Some of Biden's 'most loyal' donors gripe they've been 'forgotten and discarded'
Despite his having bigger fish to fry, some of President Biden's "most loyal contributors and top fundraisers" are feeling neglected and ignored amid the ongoing pandemic, the chaos and lack of progress on Capitol Hill, and the foreboding results of Tuesday's off-year elections, The New York Times reports.
"There is a basic chorus, which is we're forgotten and discarded," one major Biden bundler told the Times. "It's very discouraging. We don't exist."
"There's no outreach whatsoever," added another. "Nonexistent," noted two more. "People feel hung out to dry," another explained.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Though "donor grousing" is a tale as old as time, the "sheer breadth of complaints about the Biden White House's operation is striking," says the Times.
What's more, in at least one case, prominent donors have reportedly begun to withhold funds until progress is made on "substantive policy changes," including the passge of contentious voting rights legislation, which is unlikely to advance without filibuster reform. Specifically, hedge fund executive S. Donald Sussman, one of the "financial pillars of the Democratic ecosystem," has reportedly made clear "he is pausing his political giving" until a voting rights package moves forward, writes the Times.
Certain officials and allies worry that neglecting donors and bundlers now, combined with stalled voting legislation, could disrupt fundrasing efforts into next year and beyond. But others, including some donors themselves, have opted to let the president slide given the current state of affairs.
"They have an incredible list of priorities to fix," said Robert Wolf, a bundler for former President Barack Obama. "My view is the last thing that should be on anyone's mind should be the donor community."
"They took office with a national plague going on," added Democratic fundraiser and former Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell, claiming he and others were therefore "rational about giving them a pass."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
Will Donald Trump wreck the Brexit deal?
Today's Big Question President-elect's victory could help UK's reset with the EU, but a free-trade agreement with the US to dodge his threatened tariffs could hinder it
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Marine Le Pen's fake jobs trial
The Explainer The far-right French leader could face a fine, jail time, and a five-year ban from public office if found guilty of embezzlement
By Abby Wilson Published
-
How to earn extra cash for Christmas
The Explainer The holiday season can be expensive but there are ways to bolster your festive finances
By Marc Shoffman, The Week UK Published
-
Pentagon Discord leaker gets 15 years in prison
Speed Read Jack Teixeira, a Massachusetts Air National Guard member, leaked classified military documents
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Saudi crown prince slams Israeli 'genocide' in Gaza
Speed Read Mohammed bin Salman has condemned Israel’s actions
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump fills key slots, tapping Congress, MAGA loyalists
Speed Read The president-elect continues to fill his administration with new foreign policy, environment and immigration roles assigned
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Haiti council fires prime minister, boosting chaos
Speed Read Prime Minister Garry Conille was replaced with Alix Didier Fils-Aimé
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump tells next Senate GOP leader to skip confirmations
Speed Read The president-elect said the next Senate majority leader must allow him to make recess appointments
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Fed cuts rates, chair says he won't quit if Trump asks
Speed Read Jerome Powell was noncommittal on future rate cuts that were expected before Trump won the election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'The problem with deliverism is that it presumes voters will notice'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Judge revives plea deal for 9/11 suspects
Speed Read A military judge has ruled to restore the plea deals struck by 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-conspirators
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published