Howard Dean's Raised Voice Isn't Raising Cash

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_23/c3936057_mz013.htm

One hundred days into his tenure as the high-energy, higher-decibel chairman of the Democratic Party, Howard Dean is in trouble with party moneybags. The former Vermont governor seems to be doing a better job flaying the Republicans than bridging the cash chasm between the parties. Given Dean's 2004 run as a populist crusader, moderates were never wild about his takeover of the Democratic National Committee. So some big donors are sitting on their wallets.

Dean wowed the faithful in '04 with his Web-based fund-raising magic. But major business donors still count, and in his new role as party honcho, the feisty doctor seems to be struggling to connect. After achieving money parity with the GOP in 2004, Democrats have fallen far behind. According to the Federal Election Commission, the DNC raised $14.1 million in the first quarter of 2005, vs. the Republican National Committee's $32.3 million. Dean drew about 20,000 new donors, while his rivals picked up 68,200. The bottom line: Republicans have $26.2 million in the bank vs. $7.2 million for the Dems.

Why the yawning gap? For starters, Dean is not a natural fit for the "stroke and joke" style that traditional party chiefs use to extract cash from well-heeled contributors. "It appears that the chairman has come to the conclusion that he doesn't need major donors," sniffs one fat cat. "He hasn't made any effort to reach out."

Personality factors aside, Dean's business-bashing '04 campaign makes him a hard sell in corporate circles. "There's a wait-and-see attitude from business and major contributors," says Nathan Landow, a Maryland developer and big-time donor. "This guy has some work to do to get the comfort level up." William W. Batoff, a Philadelphia real estate developer and longtime Democratic fund-raiser who backed President Bush in 2000 and 2004, is less diplomatic. "Howard Dean is the wrong person to be chair," says Batoff, who claims he will help fund the Dems' congressional efforts but will boycott the national committee while Dean reigns.

[aden_nak]

1. "He hasn't made any effort to reach out." = "He won't kiss my ass."

Not having money is a problem. Not getting money from guys like this is a blessing in disguise.

[brentspeak]

15. Yes, but this is politics, it's ALL about 'reaching out'.

What do you think politicians have to do just to get elected? I don't know if like this Batoff guy too much, but the DNC chair does have the distasteful but necessary responsibility to suck up to potential donors.

[America_Is_Real]

29. I just sent DNC $100 to reach out to all 50 states

Would have sent more, but I'm recently unemployed (Thanks, Bush!)

DONATE HERE

"The Democratic Party is committed to winning elections at every level in every region of the country, and we're getting started right now with a massive effort to fund organizers on the ground in every state.

The ultimate goal? An active, effective group of Democrats organized in every single precinct in the country."

[Joebert]

119. Done.

$100 more in the fund.

My first political donation. If the Colorado Democrats really run somebody against Welker for my state rep, they'll get money too.

Dean is precisely what I want to see.

I want people who will point out what is happening, instead of being a part of it. And people who will articulate what will be done about it.

Since the moron Senator (Ken "Bankruptcy Bills are Cool" Salazar) that "represents" me from the Democratic Party can't vote correctly, I'll make sure that I'm a pain in the ass when 2010 rolls around. At least I expect that bonehead Allard (R) to vote that way. But Salaze blew it bigtime.

That seemed like the easiest bill in the world to vote down, it was obviously big money, and NOTHING for his constituents.

We don't need corporate money. Cut out the money, and corruption dies.

[aden_nak]

55. Like I said. Being poor is bad. Being a for sale might be worse.

As far as I can tell, we've been losing doing things the latter way. Is politics really the last bastion of ends justifying the means?

And I am not trying to make a point. . . I really don't know.

[Hawkeye-X]

2. Batoff should be thrown out of the Democratic Party

for supporting *. Dean should write a personal letter telling him basically to ESAD and go to the Republican Party if he isn't for the Democratic Party.

Dean is doing fine, and he's still raising money wherever he goes.

[mrgorth]

3. Hey Batoff

Go fuck yourself then. You either want the people or you don't. If you think you can win with money and not votes, good luck.

[America_Is_Real]

111. Republicans can't reach voters (NJ Gov candidate steals Howie's crowd pic)

From the Bergen Record, via Daily Kos:

[sniffa]

4. good

nice thinLy-veiLed attack articLe.

[bleedingheart]

5. well the DINO's would have never been in favor of Dean

and thus they won't give ...cuz their only thought was to turn the Dems into republican-lite...

Now Dean is no Kucinich....but he is not out to stroke the DLCers...which means he wants the nickel and dime donations of the masses...

[LoZoccolo]

6. To all the fuck-offers...

...you can tell this person or that person to fuck off, but what are you going to do about these hard numbers?

According to the Federal Election Commission, the DNC raised $14.1 million in the first quarter of 2005, vs. the Republican National Committee's $32.3 million. Dean drew about 20,000 new donors, while his rivals picked up 68,200. The bottom line: Republicans have $26.2 million in the bank vs. $7.2 million for the Dems.

I haven't heard anything from anybody about what to do about this. Fuck-offs don't really do anything to advance an agenda. Fuck-offs on an Internet message board do even less.

[Cha]

10. Giving money..

http://www.democrats.org/ :patriot:

What are you doing?

[LoZoccolo]

16. Trying to get other people to give money.

You have to admit, though, that part of the problem in trying to get a populist program of funding going is that people are often of two types:

1. Not involved in politics enough to give money.
2. So involved in politics that they get angry at the Democratic Party for not supporting their exact position or litmus test completely, and then refuse to give money.

Of course there are people outside of this, but you still see a lot of people here in category #2. Part of the reason the DLC was formed was get funding outside of activist groups that would force them to pass certain litmus tests and make it hard to get elected in certain contests. You can replace the DLC, but we still have to solve the original underlying problem that led to it's formation or history can repeat itself.

And if any Dean supporters (and I was one) don't think that there is a danger of us being beholden to certain activists which would put us in more extreme positions than we need to take, remember how Al Sharpton attacked Dean disingenuously twice, and how the other candidates had to pretend to agree with him. Dean was a victim of an identity-politics-activist race-baiting demagogue (who was working with a Republican operative).

[brentspeak]

20. Agreed: unless the donor is a Ken Lay or a Charles Manson

we really can't be too choosey about who donates money to the Democratic Party. If there are some DINOs in there, so be it.

[Zhade]

35. A larger part of the founding of the DLC was to feed off corporations...

...like those in my sigline.

When you have to align yourself with far-right whackjobs like the Koch brothers, it's clear the intent isn't to stand up for the average American.

People who give should feel they get their money's worth. They're not required to donate if the party veers away from their interests. To simply give money when the party goes against your principles is, well, unprincipled. You don't gain a thing by being angry and donating anyway, not even a voice at the table.

Maybe the party should foster grassroots more than focus on corporate donors?

[LoZoccolo]

53. I understand that they take corporate donations.

But part of the reason that seemed appealing was the things I outlined. I don't have anything against populist funding, so long as it's adequate and reliable.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

65. How about 3) going through a slow period economically and

unable to add new recipients of donations?

If you don't have the corporations on your side, you will naturally be behind the Republicans in donations. If you do have the corporations on your side, they'll castrate any real proposals for change that you come up with, and then comes the question, why do you want to be in power if you won't really do anything differently?

If you rely on individuals, you'll suffer when those individuals have economic difficulties.

I have suggested on this board many times that what the Dems need even more than money is voters.

I would have all candidates follow the lead of those populist candidates who hold low-budget fundraisers ($35 for beer and pizza, in the case of Oregon's Peter DeFazio) and schmooze with the average voter. Forget the corporations. They give money in exchange for your heart and soul, and the average voter won't be able to tell what you stand for.

If you can get a person to come out for a low-budget fundraiser ($10 for coffee/tea and cookies?) and then have the candidate really listen to that person's concerns, you're almost guaranteed to get that person's vote. It's a lot cheaper than buying media time.

I would also tell the state Democratic organizations to reorganize every precinct as a social and community service group. If the Dems become known as the fun people who pitch in whenever the community has a need, you don't need to buy TV time in that area.

[TroglodyteScholar]

92. I'm in group 3, not listed...

Laid off

And I think there are a lot of us.

[LoZoccolo]

100. So am I.

And I hope you're right, but you see a lot of people threatening to withhold their DNC contributions as like, the only way they see of changing things. It's slacker activism is what it is. If they don't think a particular issue gets support from the party, they should:

1. Try to honestly find out why - there may be a good reason for it. And if there isn't...
2. Try to get more people to support it.

[orleans]

121. I confess! I confess! I confess!!!

I'm still pissed off, i haven't gotten "over it"
I return their fund raising letters with notes instead of checks.
I haven't given them a dime since october '04.

and since their cash flow is so low i suspect i'm not the only one who is having this adverse reaction to the democratic party inaction and kiss-up-ness to the bushie adm.

of course it's nothing personal with dean--i love howard--he's one of the good voices we've got going for us.

and i know, in my heart of hearts, i'll be sending them money again. eventually.

but maybe if all our other so-called representatives start feeling the pinch on their reelection campaigns then they'll start opening their mouths and sticking up for the people again. maybe they'll stop feeling so cowed by the repukies that they'll grow a bit of a spine and do their jobs!!! maybe they'll get the message: stand up and fight otherwise you're so done.

[tkmorris]

12. That is certainly true

However, raising larger sums of money by kowtowing to corporate donors does nothing to advance the Democratic agenda either. It merely ensures that the Democratic Party is bought and paid for by those who want to make sure that it isn't "too left".

So what do we do about that? Ideally the whole game should be changed so that it isn't all about who has the most money, nor should there even be so much soft money. That isn't going to happen soon though so we will have to strive harder to get money from individuals who normally only donate during election campaigns if at all.

Furthermore we are going to have to reach out to those donors who previously supported the party but are reluctant currently. They will need to be massaged quite a bit I suspect, but it must be done. Doing so while at the same time attempting to lessen the impact of such donors on the political process is walking a very fine line indeed.

[Eloriel]

14. He's been raising a million a week -- and it's been longer then 7 weeks

that he's been in the job. So I am pretty sure that $7.2 mil does not include the money going to state orgs thanks to all his apperances ahd tireless efforts BEING there.

[LoZoccolo]

21. That number does count a million a week.

He raised $14.1 million in the first quarter...a little over 12 weeks, for $1.175 million a week.

But the Republicans raised $2.69 million a week over the same period.

I'm not saying that it can't work. But being in denial that it hasn't worked as well yet won't do what's necessary to fix it.

[Eloriel]

23. But he wasn't even elected until sometime in February -- isn't it

a little, um, UNFAIR to hold him accountable for all the period when he wasn't even responsible until it was already nearly half over? (The election was Feb. 7 or 12, IIRC. Hell, I won't even give him any time to get oriented -- that's 5/12 of the period he wasn't, could NOT have been, responsible for fundraising for the DNC.

[Teaser]

17. Numbers are misleading.

Two factors caused that one-time disparity.

1) It's an off year for elections, so of course we fell off from fund raising last year.

2) On the other side of the equation, the big bankruptcy bill just caused a massive amount of money to flow into Repub coffers.

I guarantee the numbers will look better this coming quarter. In fact I know they will.

[Placebo]

41. Finally someone says it.

Thank you.

[PassingFair]

80. Must exercise control.... n/t

[Cha]

7. I'll write on this one the

same I wrote on the GDPolitics one..

With Democrats like these

"William W. Batoff, a Philadelphia real estate developer and longtime Democratic fund-raiser who backed President Bush in 2000 and 2004, is less diplomatic. "Howard Dean is the wrong person to be chair," says Batoff, who claims he will help fund the Dems' congressional efforts but will boycott the national committee while Dean reigns."

The asshole backed bush in 2000 and 2004? Keep your fucking blood money..you pervert!

Oh, and batoff..your boy(monkeyface) is doing so well..you must be so proud of your treason."


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1823716#1823756

[KittyWampus]

84. Thank You! Batoff Votes Bush 2x & We're Supposed To Care What He Thinks?s'

[smoogatz]

8. With friends like Batoff, who needs enemas?

The Democrats achieved "money parity" with the Republicans in '04 by going to the grassroots, and they'll do it again in '06 and '08. If the corporate honchos want to wait on the sidelines because they find Dean too "combative," they can go fuck themselves. The Democratic party should not be the Republican Lite party. We should NOT be just as beholden to (and corrupted by) corporate donors as the people whose pro-corporate policies we oppose. Duh.

[Cha]

11. I know..that article just

pointed out the difference so vividly of what the repuke lite(actually fascist lite)is that we're trying to extricate ourselves from.

[Zhade]

37. Damn fucking straight.

NT!

[Zorra]

9. If Batoff does not like Howard Dean, then

Howard Dean must be doing all the right things.

[Cha]

13. Someone(batoff) that says he's

a dem but supported bushreich in 2000 & 2004..how dumb does the zellout think we are?

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Cha]

25. Dean is resonating with

activists..No worries.

[Seabiscuit]

30. Righto! Dean IS resonating with activists, much to the chagrin of Repuke-

Lite Dems who gave us "Knowing what I now know, that Iraq never posed a threat to the U.S., and never possessed any WMDs in October,2002 - March 2003, I would still have voted for the IWR".

Fuckoff Batboy and everyone like him can go take a flying fuck to the moon.

Everyone said Dean couldn't raise the kind of money he did in his 2003-2004 campaign with small donations and Dean proved them all wrong. Just give him and the DNC time. He's only just begun, and has been having a salubrious effect on local campaigns.

Stick to your guns, Howard!

[JNelson6563]

28. Actually the activists like him

it's the Rethug-lites who don't like him. See, if you read the article you will note that the big money is staying away. I can assure you friend, the real activists aren't the large donors.

Most of them, large donors that is, are either DINOs or, that dirty little secret we like to keep in the family, elitists.

Julie

[Eloriel]

81. Or just garden variety fascists who are happy to buy politicians

from either side of the aisle.

[eridani]

109. Didn't 'activists' used to be plain old 'citizens'?

You know, people who oversaw the functioning of the public sphere because they WERE the government?

[Zhade]

38. This isn't "odd", it's bullshit spin from b*s*-loving assholes.

Of COURSE they hate Dean and misrepresent the numbers. Duh.

[bitchkitty]

40. Ah! So you're an activist then? n/t

[tkmorris]

52. Tripe

Do you know who the RNC chairman is? Can you tell me what his highest finish in a presidential primary was? How about the former DNC chairman?

Furthermore, people who "resonate with activists" aren't often the same people who win the nomination. Sadly.

[genieroze]

19. Boohoo, Dean won't be my little corporate whore unlike the other shills.

[Cha]

26. :)

:nopity:

[Zhade]

43. Indeed. That's EXACTLY why these pro*b*s* little shits are whining.

They want more funding from the guys in my sig line - they can't STAND the thought of the grassroots actually making an impact without corporate cash!

Well, fuck the corporate facists. Fuck them so hard their skulls crack. I am sick and fucking tired of these corporatist, anti-worker, anti-equality, pro-outsourcing motherfuckers whining every time they can't buy even more influence.

To hell with the lot of them. They're an enormous part of why America lost whatever ideals it once claimed to have.

[info being]

22. That's great news.

A Party based on telling it like it is can beat a party that will say whatever it needs to for money. I'm not worried at all.

[bpilgrim]

24. "Why the yawning gap?" there is no national campaign going on

once their is a truly national appeal to weTHEpeople that story will change, bet.

peace

[Norquist Nemesis]

27. They're talking to each other again

From the headline to the last period, it's another smear piece. All it is, is a little tranquilizer for the R's worried that Dean's going to be bursting out on the scene rallying the people. The last thing they want to see is Dean making progress; the only way they measure progress at this point is in $$$.

[Zhade]

31. Gee, the corporatists don't like Dean? Too fucking bad.

I mean, yeah, he's not like a fave of the DLC like the Koch brothers, but that's a GOOD thing.

[KittyWampus]

88. Um, The Koch Brothers Seeded Dean's Primary Run Before Anyone Even

heard of him. And Dean also did the Koch Bros. some favors selling a power company below cost.

Howard Dean knows how smooze with the best of them.

[Eloriel]

93. Okay, let's see a link for the campaign seeding allegation

I think most Deanies already know the other part of that allegation is bogus.

[Zhade]

110. Notice the utter lack of substantiation.

A drive-by lie.

[Zhade]

108. Proof?

NT!

[TheFarseer]

The small contributors he got so much cash from

in 2003 and 2004 are not going to contribute unless there is an important election looming. Also, they were donating to HOWARD, not the democratic party. Howard's not running for a darn thing now. I think this is the difference.

[HuckleB]

107. Actually...

See post 69. He's out-raising his DNC predecessors, and that's what really counts in my book.

[yurbud]

32. Dean should use this to distinguish Dems from GOP

We won't compromise the well-being of your family to whore for big donors.

[Jacobin]

33. Awwww...businessweek upset that Dean won't sell out the party

:nopity:

I'll take $100 donations, tens of thousands of them, over corporate bribery any day.

Remember. He raised more money running against Smirk than Smirk raised in the same period.

[yurbud]

34. Dems are losing by trying to kiss business ass and look after us

Why should business give them anything if GOP will give undivided priority to business?

Dean should therefore tell the moneybags to fuck off, or appoint some old school shill to go after them.

[yurbud]

42. Dean should go after businesses that will profit from progressive agenda

farmers and biofuels producers.

high tech (needs educated workers)

anybody who is sick of how much they have to pay for their employees health insurance.

performers who are concerned about the lock a handful of media companies like Clear Channel have on broadcasting and concert venues.

Anybody who wants their kids to be able to go to college.

tourism and service industries that depend on people having money to burn and a positive image of the US to attract foreign visitors.

[Zhade]

50. Agreed. I could get behind money from good corporations.

The traditional big-money sponsors are NOT worth getting in bed with, since they'll just infect the party with the corporate clap and leave it for the next pro-corporate slavery party that waves the destruction of workers' rights under its nose.

How's THAT for a strained analogy! :D

[stlsaxman]

91. surely Dean's aware of BuyBlue.org. n/t

[bitchkitty]

36. On a very limited income, but

this article inspired me to make a donation. I don't want these corporate enablers deciding what Dean should and shouldn't say - I want him to keep slamming the opposition! Party moneybags? I can think of a better term for some of them...

[SoCalDem]

39. He's held the office THREE MONTHS, and no doubt

has been concentrating on gettiing the place in order., Who takes over a new position, and does NOT do that?

And..

there are no immediate elections happeniing..and the Corporate Hack Ugly Media People..aka C.H.U.M.P. only want to interview him when they think he has said something incorrect, or they still want an excuse to "rolllllll the videooooooo" from Iowa..

When he's ready, Dean will start the fundraising.

Another thing...

No amount of money can counteract Diebold-Magic-Fingers machines

[Cha]

48. Right on the money with that..

"No amount of money can counteract Diebold-Magic-Fingers machines"

So we got this from Dean..


"The chairman also called for changes to election laws, making Election Day a holiday or moving it from Tuesday and making it easier for everyone to vote.

He said he supports establishing a law "that says you cannot use a voting machine unless it can be recounted by hand." That line brought the longest sustained applause of the day, reflecting lingering bitterness after reports of voting problems in the close 2004 election."

More..
http://wireservice.wired.com/wired/story.asp?section=Breaking&storyId=1043132&tw=wn_wire_story

[CAcyclist]

44. We are going to need to do this ourselves

I just signed up for a $25 monthly donation.

If we want the Democratic Party to free itself from corporate and fascist influence, we need to pony up.

[Placebo]

45. Perhaps Dean's tenure as DNC chair will be shorter than expected.

Excellent.

We'll need someone more effective in there for 2006 and 2008 anyway.

We must strike hard while the iron is hot, and that's not gonna happen with Dean running around like he knows best, and leaving the party in the dumps. And his loudest supporters seem to have detached themselves from reality when they run around shouting things like, "Yes, fuck corporations!" "Use this as an opportunity to purge the party! Only real (aka, Dean) Democrats from now on!" "We don't need their filthy money!" What world are Dean and these people living in? When will it end? What happens when in 2006 we have 1/3 or 1/4 the cash on hand that the Republicans do?

Ugh.

[Teaser]

47. Calm down, blinky.

I'll get your antiacids. This story was thoroughly debunked several weeks ago already.

[Zhade]

51. Yeah, and Hillary's gonna win.

:eyes:

[lojasmo]

60. We'll see about that.

As far as your other statements....I call bullshit. I'd like to see one of the "quotes" from Dean supporters in a link, otherwise, I don't want to hear it from the likes of you.

IIRC, the DNC had doubled their first quarter contributions compared to the last cycle.

How do you like them apples?

This story is absolute crap.

[stickdog]

61. Yeah, Dean's problem is that he can't raise money, organize or motivate.

:sarcasm:

[athenap]

67. What happens when we have less cash on hand than the Reps?

Maybe we'll stop spending it on loser consultants who don't know how to win elections but get well-paid for a lousy job... :P

[Eloriel]

85. BINGO!!

and welcome to DU!

[Cha]

72. Yeah, I know how you jump

on every Dean thread with your negative attitude and now you're calling the Chairman of the Democratic Party's supporters out.

[Teaser]

46. Story is 3 weeks old

with no new data. Why publish the same info again?

[Rainscents]

59. Because, it's important to run again... Some people may not read it the

first time.

[flaminbats]

49. No more fund raising scandals...no more backroom deals?

Too bad freepers can't have it both ways...damned it, DNC just keeps taking money from big business. But wait, never mind we that we raised five times this amount from credit card and insurance companies. And who really cares the central government just keeps growing and growing with no limits?

[truthisfreedom]

54. ask your neighbors to contribute. we need to put the money together.

it's only money.

[Coexist]

56. My email from Tom McMahon today re: fundraising

Today I'm meeting with the first set of organizers you have hired. They're in Washington for workshops this week. Saturday they will head home to West Virginia and get to work.

Each of them has put together a short bio for you -- take a look, because you made this possible:

http://www.democrats.org/50statestrategy

You blew past last week's $250,000 fundraising goal in just 48 hours -- surprising Governor Dean and everyone else. That made it possible to add a fifth state (Kansas) to the four new ones announced last week.

Governor Dean challenged Democrats across the country to push that goal to $500,000 by Friday this week -- that's tomorrow. If we reach it together, we can get the ball rolling this week in another batch of four more states.

You will have more than tripled the program -- adding nine new states in two weeks. And it will have happened with small donations that have outpaced anything the Democratic Party has seen in an off-year between elections.

Let's do it:

http://www.democrats.org/challenge

A lot of folks responded to Governor Dean's message last week asking for a way to track the progress of your fundraising. As you can see, there's a graphic on the right with the total -- it will be updated every hour so that you can see the difference you're making by contributing and spreading the word. And we'll be tracking the progress on the web site.

Your small donations are moving this program so fast that it's hard to keep up. The staff is working around the clock to get the pieces in place to get started in the new states you fund today and tomorrow.

Growing our party from the ground up in every single state will be hard work -- but it's absolutely necessary if we're going to build the long-term capacity to win in all 50 states.

It's up to you -- can we get started in another four this week?

Thank you for everything.

Sincerely,

Tom McMahon
Executive Director

[MaineDem]

63. I heard from our DNC members...

that Dean said on a conference call that he's raised almost $900,000 during visits to individual states. I believe this is money for the state parties and probably not included in a DNC total.

As long as the states get it I'm happy.

[Eloriel]

89. That is SO beautiful -- thanks for posting it. EVERYONE READ THIS

if you haven't already.

LOVE it.

[killbotfactory]

57. what a bunch of shit

but i guess it will give repubs a false sense of superiority

[Rainscents]

58. Good on Dean! I just donated last week, however, I'll donate

again just becuase, he is for us little guys and this artical is pissing me off!

[TexasLawyer]

62. "Why the yawning gap? "

Because the RNC is whorishly selling America down the river to the highest bidder, and that money needs to go somewhere-- certainly NOT into the U.S. Treasury.

Once the judiciary branch is completely under RNC control, that's when the REAL loot will start pouring in for them.

[slay]

64. Corporations and the rich withhold money cause Dean won't kiss their ass

The headline should read. :mad:

[woosh]

66. Fuck 'em

we don't need 'em. When it comes to crunch time, Dean will raise the money with grassroots efforts.

[SouthernDem2004]

68. It might be that people are waiting to see what the Party is going to do

in 2006 and 2008. People might be less inclined to throw money a the party until they know what the Party is going to do. People are expecting change from Dean. Many are waiting to see what that change is if any.

[PassingFair]

83. For instance...

my money has mostly been going to DFA. I'm afraid, even with Dean at the helm, that money sent to the DNC will be used to re-elect compromised DINO dems instead of going towards money needed for primaries to unseat them.

[lojasmo]

69. DNC has raised MORE MONEY THIS QUARTER

than any first non-election year quarter on the books.

A quick look at actual FEC reports

http://images.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/fecimg/?C00010603

shows that Dean has raised more money in an off year than any DNC Chair in history.

First Quarter of 2005 - $16.7 million

Q1/2004 - $28.7 million (presidential election year)

Q1/2003 - $8.7 million

Q1/2002 - $11.8

And Dean is on pace to break the midyear fundraising of $23.7 in the first six months of 2001. "

Shamelessly cribbed. Thanks for the info, poster who must not be named.

[Cha]

73. Thanks, lojasmo and I hope

the naysayers on Dean in this very thread can bring themselves to read your post.

[cap]

76. just got a call from the DNC

[lojasmo]

82. I dare all naysayers to read the above post.......read it and weep.

[HuckleB]

106. Thank you. That's what the real question should have been.

This is piss poor job of journalism at Business Week. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but I do wonder why so many at DU bite so quickly without asking questions.

[NashVegas]

112. MEDIA MATTERS Rebuttal to Fox:

But a comparison of Dean's first three months as chairman shows that he has actually out-raised his predecessor during the same period in 2003. Dean raised $14.8 million between February and April (the latest data available), versus $8.5 million during that period in 2003, the previous non-election year. Additionally, the DNC has raised more in comparison to the RNC over the past three months than it did during 2003. The RNC raised $32.4 million between February and April, about 2.2 times the rate of the Democrats. Over the same period in 2003 the RNC raised $25.7 million, more than three times the rate of the DNC.

http://mediamatters.org/items/200506030009

[fujiyama]

70. Quoting Zell Miller Dems

to make Dems go all Henny Penny - "The Sky is Falling".

Well screw it. This is a non election year. There isn't much interest among people in a year like this (atleast among the base). Bush was a polarizing figure so of course a lot of people donated to try to beat him.

And which party is in power now? It's the pukes. They have control of all branches. Of course they'll be raising more money, especially from fat cats. They know who will do their bidding, and who CAN do their bidding. As someone else mentioned the pukes also got the bankrputcy legislation passed, which helps the most profitable industry in the US.

So fuck Botoff, some Zell Miller bastard (worse actually because he supported Bush both times).

What I'd like to see is the income levels of these donations recieved, as well as whether these were individual donations or corporate donations/PACs.

That would give a better idea of how to gauge this.

[OHdem10]

71. It sounds as if we are back

to old conflicts--Money.

There are those who believe the corporate stronghold influences
our Congressmen and senators votes. We go into fits when
a certain group of them vote against Democraic Party position.
IMO, they do this because they are beholden to Corporate
Interests. Sometimes I womder--what do we really want???

Bashing Dean only hurts our cause. Fox does a very good
job of this without any help from us.

What was the motive in putting out this article anyway.
The Republicans are not doing well as a party -- so Mehlmen
is all over TV explaining how great the RNC is doing at
fundraising and reaching out. Folks they are trying to
bolster their numbers and make Dems lok bad. They can always
raise money easier than we can.

[Cha]

75. Right on!

It cracks me up ..everytime there is the least little negative thing about Dean ... certain members jump on to pile on.

[WI_DEM]

74. You are forgetting that the GOP always leads the money race

and would even if some "moderate" or DLCer was leading the party. What the party needs is what Dean is giving it at the DNC--backbone.

[Justitia]

77. 'cuz coin collecting lobbyists steal it from Ohio, etc. -eom

[Placebo]

79. Democrats raised more money in 2004.

[PassingFair]

86. It was THE election year, dear. n/t

[barbaraann]

78. Theresa Heinz Kerry could help.

n/t

[SouthernDem2004]

87. Yea, but is she a Republican or Democrat? Do we really know..

[depakid]

90. Maybe if the Dems showed a little backbone

Someone might give them money.

I agree that Dean isn't the right person to be chairman- but for different reasons than the one's cited.

I don't think Dean should have anything to do with the sell out mainstream of the party. Dean's not afraid to stand up for traditional democratic prinicples- whereas the Democratic leadership these days- well- they act like battered women.

[HuckleB]

99. Very good point! -eom-

[leftofthedial]

94. I like his rhetoric (mostly)

but I don't care if they make Santa Claus the chair, I'm not giving them a dime.

1. I've been chronically unemployed for the first time in my 35 years of working ever since the coup of 2000. I no longer have a dime to spare. The Dems have done jack doodly shit to help working people.

2. They show no inclination to proactively behave like an opposition party and can't win an election of any kind. They have become comfortable playing Washington Nationals to the repukes' Harlem Globetrotters. The masquerade is no longer convincing.

[Stevepol]

95. If he would put the voting machines on the front burner, he'd get plenty.

This is my guess. Personally, I don't see any reason to give money for campaigns which have not the slightest chance of succeeding.

As I tell every letter that comes asking for my contributions, to contribute money to Dems without getting fair vote counting, is throwing money down a rat hole. Of course, my scribbled answers don't have the slihgtest effect either I presume. He still never mentions the voting machiens as far as I know.

On the other hand, if he just made it a number one priority, even if I thought his work might not succeed, I'd give till I bled and I'll bet there are many many people like me.

To pretend Dems can just go on with business as usual, even if Dean is a smarter and more honest leader, is at a minimum stupid.

[HuckleB]

96. The big question:

Who are the 68,200 new idiots that gave to the Grim Repubs? What excuse does any human have for doing something in the face of such overwhelming evidence of the stupidity of doing so?

[lojasmo]

104. PLEASE POST NUMBER SIXTY-NINE

Heh.....

[VegasWolf]

97. Yes, but his huge balls will! n/t

[HuckleB]

98. How does Dean's performance compare to his Dem predecessors?

That's what I want to know. Comparing him to the current status of GOP moneybags, who are giving money to get more in return is one thing, but comparing his performance to past Dems seems more realistic and relevant.

[0rganism]

101. Most disturbing stat in this (incredibly biased) article:

"Dean drew about 20,000 new donors, while his rivals picked up 68,200."

I really don't give a flying fuck about appeasing the "fat cats", but as their support flags we'll need to get twice as many donors as the GOP just to break even. 'Course, this is an off-election year, so we won't see as much activity, but I know we're going to have to increase support from unions and liberal activist groups in 2006.

[MissWaverly]

102. I send Dr. Dean money all the time, at least our $ is not stolen

Hey, we would have lots of bucks too, if we had felons for business associates, and raided the government treasury for campaign funds like
those in Ohio do

[agincourt]

103. The trouble is,

when any corporate scandal hits, they always trot out "Dems get as much money as Repugs". I wish we could wean off the corporate money so we don't vote for crap like the bankruptcy bill. Unfortunately in the last election Kerry raised as much money as Bush. Granted Bush had a multi-billion dollar corporate whore MSM campaigning for him, but Kerry raised a lot of money too. It's a devil may do situation.

[Rainscents]

105. Ed Schultz pissed me off today when he was trashing Dean on

national radio. He read the Newsweek and believe this as gospel and trashed Dean. I am still upset with Ed. Sometime, Ed open his mouth without fact check... Dean told him, Newsweek story was untrue. Dean also told Ed, Dem's has raised more money this year (off year) than any other off year.

[sojourner]

113. Message to Batoff - BITE ME you prig!!

AAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why the F*** do I care what creeps like Landow and Batoff think about Dean? All they care about is whether the facsism is going according to plan. Corporate $$$ is what runs through their veins, not blood.

What the hell is this article doing, citing people who supported B* as "boycotting" the DNC? He's gonna boycott Dean? Who gives a F***, when he supported Bush, not once but twice? Honest to god my head's going to explode!

[Casper]

114. He's trying to change the funding model.

I saw Dean in Atlanta this week. His goal, like it was when he was running for President, is to have millions of small donors so that the DNC does not have to rely on the corporate donors. It may take some time for this model to catch up with the right.

Addtionally, why do we continue to compare ourselves to the GOP anyway? Perhaps we can do this stuff with less money? Dean is investing in grassroots with is 50 state plan. Face it, the big bucks are required for all the national advertising and marketing. I think we can have an impact at the community level without spending as much money. I certainly think its worth a try.

[aion]

122. Begging Corporations only strokes egos

I agree. Dean will take contributions from the corpos, but without strings attached. Furthermore, corporations are amoral. They pay homage to one thing -- the bottom line. They realize that Dean represents a reversal of the Bush give-aways, and the vast majority will see the Democrats as wanting to encroach on their bottom line. Asking/Begging the corporations for money only strokes egos...

With the email lists Dean now has, I suspect that he is waiting for a more opportune moment to ask the people for money. When the 2006 midterms are a year away (ie. this coming November), I look for him to fire it up.

[suegeo]

115. Throwing money down a hole...

The voting machines are rigged. So it's a hard choice for me to decide to donate money to any party when one party (the fascist republicans) controls how the votes are counted.

[funnymanpants]

116. OUTRIGHT LIE!

ususually I don't use all caps, but go to

http://www.mediamatters.org

to see how this report is a lie. The article here compares Dean to his equivelent at the RNC. But the Repubs have always raised more money than the Dems. In fact, if you compare Dean to his predecessor, McAulluf, he is doing very well.

[Guaranteed]

117. If he's not raising enough money, then that's OUR fault.

Not his. He's done his part.

It's time for us to pony up the cash. And none of this "My candidate's supporters are boycotting the DNC" shit.

[BigBearJohn]

118. well then, he must be doing something right

[lakeguy]

120. funny how this gets published over and over but the DSM

just isn't important enough to print once in most rags.

this story is crap, dean almost doubled the amount raised compared to the last non-election Q1 cycle. what does he have to do, increase it by 10X? f'in BS article all the way!