! The Buffett, Soros, and Pickens [forget all that crapola that t-Bone is some kind of staunch Repub, sheesh!] selecting the next President over the votes of the American people, their man got it made@@!!

[johnny7]

...the uber-posh Stone Lotus, which calls itself a liquor spa.

Homo gin-mill...

[Red Badger]

Obviously not a Baptist...................

[tom paine 2]

And I bet that their driver was sitting in the Escalade outside the restaurant with the engine running for the entire dinner.

[ClearCase_guy]

The WSJ had an article a short while ago in which each candidate identified their favorite restaurant. Michelle Obama preferred a very chic Chicago place with artfully designed dishes, none of which I could pronounce. McCain identified (If I recall correctly) a rib joint near his home.

I don't care which one was being truthful -- Obama's campaign simply doesn't understand the danger in placing himself above the people. Clearly that's where Obama sees himself.

[RedEyeJack]

LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL!

[tom paine 2]

I find it surprising you could run up a tab that high in a Des Moines Olive Garden!

[Jeff Head]

...and this is what those deep pockets, and any one else who donates to his campaign are spending their money on:

OBAMA'S DIVERSE VISION OF AMERICA



THE AUDACITY OF TRUTH ABOUT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA'S CIRCLE OF FRIENDS

CHOOSING THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES




NOBAMA MOVEMENT SPREADS ACROSS THE NATION

[savedbygrace]

“If you drag a $200 bill through an Obama campaign office, you never know what you’ll find.”

[McGruff]

Obama acts just like what they refer to as “new money” and it's not helping his image.

[Maceman]

The Obama campaign is not just spending thousands on coffee. It's also racked up a fairly sizable bill for wine and assorted booze.

And you don't even want to KNOW about the arugula.

[GWB00]

Obama campaign has charged over $6,100 at Sam's Wine and Spirits in Chicago.

From Kim Jong Il's Chef, by Kenji Fujimoto

From 1989 through 1991 I was invited often to Kim Jong Il's official residence. There he kept a very large liquor cellar. Famous liquor brands from around the world were lined up, maybe about 10,000 bottles in all. At the time, Kim Jong Il drank Johnnie Walker Swing for whiskey and Hennessy XO for cognac.

[yankeedame]

"...but who believe in Obama's message so desperately that they're willing to make a sacrifice in contributing to his campaign. If Obama staffers actually believe this narrative, you would think it would instill a sense of modesty in their expenditures. Sure, they would spend every penny they can to ensure their guy is elected..."

"Ah, the little people. How I love them."

[KarlInOhio]

Now imagine this same crew in charge of a $3 trillion federal budget instead of just a couple hundred million campaign budget.