The LA Times has a story about the Obama campaign's refusal to hand out street money to Philadelphia ward leaders to work the upcoming primary:
"We've heard directly from the Obama organizer who organizes our ward, and he told us it's an entirely volunteer organization and that I should not expect to see anything from the Obama campaign other than ads on TV and the support that volunteers are giving us," said Greg Paulmier, a ward leader in the northwest part of the city.
Neither the Clinton nor the Obama campaign would say publicly whether it would comply with Philadelphia's street money customs. But an Obama aide said Thursday that it had never been the campaign's practice to make such payments. Rather, the campaign's focus is to recruit new people drawn to Obama's message, the aide said.
The article also includes quotes from Carol Campbell, Dwight Evans, and ward leaders Peter Wilson and Garry Williams. It also includes this great anecdote about Bob Brady:
Brady was sitting in his campaign office with two of his political lieutenants. He reached into a desk drawer at one point and pulled out a $50 bill -- street money. Brady tore it in two and gave each man a half. Then the men made a bet: Whoever pulled in the most Democratic votes that day from his precincts would get both halves.
Local color aside, this is a hard issue. On the one hand, it's problematic that political loyalties seem to be for sale to whichever campaign can pony up the cash (several people say that if ward leaders don't get money from Obama, they'll take it from Clinton). On the other hand, if Obama's going to cut into Clinton's lead in Pennsylvania, he's going to need a strong showing in Philadelphia. Obama's campaign is rich as Croesus, and coming from Chicago, he knows how this process works.
It's also unclear exactly what Obama gets by standing on principle. Maybe the Clinton campaign could try to play Philadelphia off against the rest of the state if they could claim that Obama had "bought" city support. But in a big campaign like this, obscure issues like street money only have so much traction. Another alternative is that the combination of volunteers, an alternative GOTV operation, and the support of political leaders who have already endorsed Obama will be able to get the deed done.
It's possible that intentionally or not, the Obama campaign is testing a theory: is it possible to win in Philadelphia with a combination of big ad buys and all-volunteer support?
One thing is clear: the fact that the Obama campaign has chosen to forego the traditional methods of getting out the vote in the city creates both a need and an opportunity. The need is for supporters of the Obama campaign to get out and volunteer. The opportunity is for alternative organizations who support Obama, including progressive ones, to show what they can do on the national stage.
I think the story misses the point
Has Obama said he will not pay people to volunteer on election day? No. A "volunteer field organizer" said that to Greg Paulmier in Germantown. There is no evidence here that Obama is running an a volunteer-only field operation in Philadelphia.
I don't doubt that he won't pay ward leaders though, but less for principles and more out of practicality.
Most ward leaders don't control huge numbers of voters anyway, and even if they did under normal circumstances, there is no way they could in a Presidential primary of this magnitude.
I bet Obama is very willing to pay some folks--he couldn't touch all 700,00 or so Democratic voters in the city without 'em--but I suspect he has a local field team that would rather pay (and train) people directly rather than allow ward leaders to skim off the top.
That said, I am a huge field geek and am very impressed strategically with the Obama folks if they know enough not to throw their money away on ward leaders in this kind of race, though that is a decision made by someone local anyway, but it's cool the national field staff are smart enough to agree.
Also, note that the LA Times reporter worked for the Inky until about 2001. My guess is that this story was sort of an accident rather than a message Obama was trying to get out (although it has accidentally benefited him).
Street Money
So "pay to play" works at all levels of government in our city.
It saddens me that many folks don't see the benefit of simply supporting the right candidate to get them elected. If jobs, family services, education, health care, etc., all improve, then folks don't need a few extra dollars in their pocket today when they can benefit many times over in the future. True, supporting any candidate is a gamble, but when you break it down, this system makes the ward and committee leaders look like pimps getting their piece of the pie. I recall sitting in a "GOTV" last year where the street money was discussed with that mayoral candidate's team. If these ward leaders and other elected officials had any nerve, they'd say enough is enough and simply endorse the candidate they feel will best serve their constituency in the long run.
Obama 2008
Wards and Money
This thread ignores and completely mischaracterizes how wards work and what ward leaders and committee people do. Whom of you work fom 6:30 am to 8:30 pm to get out the vote. How many of you make sure election boards are filled so that your community can vote. What happens when ward leaders stop filling election boards (the hardest job as a ward leader). There will be no place for Obama and Hillary voters to vote. What about the committee people who register people all year long, yet get paid twice a year at $7.15 an hour. As for so called skimming I make about .50 cents an hour as ward leader. This doesn't count the money I lay out out of my pocket or the free legal work I do. Nevertheless committee people will do what is expected of them regardless. It is because they care about the neighborhoods and the election process and most importantly the Democratic Party.
b/t/w If anyone wants to work on an election board in Roxborough/Manayaunk contact me off post.
Lou, I agree that there is a
Lou, I agree that there is a little class clash going on. Middle class, politically active folks tend to be economically comfortable enough that volunteering is a an easily affordable luxury. But, for many people in Philly- that is simply not the case. And, especially in our poorer neighborhoods, people see election day as a time when they can earn a few dollars for a day's work.
However, if a candidate did want to compensate someone for their day's work, why do they have to go through Carol Campbell, et al? Why do we need high priced ward 'consultants'? Why have it all be so unaccountable?
The distinction
I don't have a problem with workers getting paid on election day. I have a problem with this (from the original article):
And it's a problem all the more so when/if it happens in state and city elections, where neighborhood support and sample ballots hold a great deal more sway. There's just a lot of funny business with wards and ballots and workers. So an Obama-supporting ward asking Obama to use (and pay) their committeepeople or whomever to work on election day isn't a problem. Saying, "if you don't pony up X dollars, I'll work for Clinton" is a problem.
Voter getter groups make big cash election day
Tell me , am I the only one that watch this semi annual event. Heck the national republican campaign dropped HUGE dollars in north Philadelphia wards to get minimum increases of voter registration and growth at the polls on election day, (1-3%).
We talk change, we talk transparency , ha ha , who is kidding who?? Our youth, pre - teens, that become adolescent, see the double talk, is this pay to play?? I'm talking from experience.
Time to snitch y'all. They underground economy keeps us stuck. Don't get mad at me, somebody tell the truth.
Look, stop the crap. Folks, members of the community that are members of the the lessor class expect $50-$100 bucks for their primary and general election day efforts. Hundreds if not thousands are aligned with so called power brokers around the city that act as get out the vote consultants. Every level candidate must make the decision whether to pay or play, right?
Many are committee persons and ward leaders that get the envelope and distribute the cash down the line after the poll closes. Addicts, people with disabilities, seniors,TANF moms and dads, ex-offenders, city, state employees of other companies are among the group.
The employed take a personal or sick day and work the 12 hour day. Many of the volunteers disappear for a few hours and get docked if the bosses find out. The bosses have rovers and (snitches, opps) drivers that keep a eye on the workers and deliver lunch and beverages. When the polls close the workers line up at the predetermined spot to get their earnings. They sign off on roll call paperwork, this validates they got paid and is a record that the money was distributed to the field. Many get cheated, say , they were promised $75 and the get $50, they leave mad and show back up during the next election.
The drug dealers are ready because many of them pay off the dealer that gave them some of the stash on consignment. Most buy more get high, then others hurry to the Wine & Spirits shops to get that jug (before they close) to go along with the blunts. Stop and go's stock up as well.
While the next level worker in the pecking order , count their earnings and skims off the top, get ready to join the candidates in their election day party location, where drinks and food is on the house. Most are very happy no matter who wins or loses, because their pockets are full to the brim.
Their are usually 3 - 4 killings that evening, city wide. Some will say stop the snitching, oops, that is only in the homicide cases, right. This reporter will do additional reports in the future.
Stop the crap, it's done across the city. Voter getter groups make big cash election day.