Reporter's Note: The president is raising money hand over fist while his Republican challengers are doing the same. Economic slump? Not in election land.

Dear Mr. President,

I have spent much of the day looking at how much money you took in and spent to win the Oval Office, and I have to say, you were fleeced. $730 million for a job that pays $400-thousand? Do you realize that you’d have to be on the job for more than 1800 years to break even?

The money being spent to win the presidency, by you, the Republicans, and anyone else who wants to give it a try is obscene. You all walk around crying about the corrupting influence of money, all the while raking it in like there is no tomorrow.

I received a news release from the Occupy people who are planning to protest a fundraising event you’re having in Harlem. Not to put too fine a point on it, but they say you held a $30,000 dollar a plate fundraiser there last March in a neighborhood where the median income is only $26,000 a year. To paraphrase some old New Yorkers, “Say it ain’t so, O!” I know you need to raise money, but let’s be honest: If a Republican did that, Democrats would scream holy hell about how insensitive and out of touch he was.

You know that I always try to be encouraging, but you asked for advice long ago, and here is mine for today: Stop the insanity. Somewhere in this process, you would be well advised to start holding fundraisers for regular people…not yourself, not other politicians. How about saying once a month you will speak at a $1000 a plate dinner in a room that will hold 5,000 people, with all the proceeds going to help some small businesses keep their doors open, or for job training, or for mortgage relief?

That would be $5-million aimed directly at creating work and protecting families now; not in some distant, vague future if you get elected. Think about it. Remember, when you light into the rich, you are one of them; and in terms of campaign donations and support, you and the other presidential contenders are not merely rich, you are the richest politicians this nation has ever known. You want to spread the wealth? Start with you own campaign funds and challenge your Republican foes to do the same!

Regards,
Tom