Politico Exclusive: RNC document mocks donors, plays on 'fear'

[Perky]

The Republican National Committee plans to raise money this election cycle through an aggressive campaign capitalizing on “fear” of President Barack Obama and a promise to "save the country from trending toward socialism."

The strategy was detailed in a confidential party fundraising presentation, obtained by POLITICO, which also outlines how “ego-driven” wealthy donors can be tapped with offers of access and “tchochkes.”

The presentation was delivered by RNC Finance Director Rob Bickhart to top donors and fundraisers at a party retreat in Boca Grande, Florida on February 18, a source at the gathering said.

In neat PowerPoint pages, it lifts the curtain on the often-cynical terms of political marketing, displaying an air of disdain for the party’s donors that is usually confined to the barroom conversations of political operatives.

The presentation explains the Republican fundraising in simple terms.

"What can you sell when you do not have the White House, the House, or the Senate...?" it asks.

The answer: "Save the country from trending toward Socialism!”

Manipulating donors with crude caricatures and playing on their fears is hardly unique to Republicans or to the RNC – Democrats raised millions off George W. Bush in similar terms – but rarely is it practiced in such cartoonish terms.

One page, headed “The Evil Empire,” pictures Obama as the Joker from Batman, while House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leaders Harry Reid are depicted as Cruella DeVille and Scooby Doo, respectively.

The document, which two Republican sources said was prepared by the party’s finance staff, comes as Chairman Michael Steele struggles to retain the trust and allegiance of major donors, who can give as much as $30,400 a year to the party.

Under Steele, the RNC has shifted toward a reliance on small donors, but the document reveals extensive, confidential details of the strategy for luring wealthy checkwriters, which range from luxury retreats in California wine country to tickets to a professional fight in Las Vegas.

The 72-page document was provided to POLITICO by a Democrat, who said a hard copy had been left in the hotel hosting the $2,500-a-head retreat, the Gasparilla Inn & Club. Sources at the event said the presentation was delivered by Bickhart and by the RNC Finance Chairman, Peter Terpeluk, a former ambassador to Luxembourg under President George W. Bush.

The RNC reacted with alarm to a question about it Thursday, emailing major donors to warn them of a reporter’s question, and distancing Steele from its contents.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/33866.html#ixzz0h9dieQrA

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/33866.html#ixzz0h9dG8Cs4

[Clio the Leo]

1. And the whole shebang is linked from here...

http://twitter.com/benpolitico/status/9941539987

Thanks Ben! :hi:

[Perky]

2. This might go some way to disproving the notion that Politico is a RW E-rag

[Clio the Leo]

4. I've never understand that notion...

.... they're not as far LEFT as some of the obviously left blogs .... but they're not much farther right than HuffPo ... of course I ONLY read the "44" section and Ben's tweets, but I've found him to be pretty even handed.

[DL in SoCal]

13. Comedy gold

OK. It's not at the level of Cheney shooting a guy in the face. But it's pretty good. Can't wait to see Jon Stewart's take on this, though given when it came to light that will likely be tomorrow's show. That's fine. Then they can include the Faux News dissembling ordered up by the RNC.

[pleah]

3. K&R

[denimgirly]

5. "Radical backdoor tricks & backdoor dealmaking behind closed doors jammed, rammed through a nuclear

"Radical backdoor tricks and backdoor dealmaking behind closed doors jammed, rammed through a nuclear government takeover in the unconstitutional radical secular socialist, fascist, communist liberal agenda ... REPEAT"

Quote from the funny "How to use Talking Points to Scare Dummies" Video: : http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x439082

[Mr. Sparkle]

6. The nerve of them to make that slide, bunch of right wing freaks.

That's conformation if ever it was needed, that the loony tunes are not just out protesting but actually running the party as well.

[Autumn]

7. Isn't Politico a right wing rag? Now

I'm confused.

[Hansel]

9. Some are worse than others

Martin and Allen are stenographers and mouth pieces for the right and are incapable of substantiate analysis. This guy is better than most of them.

[Patsy Stone]

8. "Tchochtkes!!!!!!!!!!"

With ten exclamation points after it (p.27 of the .pdf). Now, finally, their secret can be told.

Note to Dems: Give more and better tchochkes.

[Phx_Dem]

10. Good. That shit is going to backfire! The only people who appreciate that

kind of hate are the racists and haters that would never vote Democratic anyway.

Good luck with your awesome plan, GOP!

[Clio the Leo]

11. "New GOP motto: 'The Only Thing We Have ... is Fear Itself!'"

~ Will Bunch

http://twitter.com/Will_Bunch/status/9950918066

[jenmito]

12. We better use this-get it out there for ALL to hear about-just like the "bitter/cling to their guns"

comments leaked out from an Obama fundraiser. This can RUIN them!