#DoingFine: Runway To Win

Maybe Obama Was Thinking About Anna Wintour When He Said The Private Sector Was #DoingFine

TONIGHT, VOGUE EDITOR ANNA WINTOUR HOSTS THE GRAND OPENING OF OBAMA’S “RUNWAY TO WIN” STOREFRONT

Vogue Editor Anna Wintour And Supermodel Iman Are Hosting A Chicago Fundraiser With Jim Messina. “On Tuesday, Anna Wintour, the Vogue editor who holds sway over much of the U.S fashion industry, is expected in Chicago, where she and supermodel Iman will join President Obama’s campaign manager, Jim Messina, for a night of stumping.” (Katherine Boyle, “Links To Obama Campaign Show Fashion Industry’s Political Clout Is Growing,” The Washington Post , 6/7/12)

• Wintour, Who “Galvanized The Fashion Community To Rally Around Mr. Obama” Started “Runway To Win” With A “Major, Star-Studded New York Party” And Is Now Taking It To Other Cities. “Ms. Wintour has galvanized the fashion community to rally around Mr. Obama much as she galvanized it to come back from a brush with recessionary death by creating Fashion’s Night Out. And much like Fashion’s Night Out, Runway to Win started with a major, star-studded New York party, and is now moving to other cities.” (Brigid Sweeney, “Rachel Roy, Jason Wu And Narciso Rodriguez Coming To Town For Obama Fundraiser,” Crain’s Chicago Business’ “On Retail,” 5/22/12)

• “Wintour Is Helping Obama Raise Money On Several Fronts. She Hits Chicago June 12 For An Obama Fund-Raiser At Harpo Studios With Models Iman And Chanel Iman, And Fashion Designer Rachel Roy.” (Lynn Sweet, “Republicans Seize On Obama Campaign’s Video Of Anna Wintour,” The Chicago Sun -Times, 6/11/12)

“Celebrities, Designers,” And Chicago’s “Fashion Elite” Will Attend The Unveiling Of Obama’s “Runway To Win” Pop-Up Shop. “On June 12, celebrities, designers and the city’s fashion elite will turn out for a cocktail reception unveiling a new Chicago pop-up shop for Runway to Win, a fundraising effort from the campaign to re-elect President Barack Obama that features low-cost items from 27 designers.”(“Obama Campaign Fashion Fundraiser: Tickets On Sale For Anna Wintour, Iman Chicago Event,” The Huffington Post,5/22/12)

• “For $1,000, Donors Can Schmooze, Shop And Pose For Photos With The Storied Editor.” (Katherine Boyle, “Links To Obama Campaign Show Fashion Industry’s Political Clout Is Growing,” The Washington Post , 6/7/12)
• “The Star-Studded Event Will Be Hosted At The Now-Vacated Harpo Studios And Will Feature The Work Of Prabal Gurung, Marc Jacobs, Jason Wu, Derek Lam, Diane Von Furstenberg, Beyoncé And More.” (“Obama Campaign Fashion Fundraiser: Tickets On Sale For Anna Wintour, Iman Chicago Event,”The Huffington Post, 5/22/12)

On Thursday, Wintour Will Host Another Obama Fundraiser

On June 14, Wintour And Sarah Jessica Parker Will Host A Fundraiser At Parker’s New York City Home. “Two days later, Wintour and Sarah Jessica Parker are planning to host a $40,000-a-plate fundraising dinner with the Obamas at Parker’s New York home.” (Katherine Boyle, “Links To Obama Campaign Show Fashion Industry’s Political Clout Is Growing,” The Washington Post , 6/7/12)

Obama’s Campaign Released A Video Invitation From Anna Wintour To The June 14 Fundraiser The Same Day As “Grim Economic News — A Jobs Report That Put An Exclamation Point On The Financial Struggles Of Average Americans. ” “Friday was a day of grim economic news — a jobs report that put an exclamation point on the financial struggles of average Americans. But it was also the day that President Obama’s campaign chose to put out a video appeal from Anna Wintour, the oh-so-fabulous editor in chief of Vogue magazine, inviting supporters to compete for a chance at a dinner with her, the Obamas and Sarah Jessica Parker in New York City.” (Michael D. Shear, “After A Day Of Bad Economic News, An Invitation From Anna Wintour,” The New York Times’ “The Caucus,”6/1/12)

• “The Contrast Between The Sparkling Big Apple Dinner And The Dire Economic News Was Quickly Noted.” “The contrast between the sparkling Big Apple dinner and the dire economic news was quickly noted on Twitter, where one person wrote: ‘The Obama Anna Wintour thing is BEYOND PARODY.’” (Michael D. Shear, “After A Day Of Bad Economic News, An Invitation From Anna Wintour,” The New York Times’ “The Caucus,” 6/1/12)
• “Wintour In The Obama Video Is The Personification Of Elitism, What With Her Upper Class British Accent, Manner And Dress.” (Lynn Sweet, “Republicans Seize On Obama Campaign’s Video Of Anna Wintour,” The Chicago Sun -Times,6/11/12)

ABC’s Terry Moran: It’s “Tone Deaf” For Obama To Fundraise With Wintour As Unemployment Increases. MORAN:“There just seems to be something tone deaf about the Obama campaign’s decision, at the very moment unemployment is again on the rise, to enlist Madame Wintour as one of the hostesses of his fundraiser.” (ABC’s “Nightline,” 6/4/12)

• Click To Watch

Fox’s Chris Wallace Called The Wintour Ad A “Blunder.” WALLACE: “Here’s another blunder that you may not have seen. On the day, Friday, when all of the bad economic news came out, the Obama campaign decided that was the day to release a video of Anna Wintour. If you don’t know her, she is the editor of a fashion magazine, Vogue. Saying to people contribute to the Obama campaign and you can come to a big exclusive dinner in New York that Sarah Jessica Parker and I are hosting. Take a look at this.” (Fox’s “Fox News Sunday,” 6/3/12)

• Wallace: “And This Is On The Day When We Find Out That The Economy Created Only 69,000 Jobs.” WALLACE: “Yes, don’t be late. And this is on the day when we find out that the economy created only 69,000 jobs. First of all, do you subscribe to Chip’s idea that the campaign is off to a shaky start, and if so, how big a deal.” (Fox’s “Fox News Sunday,” 6/3/12)
• Fox’s Juan Williams: “That Was Hilarious. That Looks Like A Parody… It’s Just Unbelievable.” WILLIAMS: “By the way, that was hilarious. That looks like a parody. It looked like the Romney campaign planted Dr. Evil in the house of Obama and he said, ‘you know on the day the grim job numbers come out let’s have someone who reeks of ornamental excess announce that the peasants can have a place at the table.’ It’s just unbelievable. I mean, so you know, just a mistake.” (Fox’s “Fox News Sunday,” 6/3/12)
• Click To Watch

Ambassador Wintour?

Wintour, A “Top Bundler” For Obama, Has “Has Attended High-Profile White House Events, Including Two State Dinners.” “The 2008 campaign marked Wintour’s first public foray into presidential politics. According to the Obama campaign, she is a top bundler, raising more than $500,000 for the Obama Victory Fund. (Wintour’s spokeswoman was unaware of the exact figure, and Wintour declined to comment for this article.) In 2010, she hosted an intimate affair to benefit the DNC at her New York townhouse, where designers including Marchesa’s Chapman and Diane von Furstenberg paid up to $30,400 to attend. In addition, she has attended high-profile White House events, including two state dinners, and she serves on the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities.” (Katherine Boyle, “Links To Obama Campaign Show Fashion Industry’s Political Clout Is Growing,” The Washington Post , 6/7/12)

A Recent Guardian Article Mused That Wintour Could Be Named The U.S. Ambassador To England As Reward For Her Fundraising Efforts. “An article in Saturday’s Guardian mused that Anna Wintour might be rewarded with a political appointment in return for all the money she’s raising for Obama’s reelection campaign. Namely, that she’d be named the U.S. ambassador in England, a post that’s expected open up later this year.” (Charlotte Cowles, “Is Anna Wintour Angling For An Ambassador Post In London,” New York Magazine, 6/11/12)

• “The Post In Question Is Traditionally Reserved For Deep-Pocketed ‘Friends’ Of The President, As It’s A Cushy Job That Doesn’t Require Much Heavy Lifting When It Comes To Diplomacy.” “At first blush, the possibility of Wintour leaving Vogue for a jaunt back to her native London seems absurd, but the Guardian makes a good case for it. The post in question is traditionally reserved for deep-pocketed ‘friends’ of the president, as it’s a cushy job that doesn’t require much heavy lifting when it comes to diplomacy. Recent history supports this: The position is currently occupied by 74-year-old Louis Susman, a retired vice-president of Citigroup, whose fund-raising abilities during Obama’s 2008 campaign earned him the nickname ‘the vacuum cleaner.’” (Charlotte Cowles, “Is Anna Wintour Angling For An Ambassador Post In London,” New York Magazine, 6/11/12)

Fashion Icons Are Populating Obama’s Fundraising Schedule

The Fashion Industry “Coalesced” Behind The Obamas In 2008 And This Year, Fashion Icons Are “Hosting High-Dollar Fundraisers And Making Campaign Contributions.” “With Michelle Obama’s style, a socially progressive political agenda and a campaign ready to promote top designers at fundraisers, the industry coalesced behind the couple in 2008. This year, the designers behind many of the labels hanging in the first lady’s closet are supporting her husband’s reelection campaign, hosting high-dollar fundraisers and making campaign contributions.” (Katherine Boyle, “Links To Obama Campaign Show Fashion Industry’s Political Clout Is Growing,” The Washington Post , 6/7/12)

“Obama Is The First Presidential Contender Who Has Generated Widespread And Deep-Pocketed Support From” The Fashion Industry. “Although fashion industry executives have donated to both parties during past election seasons, designers traditionally supported issues, such as AIDS and the environment, rather than candidates. Obama is the first presidential contender who has generated widespread and deep-pocketed support from them.” (Katherine Boyle, “Links To Obama Campaign Show Fashion Industry’s Political Clout Is Growing,” The Washington Post , 6/7/12)

• “Excluding Jewelry Designers And Mass-Market Retailers, Nearly 50 Percent Of American Designers Worn By Michelle Obama Donated To Her Husband’s 2008 Or 2012 Campaigns.” “A look at every American designer label Michelle Obama has worn since 2008, according to Mrs-O.com, a fashion blog that tracks the first lady’s daily wardrobe, indicates that many of her favored designers support the president. Excluding jewelry designers and mass-market retailers, nearly 50 percent of American designers worn by Michelle Obama donated to her husband’s 2008 or 2012 campaigns, according to Federal Election Commission filings.” (Katherine Boyle, “Links To Obama Campaign Show Fashion Industry’s Political Clout Is Growing,” The Washington Post , 6/7/12)

• “By Early June 2008, Only A Handful Of These Designers Had Donated. In Comparison, The Number Of Designers Donating By June 2012 Has Tripled.”(Katherine Boyle, “Links To Obama Campaign Show Fashion Industry’s Political Clout Is Growing,” The Washington Post , 6/7/12)

A “Symbiotic Relationship” Is Developing Between The Obama Campaign And The “Deep-Pocketed, Largely Democratic Fashion Industry.” “The two high-priced, high-profile events put the spotlight on a symbiotic relationship developing between the Obama campaign, with its style-conscious first lady who dons a wide variety of American designers, and a deep-pocketed, largely Democratic fashion industry, which has been increasingly coordinating its support of Obama.” (Katherine Boyle, “Links To Obama Campaign Show Fashion Industry’s Political Clout Is Growing,” The Washington Post , 6/7/12)

Too Many High Fashion Celebrity Events Make Obama Seem “Out Of Touch” With The American People. “The downside risk for President Obama is that too many high fashion celebrity events like this one could make the president seem out of touch in an election season where the top issues are jobs and a struggling economy.” (Byron Tau, “Scarlett Johansson, Anna Wintour Pitch In For Obama,” Politico,1/20/12)

AMERICANS ARE NOT #DOINGFINE UNDER OBAMANOMICS

The Unemployment Rate Has Remained Above Eight Percent For A Record 40 Straight Months. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics, Accessed 6/11/12)

• The Average Duration Of Unemployment Has More Than Doubled From 19.8 Weeks To 39.7 Weeks. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics, Accessed 6/11/12)

23.2 Million Americans Are Unemployed, Underemployed Or Have Given Up Looking For Work. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics, Accessed 6/11/12)

• The Number Of Unemployed Workers Increased By 220,000 To 12.7 Million.(Bureau Of Labor Statistics, Accessed 6/11/12)
• The Number Of Workers Working Part-Time For Economic Reasons Increased By 245,000 To 8.1 Million. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics, Accessed 6/11/12)
• There Are Currently 830,000 Unemployed Workers That Have Given Up Looking For Work. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics, Accessed 6/11/12)

It Doesn’t Feel Like The Economy Is Growing “For Millions Of Americans Who Are Unemployed Or Whose Wages Are Barely Rising.” “Though the economy is growing, it still doesn’t feel that way for millions of Americans who are unemployed or whose wages are barely rising. That could hurt President Obama’s re-election chances.” (Paul Davidson, Tim Mullaney and John Waggoner, “Why The U.S. Is Stuck In The Slow Lane,” USA Today, 6/3/12)

“American Employers In May Added The Smallest Number Of Workers In A Year.”“American employers in May added the smallest number of workers in a year and the unemployment rate unexpectedly increased as job-seekers re-entered the workforce, further evidence that the labor-market recovery is stalling.” (Timothy R. Homan, “Employment In U.S. Increased 69,000 In May,” Bloomberg, 6/1/12)

• Jobs Growth In May Was“A Dismal Showing.” “The United States economy gained a net 69,000 jobs in May, the Labor Department said Friday, a dismal showing that reflected mounting fears of a global slowdown. The unemployment rate rose to 8.2 percent from 8.1 percent in April.” (Shaila Dewan, “U.S. Added 69,000 Jobs In May, Jobless Rate At 8.2%,” The New York Times , 6/1/12)

The Washington Post’s Fact Checker: “Obama Comes In Either Last, Second-To-Last Or In The Bottom Half Among Presidents Since The Great Depression.” “But Obama comes in either last, second-to-last or in the bottom half among presidents since the great depression, depending on which way you look at the numbers.” (Josh Hicks, “Obama’s Remarks On Worst Job Growth: Did He End It Or Should He Own It?” The Washington Post’s“Fact Checker,” 5/21/12)

• The Washington Post’s Fact Checker: “The Worst Numbers On Record Occurred Under His Watch.” “The president said that policies from 2000 through 2008 produced the ‘most sluggish job growth we’ve ever seen.’ perhaps so, but the worst numbers on record occurred under his watch.” (Josh Hicks, “Obama’s Remarks On Worst Job Growth: Did He End It Or Should He Own It?” The Washington Post’s “Fact Checker,” 5/21/12)