Democrat donor to pump $30 million into winning U.S. House

[webfact]

Democrat donor to pump $30 million into winning U.S. House

By Ginger Gibson

 

Tom Steyer, a hedge fund manager and a prominent Democratic fundraiser who has mounted a high-profile advertising campaign advocating the impeachment of U.S. President Donald Trump, holds a news conference to announce plans for his political future, in Washington, U.S., January 8, 2018. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrat Tom Steyer, who has spent millions on national ads calling for the impeachment of President Donald Trump, will spend $30 million this year trying to get members of his party elected to the U.S. House of Representatives to win control of the chamber from Republicans, he announced on Monday.

 

Steyer, who also said he will not personally run for office, added that he will also continue his national campaign calling for impeachment.

"My fight is in removing Donald Trump from office and removing Donald Trump from power," Steyer said.

 

The House impeaches, or brings formal charges against an official, in what would be the first step in removing Trump from office. The U.S. Senate tries the case.

 

Steyer said his organisation is working to have constituents deliver to members of Congress copies of the controversial book "Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House" by Michael Wolff, which challenges Trump's fitness for office.

 

Steyer will not, however, require House candidates whom he supports to pass a "litmus test" supporting impeaching Trump, he said.

 

The $30 million will be used to mobilise young voters in 10 key states: Florida, Virginia, Wisconsin, Michigan, Nevada, California, Pennsylvania, Iowa, New Hampshire and Arizona, Steyer said.

 

Americans will head to the polls in November when 34 seats in the Senate and all 435 House seats will be up for grabs. Democrats are hoping to ride wins last year in Alabama and Virginia to victory in those elections, potentially taking control of Congress.

 

"The task which I feel called to do is organising and mobilizing America’s voters – they have got to be the most powerful forces in American politics," Steyer said at a Washington, D.C. press conference.

 

Steyer said he knows that some Democrats think talking about impeachment is a distraction but that he feels it remains important to focus on ousting Trump.

 

"We know this makes some of our friends and allies in this city uncomfortable," Steyer said. "We believe this is a false choice – the fact is the two are fundamentally intertwined."

 

(Reporting by Ginger Gibson; Editing by Steve Orlofsky)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-01-09

[worgeordie]

So sad,when so much money has to be spent trying to win in politics, it could be spent on so much better things, 

regards worgeordie

[mikebike]

2 hours ago, worgeordie said:

So sad,when so much money has to be spent trying to win in politics, it could be spent on so much better things, 

regards worgeordie

Yep, a great argument for election funding reform.

 

[impulse]

Those kids look absolutely thrilled to be there.  

[impulse]

19 minutes ago, mikebike said:

Yep, a great argument for election funding reform.

 

And going back to the 90% incremental tax rate on passive income over a few $$$ million a year, like we had when the USA was at it's peak, and each generation did better than the previous one.

 

[Coconutman]

It didnt work the last time

[Baerboxer]

 

All about the money now. Who can raise the biggest pot.

[ilostmypassword]

Well, it was the conservatives on the Supreme Court who equated spending money with free speech and removed virtually all limits on giving.

[Wake Up]

1 hour ago, ilostmypassword said:

Well, it was the conservatives on the Supreme Court who equated spending money with free speech and removed virtually all limits on giving.

Yes true and President Reagan signing the law in 1987 that revoked the FCC regulation that TV news organizations had to be truthful and do public service to get their license renewed. Therefore we now have Fox and CNN news entertainment channels which have no legal duty to be accurate and truthful and rarely are and do no public service. 

[spidermike007]

First of all Oprah will NOT run. It is all speculation. The office is way, way below her. She is a elegant, dignified women, who has a big heart, and has done much to help many. Far more than could ever be said about the current occupant of the very white house. 

 

She would not want to subject herself to the open sewer, that is the US candidacy for president, nor the cesspool that is the presidency and the white house. Never gonna happen people. However, I do predict a landslide victory for the democrats this coming November in the mid terms, and a takeover of both the house and the senate. It is the result of a circus clown, charlatan huckster running things now. It is an inevitable backlash to horrendous policies, and the bumbling tax plans, that the majority of Americans were opposed to. Just another massive transfer of wealth. Not exactly what the US needs at this stage.

[mikebike]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

First of all Oprah will NOT run. It is all speculation. The office is way, way below her. She is a elegant, dignified women, who has a big heart, and has done much to help many. Far more than could ever be said about the current occupant of the very white house. 

 

She would not want to subject herself to the open sewer, that is the US candidacy for president, nor the cesspool that is the presidency and the white house. Never gonna happen people. However, I do predict a landslide victory for the democrats this coming November in the mid terms, and a takeover of both the house and the senate. It is the result of a circus clown, charlatan huckster running things now. It is an inevitable backlash to horrendous policies, and the bumbling tax plans, that the majority of Americans were opposed to. Just another massive transfer of wealth. Not exactly what the US needs at this stage.

I don't know about that. The way the Dems are proceeding, 10 months out, has LOSER written all over it again.

 

No cohesive platform. Not fundamentally backing policies which over 60% of the US electorate are in favor of. Financially and philosophically backing only establishment candidates and incumbents guaranteeing a victory for the donor-class no matter which party wins. Hiring the same election consultants which spectacularly got it all wrong in 2016. 

 

If the Dems think that they will romp to victory without correcting their blunders of 2016 they are massively misjudging the mood of the people, their hatred for more of the same swamp things and the electorate's understanding that unless there is a fundamental shift in the political landscape the Dems are just Republican lite so why even bother.

Edited January 10, 2018 by mikebike

[mrwebb8825]

This guy is exactly why the dems will remain losers well into the next 3-4 administrations.  

[IAMHERE]

Democracy being bought and paid for. Too much money in politics.