Elizabeth Warren's New Fundraising Rule Is More Than a Gimmick

[Omaha Steve]

Her pledge to skip high-dollar events could be even more damaging to her competitors than it is to herself.

ELAINE GODFREY
5:00 AM ET


CHARLIE NEIBERGALL / AP

Rejecting donations from corporate political-action committees has become a trend among Democrats. Roughly 180 of them took the pledge ahead of the November midterm elections, and it quickly caught on among members of the 2020 field, including Senators Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, and Kirsten Gillibrand, who assured their voters that they’re prioritizing small-dollar contributions.

But now Elizabeth Warren is upping the ante, rejecting an entirely new pool of donors on top of corporate PACs. The Massachusetts senator recently announced she would no longer participate in the high-dollar fundraisers and phone calls with wealthy donors that typically permeate a presidential campaign, and on Monday she challenged other candidates to do the same. It’s a decision that could be much more consequential than the PAC-money promise: It could be way more damaging to her campaign coffers, and to those of any other Democrat compelled to match her pledge.

“A reason we saw candidates take the no-corporate-PAC pledge is … that money is only designed to buy influence and access,” said Adam Bozzi, the communications director for End Citizens United, a Washington, D.C.–based group working to reverse the 2010 Supreme Court decision. Warren, he said, is “taking it to the next level.”


In an email to supporters, Warren explained that instead of holding events specifically for wealthy donors, or offering them special seats or photo opportunities in exchange for donations, she will focus her time on local events and town halls. “My presidential-primary campaign will be run on the principle of equal access for anybody who joins it,” she wrote in the message, adding that the move will help her “build the kind of grassroots organization we need to win the general election.”

FULL story: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/03/elizabeth-warren-rejects-big-donor-events-2020-bid/583951/

You can donate directly to the Warren campaign through the DU ActBlue link: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/duforwarren

[rpannier]

1. I kicked in another 15 to her campaign through your link

[Omaha Steve]

4. Thank YOU!

We raised $40 yesterday.

OS

[Lazy Daisy]

2. Gotta love her

I think she's right. At least for the primaries anyways. Let the voters truly decide who will be the candidate.
People of wealth and influence can donate like the rest of us, no more "face time" for powerful people to get more power.

[WeekiWater]

3. I wish they wouldn't do this.

I wish they would play by the rules of today.

[CTyankee]

5. I disagree. It seems to me they have to walk the walk in order to talk the talk.

[WeekiWater]

6. I do understand it.

I also think it becomes more important to do when more people are doing it.

To me it seems like the more progressive tax argument Republicans make. If you want higher taxes then just pay them. No one is stopping you.

I think our candidates should go after as much money as possible. Elections cost huge sums of money and Republican Super PACs are very well funded. It makes more sense if making the declaration offsets the possible losses by generating more small donations.

It's not a huge deal for me. It is good for image. Winning is what I want. We can't do real campaign finance reform unless we hold the executive and legislative branches.