John Catsimatidis Quotes

The question now is does Obama have any hope of raising money? I don't think he'll raise it out of the New York people, I don't think he's going to raise it out the Hollywood people, so where's the money going to come from for Barack Obama?

Donald Trump came to a political field that had already been shaped by big money in politics.

Even though Senator Cranston was one of the most liberal members of the Senate, most of the time I was with him he was on the phone asking rich men for money….His ideals were as wonderful as any, but at the end of the day, he was still beholden to money.

Eventually, money wins in politics.

The arms race for money being what it is, fundraising starts shortly after someone is elected to Congress.

So long as politicians need millions to win a seat in Congress and nearly a billion to contest the White House, they will sanctify the methods needed to raise such sums.

In order to survive politically, you've got to have a big-buck fundraiser at least one a year.

[On campaign fund-raising:] You're just sort of shamelessly begging. That's what federal politics is about.

I am willing to undergo the disadvantage in order to make certain that in the future we shall reduce the power of money in politics..

If they can't suck money out of the Hamptons, a candidate really has to throw in the sponge.

Trump is not a fan of fundraising, but he's willing to do it.

Last month Mitt Romney raised $76 million. He found it in an old sport-coat pocket.

People who give money in large amount in politics are basically not altruistic.

People who give money in large amount in politics are basically not altruistic. They have some issue. They have some interest. It may be world peace. It may be preserving carried interest. But it's not altruistic.

Washington is dominated by big money.

Barack Obama has raised tons of money. That is what he means by being green.

When I ran for governor of Minnesota, I only raised $300,000.

I have the most reliable friend you can have in American politics, and that is ready money.

Well, I don't think most Americans are playing the super-PAC game. I think what you have is elites on both sides playing the super-PAC game.

There are a lot of grotesqueries in politics, not the least of which is the fund-raising side.

Much of what candidates have to do is raise money and appeal to constituencies or interest groups that can provide that money.

When I was in office the fundraising was done by the party treasurers.

Many of these [big political] donors are my friends. Those people are not like charities ... They Want. These are total tough cookies. When they give millions and millions of dollars, they're not doing it for the good of the American Cancer Society. They're doing it for themselves.

Rule of Dark Matter: SuperPAC dollars cannot be seen by most voters but account for most of the money in this universe.

Money in politics is like ants in your kitchen. You close all the holes and get them all out or they'll find their way in again.