# In reversal, President Obama to accept corporate donations to help fund inauguration **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 12, 2012, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-reversal-president-obama-to-accept-corporate-donations-to-help-fund-inauguration/643841 "2012-12-12T17:12:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-reversal-president-obama-to-accept-corporate-donations-to-help-fund-inauguration/643841/21 "2012-12-13T04:11:38Z")
> [@lavenderviolet](#): > > I hope you didn’t **actually** think that Obama was any different than any of the other corporate-backed millionaires that run our country. He’s better than the alternative, because the alternative is the Republicans who are both irrational and criminally incompetent. They’re all corrupt. Good people simply don’t run for office. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-reversal-president-obama-to-accept-corporate-donations-to-help-fund-inauguration/643841/22 "2012-12-13T08:01:54Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > He’s better than the alternative, because the alternative is the Republicans who are both irrational and criminally incompetent. They’re all corrupt. Good people simply don’t run for office. Elizabeth Warren and Al Franken are good people, but not Republicans. Some Republicans at the state and local level are conservative by not irresponsible. I have no use for national Republicans of the current era, though in the 1980s and earlier things were different. Decent people don’t demolish the US’s perfect credit rating, just because they lack the guts to propose specific spending cuts or tax increases on their own. The debt ceiling fiasco is a cowardly dodge as is the newly established 60 vote requirement in the Senate: all national Republicans participate in this sort of nonsense. None deserve re-election. None. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-reversal-president-obama-to-accept-corporate-donations-to-help-fund-inauguration/643841/23 "2012-12-13T08:55:21Z")
This is just the break the Romney campaign has been waiting for! ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-reversal-president-obama-to-accept-corporate-donations-to-help-fund-inauguration/643841/24 "2012-12-13T15:07:30Z")
> [@Kearsen](#): > > Not that this is overly shocking but it still demonstrates (maybe only to those few) hypocrisy to those who really thought Obama was going to bring Hope, Change and some transparency What’s not transparent about telling people you are accepting corporate donations? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-reversal-president-obama-to-accept-corporate-donations-to-help-fund-inauguration/643841/25 "2012-12-13T15:13:27Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > What’s not transparent about telling people you are accepting corporate donations? _And_ saying who gave what? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-reversal-president-obama-to-accept-corporate-donations-to-help-fund-inauguration/643841/26 "2012-12-13T15:57:23Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > _And_ saying who gave what? “To ensure continued transparency, all names of donors will be posted to a regularly updated website.” [http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/09/us-usa-obama-inauguration-idUSBRE8B80HX20121209](http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/09/us-usa-obama-inauguration-idUSBRE8B80HX20121209) ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-reversal-president-obama-to-accept-corporate-donations-to-help-fund-inauguration/643841/27 "2012-12-13T18:19:24Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > He’s better than the alternative, because the alternative is the Republicans who are both irrational and criminally incompetent. They’re all corrupt. Good people simply don’t run for office. I’m of the more optimistic opinion that while people running for office (any office) might _start off_ good and straight, filled with noble purpose and righteous intentions, the process of running itself ensures they’re thoroughly corrupt by the time they’re elected. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-reversal-president-obama-to-accept-corporate-donations-to-help-fund-inauguration/643841/28 "2012-12-13T18:23:43Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > “To ensure continued transparency, all names of donors will be posted to a regularly updated website.” > > [In shift, Obama accepts corporate funding for inauguration | Reuters](http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/09/us-usa-obama-inauguration-idUSBRE8B80HX20121209) _Bastards!_ ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-reversal-president-obama-to-accept-corporate-donations-to-help-fund-inauguration/643841/29 "2012-12-13T18:29:41Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > “To ensure continued transparency, all names of donors will be posted to a regularly updated website.” > > [In shift, Obama accepts corporate funding for inauguration | Reuters](http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/09/us-usa-obama-inauguration-idUSBRE8B80HX20121209) I was adding to your inquery, not asking the question myself. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kearsen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kearsen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kearsen)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-reversal-president-obama-to-accept-corporate-donations-to-help-fund-inauguration/643841/30 "2012-12-13T18:33:40Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > And why does it do that? I can see you and the OP are taking this for granted but you’re not explaining. > Obama didn’t accept corporate money for the 2009 inauguration. He will for the 2013 inauguration, although he won’t take money from lobbyists and PACs and says the names of donors will be disclosed. The conclusion is that Obama is the same as every other politician (even the ones who supported Citizens United or favor lower taxes for the wealthy or slam Obama for being anti-business) and is un-transparent because \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. Really, fill in the blank. Marley, I think you are mistaking nonchalance with an attack on Obama. I don’t care whether he did or didn’t, whether he lied or he didn’t. He has clearly been shown to “back track” on things that he has said. Is this bad? Is it different? No, and I think that is the whole point. He isn’t much different than any other politician would have been or what they’d have done in his place. Cites: [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/73606.html](http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/73606.html) > **[Open government report card: Grading Obama's transparency](https://www.dailydot.com/debug/open-government-obama-report-card/)** > > Headed into the election, the Daily Dot examines President Obama's commiment to communication, participation, and transparency.  In both cites you will find that his naivete in his ability to bring the hope that he wanted to bring was stifled by the beauracracy of the government. Maybe he had high aspirations but that simply isn’t good enough for the promises he made. That is the conclusionary statement that should address the WHY ---
**Author:** ![Kearsen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kearsen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kearsen)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-reversal-president-obama-to-accept-corporate-donations-to-help-fund-inauguration/643841/31 "2012-12-13T18:42:39Z")
In my post above, hope should read change. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-reversal-president-obama-to-accept-corporate-donations-to-help-fund-inauguration/643841/32 "2012-12-13T18:48:15Z")
> [@Kearsen](#): > > That is the conclusionary statement that should address the WHY What does this have to do with the topic actually being discussed? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-reversal-president-obama-to-accept-corporate-donations-to-help-fund-inauguration/643841/33 "2012-12-13T18:53:07Z")
> [@Kearsen](#): > > Marley, I think you are mistaking nonchalance with an attack on Obama. I’m not, no. I didn’t say anything about attacks. > [@](#): > > That is the conclusionary statement that should address the WHY It doesn’t address the why or the OP at all, and while it makes some points on the transparency issue (which not a topic the OP raised), it doesn’t do very much to substantiate the “he’s just like every other politician charge” except in the vaguest possible way. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-reversal-president-obama-to-accept-corporate-donations-to-help-fund-inauguration/643841/34 "2012-12-13T18:57:24Z")
> [@Kearsen](#): > > Marley, I think you are mistaking nonchalance with an attack on Obama. I don’t care whether he did or didn’t, whether he lied or he didn’t. He has clearly been shown to “back track” on things that he has said. Is this bad? Is it different? > > No, and I think that is the whole point. He isn’t much different than any other politician would have been or what they’d have done in his place. > > Cites: > [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/73606.html](http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/73606.html) > > [http://www.dailydot.com/politics/open-government-obama-report-card/](http://www.dailydot.com/politics/open-government-obama-report-card/) > > In both cites you will find that his naivete in his ability to bring the hope that he wanted to bring was stifled by the beauracracy of the government. Maybe he had high aspirations but that simply isn’t good enough for the promises he made. > > That is the conclusionary statement that should address the WHY Where’s the straw? ---
**Author:** ![Kearsen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kearsen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kearsen)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-reversal-president-obama-to-accept-corporate-donations-to-help-fund-inauguration/643841/35 "2012-12-13T19:11:36Z")
Uh, right there in the OP. The OP is talking about how _ **undifferent** _ our current President is and the fact that he was looked upon (by some) as a change from the “business as usual” crowd. The OP is positing that he really isn’t all that different. I agreed and provided citations for the alleged non changes. See, no straw and follows in perfect lock step with the OP ---
**Author:** ![Kearsen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kearsen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kearsen)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-reversal-president-obama-to-accept-corporate-donations-to-help-fund-inauguration/643841/36 "2012-12-13T19:24:02Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > What does this have to do with the topic actually being discussed? You mean the topic that you guys are discussing or the topic that the OP brought up? Mine addresses the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-reversal-president-obama-to-accept-corporate-donations-to-help-fund-inauguration/643841/37 "2012-12-13T19:36:37Z")
> [@Kearsen](#): > > The OP is positing that he really isn’t all that different. _Which is supported by the inauguration thing how?_ ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-reversal-president-obama-to-accept-corporate-donations-to-help-fund-inauguration/643841/38 "2012-12-13T19:46:02Z")
Well, every since Citizens United, corporations have been people to. And who’s to say that they don’t enjoy a good party now and then. Seriously, I’m not seeing the outrage here. Unless you’re going to argue that Obama is going to be beholden to Exxon for the next four years because they sprang for canapes and ice sculptures at the inauguration. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-reversal-president-obama-to-accept-corporate-donations-to-help-fund-inauguration/643841/39 "2012-12-13T19:46:16Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > But yeah, I never met anybody who thought Obama wasn’t corporate backed, he was just a better (or least worse) choice. Is this related to the “Obama voters think he’s the messiah” right wing lie, or an new independent lie? I think it’s more along the lines of a “When will you liberals stop voting for Democrats and vote for a third party instead” meme. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-reversal-president-obama-to-accept-corporate-donations-to-help-fund-inauguration/643841/40 "2012-12-13T19:46:19Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > He’s better than the alternative, because the alternative is the Republicans who are both irrational and criminally incompetent. They’re all corrupt. Good people simply don’t run for office. [Paul Simon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Simon_(politician)) was a very good man. The world would be a better place if we had more like him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-reversal-president-obama-to-accept-corporate-donations-to-help-fund-inauguration/643841.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-reversal-president-obama-to-accept-corporate-donations-to-help-fund-inauguration/643841.md?page=3)