Oh, what a difference a few months makes! Just a few months ago, fans of President Barack Obama ponied up over $32K to bask in his glow. Fast forward to today, and fundraisers are beating the bushes for practically anyone who'll spend $10,000 for a small gathering with POTUS later this month.
When Obama was last in the Bay Area, in October 2014, attendance at a "round table" discussion at the San Francisco home of Democratic donor/Zynga founder Mark Pincus ran participants about $32,400, the AP reported at the time.
Now Obama is planning on returning, to, as the Chron reports, attend a White House cybersecurity summit at Stanford University. But he'll also be here to raise some money for the Democratic Party, according to an email obtained by SFist from a fundraiser for the party.
"I am absolutely elated to invite you to an intimate dinner with President Barack Obama in San Francisco on February 13, 2015 at the home of Sandy and Jeanne Robertson," the email, which was sent Saturday, begins.
According to the Opus Capital website, "Sanford Robertson pioneered the creation of the West Coast technology banking industry in the late 1960s, and has remained one of the industry’s most renowned participants." He is "a principal with Francisco Partners, a $2.5 billion technology buyout fund." Sounds like a fun guy!
"This 60 person experience will include dinner, a photo with President Obama, Remarks and Q&A with the President," the email continues.
According to the PDF attached to the email, participants can pay $10,000 for the "intimate" dinner, a photo with POTUS, and participation in a "Q&A." People who are really into it can pony up $32,400 to get listed as a co-chair (which includes your name on the invitation) and to bring a plus-one, as well as the food and photo.
In the fundraiser's words, as of this weekend, "many" seats were still available, and anyone and everyone is encouraged to dig deep (but, clearly, not as deep us they used to have to) for a night rubbing shoulders with the man ostensibly still in charge.
