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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.”
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Leave a Comment:
Obvious Obama isn't interested in the welfare of America, just the welfare of special interest groups. Get ready for a Civil War.
Bring it...you'll lose again.
But CullishHeathen, we will have all the guns.
The party of stupid rides again.
Remember in 2014, Democrats turned around a Republican disaster.
IMHO
Hate to tell you but this is 2013. 2014 hasn't happened yet.
Keep thinking that if it helps you sleep.
DASHER-521 HAS NAILED IT CORRECT !!!!!!! All the way !!!
EAT-IT McGRILLED BRAIN !!!
I think you already ate it. And apparently got a little on your chin.
That's strange.
What is it that makes a person liberal? I've asked myself that question many times as I just don't understand how people can be so easily led and manipulated. So I've come to the conclusion it's not just one type of person but there are numerous varieties. Mostly though it's young people and women who get most of their news and information from pop culture entertainment television. They will follow and support whatever liberal cause their heroes tell them to support. This gives them a sense of belonging, of fitting in or of being "cool." Typically these people consider themselves in the know but nothing could be further from the truth. In a nutshell the entertainment industry runs our politics and the blind minions march lockstep to their every whim. Ladies and gentlemen, we're pretty much screwed!
What makes a person liberal?
Yeah, just like the founders who founded the country based on liberal ideas. The conservatives of the time called the Tories wanted to remain under the king and didn't want the liberal revolution at all. Guess who won?
Face it, The US has returned to being a center-left country and the right wing rhetoric like yours is causing it to become more true with every stupid, hysterical and over-the-top republican lie you post. Keep it up. We love it.
Liberal ideas? Unshackling the bonds of the English rule was hardly what would be considered "liberal".
Revolutionary is the word I've always associated with our founders.
Face it. Your shallow idealogy is not for everyone.
PSYCHO-POLITICS is defined as; "The art and science of
asserting and maintaining dominion over the thoughts and loyalties of
individuals, officer's, bureau's and masses and the effecting of the conquest
[enemy] masses through the process of, Mental Healing!" These concepts
were first exposed to the Western World at the 1939 un-American Activities
Committee in Washington D.C. which was chair maned by Martin Dies and this
testimony can be found in volume 9 of that years Congressional Report as
written by Kenneth Goff. These techniques were first developed by Communist
Countries as a tool for, "Brain-Washing" which they used freely and
without impunity because sheeple didn't even recognize they were being
manipulated into conformity and uniformity! The true strength of our species
however is not conformity and uniformity but individuality and uniqueness which
is the manipulators greatest fear of being exposed such as Feinstein and all
other political lackeys who just want control over the helpless. Powerless
people such as politicians seek control over others in a false attempt to
pretend they are in control themselves. This obviously fails consistently so
politico's keep trying harder until they finally implode upon themselves.
What makes a Right Winger a Right Winger? Right Wing Fetish: "Any object or non-genital part of the Right Wing party that causes a habitual erotic response of fixation". Hence, the need for a huge demand by the Right Wing for Binkies...!!
And, btw dagon, spoken like the true "Palinism" that it is...
Wow. A quick re-read of "Animal Farm" is in order for lots of people. Pay particular attention to the sheep and how they were instructed/used......
Then ask yourself, which animal am I?
I'd say a pig.
Speaking of "Sheeeeeep", how is the Right Wing doing this morning..?
This is a bunch of abusive B.S. from the President of the USA.
I have wrote the white house a few times over the past 50 yrs, since they have gone digital in contacting them. I have used that.
www.whitehouse.gov/contact/submit-questions-and-comments
When Obama took office I started receiving advertisement and cause stuff from him. I never ask for any from him. The other Presidents have respected when I choose not to check these two box's after one writes their comment.
"Opt In: Would you like to receive email updates from the White House?"
"Contact Me: A response is requested"
I never have checked them, for I hate junk mail. Now I am on somebody elses list? This is abusiveness. Nobody should have to worry about contacting their leader and their information be given away for a political game.
The site is for contacting our leaders. I have been receiving emails from congress persons in other states, now I know how they got my email address, but I do not know why they are contacting me, for I cannot vote in their state.
I cannot contact them if I do not belong to their state, so it only makes sense that they do not contact me.
Now our own President is selling us and the rest of the people who have contacted him in trust to some organization that will probably sale us again. My advice is do not contact the president, or he will disrespect you if you do.
cit liberty
From your post I take it you are a REAL (Native) American?
1/8 Native American, My grandmothers mom was of the lakota, blackfeet. is that bad to you?
My grandmother was full Chippewa. It's certainly not bad for me.
Cit Liberty:
No Not at all.... It was just your mention of the Trail of Tears that struck me. I myself am part (2 Great Grandmothers ago) From the Abenaki.
Times Running Out.
My grandaughter ran what you said below, it is a cherokee greeting. I do not speak cherokee or Sioux, so I thought you were cursing or playing cruel games at me. My apologize and may there be peace between you and I. I live in the lands of the Abenaki. Like the Sioux there were many sub tribes under them.
My Grandmother was adopted out at the age of 3 1/2 or 4 for reasons I will not go into. But this is why I say my grandmothers mother.
I despise the path America has taken. NO..... it is not the last 5 years that made it so, but it is the last 5 years that solidifies America's fall from leadership in the world. It has taken over 60 years of deceitful government to lay waste to the good sense of its people, and claim our failure as a nation in history. Like Rome, America is burning. Like every democracy in the history of the world, all have failed, and America is on the brink.
I still believe in the pricipals this country was founded on. I pray the fire of deceit burning our country, will be a wake up call for the spirit of patriotism in this nation. I hope it will not be too late before Americans reclaim our country and make great again, a nation that once was.
I will be waiting. I believe in our constitution, and the America it was designed to represent. Freedom is not free. Until then know this. Don't Tread On Me !!!
Wow, DRAMA.
In some circles it's called "chewing the scenery".
cit liberty
gaest-ost yuh-wa da-nv-ta ( I hope that is right )
I do not know what that means, I do know a little spanish though so a besa me cula back at ya.
Big Brother sharing YOUR information with anyone and everyone.
The Stalinists are gathering their sheep. Remember libtards............ you must always love Big Brother. Look to the people of North Korea to see the adoration obama expects from you.
That massive data base of supporters that Obamadhinajhad turned over was nothing more than the unemployment, disability, welfare and food stamp roll. These people don't have a real job, so they do have all of the time in the world to join the army of door knockers and do battle with those that want to take away their freebies. What a way to use Republican tax payer money against themselves (the typical Democrat is too stupid to have a job with enough earnings to pay taxes). The government takes money from working people and gives it to people to not work to go out and lobby against those who do work so that those who do not work get more money from those who do work (I typed it slowly so that you Lefties can keep up). The golden goose will perish if this is allowed to continue.
Yep, looks like a Democratic Spring.
The party of stupid doesn't get any smarter.
If you would like to join a petition for your right to privacy, simply send us:
your name, address, phone number (business & home), Social Security #, 1 dark secret, sexual preference, your real sexual preference, 5 Friends & 3 living relatives
Together we can fight for the right to privacy, just like:
Albert Smith of Duncan, Oklahoma (a closet homosexual), who has an un-natural fear to the sharp edges on peanut can lids.
Yes sent to millions of ignorant supporters.The danger to America is not Barack Obama, but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails America . Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The Republic can survive a Barack Obama, who is, after all, 'merely a fool'. It is far less likely to survive a multitude of fools, such as those who made him their President.
TruthComesHere,
Hope you don't get any on you.
I'll say it one more time, this is just bad reporting. The conservatives and republicans that MSN employs are just rallying the party of stupid and getting a controversy started where there is none.
Democratic Spring, here we come.
Right, The author of this article is such a right wing hack that the Society of Professional Journalists awarded him for best investigative reporting.
To think that a little half black kid with big ears from Hawaii that became a Chicago community organizer has kicked the arse of the Republican machine. Now to watch the cockroaches of the party like fascist and the like writhing in pain after being sprayed with the pesticide of truth is delightful.
You have a very active imagination. Fascists and pesticide all in one thought.
Some would say you are delusional.
WOW You managed to offer racial insults to the President while also displaying your deep seated hatred of at least half the nation who did not vote for Obama. You must be a kick at parties.
More than half the Nation voted for Obama REMEMBER, HE WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes I remember all the government dependent voters being pulled from their cardboard homes on the steam grates, given identification by ACORN and sent to the polls. Vote early and vote often.
Chicago politics are its worst.
And just a bit under half voted against him and that number will grow as this failures begin to pile up.
So lets see... the man elected to represent all Americans gives private information to a political activist group who then use it to send text messages with scripted talking points to serve his own private agenda. Do liberals not see how they are being exploited?
But in this article, and in several others on MSNBC there is some interesting information if you read between the lines... There is more of caution that celebration and when the media starts reporting that the President's actions should be met with caution then you know how far into madness he has really gone.
Candlewycke
They don't care.... They are Blinded by his Grace (and all the free stuff don't hurt either).
Is that the true election reform Obama promised? He 'reformed' the election process by allowing more and bigger corporation donations than the Republicans ever did. Now he's selling his data base, the one with the small fry donors, to his cronies in big business as a reward.
This man has no other agenda than his personal agenda. Just think, he upped his personal wealth from 1 million to over 11 millions in just four years.
culheath shows his stupidity with every post.
He can't help it. Without the Obama Administration, he wouldn't know what to say.
So Obama wants his "base" to get involved and actually do some work? yeah...cause poor inner city voters routinely get involved in national politics and stay informed on important issues like immigration reform, effective violent crime control(which is what they want you to think gun control is but has been proven that it isn't), fiscal policy and Washington reforms. yeah...that is what this organization is for. I totally believe you. You haven't betrayed every ethical stance you ever took...NNOOOOOOO.
If I was a senator and I heard more than one phone call reading the "sample" script I'd hang-up on them. What a great way to waste someones time. If you can't think enough for yourself on what to say you should just keep your mouth shut. I don't care which side of the aisle you're on learn to THINK for YOURSELF!
Wow, the blind sheep are still sleeping. Who in the heck do they think they are to scam all of this data? If I was a facebook user and they got my name because I was a "friend" of someone that contacted the Obama campaign I'd be livid!
I know the usual suspects of Obama supports will say that the "Obama campaign out teched the republicans." But, I wouldn't accept this HUGE invasion of privacy by anyone. What a bunch of sheep we've become.
I am on this list. I receive updates on pending legislation, information about the issues, names and contact information about Congress. I am then able to use this information to contact those people in Congress about my wishes and preferences. It's called participatory democracy. It's the people using their power to direct Congress in what the people want.
Corporations and lobbyists have been running Congress for too long. It is time for the people to take back their country. Congress isn't just elected to work for the monied interests. They are elected to work for the people, all of the people. It is only when the people start telling Congress what they want, and demanding that they be listened to, that Congress will once again become the voice of the people. If this scares you, then you don't want to live in a free country and have your voice heard.
If the only way you can achieve your goals is to keep people silent and ignorant, then your goals are suspect. Keeping in contact with your voters and keeping them up to date about candidates and issues and upcoming legislation isn't an attempt to undermine democracy. It is an effort to give democracy back to the people. This is the founding principle of our country. Why should voter participation frighten anyone who believes in democracy?
Do you really believe the politicos really care about what you think, or about you at all?
“I can’t think of anything that rivals this data,” said Coney.....
What, you've never heard of the FBI, the NSA, or the DHS?
Every time you talk on any telephone, text someone, surf the net, send an e-mail, or engage in any other form of electronic communication, it becomes part of a database that sums information from every agency out there into one tidy little package.
Four million people on a list, and you're having a panic attack?
The NRA claimed 4.2 million members in a press release last week.
That isn't journalism.
There are critical and potentially irreversible trends in motion- and throwing another hamhock into the piranha tank of partisan politics only obscures them.
edit
Where would the GOP be without the Koch Brothers. Or Sheldon Adelson. Not questions. Merely statements. All of this list gave $25. That's two and a half hours work in Texas. Then, along comes Dick Morris. Believe, just believe!
Education is the key and you learn all your life, so, get with it. Quashing the vote is the republican way. Their "low information voter" garbage is just that. They say FOX viewers are missing something. I wonder what that is? The remote control?
I know exactly why I hate them. Let's start with ALEC.