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===Donations for access=== ===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.<ref name=Confessore>{{cite news|last=Confessore|first=Nicholas|title=Obama’s Backers Seek Big Donors to Press Agenda|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/23/us/politics/obamas-backers-seek-deep-pockets-to-press-agenda.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|accessdate=16 March 2013|newspaper=New York Times|date=February 22, 2013}}</ref> White House press spokesman ] denied that access to the President was being "sold," stating that OFA was an independent organization, and referred specific questions to the OFA staff.<ref name=CBSaccess4pay>{{cite news|title=Are donors paying for access to Obama?|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57571223/are-donors-paying-for-access-to-obama/|accessdate=16 March 2013|newspaper=CBS News|date=February 25, 2013}}</ref> On March 8, Messina told CBS News that donors could meet with the president, but not at the White House.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sink|first=Justin|title=Messina: Obama may meet with OFA donors amid controversy|url=http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/286959-messina-obama-may-meet-with-ofa-donors-next-week-|accessdate=16 March 2013|newspaper=The Hill|date=March 8, 2013}}</ref> Republican Senate minority leader ] criticized the offer as a ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Beckel|first=Michael|title=McConnell tries to paint Democrats as party of the rich|url=http://www.publicintegrity.org/2013/03/15/12319/mcconnell-tries-paint-democrats-party-rich|accessdate=16 March 2013|newspaper=Center for Public Integrity|date=March 15, 2013}}</ref> In February 2013, the ''New York Times'' reported that donors contributing or raising $500,000 or more to Organizing for Action would put them on the group's national advisory board, granting the privilege of attending quarterly meetings with the president.<ref name=Confessore>{{cite news|last=Confessore|first=Nicholas|title=Obama’s Backers Seek Big Donors to Press Agenda|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/23/us/politics/obamas-backers-seek-deep-pockets-to-press-agenda.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|accessdate=16 March 2013|newspaper=New York Times|date=February 22, 2013}}</ref> White House press spokesman ] denied that access to the President was being "sold," stating that OFA was an independent organization, and referred specific questions to the OFA staff.<ref name=CBSaccess4pay>{{cite news|title=Are donors paying for access to Obama?|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57571223/are-donors-paying-for-access-to-obama/|accessdate=16 March 2013|newspaper=CBS News|date=February 25, 2013}}</ref> On March 8, Messina told CBS News that the president might attend a "founder's summit", but has stressed that "Whether you're a volunteer or a donor, we can't and we won't guarantee access to any government officials. But just as the president and administration officials deliver updates on the legislative process to Americans and organizations across the ideological spectrum, there may be occasions when members of Organizing for Action are included in those updates. These are not opportunities to lobby — they are briefings on the positions the president has taken and the status of seeing them through."<ref>{{cite news|last=Sink|first=Justin|title=Messina: Obama may meet with OFA donors amid controversy|url=http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/286959-messina-obama-may-meet-with-ofa-donors-next-week-|accessdate=16 March 2013|newspaper=The Hill|date=March 8, 2013}}</ref><ref>; CNN; March 7, 2013</ref> Republican Senate minority leader ] criticized the organization for accepting $500,000 donations, when Republicans are accused of being the "party of millionaires and billionaires".<ref>{{cite news|last=Beckel|first=Michael|title=McConnell tries to paint Democrats as party of the rich|url=http://www.publicintegrity.org/2013/03/15/12319/mcconnell-tries-paint-democrats-party-rich|accessdate=16 March 2013|newspaper=Center for Public Integrity|date=March 15, 2013}}</ref>


==References== ==References==

Revision as of 18:07, 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 donors contributing or raising $500,000 or more to Organizing for Action would put them on the group's national advisory board, granting the privilege of attending quarterly meetings with the president. 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 the president might attend a "founder's summit", but has stressed that "Whether you're a volunteer or a donor, we can't and we won't guarantee access to any government officials. But just as the president and administration officials deliver updates on the legislative process to Americans and organizations across the ideological spectrum, there may be occasions when members of Organizing for Action are included in those updates. These are not opportunities to lobby — they are briefings on the positions the president has taken and the status of seeing them through." Republican Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell criticized the organization for accepting $500,000 donations, when Republicans are accused of being the "party of millionaires and billionaires".

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. Why we're raising money to support Obama agenda; CNN; March 7, 2013
  14. 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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