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Revision as of 16:28, 9 April 2013 editXenophrenic (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers19,497 edits "received donations" not conveyed by cited source← Previous edit Revision as of 16:51, 9 April 2013 edit undoXenophrenic (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers19,497 edits wording per cited sourceNext edit →
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==Funding== ==Funding==
Obama reelection campaign manager ] said that the group would stop accepting corporate donations and would disclose donation amounts.<ref>{{cite news|last=Thomas|first=Ken|title=Group Backing Obama Won't Take Corporate Money|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/group-backing-obama-wont-take-corporate-money|accessdate=4 April 2013|newspaper=Associated Press|date=March 7, 2013}}</ref> OFA executive director Jon Carson and Messina both said OFA is a non-partisan, ] issue advocacy group.<ref name=Sink>{{cite news|last=Sink|first=Justin|title=Obama allies defend OFA amid 'pay-to-play' access controversy|url=http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/287931-plouffe-ofa-should-be-celebrated-not-criticized|accessdate=16 March 2013|newspaper=The Hill|date=March 13, 2013}}</ref> The ] complained that a list of donors and the amount they had contributed was not available when OFA held its initial meeting.<ref>{{cite news|last=Steiner|first=Keenan|title=Pro-Obama group insists it's not selling access|url=http://reporting.sunlightfoundation.com/2013/pro-obama-group-insists-not-selling-access/|accessdate=4 April 2013|newspaper=Sunlight Foundation Reporting Group|date=March 13, 2013}}</ref> Obama reelection campaign manager ] said that the group would not be accepting corporate donations and would disclose donation amounts.<ref>{{cite news|last=Thomas|first=Ken|title=Group Backing Obama Won't Take Corporate Money|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/group-backing-obama-wont-take-corporate-money|accessdate=4 April 2013|newspaper=Associated Press|date=March 7, 2013}}</ref> OFA executive director Jon Carson and Messina both said OFA is a non-partisan, ] issue advocacy group.<ref name=Sink>{{cite news|last=Sink|first=Justin|title=Obama allies defend OFA amid 'pay-to-play' access controversy|url=http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/287931-plouffe-ofa-should-be-celebrated-not-criticized|accessdate=16 March 2013|newspaper=The Hill|date=March 13, 2013}}</ref> The ] said that OFA will voluntarily release its donors and the exact amounts they gave on its website after March, and will do so every quarter.<ref>{{cite news|last=Steiner|first=Keenan|title=Pro-Obama group insists it's not selling access|url=http://reporting.sunlightfoundation.com/2013/pro-obama-group-insists-not-selling-access/|accessdate=4 April 2013|newspaper=Sunlight Foundation Reporting Group|date=March 13, 2013}}</ref>


===Donations for access=== ===Donations for access===

Revision as of 16:51, 9 April 2013

Organizing for Action
AbbreviationOFA
PredecessorObama for America
Organizing for America
FormationJanuary 18, 2013; 11 years ago (2013-01-18)
TypeNonprofit Social Welfare Organization
HeadquartersWashington, D.C.
Chicago, IL
Region served United States
Membership15 million email addresses from Obama campaign, unknown membership
ChairmanJim Messina
Executive DirectorJon Carson
AffiliationsDemocratic Party, Barack Obama
Websitebarackobama.com

Organizing for Action (OFA) is a nonprofit social welfare organization and community organizing project in the United States, heavily affiliated with the Democratic Party. It is the successor of U.S. president Barack Obama's 2012 re-election campaign and of Organizing for America, which itself succeeded Obama's 2008 campaign.

Founded after President Obama's re-election, the group seeks to mobilize supporters in favor of Obama's legislative priorities. OFA is registered as a 501(c)(4) organization, which allows it to advocate for legislation but prohibits it from specifically supporting political candidates.

History

The formation of Organizing for Action was announced by Chairman Jim Messina, who served as Obama's 2012 campaign manager, and First Lady Michelle Obama on January 18, 2013. White House official Jon Carson left the Obama administration to become the executive director. Campaign senior adviser David Axelrod serves as a consultant.

Organizing for Action succeeds Organizing for America, which was formed under similar circumstances but operated under the control of the Democratic National Committee. In preparation for President Obama's second term, Obama for America was relaunched as a nonprofit group in order to mobilize support behind the president's legislative and political agenda.

Organization

Like its predecessor, Organizing for Action will be composed of fifty different state organizations, united by a single national umbrella.

The organization will accept donations from individuals but not from corporations, lobbyists or political action committees. It will maintain offices in both Washington, D.C. and Chicago. As a tax exempt 501(c)(4) organization it will seek to harness the energy of the president's re-election campaign for future legislative fights. The group will advocate on key policy issues such as gun control, climate change and immigration, train future leaders and devote attention to local issues throughout the United States.

Executive Director - Jon Carson (Fmr. White House Director of Public Engagement, 2008) Senior Advisor - Adrian Saenz (Fmr. Obama for America National Latino Vote Director, 2012) National Organizing Director - Sara El-Amine (Fmr. Obama for America National Training Director, 2012; Fmr. Obama for America Virgina GOTV Director, 2012) Director of Issue Campaigns - Lindsay Siler (Fmr. Obama for America North Carolina State Director, 2012) Immigration Reform Campaign Manager - Emmy Ruiz (Fmr. Obama for America Nevada General Election Director, 2012)

Funding

Obama reelection campaign manager Jim Messina said that the group would not be accepting corporate donations and would disclose donation amounts. OFA executive director Jon Carson and Messina both said OFA is a non-partisan, grassroots issue advocacy group. The Sunlight Foundation said that OFA will voluntarily release its donors and the exact amounts they gave on its website after March, and will do so every quarter.

Donations for access

In February 2013, the New York Times reported that Organizing for Action had offered quarterly meetings with Obama at the White House in return for donations of $500,000 or more. White House press spokesman Jay Carney denied that access to the President was being "sold," stating that OFA was an independent organization, and referred specific questions to the OFA staff. On March 8, Messina told CBS News that donors could meet with the president, but not at the White House. Republican Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell criticized the offer as a pay for access scandal.

References

  1. "Obama unveils 'Organizing for Action'". Politico. 2013-01-17. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
  2. ^ "Obama campaign to become nonprofit, Organizing for Action". The Washington Post. 2013-01-18. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
  3. ^ "Obama campaign evolving into group to push his agenda". Reuters. 2013-01-18. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
  4. Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/03/07/in-reversal-organizing-for-action-wont-take-corporate-cash/. Retrieved 2013-03-09. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ^ "Organizing For Action: Obama Campaign Relaunches As Issue-Based Nonprofit". The Huffington Post. 2013-01-18. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
  6. ^ "Obama aides launch Organizing for Action to back his agenda". Los Angeles Times. 2013-01-18. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
  7. Thomas, Ken (March 7, 2013). "Group Backing Obama Won't Take Corporate Money". Associated Press. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  8. Sink, Justin (March 13, 2013). "Obama allies defend OFA amid 'pay-to-play' access controversy". The Hill. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  9. Steiner, Keenan (March 13, 2013). "Pro-Obama group insists it's not selling access". Sunlight Foundation Reporting Group. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  10. Confessore, Nicholas (February 22, 2013). "Obama's Backers Seek Big Donors to Press Agenda". New York Times. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  11. "Are donors paying for access to Obama?". CBS News. February 25, 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  12. Sink, Justin (March 8, 2013). "Messina: Obama may meet with OFA donors amid controversy". The Hill. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  13. Beckel, Michael (March 15, 2013). "McConnell tries to paint Democrats as party of the rich". Center for Public Integrity. Retrieved 16 March 2013.

External links

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