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Obama supporters like this woman who showed up to cheer at a campaign event in Melbourne, Fla., on Sept. 9, may not realize how much personal data the organization collected, or what it's doing with it now.
President Barack Obama’s presidential campaign has turned over its most valuable asset — a massive computer database containing personal data on millions of American voters — to a new advocacy group created to advance the White House agenda on issues ranging from gun control to immigration reform.
Organizing For Action (OFA), the advocacy group set up in recent weeks by the president’s top political aides, has already acquired access to the database under a leasing agreement with the Obama campaign, Katie Hogan, a former Obama campaign aide who is now serving as spokeswoman for the lobbying group, told NBC News. The information will be used to unleash an “army of the door knockers” to back the president’s legislative agenda as well as raise money for “issue ads” – particularly in crucial congressional districts, she said.
As an opening salvo, the group on Friday urged the president’s supporters to call members of Congress in support of Obama’s gun control proposals, even offering a sample script of what they should say.
The creation of OFA, which is being chaired by former Obama campaign manager Jim Messina, is stirring controversy – both among public interest groups over the group’s plans to accept unlimited corporate donations, and among privacy advocates over the transfer of the database.
“It’s extremely worrisome,” said Lillie Coney, associate director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, noting that Obama campaign supporters likely have no idea that personal data they voluntarily shared with the campaign has now been transferred and is being used for purposes beyond the election.
Dubbed the “nuclear codes” by campaign aides, the Obama campaign database is widely described as one of the most powerful tools ever developed in American politics. According to published reports, it contains the names of at least 4 million Obama donors – as well as millions of others (the campaign has consistently refused to say how many) compiled from voter registration rolls and other public databases. In addition, the campaign used sophisticated computer programs — with code names like “Narwhal” — to collect information through social media: Anybody who contacted the campaign through Facebook had their friends and “likes” downloaded. If they contacted the campaign website through mobile apps, cellphone numbers and address books were downloaded. Computer “cookies” captured Web browsing and online spending habits.
“I can’t think of anything that rivals this data,” said Coney, noting that much of the data was voluntarily supplied by voters, something that consumers are often reluctant to do when dealing with commercial companies. “The private sector would love to be able to do what the (Obama) campaign was able to do.”
OFA spokeswoman Hogan said that Obama supporters have the option in emails they receive of opting out — or unsubscribing — from the list, as required by federal law. But critics say that is not necessarily an option for information collected about voters through other means (such as public databases) and note that many on the list likely don’t notice the “unsubscribe” fine print on the emails.
At the same time, OFA’s plans for corporate-backed lobbying of Congress have spurred sharp criticism from campaign reformers — a cause the president once championed. Fred Wertheimer, president of Democracy 21, a leading reform group, called OFA “dangerous and unprecedented,” noting that it has been set up under the same section of the tax code used by controversial GOP advocacy groups, such as Karl Rove’s Crossroads GPS (as a 501(c)(4) “social welfare” nonprofit organization). This will allow the group to accept unlimited donations from wealthy individuals and corporations.
“With his decision to allow corporations to fund the new organizations that will operate as an arm of his presidency, President Obama has ‘given a green light to a new stampede of special interest money,’” said Wertheimer in a statement that quoted Obama’s own words two years ago to denounce the Citizens United Supreme Court decision striking down many campaign finance limits. “This would take President Obama about as far away as he could possibly get from the goal he set in 2008 to change the way business is done in Washington.”
Related: Nonprofit spends big on politics despite IRS limitation
In response to a request for comment, a White House spokesman emailed recent comments by top Obama political adviser David Plouffe to ABC’s George Stephanopoulos: “Yes, we will voluntarily disclose all of our donors,” Plouffe said. “And we're very excited. The people who actually made the president's campaign in both '08 and '12, our great grassroots volunteers, were pretty clear after the election they wanted to stay with it and they want to be out there organizing, driving message, holding people accountable on issues like immigration, you know, the deficit and jobs, gun safety.”
But how much the group will disclose about the source of its money is still unclear. There is no legal requirement for a 501(c)(4) group like OFA to do so. Hogan, the OFA spokeswoman, declined to say how often the group will make disclosures or whether it will report amounts that donors give or simply provide a list of contributors. (Such a list -- without amounts detailed -- was recently released by the Presidential Inaugural Committee.) “That’s still being worked out,” she said.
As if to underscore the role of major corporations in helping to underwrite OFA, the unveiling of the group came at a special invitation-only event on inaugural weekend at the Newseum, sponsored by Business Forward, a corporate-backed trade group close to the White House, according to a Politico account. Business Forward -- whose charter members include Citi, Dow Chemical, Duke Energy, Ford, Google and Comcast, majority-owner of NBCUniversal, parent company of NBC News -- had lobbied for the White House-backed fiscal cliff deal, specifically touting its tax breaks for businesses, such as write-offs for new capital investment and research and development credits, according to a statement on the group’s website.
“We need you. This president needs you,” Messina said at the launch event, according to the Politico account, adding that the national advisory board of OFA will be “filled with people in this room.”
One corporate executive who attended the event told NBC News the roll out -- which featured a spirited talk by former President Bill Clinton on gun control -- drew numerous major Obama campaign bundlers and fundraisers, such as Obama campaign finance chairman Mathew Barzun (now reportedly a front-runner to be tapped for ambassador to the Court of St. James) and finance director Rufus Gifford.
“My takeaway from this was that they set this up to take advantage of the Citizens United decision and operate this outside the Democratic National Committee so they won’t have to file (election) reports,” said the executive, who asked not to be identified.
Hogan, the OFA spokeswoman, said that OFA will not run campaign ads — only “issue” ads that do not fall under the election laws.
But the underlying political purpose of the group is not disputed. “The way it’s organized, we legally can’t participate in elections,” Stephanie Cutter, a top Obama campaign official who now serves on the board of OFA, said at a recent Politico-sponsored inaugural event. “But that doesn’t mean the issues we’re organizing around won’t mobilize the American people to vote for things — to vote for that economy we’ve been working for, to vote for immigration reform, to vote for common sense gun reforms. I think we can affect elections, we just can’t legally be involved in them — for this particular organization.”
More from Open Channel:
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Imagine that. It only took 3 months to clean up all the illegal and foriegn contributors out so they could release the data. Well, at least the libs can't figure it out so their IQ remains well below the 5IQ level which is equal to a one year old.
Pat G:
Low IQ's? You wish!!!!!
Be ready...the Obama regime is going to unleash hoards and hoards of uneducated baboons to knock on peoples doors...remember these are the people that own no bussiness.....have no jobs...I.Q.s of 60....have obama phones....get unemployment...suck off their parents ....steal from their friends and mooch off the goverment (people that have jobs) so i don't want to hear how it's a good thing to implement bad policies just so the criminal goverment can buy votes.
You better hurry to your local store, they've had a run on lemons, and you are running low!!!
Another reason to not have Facebook. I have won with that decision every time. Twice during the election I had callers asking me who I would be voting for and if they could do follow-up calls after the election. The first call the lady wouldn't listen to me anymore after I told her I was not voting for Obama and the second asked too many "personal" questions from the start--I hung up on him. If you want to volunteer your info that's fine, but these people were too damn pushy and probably have info on me from other sources anyway. I feel sorry if they decide to call me anytime soon.
I have an answer to those people, I simply tell them I don't do Surveys or Poles and than I hang up or move on and if they persist I let them know that they reaching a point of where I call it harrassment and offer them an option, wouldd you rather I call a Cop or go see a Lawyer. As far as voting goes it isn't even your spouses business to know who you are voting for. I guess the question is where does some stranger have a right to ask such a thing? The answer is they don't and you have a right to let them know it is none of their business.
Actually, they have a right to ask anything just as you have a right to refuse to talk to them. I must admit I had a laugh out of "I simply tell them I don't do Surveys or Poles"... Poles bring up an image of Polish people for me - I think you're looking for "polls" as the noun here :-)
I seriously do not mind being asked civil questions during an election. Nowadays, though, it becomes obvious they are just gathering information about me. The lady who called I believe thought I was definitely voting for Obama and would have moved on to personal information. The guy who called I believe could care less who I was voting for, he just wanted my info for some political database. Twenty years ago I would get these calls and they would ask which side I stood on certain issues. They did not shut me down when they got an answer they did not like. Now they seem to want as much info on me as they can get just to add to some database.
The article states in part, "the OFA has been set up under the same section of the tax code used by controversial GOP advocacy groups, such as Karl Rove’s Crossroads GPS (as a 501(c)(4) “social welfare” nonprofit organization). This will allow the group to accept unlimited donations from wealthy individuals and corporations". Seems like the Supreme Court opened a can of worms with the decision "Corporations Are People Too" and the only way the Republicans can stop this train is to change the Tax Code. I laugh when I think that a Community Organizer from Chicago beat the Koch Brothers and Karl Rove.
"The creation of OFA, which is being chaired by former Obama campaign manager Jim Messina, is stirring controversy – both among public interest groups over the group’s plans to ***except*** unlimited corporate donations, and among privacy advocates over the transfer of the database."
Editorial note: I think you mean "accept"! I know this is not a material contribution, but I am so tired of shoddy editing on major news websites. Quit cutting corners--run these stories through a competent copy editor. My goodness.
The data base that was put togather was/is a collection of public domain data bases, not a private one.
I love this!!!!! Spartacus is back!
The R.W.N.J.'s really hate a level playing field, don't they? Citizens united is fine by them, as long as the Dems don't do it! Waaahhhh, whine, cry, sob, sniff, sniff!!!! Sad sack losers!
My name is on that list, and i am damned proud of it!!!!
Go suck another lemon, you sour pusses!!!
DfromSpencer
And I hope all your friends on FB are rep and de-friend you once they start getting call begging and bulling them for money.. LMAO
Two new friends per day in "the line".
So Obama gets more money into his supports hands by raising taxes, then they turn around and fund his "special interest" group. Text book definition of a "kick back"
Washington has made me so jaded that this was the first thing I thought of. All parties suck!
talk about sorting out a group of mentally challenged people that should never be considered for the purchase of firearms!! Obama's supporters should be first on the list!
We're thinking its more like you, RETARD!!!
DfromSpencer
Whaaaaaaaaaaaa You are calling bad names again... Stop it or I will tell mommy
Trouble is Dush from Spenser, you're a lib and it's doubtful that you can think.
Paragraph 4 should read "accept", not "except".
Don't think that screwing with the electoral Collage is going to help your cause. After many years of being pushed around by the likes of Rove, Cheney, Bush and Limpball, we have learned one thing. Never to let you do it again. Hey Republicans, we are going to annihilate you!!!!
Fascist, you are drowning in your own swill.
So un-employment is barely changed since he took office, but national debt has almost doubled, and our Government has grown significantly as in added government jobs that our taxes have to pay for. Yep sounds like were headed in the right direction to me. Soon we will all be slaves of the government. But first they need to take away our guns.
" Government has grown significantly"
Do you have any proof of that?
"the federal workforce is larger under obama"
40,000 less federal employees in 2011 than in 2009.
http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/data-analysis-documentation/federal-employment-reports/historical-tables/total-government-employment-since-1962/
Show me your sources.
Again you are simply wrong which is probaly why you refuse to link to your supposed sources:
Why not just call them the "Brown Shirts" ?
Bush Sr and Bush Jr no different from Obama... They're both striving for the NWO under U.N. control... so this stupid back and forth name calling and bickering is futile, both parties here have been suckered in by the leadership. The elite want to take it over without revolution because they make money of the middle class . First they want to boil the frog slowly... then America will beg for anything ... even give up their freedom
where's "dip$hit from spencer"??? did his grade school bus come already?
Or perhaps he has a job...I notice you are still here.
as are you moron.... but as far as D from Sphincter.... nah the last village idiot position was taken for Washington D.C. by Joe Biden and that's the only thing he was qualified for.
The one thing that the Democratic party has been missing all these years is coordination. Republicans have had strict coordination and use it all the time. They can be called out to vote on a moments notice without knowing in their little minds what they are even voting for. Now with the OAF we can do the same. Only we will have informed voters and we have unstoppable mass. Republicans have had their day and now it's over!!
Has your little brain gotten stuck?
Rweber-1968632
What the hell are you talking about... You make this sound like a basketball game or something... Can't you see that OUR counrty is Being Torn apart and you are rooting for it to be complete...
Remember what obama said... We are not the Red States or the Blue States, we are the UNITED STATES???
Besides, what are you going to do when all the Working Reps are all "Done Away With" and no long have a job... Who is going to pay all the ones on the welfare rolls?
You A-holes have brought this Country to this. Now it's time to "correct" what you have done GOOOD BYE!
Rweber-1968632
Just like the little kid that sneaks in and gets the last poke at his little brother before running outside to hide.
ROFLMAO
http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/04/a_new_declaration_of_independence.html
Time is Near
What I like the most about this is I get to pay for my own demise.
America's soldiers have been made the Global police for whatever agenda the elite bankers want...
The democrat politicians and republican politicians have sold America... within 3 years you will see the results.
No Constitution = no free speech no gun ownership no rights period. NDAA , Patriot Act all will be used against us as Americans
Don't be such a negative nancy. We have the guns and the military hates him. The key is not to wait too long to exercise our rights.
Too many knuckle-draggers just don't understand. It's OK to sacrifice privacy if you're fighting the good fight against the evil right-wing cretins, but if it's those same gun-clinging zealots who do something like that, then it's a threat to everything the correct half of the country stands for.
Economan
You obviously are quite close-minded and extremely biased. Not to mention sounding like a 4 year old having a tantrum.
....Uly says from his crib...!!
economan, you are correct - and it was demonstrated time after time this past election. Behaviour shown by Barry or Biden either accepted by or covered up by the left media was demonized by this same media when demonstarted by the Repblicans.
Ulysesses...,
I'll grant you one out of three. I'm biased. So is everyone else with an opinion - they just don't all agree with me. I also believe that I'm right in my fun above.
But if you're right, then we'll be seeing a lot of prominent Democrats condemning the use of that database. Feel free to cite any of them. No doubt Jay Carney will address it today for the president.
A person who sacrifices freedom/liberties/privacy in the name of safety deserves none of these things. May I suggest that you move to China. They have no privacy and their government protects them from the evil ways of the west. How safe do you think they really feel? You talk about guns owners as if we were the ones killing mass amounts of people. Are you truly that stupid or has Obama simply got you brainwashed like those who voted for him in 2008/2012? Sooner or later Obama will be POTUS no more, I just wonder how long it will take people to wake up and realize just how damaging he truly is/was to this country and what his true agenda is.
By the way China is still an option as I understand private ownership of guns is illegal there. Have a nice trip and hope your fee real safe in your "gun free state/zone." Say wasn't Sandy Hook and that theater in Colorado considered to be "gun free zones?" Guess the criminals didn't bother to read the signs or more likely they are criminals because they have no regard for laws/rules. I personally think that all people who don't want to own a gun have the right to be gun free in their own homes. I think that they should put up signs on their lawns/front doors declaring their residences to be "gun free." That way the criminals will know for a fact where the easy prey is and it will make a safer working environment for the criminals.
I feel like I'm watching a sideshow event.
The rules are: there are no rules ;)
Srich
I feel like I'm watching a sideshow event.
The rules are: there are no rules ;)
Like the Satanist Aleister Crowley said " Doest What Thou Wilt is the whole of the Law"
60's "If it feels good do it" From music industry to Hollywood have been preaching it...
might be part of the problem in America?
Think about it...what is the difference between Crowley's quote and the personal philosophy of Libertarians?
Anarchy, ie, no rules is only possible if all adults take absolute responsibility for their actions and serve as their own internal police. Think we could run a civilization on that? Hah, we can't even expect abled people not to park in disabled parking spots without threat of penalty. Then of course there is perfect world of complete honest and caring Republican rule.
Republicans have been collecting databases for years. Problem is, they only look for big donors. They wouldn't deign to seek out the lesser supporters. Well, guess what? There's a hell'va lot more money to be mined from the 47% than the 2%. I guess Republicans are not good with math. The old bromide, "You reap what you sow", could never be more apt.
And being a Demosoicialist, you know this how????????????????????
Reading challenged or just daft?
Apparently, in the Demosocialist manner, you consider your opinion to be fact.
Did you not READ the results of campaign contributions for Obama vs. Romney?
I pay no attention to Demosocialist propaganda. You are not convincing me that you have any idea of what you are whining about.
That would describe your bubble...now we know it is self-inflicted. No freedom for you.
Back in the fifties it would be a data base of communists. Hell it probably is today.
but now run by the communists
Maybe Senator Joe McCarthy was right. Various historical analyses have shown that there WERE Communist agents/activists in all levels of government. They're just open about it now...
Sheep following the wolf. I'm sure Hitler had something like this too. Same type of scum. His followers will eventually get what they deserve when this country is once again run by someone who is not a socialist and they have to work to get something for themselves.
Wow....where are the privacy guardians out here now?
I'll bet over 60% of those in that database didn't realize that they gave Obama carte blanche to use their information.
Noted that it even included people who "liked" on Facebook. "Like" and you got "captured" by the Obama database.