# Obama's infomercial **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 29, 2008, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113 "2008-10-29T17:16:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/81 "2008-10-29T22:31:29Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > For the record, in 1790, free blacks were allowed to vote in most of the United States. Assuming he was free, yes. But we’re now getting a little too far into this, since there weren’t a lot of foreign student programs back then, and there was no state of Kansas or Hawaii or Illinois, so… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/82 "2008-10-29T22:31:54Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > For the record, in 1790, free blacks were allowed to vote in most of the United States. For the record, wasn’t a black vote worth 60 % of a white vote? I read it somewhere and I do think its preposterous but… ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/83 "2008-10-29T22:36:01Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > Mine for one. Do you think its possible that I’m the only one? I think you should refrain from weasel-wording that implies your opinion is a significant consensus. > [@](#): > > Hillary at a disadvantage because she’s behind on contributions even though by historical measures she’s broken campaign contribution records as well. She initially had an enormous advantage, of course. I know there’s been more money raised in this campaign cycle that any other. With this cycle starting almost two years ago, not to mention inflation, that was a guarantee. But I still think you are overlooking what elections were like before public financing. > [@](#): > > Again you have misrepresented a statement of mine . Are you simply trying to hassle me or are you having difficulties. See above. The public-financing system Obama has opted out of came into existence after the Watergate scandal. Are the sums of money larger today? Of course they are. Prior to that, the candidates weren’t guaranteed money to finance their camapaigns at all and you could probably make the case that money was a bigger deal back then, since you had to raise every dollar on your own or through your party and couldn’t fall back on millions of dollars as today’s candidates can. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/84 "2008-10-29T22:38:46Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > For the record, wasn’t a black vote worth 60 % of a white vote? For the purposes of Congressional representation, something called the “two-thirds” compromise was struck and it meant each black slave was considered 2/3rds of a white person (man). Since slaves outnumbered white people in some slaveowning states, those states would have had much less power if only white people counted, so they wanted their slaves to count for something when it came to getting representation in Congress and the Electoral College. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/85 "2008-10-29T22:41:48Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > For the record, wasn’t a black vote worth 60 % of a white vote? No. One of the compromises made in the Constitution said that slaves would be counted as 60% of a “person” in order to determine Congressional representation, electoral votes and taxation puropses. So if an area had 10,000 free residents and 1000 slaves, it would be treated like an area with 10,600 persons. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/86 "2008-10-29T22:43:06Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > For the purposes of Congressional representation, something called the “two-thirds” compromise was struck and it meant each black slave was considered 2/3rds of a white person (man). . Three-fifths, not two-thirds. And it wasn’t just men…it was men, women, and children. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/87 "2008-10-29T23:02:05Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > Actually, you are a more select group than you think. Only 300,000 donated less than $200 to his campaign, not ‘several millions’. In fact, less than 500,000 have even donated to his campaign. Over 50% of his money came from donors who donated large dollar amounts. In fact his, average contribution was ~$1500, compared to McCain’s $2000 > > [http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/donordems.php?cycle=2008](http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/donordems.php?cycle=2008) I’m not following. Obama has raised over [$458 million](http://www.newsweek.com/id/162403) so far. 48% is from donors under $200. $458mil x 0.48 = $219,840,000. Divide that by $200 (assume every donor under $200 gave exactly $200) and you get 1,099,200 donations. The only 300,000 number I see on the site is the donors who gave _over_ $200, of which there are 322,363. And that’s not “number of $200+ contribut_ions_” but “number of $200+ contribu_tors_”. Once you’ve given more than $200 total in the cycle, you’re tracked by name. I can accept that it may have trouble tracking the under $200 donors until they reach the $200 total reporting threshold but that’s still a lot of under $200 folks to come up with those numbers. 1.1 million donations is the lowest possible end, if every donation was $200. Figure a more plausible average sub-$200 donation to be $50 instead of $200 and you have 4.3 million separate donations. ---
**Author:** ![PhiloVance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e19adc/32.png) [@PhiloVance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhiloVance)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/88 "2008-10-29T23:04:16Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > It basically provides a venue for money laundering. > > _ **The scene, a dark room with a table, a single incadescant bulb shines in the ceiling** _ > > Obama: Damnit! I need more money! $100 million by tomorrow! > Soros: But Barry, I’ve given you all I can! > Obama: Make…It…Happen… [Stalks from the room] > Soros: Alright boys, lets get to work. > > - \*\*Two hours later, donations start streaming in from the likes of \*_Mickey Mouse,Cletus Hokum, Amanda Hugginkiss, **and several dead people.** _ 😛 ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/89 "2008-10-29T23:07:48Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > It basically provides a venue for money laundering. > > _ **The scene, a dark room with a table, a single incadescant bulb shines in the ceiling** _ > > Obama: Damnit! I need more money! $100 million by tomorrow! > Soros: But Barry, I’ve given you all I can! > Obama: Make…It…Happen… [Stalks from the room] > Soros: Alright boys, lets get to work. > > - \*\*Two hours later, donations start streaming in from the likes of \*_Mickey Mouse,Cletus Hokum, Amanda Hugginkiss, **and several dead people.** _ Hey, as long as you are spinning shit out of whole cloth could you make me a shirt… ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/90 "2008-10-29T23:28:02Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Democrats with money. Democrats. With money! Sorry, still trying to wrap my head around it… I’m still trying to wrap my mind around the rich, white war hero being an underdog to a self made black man. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/91 "2008-10-29T23:54:06Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I think you should refrain from weasel-wording that implies your opinion is a significant consensus. And I think you should avoid weasel- worded responses when I point out you are misrepresenting my statements. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/92 "2008-10-30T00:07:19Z")
Good start. Laying out his plan, in specifics. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/93 "2008-10-30T00:19:26Z")
Is it my imagination or is this a bit on the brilliant side. The stories told. The locations. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/94 "2008-10-30T00:23:27Z")
It’s actually pretty good. I’m impressed. [holding my breath] ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/95 "2008-10-30T00:23:40Z")
good so far, i’ve only just looked at the clock and time is almost up. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/96 "2008-10-30T00:27:33Z")
I try to be a cynic. I know that an Obama administration will fall short of my expectations. But, I’m kind of tearing up here. Damnedest thing. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/97 "2008-10-30T00:30:04Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > I’m not following. > > Obama has raised over [$458 million](http://www.newsweek.com/id/162403) so far. 48% is from donors under $200. > > $458mil x 0.48 = $219,840,000. Divide that by $200 (assume every donor under $200 gave exactly $200) and you get 1,099,200 donations. > > The only 300,000 number I see on the site is the donors who gave _over_ $200, of which there are 322,363. And that’s not “number of $200+ contribut_ions_” but “number of $200+ contribu_tors_”. Once you’ve given more than $200 total in the cycle, you’re tracked by name. > > I can accept that it may have trouble tracking the under $200 donors until they reach the $200 total reporting threshold but that’s still a lot of under $200 folks to come up with those numbers. 1.1 million donations is the lowest possible end, if every donation was $200. Figure a more plausible average sub-$200 donation to be $50 instead of $200 and you have 4.3 million separate donations. If you wanna play with numbers, use the good ones from the [Federal Election Commission.](http://www.fec.gov/DisclosureSearch/mapApp.do?cand_id=P80003338&searchType=&searchSQLType=&searchKeyword=) Obama’s raised 280 million and change from individual contributions of less than $200, which would mean, if they were all exactly $200, 1.4 million contributions. From credit cards. Which have been tracked and are credited to each person contributing, in order to make sure nobody gets over the federal limits for campaign contributions. On a side note, I wonder how McCain likes not being able to afford something? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/98 "2008-10-30T00:30:20Z")
Dam, I got a little va klempt. Talk amongst yourselves. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/99 "2008-10-30T00:31:27Z")
that was amazing. i would say helps the campaign. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113/100 "2008-10-30T00:32:45Z")
Crap. I hate when stuff chokes me up. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-infomercial/470113.md?page=6)