Obama, Democrats Face Liberal Fundraising Boycott
Politico's lead story today tracks how both progressive and conservative activists are using intramural fundraising threats to challenge the party establishment.
For Democrats, the fight is about accountability for campaign promises. For Republicans, sophisticated grassroots fundraising is a tool in the ideological squabbles over new congressional candidates and party leaders. The story suggests conservative strategists have led the way:
For months, most of the action was on the Republican side, where conservative activists targeted the National Republican Senatorial Committee for its recruitment of moderate candidates and the National Republican Congressional Committee for its role in supporting a liberal GOP nominee in an upstate New York special election. But now Democratic officials are also feeling the lash, with the [DNC] coming under fire for allegedly not working hard enough on a recent Maine ballot initiative to repeal same-sex marriage and the [DCCC] taking flak for supporting incumbents who voted against the health care bill. In each case, activists have dispensed with the pleasantries and gone straight to the committees' wallets--a move guaranteed to raise alarms at party headquarters.
Actually, liberal online activists have been using donor strikes for a long time, around issues ranging from torture to campaign finance reform to health care. (And since Democratic candidates rely more on low dollar online donations than the G.O.P, these efforts can get more traction on the Left.) What's different now, however, is that the current wave of strikes and rumblings on gay rights might turn into an ad-hoc, financially relevant coalition.
Unlike other donor strikes by a single blog or organization, the "Don't Ask, Don't Give" campaign is swiftly attracting allies and attention in the political media -- including that lead Politico article today. (Obama's top aides pay attention to Politico, even though they claim otherwise, as David Plouffe's new book revealed.) Some of the allies are explicitly striking for gay rights, like blogger and pundit Jane Hamsher, The Stranger's Dan Savage and blogger Pam Spaulding, while others are pushing strikes against Democratic Party committees based on broader grievances about Democrats voting against core party priorities, such as health care. Daily Kos blogger Markos Moulitsas recently told his readers to "skip any donations to the DCCC," in retaliation for the House Dems who tried to scuttle health care reform. (See more from my colleague Ari Berman on those "Just Say No Democrats.")
In all the progressive debates about the Obama era, from wonky panels to the Sunday shows to local coffee shops, the atavastic question is how to support the president and push for bolder reform. Fundraising activism is only one tool -- not even viable for most citizens -- but it increasingly looks like a way to amplify policy pressure and get Washington's attention between elections.
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I still support President Obama and will continue to support him until 2012. At that time I will make a decision, after I evaluate his performance and go from there. Just being rational, that's all.
third party NOW! and maybe a fourth, if the teabaggers have their way. time for fresh blood in the mix. obama's hope turned out to be hype, sorry party faithful...
That'sssssss right. It will be a cold day in hell before I vote for another Democrat or that fraud Obama. I'll either not vote or I will vote Green or if there's an actual progressive, I'll vote for them.
All the "little guy" donors to the Obama campaign bought into the idea that they would actually make a difference. That their voices would reign supreme.
They bought into the notion that the Republicans were the corporate party and the Democrats were the citizens party.
Ralph Nader has been preaching for years the both the Democrats and the Republicans were wholly owned by the corporations and he is 100% right. Look at the donation records. the corporations donate to BOTH parties to guarantee access regardless of the party affiliation of the bench warmer in the House or Senate chamber.
As long as the Obama administration keeps cutting deals with the pharmaceutical industry and allows WellPoint to be the advisor to Max Baucus, We the People will NEVER see Universal Health Care.
Does anyone have any illusions that "little guy" boycotts of donations will amount to even a hiccup towards filling the PAC coffers? Dream on.
I think it is fantastic that the true Liberals are demanding to be heard. That they are demanding that President Obama deliver on the promises given by candidate Obama. For eight years, Democrats/LeftWingers chastised the Republicans/RightWingers for being rubber stamps/cheerleading sycophants of the Cheney/W regime. When you demand much from your representatives and your representatives have the courage of their convictions, society as a whole is the beneficiary.
Yes. I confess, I am one of those people who used to deride Nader voters, including my brother. I think I must eat my own words now. I have been looking into the Green Party (I like their candidates) and the Libertarian Party (I like their party platform). For now, as of July of this year, I am registered as an independent for the first time in my life. I had been a Democrat from the time I turned 18. No more.
All things that are Civil Rights should be supported and pushed for by the Dems. Why has it been so hard to live up to what they have told us they will do if they had enough votes. Civil Rights - health care for all - Civil Rights - gay equality. How hard can this be?? Is this not what the Dems stand for?
Here's a question. Did all of us just completely forget the last 8 years? I mean, we're actually harder on this President than we were on Bush. Wow.
Did Bush promise us anything?
Yes, he did.
To uphold the Presidency for the People;
Which he did NOT.
He forced that illegal war down our throats and we are paying trillions for it.
Maybe if this President stopped acting eerily like the last one...
As long as your politics is all about personality, you'll get nowhere. This isn't about the president, this is about the issues that matter to people. Office holders would love it to be all about them; don't fall for it. Repubs get this, instinctively it seems. For many Dems, its a whole new concept.
You mean did all of us forget the 8 years between Jan 2001 and Jan 2009? No, we haven't, because the last 11 months have been such a seamless continuation of those 8 years. I can hardly tell the difference.
Here is why 2010 will go to the Republicans. We cannot be loyal, we cannot think past the moment. We want everything RIGHT NOW, and if we don't get it, we will desert. We don't have the ability to be a cohesive group for the length of time that it takes to bring change.
Well-- I guess we'll all get what we really wanted--more to gripe and moan about under the rule of the Republicans. That seem to be more gratifying to a lot of us than actually contributing to the effort to change things.
Change takes time, effort and work.
What about the loyalty of the elected official to the people that elected them?
Surely nobody missed the fact that the 2008 election was a mandate for change. Where is it? Where is the work on it? Why isn't their a WH liason to the gay community? Why are democrats acting like republicans? Why are democrats voting against their constituants in favor of major campaign contributors?
The democrats only have to look at their losses in the 2009 elections to understand that people stayed home because they were disillusioned. They were promised hope and change and got those hopes trampled in front of them.
Many of us supporters are truly taken aback with the New White House administration actions. First, we thought there was going to be a good faith effort to end the conflicts in the middle east - get our troops out and stop warring on sovereign nations.
Next, who would have believed that the White House administration would do a back room deal with the pharmaceutical companies by promising not to negotiate lower prices for meds for americans. Europe negotiates, Canada too, and we cannot negotiate? Plus, the White House decision not to support a public option component within the Health Care Bill. It is as though Obama is not supporting Congress in their efforts.
Finally, why on earth is Obama keeping Summers and Geithner. Thus, allowing this incredulous mess with the Wall Street folks, banking entities, our economy. He is getting an ear full of suggestions from world renowned and respected economists. It is reported that Geithner spends more time with Goldman Sachs than with those who want to see our economy/jobs situs return to an acceptable level of normalcy.
We are just stunned. Frankly, it does look like more of the old boy political dealing and greed. The lobbyists are winning. The defense contractors are winning. And america is in serious economic trouble.
RBL, I think President Obama needs to rethink his allegiances. He needs to make some judgments and decisions. He needs to quit acting like a community outreach member and begin acting like a decisive leader.
The base of the Republican party is social conservatives who are obsessed with gods guns and gays.
The base of the Democrats is economic liberals who are dependent for welfare healthcare etc.
The Republicans may claim to be fiscally conservative and the Democrats may claim to be socially liberal but they aren't.
The sooner gays and the rest of the country realizes this the better it is. Being socially liberal is not a reason to vote Democrat and being economically conservative is not a reason to vote Republican. you are better off voting for greens or libertarians
"The base of the Republican party is social conservatives who are obsessed with gods guns and gays.
The base of the Democrats is economic liberals who are dependent for welfare healthcare etc."
Where'd you find such broad brushes to paint with?
Look, you want to send a message to the Democrats? Let your Congressmen know that you'll be supporting more progressive candidates in the primaries; but don't abandon the party. Withholding a donation to the Democrats is tantamount to giving it to the Republicans instead. It's suicide. The bottom, line is, the Democrats suck, but the Republicans suck a lot more. I happen to think the latter part of that statement is more important than the former. You can rest assured that the tea-baggers will not abandon their party so quickly.
Mark my words; DADT will be gone by the end of 2011 at the outside. Keep your pants on. Obama knows he has to deliver on that or he'll lose the gay vote. DOMA will be around for another decade or so and that is not the Democrats fault. The majority public opinion is still against gay marriage and will be for some time. The Democrats aren't getting on board until we reach at least 60% nationwide.
Calm yourselves and start supporting more progressive candidates, if you like, but let's not do anything as stupid as giving Congress to the Republicans. If they regain power, you'll regret it and you'll WISH you'd supported the Democrats. Don't forget that.
I'm sorry, but I never abandoned the Party. The Party abandoned me. For goodness sake, we control Both the House and The Senate and our guy is sitting in the White House, and they can't even get the basic stuff done. Please, they left the left a long time ago, and sorry, but I am tired of being told every two years that we need to wait until the "NEXT" election before they can do anything. They do not plan on doing anything, and it is painfully apparent to us all. I'm so sorry that there are so many DNC apologists out there. I gave way more than I could afford over the last 8 years, in order to help get this majority and this majority has its collective head up it's collective butt.
I'm there. I'm done with the party if they don't move significantly on major problems in our country in the next few months. Pandering to conservatives, reaching out to Republicans who will do anything they can to make this administration fail, infighting to the point of gridlock, and the mess of a "health care reform".
Done. Done. Done. They've still got time to change and show me and others my support over a lifetime was worth it, but time is running out. I won't be fooled again.
they drink at the same corporate trough as the rethugs. nothing really changes. and obama is as corrupt as the rest of them...
If the democrats miss my funding contributions (Obama, DCSS, DCCC, DNC) I'm sure that they can make up the difference with all the new donations Rick Warren's followers are contributing.
After all--isn't inclusiveness the reason Obama kicked us to the curb--the first time?
Over on Daily Kos, posters are ready to pillory Kos for even suggesting that financial support to OFA be delayed. According to many posters there, the Democratic "base" is actually very moderate, pro-business, in love with Obama and and willing to wait forever for what he promised; since "Obama can raise a couple a million in one night", there's little concern that those of us who made millions of small donations to him will not be there the next go ' round. Given Obama's massive giveaway of tax dollars to Wall Street and to mega-insurance companies, they probably are correct. Why beg for $25 donations from your base when you can just hold a cocktail party for a few corporate bigwigs who owe you BIGTIME?
It's time the Democrats feel what it's like to be abandoned. They take our gay money and our gay votes, and promise us the world (OBAMA) and then betray us as soon as they get elected. It's time the gay community abandones the Dems come next election. No Action on our equality means NO MONEY AND NO VOTES FOR THE DEMS.
I hear you. It's really too bad to see this happen, especially since it's so unnecessary. DADT could be ended tomorrow - Obama could put a freeze on discharging any more soldiers until the law is changed - and the vast majority of American would be behind him. If that were the only issue where there's been little or no effort being made, he might be losing only a small number of voters. But it's starting to seem that Obama wants exactly what Rush wants - to see Obama fail.
leave it to our fellow lefty's to shoot us in the foot worse than any winger could...I like my fellow progressives, liberals, and free thinkers...but sometimes our crowd just seems so selfish. If someone does not pay particular attention to ones pet cause, they will turn their back on them regardless of any other issues they agree on. It's baffling. We finally have a President who listens to us (and actually gives a damn about our countries citizens) and addresses us like adults...and yet people mock and bad mouth him. It's really a sad sight.
Actions speak louder than words.
"Listens to 'us'"? You must be either a Wall Street CEO or a corporate lobbyist. He sure as hell ain't listening to the people who put him into office.
Thank you. One of the most self-destructive things about progressives is that we're so ready to eat our own. We whine and moan when change doesn't happen fast enough while the conservatives stick together and get things done. They're crazy, but they're not stupid.
I think your confusing speeches with actual accoplishment.
Listening is good but action is required.
I'm supporting Progressive candidates who actually stand up for a Medicare for all or at least a STRONG public option. I'm also supporting candidates who are trying to go after Wall Street and to reregulate the banking industry. Progressives who are actually doing the right thing. People like Bernie Sanders and Dennis Kucinich.
i totally agree...a robust Public Option or Medicare for all (see Dr. Marcia Angell's blog on Huffpost) is worth fighting for...
I'm with you. Not giving again to candidates who sell out on health care. Will give to Wiener, Franken, Frank and others who fight for real change. Will not give to DCCC or DSCC.
I couldn't agree more. When copme to me for a handout, I follow Markos' advice - I say NO. I will donate to individual people who reflect my views and who are working hard to improve life for Americans.
Y'know what, folks, I'm not entirely happier with the Democrats either, but that's no reason to deprive them of the funding they need to defeat Republicans. Like it or not, the Democrats ARE the lesser of two evils. As bad as you think the Democrats are, the Republicans are always worse, so congratulations on your suicidal plan to help the Republicans regain power next year.
For decades Democrats have taken our votes for granted because they are "the lesser of two evils". No more.
So your answer is to hand the country over to the Republicans? Brilliant strategy. Look, I'd rather the country be controlled by the party that's passively trying to do the right things than the party that's actively trying to do the wrong things.
Evil is Evil. And I will no longer support either. I am tired of being lied to by the Democrats. When they want our gay money and our gay votes they make a lot of promises and then they shove us to the back of the bus and forget about us as soon as they get elected. NO MORE! From now on, MY EQUALITY COMES FIRST! NO MORE WAITING.
So you're going to let the Republicans take over? As if they'd do any better? Not only would they fail to advance your freedoms, they'd likely erode away some of the progress we've made AND YOU KNOW IT. Stop being so short-sighted.
You're all making the Republicans very happy right about now. You think the far right is going to abandon their party because they don't think the Republicans are conservative enough. Of course they're not. That's one of the differences between them and us. They're smart enough to remain united because they know what would happen if the other side gained power. This isn't rocket science, people.
United, sure. Just ask the Rethug leaders in NY 23. We're seeing a major shift in how voters see their parties, and how the parties see themselves. Lead, follow, or get flattened.
Being united for the wrong purpose simply fails to inspire.
It's not "rocket science" to GET SOMETHING DONE. Fulfill the CAMPAIGN PROMISES.
Only fools will fall for them again.
Add Obama's support for the wars as another reason to not donate to the Democrats.
There's currently a Facebook action going on to tell Lieberman that if he filibusters health care, we will each donate $50 to his opponent. Those of us who have signed up have pledged around a half-million should Joe's temper tantrum translate into reality. That is the kind of activism that will get noticed - we will donate to Joe's opponent even if Joe's opponent is of the other party (since Joe is an independent, there should at least be a Democratic candidate I can give my money to). Now I don't know if a half-mil is enough to get Joe's attention but it would mine. This is a sample of another kind of activism we need, something that sends a message, not only am I willing not to vote for you, I'm willing to help your opponent win.
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