How are $28,500 per plate fundraisers legal?

[Sampiro]

Obama raised about $9 million yesterday in two fundraisers.

At one reception, where donors contributed $2,500 a piece to Obama’s campaign coffers, singer-actress Barbra Streisand gave a rare singing performance.

At an earlier dinner of around 300 people at the Tudor-style Greystone mansion in Beverly Hills, donors paid $28,500 a plate to the Democratic Party and dined on beef filet, asparagus and salad with goat cheese.

The $2,500 one I can understand; expenses could easily have shaved off the $200 per person necessary to bring it down to the $2,300 maximum allowable personal contribution, but how is the $28,500 per plate dinner legal? I’ve no doubt it is of course- if it weren’t the Pubs would have been over it like goat cheese on asparagus- but what’s the loophole?

And why haven’t I received my damned bumper sticker for my contribution to his web site yet? That was two weeks ago and I’m still waiting!

[Ludovic]

@Sampiro

The $2,500 one I can understand; expenses could easily have shaved off the $200 per person necessary to bring it down to the $2,300 maximum allowable personal contribution, but how is the $28,500 per plate dinner legal?

The extra $26,000 is so you don’t have to hear Barbara Streisand sing.

[Sampiro]

@Ludovic

The extra $26,000 is so you don’t have to hear Barbara Streisand sing.

Ah… That’s fair.

[friedo]

@Sampiro

Obama raised about $9 million yesterday in two fundraisers.

The $2,500 one I can understand; expenses could easily have shaved off the $200 per person necessary to bring it down to the $2,300 maximum allowable personal contribution, but how is the $28,500 per plate dinner legal?

The $28,500 goes to a non-profit affiliated with Obama’s cause, not the campaign itself. See 527 Groups.

[Ravenman]

An individual may give $28,500 to a party each year, as opposed to giving $2,300 to a candidate per election.

Help for candidates and committees - FEC.gov

[Sampiro]

Can the Democratic Party give any of that money to HRC for her debts?

[wolf_meister]

Hey, they’re just trying to be careful. You never know. Dom DeLuise and Kirstie Alley might show up unexpectedly and you’d be lucky just to break even.

[Ravenman]

@Sampiro

Can the Democratic Party give any of that money to HRC for her debts?

$5 grand. Since contributions limits to parties are generous, the law doesn’t allow parties to give generously to candidates, otherwise money would just be funneled to candidates that way.