Obama CA fundraiser host has history of bipartisan giving
(CNN) - President Barack Obama heads West on Wednesday, continuing his push for stricter gun control regulations in Denver before heading to California for the first major fund-raising swing of his second term.
Obama has four events on his schedule: Two in San Francisco on Wednesday night to benefit the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and two just south of the city in Atherton on Thursday morning to benefit the Democratic National Committee.
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Not surprisingly, the hosts of all the events have previously donated to the president at some point in his political career, and some have even written sizable donations to Priorities USA Action, the super PAC supporting Obama's 2012 reelection bid.
But one host's donation history is a bit more unorthodox.
Mark Heising sits on the board of the Bipartisan Policy Center and currently serves as managing director at Medley Partners, an investment company he founded in 2004.
While most of Heising's political donations in recent years have gone to Democratic candidates, he also has supported moderate House Republicans.
They include Chris Shays of Connecticut, Mary Bono Mack of California and, in 2008, Fred Upton of Michigan. He also contributed to the campaign of former Rep. Nan Hayworth of New York last year.
Heising donated to the 2008 presidential primary campaigns of both Obama and Republican Mitt Romney.
The Tuesday evening events are cohosted by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, with tickets starting at $5,000 for access to a cocktail reception at the home of Kat Taylor and Tom Steyer, and $32,400 for dinner and a photo with the president at Ann and Gordon Getty's San Francisco mansion.
According to records released by Obama for America, Steyer raised between $50,000 and $100,000 as a bundler for the president's 2012 reelection campaign.
The Gettys hosted a fund-raiser for then-Sen. Obama during the 2008 Democratic primaries and contributed $35,800 each – the maximum legally allowed – to Obama's joint victory fund in 2012.
Obama heads to Stanford University on Thursday for a brunch at the home of Liz Simons and Mark Heising followed by a lunch at the home of Marcia and John Goldman.
A $32,400 donation to the Democratic Party will get you access to the brunch and a photo with the president.
Tickets to the lunch begin at $1,000, but increase to $5,000 for a photo with Obama and $20,000 to attend an even more exclusive reception.
Everything this guy does is political.
Korea is a hot bed, Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, Iran all acting up. No budget passed, Health care costs rising, millions unemployed and what does he do go a campaigning. What poor excuse for a human and President. Can't wait till 201w when the republicans gain control of the Senate. Then 2016 the Presidency. Then this country will return to the great power it once was under the Republicans. So all you liberals, you can cry now or later.
President for sale! President for sale! Come get your politician in your pocket sale!
For real, y'all, I was getting vertigo from all those $ signs & 000's! I couldn't even read! It's incredible to know some people think nothing of "donating" the equivalent of many other peoples annual salaries, if we're lucky & that's usually w/a family to provide for! The rich really Are different & politicians, incl. Obama are rich/powerful! Being an incredulous witness to the last few presidential campaigns, I'm staunchly against Citizens United & stauchly for Campaign Reform & this & other such "entertainment galas" seals the deal, whether they're R or D! Am I the only 1 who feels that when Washington say's "We're Broke", They mean us, not them! In that case, thanks Hagel, good show of support!!
Why is he fund raising instead of doing his job? If the president would just do his job we might not be in this fiscal mess. Both parties are guilty but with out leadership on Obama's part he is more so.
what is these repubs thinking about giving school administrations guns, have none of these gun wheeling folks ever been to school growing up. well old gun wheeling folks try to imagines your days in school with guns all over the place, now times those experiences by 10 because of the internet and all its face books, twitter factors, then ask yourself, would you want to be in school with guns all around you in this time and age. schools now a days is so much worst with all these new technologies and bullying even when your at home. come on folks these frail teachers cannot stop a big young stud aiming to cause chaos, these kids now a days don't respect their elders like older cats did back in the days. its time these old forts stop dictating policies of today like they are living in the policies of yester years. because it just doesn't work.