Today I was berated by the DNC

[Boomer]

Sunday afternoon, minding my own business, and the phone rings. My partner picked it up, listened to someone say they wanted to speak to me, then asked who was calling. The caller mumbled something and almost didn't provide an answer until she made it clear that he wasn't speaking to me until he spoke to HER first.

Eyes rolling, she passed the phone over. "It's the DNC."

Over the past year I have repeatedly told callers from the DNC that I will no longer donate to the party, only to specific individuals (like Conyers) who fight for my principles and positions, and that I wanted my name removed from their rolls.

So once again I said my spiel, but this time I got an indigant "What policies and positions would that be? I want to know just what you're talking about."

I wasn't really in the mood, frankly, but when I tried to disengage he got even more aggressive, so I thought, what the hell, I'll go through this again. You know, the lack of support for Conyers during the Downing Street memos, the caving on the Bankruptcy bill, the unwillingness to investigage election fraud. Only every time I tried to speak, the guy ran over me, wouldn't let me speak, just kept raising his voice.

So I hung up on him.

And I'll remember this call the NEXT time the DNC is on the phone, asking for my money. I've relented in the past and reluctantly coughed up a contribution, but this in-your-face bullying has royally pissed me off. Obviously scoring points on a phone debate is more important than picking my pocket. So be it.

[joemurphy]

1. I told them to deal with me by mail. I told them I was tired of

the phone calls. They've never called me again.

[FreedomAngel82]

22. This is one reason

why I'm glad in my state you don't have to put what party you want to be apart of. Even though I am a democrat I don't care to be on the mailing list. I mostly vote by canidate as well. My mother is still listed as a republican but she's only got a call twice from them. Once during the election year for donation (they lied and said she gave but she never has) and then again for polling to see how well Bush was doing in her views (poor of course). :shrug: I don't know why the DNC is asking for so much money. Do they really need it now?

[GRLMGC]

2. They've insulted me before too

I'd still donate to them since I support the party but the people they hire tend to be jerks. I'm a student so I don't have a lot of money. Anyway, this girl calls me and I explain to her that I don't have a lot of money. So she goes "Well, I am letting you know that this IS your future, but thank you for your time". I was all like "what the fuck?". Yeah, that pissed me off.

[SeattleGirl]

3. Maybe you should drop a line to Howard Dean.

The person who called you obviously needs a refresher course in charm school. Perhaps he should go work for the RNC.

[grannylib]

4. Good for you! I will monetarily support only those Democratic individuals

who have both a heart AND a spine...I am so tired of Democrats rolling over for the lies, filth and deceit of the reThugs...it's complicity in their crimes, as far as I am concerned.
As a party, collectively, we need to grow a set.

[Boomer]

8. DU and Daily Kos point me to the right candidates

I get an idea of who is out campaigning, what they stand for, how well they support a solid progressive platform, and that's where I send my money.

I'm so disheartened by the silence from the Democratic party on key issues. I don't expect them to win every battle, and with the Republican majority I don't even expect them to win any battle. But I DO expect them to FIGHT for what I believe.

I'm definitely not a Republican, but when I call myself a Democrat I'm referencing political history rather than current affairs. Which I imagine is how true conservative Republicans (rather than corporate whores and neocons) must feel about their party, too.

[grannylib]

11. I hear you. I would be MUCH more inclined to vote Green party, if I

thought the candidate had a snowflake's chance in Hades of winning.
When I think of Democrats, I think of the Civil Rights movement, the Labor movement, of Women's Rights...not the reThuglican Light we see all too often in the Democratic party.

[FreedomAngel82]

23. This is why I think the upcoming elections are important

We should clean house majorly. Replace people who will speak out and will have spines and do things on our agenda whether we have the majority or not. There are a lot of great democrats in Congress who I wish would run for the Senate and replace some of the spineless one's. I'm sure next year will bring a lot of new people too. I think it was Howard Dean who made the suggestion to replace democrats you're not happy with with a democrat you would be happy with and more progressive (something like that).

[applegrove]

5. Let's not forget - Dems used to win because they had the biggest

tent.

[marbuc]

6. Are you sure it wasn't the RNC or another Repub group?

or does the DNC have a track record of such behavior? If the latter, I wouldn't be surprised, their fundraising department is full of self important little shits that have little regard for the people the party is supposed to represent.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

15. My thought exactly. Article: They practice by sharking each other:

http://www.guerrillanews.com/headlines/5058/Swimming_with_Sharks

This is a dynamite article that shows that these kinds of tactics are trained into them from the highest levels for years.

[madfloridian]

7. They hire other companies. We donate to the DNC.

The DCCC uses Telefund Inc., and the other day the DNC caller told me the name of his company. I forget. He was very nice. I don't know what the DSCC uses, but they all hire out the calls. It says DNC on the caller id but it is isn't.

We donate monthly though we haven't in years. If you don't then they have to rely on more corporate funding.

They figure if they get 2 million people giving at least 10 a month...that is, correct me if wrong, 20 million a month. Enough to run the party without corporations taking over.

But people would rather withhold support. That is their choice.

[Boomer]

Too late for that

>> Enough to run the party without corporations taking over. <<

I believe the root problem is that the corporations have already co-opted both parties. Too many Democratic leaders are compromised by their ties to lobbyists, which is why they are so eager not to rock the boat.

Dems and Republicans are feeding at the same trough, although Republicans are getting top dollar because they're currently in power. No one on either side is going to dismantle the system that funnels money into their pocket.

Which is why, after years of making regular donations, I've decided I can't support the party as a whole, only those members who are still true to the principles of the party. It's very telling how Conyers and Boxer are marginalized by the party.

Of course, as long as the election process itself is corrupt, any kind of donation is irrelevant. After the complete lack of party reaction to the Ohio election fraud, I realized that my money, my time, and my effort was wasted. All I'm doing is supporting their bureaucracy, not any causes.

So yes, I choose to withold support.

[madfloridian]

12. I choose to work to change it.

That is your right though to withhold support. It is sort of like people who don't belong to unions get the benefit from those who do. Just saying.

[Boomer]

27. I am not withholding support from Democrats

As I have mentioned repeatedly in my posts, I am still contributing to Democratic candidates. I am just not contributing to the DNC. During the Kerry campaign I made contributions to my local campaign headquarters to fund the purchase of materials, and even donated furniture, supplies and web services time.

So my support continues, just the direction of it has changed.

[ClassWarrior]

16. Ironically on another thread someone's commenting about naysayers...

...who whine that nothing gets done, and then when something gets done they whine it's too little too late.

With the possible exception of tax returns - nothing's EVER too late. Change is ALWAYS possible, if you want it enough to work for it.

Never Give Up.

[LoZoccolo]

17. And it is demands like yours that cause that.

Don't believe me? Go back and find out the history of the formation of the DLC. Part of the reason they seek corporate donors is that activist donors were expecting so many quid pro quos with their funding that it was making the Democrats hard to get elected to do anything for anybody.

Anyways, if the DNC sucks so much, why don't you just vote for the Republicans and give them your money? Oh.

Well I guess the rest of us will just have to pick up the slack in protecting what's left of your freedoms then.

[Douglas Carpenter]

21. well we can always rely on the altruism of corporate lobbyist

They will never expect anything in return except a better country.

I still give to the DNC and I will support almost any Democrat in almost any general election. But, I understand the frustration.

It was in the 1973 that DNC Chair Robert Strauss basically threw away the activist donor mailing list and turned to reliance on corporate lobbyist. This has been the approach now for the last 32 years in every single election.

It's only recently that things have started to change back. I do urge my fellow progressives not to give up. There simply is no other alternative to changing the Democratic Party into a genuine grassroots run and funded progressive party.

[Boomer]

26. If you had read my post more carefully...

... you would see that I AM continuing to donate to Democractic candidates. The change is that I am donating directly to the candidates that support Democractic principles, rather than to the DNC which often ignores those very same candidates or marginalizes them for rocking the boat.

[Boomer]

29. Quid pro quos?

Like expecting the Democrats to vote against the bankruptcy bill crafted by the credit card industry? Or to investigate the voting frauds that have cost us two presidential elections?

Yup, those certainly are special interest issues.

And just what "slack" are you referring to when I continue to donate to Democratic candidates? Like Conyers when we was holding hearings on the Downing Street memos or Hackett when he was campaigning, and who the DNC ignored, btw.

Yeah, I'm really slacking.

[electricray]

9. They called me right after the Paul Hacket loss

I told them that I was disappointed at the late and ineffectual support the DNC had offered Hackett and that I wouldn't be donating through them any longer at least until Howard Dean had had a chance to change the machinery a little. The lady I talked to was cordial, but audibly upset. I wonder if they have been getting a lot of that of late?

[Dr.Phool]

10. I got my call Friday

Told them (again) that when they start showing some leadership and I backbone, I'll start donating again. I'll continue to donate to Democrats of MY choice.

[LoZoccolo]

13. Maybe you should also try giving money to the Republicans.

I'm sure they'd give support to Conyers during the Downing Street memos and all that, especially the bankruptcy bill!

I like how half the activism on DU involves not doing things.

[Boomer]

30. As it happens, Conyers gets my money

As I stated in original post (which it appears few people bothered to read carefully), I have continued to make direct contributions to Democrats that I feel are still fighting the good fight.

Conyers is one of the politicians that inspires me. The minute he started the Downing Street hearings, I was on his website making a donation. So I directly supported his actions, which is more than I can say for the majority for Democrats, who were conspicuous by their absence.

[ClassWarrior]

14. To be clear, today you were berated by a disgruntled telemarketer.

Which is almost like a disgruntled postal worker.

But good for you for speaking your piece. Don't give in. Make 'em listen to your criticms and pass them up the line to the party every time until it starts to sink in.

Never Give Up.

[LittleClarkie]

20. Okay that's just spooky

Maybe I should have read the thread first before posting. Great minds, and all that...

[Boomer]

31. Does a telemarketer give a crap about my politics?

In the past, I've always asked for my concerns to be passed on to the caller's management, and they have always assured me that would happen.

But this is the first time a caller has tried to debate me about the issues themselves. Odd behavior for someone who is simply doing their job.

[ClassWarrior]

39. Is a minimum wage contract worker "the DNC"?

NGU.

[comsymp]

41. If the telemarketing company is hired by the DNC, then yes

These companies are hired to represent their clients - which is why Caller ID may show DNC", and why the callers represent themselves as calling on behalf of the DNC, as opposed to being with "Firm X who is calling on behalf of...." Their job is to make direct contact with supporters, current or potential - and will most likely be the only "direct" contact most folks will ever have with the DNC (unless Dr. Dean decides to go door-to-door???), so yes, to most people they contact, they are the DNC.

[agingdem]

18. Got he DNC call last week...

I told them: "Not one damn dime until the Dems speak with one voice". The DNC phone-bank lady was not very happy. I explained that I have spent a life-time donating to hopeless causes...Humphrey, Mondale (president and 2002 Senate), Carter (reelection), Gore recount), Cleland, Carnahan, Kerry, etc. So...if the Dems want my money then this time they are going to have to earn it.

[LittleClarkie]

19. Well, technically speaking, you were berated by some dude AT the DNC

Not by the DNC as a whole. Somehow I don't think the claim could be made that one telemarketer with a bad attitude represents the DNC as a whole.

Keeping in mind, this might be a professional telemarketer unassociated with the party. Hard to tell. I'd drop them a line objecting to their telemarketing folks and telling them they're not winning any points with you.

Me, I've been spoken to by an elderly sounding lady who was very nice but who was reading a script (hell, when I phone banked, so did I. It sucked)

Even if it is a volunteer or a paid phone banker from the DNC, that's still hardly the entire of the DNC berating you. Just one dude who didn't like something in your tone, and decided to get in your face as it were.

[dorktv]

24. I volunteered to do phone banking. I used to work

in customer service and still break out in a cold sweat at the idea but I did it.

It is hard to get volunteers to ask for money and that is why they outsource this. The only successful group of people do it that were volunteers had wine, cheese and other food items.

[supernova]

32. Could also have been some dude at a private TM firm

not technically the DNC.

Neither the DNC nor the RNC do their own telemarketing and fundraising anymore.

Still, sorry you had that experience. Clearly that guy shouldn't have that job. :crazy:

[Boomer]

33. I wonder if they tape their calls?

It would seem that this particular individual -- whether a volunteer or telemarketer employee -- needs to find a different line of work.

That being said, I had already made the decision to change the direction of my donations, so it's not as if I've stopped sending them money because of one cranky encounter. It just made me even more cranky than before about getting phone calls when I've asked to be removed from their lists.

But that's probably a task similar to slaying a hydra, so I expect before too long another Sunday afternoon will be marred by a ringing phone asking me to make a donation.

[Warren DeMontague]

25. They used to bother me at work before the 1996 election.

Finally, I said- "I've been a supporter for my whole life, but if you keep bothering me, I'm registering Green"

They left me alone after that. Now, no way in HELL will I give any of those people my phone number. Uh-huh.


They're lucky they get my money, on occasion (yeah, and the occasion is going to remain pretty damn infrequent until they find their collective balls/ovaries). They don't need my phone number.

[Boomer]

35. I was a regular donor all my life

For many of the same reasons that other posters on this thread cited, such as preventing a reliance on corporate donations.

But after the uncontested 2004 elections and the passing of the bankruptycy bill, I came to the conclusion that those "good" reasons were no longer valid. The corporations have won, the party machinery is compromised, and supporting the status quo is no longer a palatable option for me.

So now I contribute directly to specific candidates. Just as I donated money during the Katrina catastrophe directly to a friend who was left homeless rather than through the Red Cross. I knew exactly where the money was going, and I knew it was being used for the purpose I intended.

[laylah]

28. I have not donated since

2000 when I gave them $ via my debit card, which they took upon themselves to DOUBLE the amount. When I called for a refund, I got the run around and have not been repaid to this day. THAT was the end of it for me. I will donate directly to a campaign but not ever again to the DNC!

edited 'cuz I cannot spell :silly:

[Douglas Carpenter]

34. everyone please read this wonderful post by a REAL Democrat who is on the

rise. All is not lost..

An absolute must read from the GDP forum:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2129475

[Boomer]

36. Okay here's a new litmus test for the DNC

I've just heard Bush's nominee for the Supreme Court.

[sendero]

37. I've gotten a couple calls now..

... from "Friends of Kerry". I have no idea if they are really Kerry's friends, but if so he needs some new friends because the talking points they used on me were plain false, and when I pointed that out it became clear that the dude didn't really know anything about politics.

The risk factor for giving out any political money is that you will then be subjected to these calls. I really don't answer the phone very often so it's not the end of the world. :)

[ladylibertee]

38. Sorry, that happened

[LWolf]

40. I've never donated to the DNC. I probably never will.

I donate to specific politicians who are doing the job I want them to do. I donate to organizations who work for the issues I believe in.

I'll continue to support representatives and groups who are working with and for me, with both time and money. If the DNC ever joins that list, I'll consider them. But I'm not holding my breath. I'm sure they're not holding their breath waiting for me, either, lol. They've heard from me often enough to know my positions, and they don't choose to embrace them. Their choice.

[Douglas Carpenter]

42. I just came across this wonderful cartoon and was reminded of this post