Hillary Clinton, who has never spoken at our Democratic State Convention, despite making two runs for the presidency, is coming to Massachusetts again for another four-figure fundraiser.
According to the Boston Globe:
Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton will return to Massachusetts later this month for a downtown fund-raiser, according to an invitation obtained by the Globe.
“An Evening with Hillary Clinton” will take place on March 31 at The State Room in Boston, stated the invitation sent by Barbara Lee, a philanthropist who works to elect female politicians.
“Champion” level tickets cost $2,700, while “friend” status fetches $1,000. “Young professional” tickets, at $45 apiece, have sold out, Lee said.
So, if you can scrape together $2,700 you can meet Hillary. Or you can just send $27 to Bernie.
HR's Kevin says
It’s not like there have not been similar fund raising events for Bernie, although I am sure there have been many more for Hillary.
I also am not sure why anyone should really care whether Hillary spoke at our largely meaningless state convention and I sure hope she doesn’t waste time on it this Summer either.
Pablo says
The point is that Hillary just seems to take Massachusetts for granted. It’s a place to travel through on her way to New Hampshire, or a place to drop in to raise a bunch of cash.
Remember the story told by Tip O’Neil:
“Of course you’re ready for Hillary. Make checks payable to…”
Doesn’t sound like much of an ask to me.
HR's Kevin says
Perhaps she does take MA for granted, but not speaking at the state convention is not even remotely evidence of that. Bernie hasn’t spoken at the state convention either and I hope he doesn’t waste his time doing so either. I hope they don’t waste their time at any other state’s convention as well. If the party faithful cannot be trusted to support the nominee without having their egos massaged at the state convention then we are indeed in trouble.
Bernie and Hillary should be spending as much of their time talking to actual voters as possible, not party delegates. It’s unfortunate that they have to spend any time fundraising, but what do you really expect in this post-Citizens United world?
Pablo says
You spend time with party activists, and speak to them, in order to win the primary. Hillary had the entire party establishment, but got only 50.1% of the vote in the Massachusetts primary. The only difference between a hall full of party activists and a few Goldman Sachs bankers? $225,000.
SomervilleTom says
There was indeed a primary and she won it.
I think it’s time to move on.
HR's Kevin says
I am sorry, but the people who go to conventions are at best only marginally responsible for the Presidential candidate’s primary victory.
I also don’t get how one can both buy into the narrative that the Democratic party establishment has become corrupted by money and corporate influence but then also blame a candidate for failing to show up at the local party dog-and-pony show. Or is it only the DNC that is corrupt and the MA party organization is as pure as the driven snow? It’s not Hillary’s fault that we ended up with Charlie Baker as Governor and cannot get the State Legislature to cough up money to fix the T.
SomervilleTom says
Here’s how I see it, from here in Somerville.
My state already voted chose Hillary Clinton in the primary. My state will vote for Hillary Clinton in the general next November.
I received (and discarded) at least six mailers for Ms. Clinton (I don’t remember any from Mr. Sanders). I had at least three visits to my door on March 1, wearing “Clinton” regalia. I thanked them for visiting me. I note that I also had one visit from our local cohort of Jehovah’s Witnesses, so maybe it was just that kind of day.
I’ve been watching Ms. Clinton for twenty five years. I feel as though I’ve watched her grow up. Chelsea Clinton was an awkward and gangling teenager when this family first appeared on the scene — she is now an impressive and articulate young woman (and mother) in her own right.
Maybe Hillary Clinton does take my vote for granted — I, frankly, don’t really care, and I would likely do the same were I in her shoes.
The Massachusetts primary is OVER. Ms. Clinton won. In a few months, she will be our nominee. I am GLAD that she’s asking for money, and I am GLAD to live in state prosperous enough for her to come here to do so.
I am happy to contribute to help insure that she, and NOT Donald Trump (or any other GOP candidate) is elected next November. I regret that I’m not yet able to buy those “Champion” level tickets and would happily buy seven (for my wife and five children) if I could.
I guess I’m tired of the complaining and grousing. My president nominated an eminently qualified jurist for the Supreme Court earlier today. I am quite sure that Ms. Clinton will enthusiastically support that nomination. I’m equally sure that the GOP will fall over themselves opposing it.
We are the good guys. We are doing the things the good guys do. The other side is not. I’d like to leave it there now.
Christopher says
It’s a pretty safe bet we have the former, but from these parts she’s more in need of the latter. Blame the electoral college; GOP candidates don’t do much vote-hunting here for the opposite reason.
jconway says
I am sick and tired of Massachusetts being an ATM for national Democrats. Apparently nobody at the state or national party level seems to care that they just lost 20,000 members to Trump. Another drop in the bucket to them in our one party state.
Maybe if we had a real two party system with a viable alternative that wasn’t the dying and out of touch GOP Massachusetts would have more democracy, more transparency, and competitive elections. Come to think of it,
20,000 voters are all that are needed to make that alternative a reality. Apparently the Democrats can afford to lose them, and I encourage everyone here to jump ship to make this state a competitive democracy again.
SomervilleTom says
I just don’t see it that way.
I’m actually glad that I live in a state that is so thoroughly blue. I think that when it comes to national politics, Massachusetts genuinely IS very very blue. Our state population is WELL to the left of our state government.
I don’t think we lost 20,000 Democrats to Donald Trump. I think a primary vote for Donald Trump in Massachusetts can mean several things besides an actual demonstration of actual support, including at least the following:
1. A tweak of the nose of the MA Democratic Party.
2. A decision that Mr. Trump is easier to beat than any other GOP candidate.
3. A decision that either Democratic candidate is fine, leading to 2.
4. A rejection of the entire political process.
The fact remains that we are among the most prosperous states in the nation. It is not surprising that we are frequently solicited for contributions. I suspect that the GOP, UIP, Green, and every other party will ask for me for money just as frequently as the Democratic party.
In my view, our issues are at the local — not national — level. The specific complaint of the thread starter is about Hillary Clinton. I just want to observe that Bernie Sanders has been flooding me with at LEAST ten times as many fund-raising emails as Ms. Clinton.
Hillary Clinton is our nominee. Donald Trump needs to be defeated. The GOP needs to be sent to the woodshed. In my view, complaining about “national Democrats” does not help advance any of that.
merrimackguy says
Seems too much of a generalization. At least 30% in MA is significantly right, and Baker is the governor so maybe it’s more. When I have canvassed I found (at least in my area) unerolleds when 40-50% R, 25-35% D, and 20-30% true I. It’s hard to say after an election whether the people voting chose a party, agreed with ideas put forth, or was of a particular bent. It could be a lot of things (as in, did people agree with the MA GOP ideas in 2014, or was Coakley just that bad of a candidate?).
40% of the population routinely voted against Ted Kennedy unless it was a real no name, and that person still got 30%.
I think in general people (on both sides) over represent support for their positions. Just because everything is Democratic here doesn’t mean that everyone agrees (see Dem politicians views on charter schools).
I don’t think Dems lost 20,000 to Trump either, but white support is eroding in MA and elsewhere.