Obama losing financial backing of big S.F. donor CAMPAIGN 2012

Susie Tompkins Buell, at her home in San Francisco, Ca. on Tuesday Feb. 14, 2012, with her dogs, Hazel, (left) anf Tommy. Buell, one of the country's most generous political donors, has long used her checkbook and her compassion to sway Democratic politics on the national scene. less Susie Tompkins Buell, at her home in San Francisco, Ca. on Tuesday Feb. 14, 2012, with her dogs, Hazel, (left) anf Tommy. Buell, one of the country's most generous political donors, has long used her ... more Photo: Michael Macor, SFC Photo: Michael Macor, SFC Image 1 of / 4 Caption Close Obama losing financial backing of big S.F. donor 1 / 4 Back to Gallery

San Francisco philanthropist Susie Tompkins Buell, one of the Democratic Party's most generous benefactors, is keeping her checkbook closed when President Obama holds high-priced California fundraisers this week.

"I want to look him in the eye and say, 'Thank you so much' " for his work, said Buell, who expresses deep disappointment in the president's leadership on environmental issues, especially climate change.

With Obama's 2012 re-election campaign in full swing, "I would just love to write my big check ... or have a high-dollar dinner here" on his behalf, she said. "I can't."

Buell, a co-founder of the Esprit clothing company, has donated millions of dollars to Democratic causes and presidential candidates, including Bill Clinton, John Kerry, Al Gore and her good friend, Hillary Rodham Clinton. In the past 10 years, she has given $25 million to progressive political and charitable causes and has raised $10 million for candidates and committees, her office said.

But as Obama flies from Southern California to San Francisco today to vacuum up donations in the reliable Democratic ATM, Buell will attend neither of his $35,800-per-plate fundraisers in San Francisco, nor a fundraising rally at the Masonic Auditorium.

Buell is a loyal Democrat, but says she hasn't yet opened her wallet for Obama's campaign and probably won't anytime soon.

"I've just given so much money away, and I've never asked for anything," she said in an interview at her Pacific Heights home this week. Now, "I'm asking for something: He's got to be a leader."

Buell and her husband, Mark Buell, have long devoted energy and money to environmental causes such as the Go Green Foundation, a San Francisco nonprofit designed to get young people involved in environmental causes. She said she is "very concerned that President Obama has not talked enough about this issue."

"I thought that he really did understand 'the urgency of now' on climate change," she said. "He has not been vocal enough ... and I want to encourage him to lead me."

Buell's glaring absence from Obama's fundraising events this week underscores the challenges the president has with his progressive base.

Political angel investor

At the same time, Buell has become an angel investor to promising Democratic candidates in the Bay Area and across the country, and she encourages other donors to do the same.

Candidates who have gotten boosts from Buell include Senate candidate hopeful Elizabeth Warren in Massachusetts, who was recently feted at a fundraiser at Buell's penthouse.

She is also on the finance committee for Democratic North Bay congressional candidate Stacey Lawson and plans a fundraiser in her home Feb. 23 for the candidate, who is running to fill the seat of retiring Rep. Lynn Woolsey.

Ro Khanna, a Democratic rising star in the South Bay, also has Buell's support and donations, as he mulls a future run against 20-term incumbent Rep. Pete Stark in the new 15th Congressional District.

Such strategic actions by Buell do not go unnoticed by the White House as it builds an election war chest.

Protesting the pipeline

In October, Buell made headlines after she led a protest of monied Democrats in San Francisco against the controversial 1,700-mile Keystone XL oil pipeline. Her fellow protesters outside an Obama fundraiser included Michael Kieschnick, co-founder of CREDO Mobile and Working Assets, which has donated $75 million to progressive causes; IT executive David desJardins; and Anna Hawken McKay, wife of Rob McKay, a wealthy philanthropist whose father founded Taco Bell.

The Democrats, who could have easily afforded the $5,000-a-plate Obama fundraiser, stood on the curb outside the W Hotel as Buell delivered a tough assessment of the president: "I don't know where he stands on anything," she said.

Kieschnick said Buell's decision to take an aggressive stance was pivotal to the eventual outcome - a White House announcement last month that the application for the pipeline from the Canadian province of Alberta to Texas refineries would be rejected.

"Before her involvement, the powers that be clearly dismissed our concerns" about the long-term environmental impacts of the pipeline, said Kieschnick, who has known Buell for 20 years. People inside the White House "clearly noticed," he said. "Then they realized this was not only bad policy, this was bad politics."

California Democratic Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has also won Buell's political backing, said that on Keystone, "the White House had no choice but to pay attention" to her.

"We all know this is the biggest ATM machine in the United States, and she's near the top of that list. She has a lot of influence with others who are equally situated in their capacity to contribute," he said. "I think other donors certainly paid attention to that."

White House officials, asked about Buell's concerns about Obama's record on the environment, cited the administration's move toward more-efficient vehicle fuel standards and alternative-energy plans as examples of the president's commitment to the environment.

Making connections

Political insiders also pay attention to Buell's role as a "connector" - someone who is marshaling her influential contacts to build support for causes and candidates. Lawson, a business executive, educator and first-time candidate, has been boosted by Buell's imprimatur. Despite having nearly no name recognition, she has raised $433,026 - more than all but one candidate in the North Bay race.

With Obama's return this week to San Francisco, Buell is hard at work on Keystone, warning that the fight isn't over. Senate Republicans, arguing that the pipeline will create jobs, have introduced legislation to allow the pipeline and have made it a 2012 campaign issue, as oil companies are renewing their push in support of the pipeline. "I appreciate that (Obama) has postponed the decision," she said. "But I'm worried."

Buell said she spent this week "calling senators' offices ... donors, saying this is an issue that needs attention."

Asked which elected officials pick up the phone when Buell is on the line, her political and charitable affairs director, Belinda Munoz, said simply: "Whoever has a 'D.' "

Buell said she often wishes that voters without big checkbooks could get the same attention.

"They do it because I represent money. And that's not right," she said. "Isn't it sad, that it's all driven by money?"