I received another 'money' call from the DNC last night.

[Greyskye]

And this time I let the poor woman on the other end of the line have it. My diatribe wasn't aimed at her - and I made sure that she knew that - but it just burst out.

My main points:

1. I was a lifelong Dem.
   
2. The Dems in Congress were elected on promises to us. Get out of Iraq. Stand up to this corrupt administration. Do the peoples will. They've done none of that to any degree.
   
3. There is currently an assault on the Constitution, and I fear that the country has reached a tipping point that if not addressed, will eliminate everything that this country was founded on.
   
4. Removal of Habeas Corpus is a crippling blow to our country.
   
5. The impression that I'm getting is that the only thing that Congress-critters 'get' is money.
   
6. Therefore I'm withholding all of my political contributions on the national level until they start doing the job that we hired them for.
   
   
   I started off just wanting to make a point. What I didn't anticipate was the righteous anger that came boiling up out of me as we talked. My voice was literally shaking with rage as I made my points.
   
   The woman at the other end and I ended up having about a 20 minute conversation. In a lowered voice, she told me that she agreed with everything that I was saying, and shared my outrage. She is in a position in which she is able to do something - and she is working 8 hours a day working the phones for the DNC. And I admire her GREATLY for that - which I made sure to tell her. But I just couldn't in good conscience reward poor job performance with a monetary donation. As I told her, all of my political donations are currently going to local candidates.
   
   I told her about Daniel Ellsberg's recent speach A Coup Has Occurred, which she told me she was going to hunt down. We had a really good conversation, and I apologized for venting on her. She laughed, and said that she was the one who had made an unsolicited call to me, and she could tell that I wasn't angry at her. At the end of our talk, she re-iterated that she had really enjoyed talking to me, and would put ALL of my comments into her feedback form. She still tried a couple times in our talk to get a little donation out of me, but I think that she knew there was no way that was happening right now.
   
   All in all, I felt better afterwards. I encourage everyone, if they have made a choice similar to the one I made, to have a conversation with the person on the other end of the line. She said that each comment they put into their database had the statistical weight of 100 individuals. If nothing else, those comments are being noted - and if there are enough of them it might actually make a difference.
   
   Something better. :(
   
   
   

[pacalo]

1. Excellent -- K&R.

[Cassandra]

2. At least Dean hires adults.

Our Congress should only be so mature.

[snappyturtle]

3. K&R Greyskye! I've written on the surverys that come from the

party...which always includes a place to donate.....I'm waiting for my phone opportunity. Was it a cathartic experience?

[Greyskye]

7. Catharthic?

Oh man, was it ever! :thumbsup:

[robinlynne]

4. good idea.

[Nite Owl]

5. I sent off three emails

today in response to requests for donations. I can't wait for a call!

Basically I told them that they need to listen to us and until they do their money would go to those who do. Instead of voting for GOP amendments they should put impeachment on the table and cut off funding for this insane and endless war. They have to lead instead of being led by the minority who seems to be getting alot accomplished thanks to a weak dem leadership. I let them know Moveon.org got their money.

I know of quite a few people who have been writing to their reps, hopefully someone is reading them.

[AndyA]

6. Thank you for taking the time to express our outrage.

If the DNC gets enough responses like this, they'll have to start putting pressure on the Dems to uphold their campaign promises.

And it just takes a caring person like yourself to take the time to make sure they understand how we feel.

Thanks again for your time, and for speaking for the rest of us as well. :thumbsup:

[MaineDem]

8. I know this is useless but...

The DNC is NOT the Congress. If we're upset with the Dems in COngress tell the DCCC or the DSCC but the DNC is putting staffers in all the states to help elect GOOD candidates and to help the states organize. Withholding your contributions from the DNC is keeping money out of the states.

And that's what the Congress and the important Dems want! They are afraid that the states will become too powerful and will stand up to the Senators and the Carvilles of the world.

I understand the frustration with the Congress but I wish more people would understand that not donating to the DNC harms US!

Maybe consider donating to your state party instead.

[Greyskye]

10. I agree

And as I stated in my point #6 above, and in the later text, I'm withholding my donations at the national level. I told the lady on the phone that all of my donations were going to local candidates whom I feel have a greater level of accountability.

[jmp]

9. Give them hell! (nm)