Daily Archives: 06/16/2010

(Community Matters) Seismic – also from Mike Allen’s POLITICO Playbook

COMING THIS MORNING FROM FORTUNE.com: ‘FORTUNE’s Carol Loomis reports in a new FORTUNE cover story that ‘Bill Gates, Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett are asking the nation’s billionaires to pledge at least half their net worth to charity, in their lifetime or at death.’ Their plan began with a confidential May 2009 dinner party … that Loomis writes, ‘has the potential to dramatically change the philanthropic behavior of Americans, inducing them to step up the amounts they give.’ … Bill Gates tells FORTUNE that he regards the 50% as a ‘low bar’ … In Buffett’s own pledge … he writes: ‘My pledge: More than 99% of my wealth will go to philanthropy during my lifetime or at death.’ … FORTUNE reveals that other billionaires already committed to at least a 50% pledge include Eli & Edy Broad, John & Ann Doerr, H.F. ‘Gerry’ & Marguerite Lenfest and John & Tashia Morgridge. Loomis writes that upon publication of FORTUNE’s article, ‘the three principals will send e-mails and make calls to other billionaires judged likely prospects.’

(Community Matters) From Mike Allen’s POLITCO Playbook Daily Update, what focus groups had to say about the speech

–David Binder Research, a former Obama for America pollster, with white, independent men in Columbus, Ohio: ‘Ohio focus group participants reacted very positively to the President’s address. Voters expressed an especially favorable reaction to: Obama’s conviction and sincerity in communicating the urgency of the issue … Obama’s determination to do more than just talk about alternative energy like previous administrations, but to put in place a plan to achieve it … For many participants, the President’s speech crystallized a decision that they were already coming to on their own that now is a time to act on energy reform legislation.’

–Frank Luntz, for Fox News, 13 Obama voters and 15 McCain voters, in a ballroom of the Beverly Hilton hotel: ‘He’s become George Bush. We’re so polarized that the only people who want to listen to him already support him. … [The McCain voters] don’t trust him. It started with health care. This is the last straw. I think it’s tragic.’