Change we can believe in: Charge the media to cover your events

As if spending your tax cut early wasn’t enough cash for Mr. Obama, he is charging the news media big bucks to cover his hoped-for victory celebration.
The richest campaign in history will begin to educate the nation in how Chicago rolls on election night as follows:

FishbowlLA links to a memo sent to news organizations informing them they would have to pay for credentials to Sen. Barack Obama’s Election Night celebration.
It’s not cheap, either. According to the memo, “credentials will cost $715 to $1,815,” and campaign officials “will be available only in the ‘press file’ tent, to which an additional admission fee of $935 per person is being imposed.”
Maybe they’re trying to keep out the Mayhill Fowler’s of the world? Although we’re guessing at this point Huffington Post can easily foot that bill. Regardless, charging the media to cover election night? It certainly doesn’t seem like a smart PR move.
The negative headlines are already starting to pile up. Writes Chicago Business, “The best-funded political campaign in American history says news organizations will have to pay – in some cases almost $2,000 each – if they want to cover Barack Obama’s election-night celebration in Chicago.”

You gotta pay to play, babay.

Forget designer clothes, get an Obama magnet for $10

The LA Time Blog today put voice to something I was thinking. Barack Obama broke all fundraising records in September, raising $150 million dollars and yet his campaign is still collecting $10 or more so you can get your official Obama-Biden car magnet.
Here is the email request:

Friend —
We’re facing an urgent deadline at midnight tonight.
Final decisions about our ground operation will be based on the financial resources we have on hand.
We’re too close to the finish line to fall short, and we can’t afford to look back and wish that we had done more.
Make a donation of $10 or more to own a piece of this movement before the final deadline.
Get an official Obama-Biden car magnet
car magnet
You can also choose to receive an Obama-Biden T-shirt with a donation of $30 or more:
https://donate.barackobama.com/deadlinetshirt
The race is tight, and we simply can’t slow down.
We need to keep fighting right up until the end, and your donation today will strengthen this campaign in the final push.
Thanks so much,
David
David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

Dude, spend your tax cut now, buy a magnet or get crazy and buy a tee-shirt.