President Obama often likes to say that “folks can’t wait” until the next election for Congress to enact his proposals. Apparently, he couldn’t wait until closer to the election to go officially into campaign mode, attending six fundraisers this week that even the White House Press Office characterizes as “campaign event[s].”
Obama referred to the campaign as an ongoing event during a fundraiser hosted by actors Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith. “That’s what this campaign has always been about [a better future]. This campaign has never been about glitz and glory, or just the blind pursuit of power,” Obama said. “That’s not why we got involved. That’s not why you guys signed up back in 2007, 2008.” He also acknowledged that “those “Hope” posters; they’re all kind of, all kind of dog-eared.”
Obama scheduled the fundraisers during a trip to the West Coast ostensibly focused on his executive actions to stimulate the economy. “The campaign pays for all campaign events,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest told The Washington Examiner. “As in previous administrations, we follow all the rules and regulations to ensure that the DNC or other relevant political committee pays what is required for the President and First Lady to travel to political events.”
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., recently dismissed Obama’s jobs speeches and executive actions, saying that Obama “has started the campaign 13 months early.”
The re-election process increasingly appears to weigh on the minds of Obama’s staff. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney hit Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney two days ago during a press briefing. The Democratic National Committee made the substance of Carney’s criticism into an attack ad against Romney that rolled in Arizona yesterday.
