Howard Dean: DNC no longer accepts donations from lobbyists or special interest PACs

[GoldieAZ49]

Email from Dean:

Dear ,

As of this month, the Democratic National Committee no longer accepts donations from Washington lobbyists or special interest PACs.

We're joining the campaign of our presumptive nominee, Barack Obama, in setting a new standard for a people-powered politics.

Unlike John McCain and the Republican National Committee, we will not allow Washington lobbyists or PACs to control our campaigns, manipulate our candidates, or drown out the views of the American people.

But we face a crucial financial reporting deadline on Monday night, which will be the first test of the financial consequences of this decision.

Please make a donation of $25 now to show that our party is at its best when it's powered by ordinary people giving whatever they can afford:

So the DNC & Obama want dems who are paying more for food, gas and everything else to fund this campaign.

Maybe it is just me, but breaking the banks of dem families across this country just doesn't seem right.

[scheming daemons]

1. You're right.... we should be funded by moneyed special interests....

:eyes:


You're a piece of work.

[GoldieAZ49]

4. What 'special interest' groups donate to the DNC?

Here are a few:

ACLU - Goal is to preserve the protections & the checks & balances in the Constitution against government abuses of power that violate our fundamental values.

Green Peace - An international organization who is attempting to ban commercial whaling, convince the world’s leaders to stop nuclear testing, protect Antarctica & much more. Fighting to save the planet: Global warming, the destruction of ancient forests & deterioration of our oceans.

Move On - Brings real Americans into politics to fight for a more progressive America & elect progressive candidates. Desires to reform the media & other work aimed at bringing real people back into the democratic process by making sure legislators hear their voices.

Wes Pac - General Wesley Clark. Demands sound, wise leadership & a renewed commitment to the values that have made our nation great: service, integrity & accountability.


So they are now unwanted. Got it. Thanks for the info.

[Occam Bandage]

7. They are still perfectly able to pursue their own agendas openly.

[ErinBerin84]

2. I think it's just you.

[AndyA]

3. This sounds like a good thing to me.

We will never see improvement as long as big corporate money buys votes in Congress. This is a good first step toward putting an end to that.

And long overdue, in my opinion. Obama hasn't had much trouble raising money. If he can keep it up, plus add in a good chunk of what Clinton had, we'll be OK.

[Coexist]

5. heaven forbid we be the party of the people, not the party of special interests

give me a break.

[GoldieAZ49]

8. so special interest groups are not made up of people?

environmental groups

gay rights groups

Women's rights groups

How about the Black Caucus?

etc etc

all with a PAC fund

[Coexist]

12. no one is preventing the members of these pacs from making individual donations, BUT

now they can't say, "look Obama, we gave $x and we expect some consideration." Not all PACs that donate to Democrats are as noble as you would like to play at.

It is a good thing no matter how you try to spin it.

[Occam Bandage]

6. All contributions are voluntary. I find it hard to believe you're really upset about

a political party no longer accepting funding from special interests.

[GoldieAZ49]

11. I am not upset about it

I got over being upset about this election awhile ago.

Every email I get asking for donations just gets more and more amusing.

You are right, they are voluntary.

Opting out of the emails will save me the time of deleting them.

[Occam Bandage]

14. Judging from the fact that you're offended by the replacement of special-interest cash with

voluntary contributions, I'd guess that "getting over being upset' is still a little ways off.

[GoldieAZ49]

16. no, I am funding my home and family instead of a campaign that chooses to

reject donations from organizations that have been raising money for years to elect a Dem as POTUS.

Do you think those organizations are going to refund those donations? :rofl:


The surplus money I have on payday will go into my savings. Could make this year my most profitable.

Now what is there to be upset about?

[Occam Bandage]

20. You are certainly allowed to do that. Nobody is going to claim you are not allowed to do that.

However, many Americans do believe in donating to political campaigns. For instance, look at Barack Obama's record fundraising, all without a dime of PAC or lobbyist funding.

[crankychatter]

9. Most PACs are industry and corporation reps... War Profiteers-Energy Transnationals - Megapharms

you find the exceptions and make it an issue

deliberately find no virtue in this policy while you know there is plenty

not only is there virtue, it's a prime incentive for Obama supporters

this is bait

no broken nail?

maybe you just have the "snark" gene

I know I do

Your mission, should you elect to accept it, is to identify and post, multiple postive elements in the Obama and DNC campaign

[GoldieAZ49]

13. Unions PAC's too?

amazing and amusing

[Occam Bandage]

15. Yeah. We're not picking and choosing which interest groups we think are 'good,' because

people are going to disagree as to which groups are good and which are selfish. Better to simply declare that only individuals may donate, and avoid having to say, "well, we agree to selling out to this group, but not this one."

[lligrd]

10. Hurray For Dean

We are taking our party back. And yes, that means we have to support it. Obama's campaign has already proven that one doesn't have to contribute much as long as many contribute. It is akin to Union dues. The bit you contribute you get back tenfold.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

17. Oh geez. I CHOOSE to send Obama money and forgo other niceties

He didn't make me. I hate the concern police but this just seems to be a ridiculous excuse for bellyaching.

[bunnies]

18. Thats some serious spin.

Someone really should be paying you.

[PVnRT]

19. I'm dizzy from all that spin

Sounds more like a GOP email than a post for DU.

Quick question, do you think PACs and special interest groups just say "abracadabra" and make money appear out of thin air?

[Alter Ego]

21. Silly me--I thought a campaign funded by the PEOPLE

would be a GOOD thing. Whatever was I thinking?