AOC - Update: Holy cow - we surged to $280k for the GA grassroots last night!

[melman]

Link to tweet

[klook]

1. Great work on behalf of Democrats!

#EmbraceTheBase — cool!

[progressoid]

2. K/R

[Blue Owl]

3. Woo Hoo!

[George II]

4. Is all of that $280K going to the two Democratic Senators for their runoff campaigns?

[Bettie]

5. If you look at the post, the organizations this money

is going to is right on it. They are all working for those senate races in GA.

[Demsrule86]

6. I won't donate...maybe all the money is spent on GA...hope so. But I will donate at

DU I know exactly where that money goes. I am donating to the candidates.

[George II]

13. So the contributions go through ActBlue, who takes their cut and, if done with a credit card....

...the credit card company (I thought they were supposed to be demons?) takes their cut*.

Then they get divvied up between the four, five, or six different organizations - each with their one administrative and overhead costs.

Spitballing it, perhaps $250-260K actually goes to the work of those organizations.

Then we have the work that the organizations will wind up doing. How much of that will go toward actually helping Warnock or Ossoff? Will they be doing what the two campaigns need or is it duplicate work?

As for me, I prefer contributing directly to campaigns and cut out the middle man and organizations that might not be concentrated on the efforts that Warnock and Ossoff need or want.

[melman]

14. So you're saying it's bad to donate to Fair Fight

That's an interesting take.

[Bettie]

15. It is, isn't it?

Support Stacy Abrams' organization, well, except....not really.

[George II]

18. Except that no one said what he's claiming anyone said.

[melman]

22. Oh, but you very clearly did

You said people should donate to candidates directly because "these organizations" might not be doing the right things.

[George II]

25. No I did not, and you saying that I said something that I didn't is downright insulting....

....and offensive.

THIS is what I said, nothing like what you're accusing me of saying.

As for me, I prefer contributing directly to campaigns and cut out the middle man and organizations that might not be concentrated on the efforts that Warnock and Ossoff need or want.

Please, if you want to "quote" me, use my EXACT quote! You might want to reread my post, understand what I really said, and apologize. I won't hold my breath.

[George II]

16. Who said that? If someone wants to donate to Fair Fight they can and should and will....

I may just do that myself because that goes directly to Stacey Abrams' effort to get people registered to vote and other positive voting issues in Georgia.

Accusing me of saying it's bad to donate to them is, in your words, "an interesting take" and in my words, insulting.

[LanternWaste]

26. Odd thing for you to infer, as it was never implied.

That's an interesting take, indeed. But not inconsistent, given what we read...

[Dem4Life1102]

23. I donated to the Biden campaign several times

and they used Act Blue too. Are you saying that the Biden campaign did something wrong by using them?

[George II]

27. No, but if someone gives $10 to Biden's or any other candidate's campaigns, they only get $9.60....

I've used ActBlue myself because it's convenient. I contributed to Biden's campaign 15 times, but each time I give a few bucks more than I normally would have so that they get what I intended to give to them.

On the other hand, if someone wants the full amount to go to the campaign, a check is a much better way of doing it, although there is a few days' delay.

Plus, giving directly to the campaign, either by check or via ActBlue, they don't have to override a pre-determined group of organizations that will "split" the contribution.

[Dem4Life1102]

29. ActBlue is a nonprofit organization

Do you have links that verify that they take a cut?

[George II]

30. Yes. That's not such a bad thing but if people can do it it's recommended that they give directly.

https://support.actblue.com/donors/contributions/do-you-charge-a-fee-for-contributions/

We pass along a 3.95% processing fee on contributions to the groups using our platform.

[Dem4Life1102]

32. But both campaigns are using ActBlue too.

[Demsrule86]

7. I don't know. I will contribute on DU.

Glad money is being raised... some of the comments on the thread were interesting. I want every penny to go to the candidates.

[yellowdogintexas]

11. donate directly to their campaigns on their websites

Both of them have ActBlue links.

[Demsrule86]

12. Either one would work. I like Omaha Steve and tend to do in house donations...had no money until

recently as hubs and I were unemployed. Hubs got a good job...so we are OK...rough out there.

[George II]

17. That's the way to do it or, better yet - send it directly to them via check.

[KG]

9. I lulz'd

[NurseJackie]

10. Good question. In the past, I've seen donation requests being made by high-profile politicians...

Good question. In the past, I've seen donation requests being made by high-profile politicians... but if you looked carefully and read all the small print, it turned out that the donation was being split in such a way that not ALL of it went directly to the headlined candidates or cause. Most of it did go toward the intended recipient, but the whole thing just hit me wrong. I thought it was a bit unseemly that ANY amount would be diverted. Like a loan-shark's vig, or an Ebay commission, or a PayPal transaction fee. Yuk!

All I'm trying to say is that it's just impossible to know for sure where a donation goes, and how it's handled and divided. That's why I'll always donate DIRECTLY to whatever candidate or group I'm supporting. I just don't want to take a chance with third-party collectors. Why would I want to contribute to their overhead costs?

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

8. K&R!

[theaocp]

19. Butter. n/t

[fishwax]

20. bravo to AOC for using her platform to raise funds for the organizations doing the work in georgia

It's been thanks to the work of these organizations (Fair Fight, most notably) that Biden won Georgia and we're within striking distance of controlling the senate.

Raising funds for these organizations is a worthy use of one's time and social capital.

Donating to these organizations is a worthy use of one's money, if you've got it to spare.

Donating to the campaigns directly is also a worthy use of one's money, if you've got it to spare.

(Complaining about a democrat raising funds for these organizations doesn't strike me as a worthy use of one's time, but YMMV.)

[tonedevil]

21. Thanks for this melman...

I am astounded, but never surprised by the vitriol that is unleashed when you post anything about AOC.

[MoonlitKnight]

28. AOC is using her platform to raise money for that race.

Good for her. It should generate donations that would not have happened otherwise.

Most of us here know how and who to donate directly. We can do so.

If you don’t like credit card processing fees then send a check. But there is overhead sending a check.

[CottonBear]

31. That's great! We need all the help we can get down here in Georgia! 🔵🗳🍑🇺🇸

[demmiblue]

33. How is this post controversial? I can only see a third of the responses.

Apparently, some people need a new hobby.

[Celerity]

35. anything AOC draws a crowd nt

[questionseverything]

34. 280 grand...let's keep going to help Stacey in Georgia!!!!

To help us all

😉