UPDATE: We're nearly at $30,000! Amazing. Let's keep the momentum going!
Recently, on the front of Open Left, I
critiqued the DSCC's "petition" asking Norm Coleman to get out -- saying there was no "theory of change" about why people taking that action would have any impact.
To be constructive, I gave a free piece of advice to the DSCC on how to organize people strategically: ask people to give $1/day until Norm goes away. If Republicans in DC saw the DSCC's warchest growing by the day, their incentives would reverse -- instead of telling Norm to keep going, they'd tell him to get lost.
The DSCC didn't take that advice. But Howard Dean's Democracy for America was all about it, and partnered with the Progressive Change Campaign Committee (which I co-founded) to make it happen at NormDollar.com. Instead of raising money to help generic Democrats, we're raising it to support bold progressives in 2010.
Since Saturday, over $20,000 has been raised -- prompting news coverage in the New York Times, ABC, Politico, Huffington Post, Minneapolis Star Tribune, and great support at Digby's blog, MyDD, CrooksandLiars, FDL, Senate Guru, The Seminal, The MN Progressive Project, and other blogs.
You can sign up to join the Dollar a Day campaign by clicking here.
Here are some of the (truly appreciated) comments, rounded up from Huffington Post and MyDD:
A beautiful campaign. I usually don't start to donate until election season starts, but with this I'll definitely donate. I'm sure I'm not the only one.
Now this is a constructive campaign program! My buck's in the mail.
I like this campaign so much that I'm in for two dollars a day.
From $5000 to over $7500 in one hour. Love it. The first time I donated again since the elections.
Up to $12,000. Wonderful pace, people. Tell your friends! This will work... send Coleman's financial backers a message they will understand.
Done! Told all my friends, family and acquaintances. This is a delicious way to counteract the deplorable legal foot dragging.
I just donated. Take note haters...this is how it's done...no ridiculous hats with teabags hanging off...just smart thinking and smart planning.
Got some spare change in your pocket? If so, you can add to the momentum by clicking here. Then, tell some friends.
Full PCCC email this Saturday announcing the campaign is here:
Republicans in DC know Al Franken won.
But they are bankrolling Norm Coleman's continued court challenges in Minnesota and are encouraging him to drag this thing out forever. For them, it's worth it to keep shelling out money to block the seating of Senator Franken.
Put simply, the incentives are all wrong. So let's set the incentives right.
Today, we're teaming up with Howard Dean's Democracy for America to launch the "Dollar a Day to Make Norm Go Away" campaign.
We're asking people across the country to donate $1 to help progressives defeat Republicans in 2010 for every day that Norm Coleman refuses to concede.
Click here to sign up at NormDollar.com!
Donations will go to the Progressive Change Campaign Committee -- our new group (formed by former MoveOn.org and labor organizers, Democratic campaigners, and the co-inventor of RSS & Reddit) to help bold progressive candidates run effective campaigns and win.
You can choose to limit the number of weeks you donate, in case you worry Norm is completely delusional. :)
Think about how this Dollar A Day will change the game. If thousands of people sign up, and Republicans up for re-election in 2010 see the progressives who are out to defeat them get an infusion of donations each day that Coleman is obstinate, what do you think will happen?
First, they may be in denial. But after a couple days, and as more and more progressives encourage their friends to hop on board, you'll have Republican Senators, House members, strategists, lobbyists, and funders all calling Coleman saying, "Your time is up. Concede!"
Rep. Tom Perriello, the progressive Virginia Democrat who won an upset victory in 2008 over right-wing bigot Rep. Virgil Goode, said that if the PCCC had been around in 2008 more progressives like him would have been elected.
We need Al Franken -- and more bold progressives like Al Franken -- in Congress.
You can help achieve both goals today. Click here to join our "A Dollar a Day to Make Norm Go Away" campaign.
Then, please tell your friends. Thanks for being a bold progressive.
--Adam, Stephanie, Aaron, Michael, and Mudcat
UPDATE: We're nearly at $30,000! Thanks so much to all who contributed and wrote inspiring comments below. If you haven't signed up to join this campaign yet, please do!