Don't take out your frustrations on the DNC -- that's counterproductive

[RazzleDazzle]

Look, I understand all too well everyone's disgust and heartbreak. I share it. It was so bad for me today I couldn't watch. (And when I TRIED to come here, I was locked out. But that's another thread, I suppose.)

I'm seeing a lot of comments about never again contributing to the DNC.

Please, that's totally counterproductive for two reasons:

1. The DNC and Howard Dean had NO CONTROL over how this went down, and

2. What Dean is doing is trying to fix exactly this shit -- building and rebuilding the Party from the ground up.

Your non-participation in this effort only aids the entrenched powers that be.

I don't believe much if any money given directly to the DNC goes to individual campaigns, so giving to the DNC doesn't help Byrd or Cantwell or any of the others, at least not directly. It DOES, however, help build the party infrastructure, get more people involved, fund those party organizers (grassroots, grassroots!!!) and staff people in each state, etc.

Someone can doublecheck, call the DNC and ask what percentage of contributions ever go to individual campaigns, but I'm thinking it's very little if any. There's a Congressional Committee and a Senatorial Committee which also raise funds that DO go to individual campaigns, and these aren't under the control of the DNC either, btw.

I just don't want to see any shooting ourselves in the foot (feet?) or cutting off our noses to spite our faces, etc.

[havocmom]

1. Thank you

Wise words.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. Well then, Ol' Howie better start making the right noises, like now, or...

This boy is gonna get his walking shoes tied on. I have seen nothing, and I mean *NOTHING* from the DNC in New Jersey, especially in the areas that need party building.

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. The DNC from Colorado has no business calling me. Not with

Salazar potentially getting one penny of my donation. Besides, I live in Florida. Why do they call?

And Florida Dems are too old guard for me to support. Why do you need a middleman, anyway? I can decide for myself who I want to donate to. I'm on the do not call list in my state, so why do these people continue to call me?

[RazzleDazzle]

4. Both you guys are confusing your state organizations with the

DNC. They're RELATED, but they're not identical. Affiliated, I guess you could say. Dean has no control over who heads the local state party, for example, or all that much about how they operate.

So take up your complaints with your LOCAL state orgs, and quit blaming the national party for what isn't in its purview.

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. Related is close enough for me.

El que anda con la mierda un poco se le pega.

[tsuki]

6. I love Gov. Dean; and I understand what you are saying. But...

I shall no longer support the DNC. The thought of one penny of my money going to Byrd or Rockefeller after the Sago Mine disaster is abhorrent to me. I shall support the candidates of MY choice.

[NYCGirl]

7. The DNC does not fund Senate races. The DSCC does that.

Edited to add this great information posted by Madfloridian.

http://www.democrats.org/a/party/ourorganization.html

Our Organization
The Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee plans the Party's quadrennial presidential nominating convention; promotes the election of Party candidates with both technical and financial support; and works with national, state, and local party organizations, elected officials, candidates, and constituencies to respond to the needs and views of the Democratic electorate and the nation.

The Democratic Governors' Association
The Democratic Governors’ Association was founded in 1983 to support the candidacy of Democratic governors throughout the nation. The DGA provides political and strategic assistance to gubernatorial campaigns. In addition, the DGA plays an integral role in developing positions on key state and federal issues that affect the states through the governors’ policy forum series.
http://www.democraticgovernors.org /

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
The purpose of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is to elect more Democrats to the United States Senate. From grass-roots organizing to candidate recruitment to providing campaign funds for tight races, the DSCC is working hard all year, every year to increase the number of Democratic Senators. http://www.dscc.org /

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee serves as the official national Democratic campaign committee charged with recruiting, assisting, funding, and electing Democrats to the U. S. House of Representatives. We provide services ranging from designing and helping execute field operations, to polling, creating radio and television commercials, fundraising, communications, and management consulting.
http://www.dccc.org /

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee provides strategic services and financial assistance to Democratic leaders and candidates at the state legislative level. For nearly a decade, DLCC has been an integral part of the continued success Democrats have had winning at the state legislative level.
http://www.dlcc.org /

State Democratic Parties
The State Democratic Parties work to elect local, state, and federal candidates in their states, as well as supporting the state campaign for the Democratic presidential nominee.
Learn more about your state party

[tsuki]

9. Just what I said.

The Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee plans the Party's quadrennial presidential nominating convention; promotes the election of Party candidates with both technical and financial support; and works with national, state, and local party organizations, elected officials, candidates, and constituencies to respond to the needs and views of the Democratic electorate and the nation.

None of my money will go to support Bill Nelson, Jay Rockefeller or Robert Byrd. Not technical, financial, national, state or local.

I chose my candidates.

[Laelth]

8. Agreed. This is not the DNC's fault.

It's time to INVADE.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x277934

Kick out the DINOs. Let the R's fund their campaigns so we can run some real Democrats against them.

Imagine the possibilities.

-Laelth

[tsuki]

10. I don't care if it goes directly or indirectly. From now on, I chose.

[Rose Siding]

11. Well said.

I'll keep my Democracy bond and increase it when I can, as long as the focus remains on restructuring and building local participation. That's the only way to defeat the entrenched beltway pols. If Dean loses support, the big money pols win again and always.

[RazzleDazzle]

13. Man, I can't believe the naive, ill-informed people here -- and

even when it's laid out for them, STILL don't seem to be able to understand it.

[DinahMoeHum]

14. Razzle, right now, most of us are too angry and emotional

to step back.

I've said similar sentiments in other posts, namely, that Dean is too busy rebuilding and shoring up state and local Democratic orgs right now so that we can be competitive in all 50 states at levels from dogcatcher to US Senate.

:hug:

[wisteria]

12. Exactly, Harry Reid is totally responsible for not taken this issue

up and fighting this nominee. I am so agry at him I could spite.