It's not too surprising that a community of wealthy entrepreneurs wouldn't turn away a chance to be close to someone that powerful and influential. I do really hope one of them gives him a polite earful though. It's probably a lot different for someone in his position (and with his need to fundraise) to hear a Democratic tech millionaire point out how certain policies have wrecked the tech industry than hearing it from some in the rank-and-file.
If Obama truly believes in the populist ideals that apparently got him elected, this type of thing wouldn't be effective at all. Hopefully, in this case, those conversations do occur and he does betray all of his rhetoric about rich people being unable to influence him etc. My guess is it will be much more "You're the greatest - keep it up" type of conversations, but we'll see.
I've come to believe that, while Obama ran as an idealist, he's more of a cynic and a pragmatist at heart. But if anyone could get away with holding his attention long enough to tell him off, it would be the YC crowd. He needs their money and he needs their influence. And I have no doubt he's going to try to sell, somehow, moving tech jobs and manufacturing back to the US or something.
While we can't expect much from Obama, at least publicly, we know some of the techno-riche are reading this thread right now (or having someone do it for them) so I think they can consider themselves as having their marching orders.
... not that the rich have ever, historically, had to follow... marching orders but whatever.
