Donors stop feeding money to Dem candidates and start giving money to democratic ideas.

[Exilednight]

Many wealthy Democratic patrons, who in the past have played major roles financing outside groups to help elect the party’s candidates, are largely sitting out these crucial midterm elections.

Democratic donors like George Soros, the bête noire of the right, and his fellow billionaire Peter B. Lewis, who each gave more than $20 million to Democratic-oriented groups in the 2004 election, appear to be holding back so far, The New York Times’s Michael Luo and Jeff Zeleny write.

“Mr. Soros believes that he can be most effective by funding groups that promote progressive policy outcomes in areas such as health care, the environment and foreign policy,” said an adviser, Michael Vachon. “So he has opted to fund those activities.”

<snip>

Many major donors, in fact, seem to be drawing a distinction between continuing to support left-leaning policy organizations and other institutions, and giving money to political groups focused on this election.

http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/30/democrats-find-many-big-donors-cutting-support/

Maybe this has something to do with the following...

From Rolling Stone: Not only did the White House fail to crank up its own campaign machinery on behalf of health care, it also worked to silence other liberal groups. In a little-publicized effort, top administration officials met each week at the Capital Hilton with members of a coalition called the Common Purpose Project, which included leading activist groups like Change to Win, Rock the Vote and MoveOn. In August, when members of the coalition planned to run ads targeting conservative Democrats who opposed health care reform, Rahm Emanuel showed up in person to put a stop to the campaign. According to several participants, Emanuel yelled at the assembled activists, calling them "fucking retards" and telling them he wasn't going to let them derail his legislative winning streak. "We're 13-0 going into health care!" he screamed. "We're not going to be 13-1!"

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/12697/64874?RS_show_page=2

[Uzybone]

1. thats fine with me

[Exilednight]

3. I personally have mixed feelings about this ........

I wish they would at least give money to candidates that are liberal. I understand not wanting to waste your money on blue-dogs, but there is a progressive caucus that needs help.

[SharonAnn]

13. Could be the death of the "Blue Dogs"?

[Exilednight]

15. Highly doubtful, but they might start turning a lighter shade of blue. n/t

[PFunk]

2. Great. Get use to this folks cause this is gonna be the norm.

And it's about time. With the way many democratic canad ates been lately it should have happened sooner.

(Maybe this will help dems to start acting like, well dems again)

[butterfly77]

4. Kicked&Recommended..

[jannyk]

5. k&r!

[Nite Owl]

6. This is a good move

I hope it works. They are making a point and hopefully bringing us back to our roots as a party.

[Exilednight]

8. I just hope someone at the top is paying attention. n/t

[emilyg]

7. Good.

[DrToast]

9. Sounds good to me. I started doing that last year.

We need our own lobbyists.

[ibegurpard]

10. I cannot argue with this

It might be bad for the party's short-term electoral prospects but I think it will help it in the long run

[DURHAM D]

11. I stopped giving money to the DNC and DCCC years ago.

Stopped with the DNC in 2000 and stopped with the DCCC when Rahm headed it up.

I do my own research and send money directly. I like to donate during the primary to help elect real dems when possible. Small amounts are more effective during a primary.

In 2005 I called Jon Testor's campaign office in Montana. There was a three-way primary and Testor was running last. The senate seat had been held by a Republican for some time. I had looked at Jon's website and his position on choice was not stated. I had already figured out the position of the other two.

Anyway, I called the campaign office and a staffer answered. I asked the question about Jon's position and the staffer said "Hold on, he's right here, I will let you talk to him". I talked to Jon for over 20 minutes. We mostly talked about farming and music education after I asked his position on choice. I never gave him my name but did tell him where I was calling from.

So, I sent him a donation. To my surprise I received a very personal letter back from him in which he indicated how much he had enjoyed our conversation and he also indicated my donation is the only one he received from my state. I have a standing invitation to visit him in D.C. I better hurry - he is up again in 2012.

[frazzled]

12. Well, as Barney Frank once said

It's like flushing your money down the toilet to give your money to progressive policy groups (environment, women's reproductive rights, etc.) if Democrats are not running the show in Washington. If the Republicans get control of Congress, it doesn't matter how strong some health care or environmental group is. They are not going to suddenly embrace single-payer health care (or even health research) and decide how to solve global warming. Au contraire, they're voting to rescind most of the health care act we did get, and will decimate the progress that has been made on the environment, however small. It will be oil and insurance companies back in business in Washington.

So, go ahead Soros. But don't blame anyone but yourself when the environment and health care issues get even worse in a Republican-led Congress.

That's all.

[Exilednight]

14. Then there's the other Dem logic .............

of once they get in office they begin campaigning for the next election.

"We can't pass legislation if we're not elected."

"But we elected you and you're in office."

"Yes, But now we have to start campaigning for the next election cycle."

[old mark]

16. I have not given a dime to the Democratic Party, but to various

candidates and to progressive groups that Emanuel hates. Rahm you fucking retard, go fuck yourself.

mark