By Hunter Walker 9/06/12 9:55pm

media

The Obama campaign merchandise table inside one of the media areas at the DNC. The press stand is visible on the left side of the photo.

Reporters Using ‘Fake Names’ to Buy Obama Campaign Merchandise at the DNC

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Members of the media have apparently been using “fake” names to buy official Obama gear and contribute to the Obama campaign inside the Time Warner Cable Arena where the president is due to speak in a few minutes. During our travels around the arena, Politicker spotted a souvenir stand in one of the press stands selling T-shirts and buttons supporting President Barack Obama, “Democrats Are Hot” bumper stickers and other official Obama merchandise.

The souvenir stand was in a secure area only accessible to those with a media credential and buying campaign gear means contributing to the campaign, so we asked the woman working the cash register whether anyone at the press stand had been making purchases. Her answers were quite surprising.  Read More

By Hunter Walker 6/04/12 11:12am

Donor Wears Prada

Anna Wintour (Photo: Getty)

Anna Wintour Orders Obama Donors To Fall In Line

Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour is using her reputation as a demanding fashion editrix to raise money for President Barack Obama. On Sunday, Ms. Wintour sent an email with the subject line “I take deadlines seriously” reminding Obama supporters of the contest for donors to win a chance to attend Sarah Jessica Parker’s fundraiser for the president this month.

“There’s simply no excuse to let this slip,” Ms. Wintour wrote with her trademark dose of mild menace. “I don’t do this sort of thing often–get involved with politics, that is. But I’m doing everything I can to support President Obama this summer and fall because it’s important that we all do.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 5/24/12 8:33pm

Cash Money

President Obama (Photo: Getty)

President Obama Won’t Be Returning His Donations From Bain Capital

Though the Obama campaign has repeatedly attacked Mitt Romney for his career at Bain Capital, President Obama still accepted $7,500 in campaign contributions from two Bain executives. His campaign press secretary, Ben LaBolt told The Politicker the president has no intention of giving the money back.

“No one aside from Mitt Romney is running for President highlighting their tenure as a corporate buyout specialist as one of job creation, when in fact, his goal was profit maximization,” said Mr. LaBolt.  ”The President has support from business leaders across industries who have seen him pull the economy back from the brink of another depression, manufacturing and the auto industry revived, and support his agenda to build an economy that lasts where America outinnovates and outeducates the rest of the world and economic security for the middle class is restored.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 4:41pm

Tier VI

Mayor Bloomberg (Photo: Getty)

Bloomberg And Cuomo Donate To Somos After Unions Withdraw Support

After a group of unions angry over the passage of the Tier VI pension reform plan pulled support from the Somos El Futuro’s annual Legislative Conference, Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Michael Bloomberg gave the organization a pair of hefty donations.

“We think the unions’ actions are unfortunate, and don’t want the conference to suffer as a result. We both support the Somos El Futuro Conference and, as such, we will be donating $72,000 to Somos El Futuro and the scholarship to make up for the donations that the unions withdrew,” the mayor and governor said in a joint statement. Read More

By Colin Campbell 3/20/12 5:07pm

food fight

Bill de Blasio (Photo: Facebook)

De Blasio Is Not Cool With Bloomberg’s Homeless Shelter Food Policy [Update]

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has another critic over his administration’s decision to ban food from homeless shelters, because, as CBS reported, the city “can’t assess their salt, fat and fiber content.” Public Advocate Bill de Blasio announced his opposition while challenging the basic rationality of the plan in a statement this evening.

“While I generally give this Administration high marks on protecting public health, the decision to ban food donations from shelters defies common sense,” said Mr. de Blasio, who’s a leading contender for the mayor’s office himself in 2013. Read More

By Hunter Walker 3/16/12 10:45am

ScarJo For Stringer

Scarlett invitation

Scarlett Johansson To Host Third Fundraiser For Scott Stringer

Actress Scarlett Johansson is holding her third fundraiser for Manhattan borough president and likely mayoral candidate Scott Stringer. The event, which will be held on the roof of the Maritime Hotel in Chelsea, includes a two hour party preceded by an hour-and-a-half long “private reception.” Tickets for the party start at $50, access to the reception is reserved for chairs who pony up $2,500. Read More

By Hunter Walker 12/12/11 2:53pm

Plan B

Ed Koch (Getty)

With Kelly Out Of The Picture, Ed Koch Throws His Support Behind Chris Quinn

Former Mayor Ed Koch thinks Chris Quinn is the best person to take his old job in 2013 now that he’s given up his dream of seeing NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly in City Hall.

“I urged Ray Kelly to run for the last year-and-a-half. He told me he would not. I urged him again, he told me he would not. And when he decided he would not, I started backing Chris Quinn,” Mayor Koch told Politicker.  Read More