There has been a lot of talk on dkos about the 30 percent project. There has been a ton of misunderstanding, nuanced defenses against giving and claimed victim-hood by the supporters (and staff people I am quite sure) of some congress people and senators.
Of late the ranting diaries here have bored the hell out of me and left me seeking something more interesting and thoughtful to read and I swore I would never write one of my own again. But I am about to break my promise to myself because I feel a rant coming on and I think there are a few people in power who need to be a bit more aware of what their obligation to us and to this nation is. Clue: it is not about anyone's re-election or personal power and ambition.
If something I have to say motivates someone here to make a call or two to a congress-critter, all the better.
A few days ago Lois Herr wrote a diary here. It is her 2nd or 3rd. Of course she was asking for our help. Who can blame her; she certainly isn't getting any from cash rich elected democrats or the DCCC. She is still 10 points down from her opponent. But the extraordinary thing is that she is closing the gap in a very republican area near Lancaster Pa. I have no idea if she will win. But she is close enough through her own grassroots effort to deserve some help from the party. So I am writing to Senator Clinton on her behalf. I am calling my own personal effort "adopt a candidate". Why Lois? Because it was her diary I was reading when I thought of it. She's a good candidate who represents the Democratic Party very well and who has a lot of local support but could use a boost.
While she is not breaking even and won't attract the efforts of most of the big shots who only want to appear at fundraisers for candidates they are think will win (in some cases, to gain themselves mojo for 2008), she is the kind of "Hail Mary Pass" candidate who is forcing republicans to spend money where they didn't plan to and who will help build party structure in her district, at the very least.
My Email to Senator Clinton:
Dear Senator Clinton,
I have become aware over the months of a candidate who deserves your help. She is not the only one, but she is the one I am adopting. Her name is Lois Herr and she is running in a district in SE PA. She is a solid democratic candidate who believes all Americans deserve healthcare and who believes in women's rights and equality of opportunity for everyone.
In the past the conventional wisdom was that the smart political thing to do was to target specific races and states where democrats could win. That was a bad strategy. We followed that strategy while republicans challenged small races even in very blue states and districts. Quite simply it was the strategy of people who wanted to lose in the long run and that is exactly what we did for years.
Because the Republican Party has proven so completely unqualified to run the country, we democrats are in a unique situation we could not have imagined even a month ago. Day after day there are more races which have become with in our reach. If we had not had brave grassroots candidates in these districts we could not be capitalizing on this opportunity. Luckily for us as a party, a lot of brave people took Howard Dean's advice and/or their own initiative and ran for office in districts where others had not had the guts to run for many election seasons.
Senator I know people who have maxed out their credit cards and emptied their checking accounts to give until it hurt because they believe it is crucial to get control of at least one house of congress before Bush destroys this country altogether.
At the same time we look at you and see that you have a huge war chest you do not need at this point. Yes we understand that you must run for office in the future and that you might run for President. We know that you have done fundraisers and given to candidates and that is fantastic. But we are looking at cash on hand as of the end of September, and ignoring everything else, we are asking that you give 30 percent of what you have now to candidates like Lois Herr and others who have to this point received little or no support from the party.
Senator I own your book "It takes a village". You are right, community and group effort are the key to the future of this country and world. In terms of the Democratic Party, I think you could say "it takes a party" to raise a base. Okay, that is not a very clever play on words, but you get my point. We need a group effort here and there are some people who are in a position to help more easily than others.
If you gave 30 percent of your cash on hand to the DNC I know it would immediately go to good use. At the same time, if you could get 5000 dollars to Lois Herr that would be a really great thing. That much money in her district would be a fortune.
Then perhaps you could talk to a friend or two to do the same for Colleen Rowley and any number of other cash strapped grassroots candidates. I don't think you can measure or imagine the dividends the party will receive from that simple action. If we can help these poorer candidates in difficult districts we can build party structure that will serve us for years to come.
Let me know if you decide to give 30 percent so that I can trumpet your pledge to the netroots/grassroots and we can use that information to convince other's to follow your lead.
Senator, please, time is running out, we really need your help.
Teresa
(Full name and address deleted)
Now for the rest of them:
Here is the list of congress people and their contact information:
Use It or Lose It: A Call for Action from the Netroots call safe Democratic Representatives in your state and ask them to give 30% of their campaign funds to Democratic challengers and / or party committees!
Tips for good calls
1. Be Polite
2. Be prepared for pushback
3. Tell them that this is an extraordinary situation because so many Republican seats are in play
4. Tell them that other Democrats have given more than 30%
5- Give them a way to contact you when they decide how much to pledge
6. Only call Democrats in your home state
You can report your calling experience at:
http://pol.moveon.org/...
Name District Republican Opposition Campaign Number Backup D.C. Number 9/30 Cash on Hand 30%
* Robert E. "Bud" Cramer, Ala. (5) AL_05 No Republican 256-539-0902 202-225-4801 $1,640,566 $492,170
* Artur Davis, Ala. (7) AL_07 No Republican 205-322-9096 202-225-2665 $273,929 $82,179
* Ed Pastor, AZ (4) AZ_04 Token Republican 602-604-0909 202-225-4065 $1,060,053 $318,016
* Mike Ross, Ark (4) AR_04 Token Republican 870-887-8194 202-225-3772 $690,975 $207,293
* Doris Matsui, Calif (5) CA_05 Token Republican 916-552-6887 202-225-7163 $225,843 $67,753
* Ellen Tauscher, Calif (10) CA_10 Token Republican 925-945-8515 202-225-1880 $228,450 $68,535
* Anna Eshoo, Calif (14) CA_14 Token Republican 650 328-3700 202-225-8104 $383,340 $115,002
* Jim Costa, Calif. (20) CA_20 No Republican 559-252-2004 202-225-3341 $291,944 $87,583
* Howard Berman, Calif (28) CA_28 Token Republican 818-366-4293 202-225-4695 $591,838 $177,551
* Adam Schiff, Calif (29) CA_29 Token Republican $160K $160K $1,417,560 $425,268
* Xavier Becerra, Calif. (31) CA_31 No Republican 213-484-8961 202-225-6235 $441,810 $132,543
* Hilda L. Solis, Calif. (32) CA_32 No Republican 310-477-8081 202-225-5464 $252,403 $75,721
* Jane Harman, Calif (36) CA_36 Token Republican 310-328-9125 202-225-8220 $339,325 $101,798
* Grace Napolitano, Calif (38) CA_38 Token Republican NA 202-225-5256 $270,415 $81,125
* Diana DeGette, Colo. (1) CO_01 No Republican 303-832-1925 202-225-4431 $203,316 $60,995
* John Larson, Conn (1) CT_01 Token Republican 860-656-7188 202-225-2265 $244,584 $73,375
* Allen Boyd, Fla. (2) FL_02 No Republican 850-219-5780 202-225-5235 $280,156 $84,047
* Kendrick Meek, Fla. (17) FL_17 No Republican 305-655-3213 202-225-4506 $221,341 $66,402
* Robert Wexler, Fla. (19) FL_19 No Republican 561-732-4000 202-225-3001 $505,572 $151,672
* Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Fla. (20) FL_20 No Republican 202-741-7154 202-225-7931 $310,551 $93,165
* John Lewis, D-Ga. (5) GA_05 No Republican Under Review Under Review $247,306 $74,192
* Jesse Jackson Jr., Ill (2) IL_02 Token Republican (773) 731-0000 202-225-0773 $1,301,031 $390,309
* Danny Davis, Ill. (7) IL_07 Token Republican 773-638-1998 202-225-5006 $508,973 $152,692
* Jan Schakowsky, Ill. (9) IL_09 Token Republican (847) 424-1998 202-225-2111 $218,097 $65,429
* Jerry Costello, Ill. (12) IL_12 No Republican 618-397-9599 202-225-5661 $1,516,242 $454,873
* Ben Chandler, Ky. (6) KY_06 Token Republican (859) 219-1366 202-225-4706 $611,542 $183,463
* John W. Olver, Mass. (1) MA_01 No Republican 413-259-9898 202-225-5335 $244,538 $73,361
* Richard E. Neal, Mass. (2) MA_02 No Republican 413-785-0325 202-225-5601 $1,354,462 $406,339
* Barney Frank, Mass. (4) MA_04 No Republican $250K $250K $821,196 $246,359
* Martin T. Meehan, Mass. (5) MA_05 No Republican 978-251-3151 202-225-3411 $4,886,325 $1,465,898
* Edward J. Markey, Mass. (7) MA_07 No Republican NA 202-225-2836 $2,360,862 $708,259
* Michael E. Capuano, Mass. (8) MA_08 No Republican (617) 497-6208 202-225-5111 $535,536 $160,661
* Dutch Ruppersberger, Md. (2) MD_02 Token Republican (410) 252-2505 202-225-3601 $400,266 $120,080
* Albert Wynn, Md. (4) MD_04 Token Republican 301-925-1818 202-225-8699 $206,823 $62,047
* Steny H. Hoyer, Md. (5) MD_05 No Republican 301.856.0240 202-225-4131 $875,508 $262,652
* Elijah E. Cummings, Md. (7) MD_07 No Republican 410-669-8400 202-225-4741 $332,012 $99,604
* Dale Kildee, Mich. (5) MI_05 Token Republican 810-845-3024 202-225-3611 $614,250 $184,275
* Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, Mich. (13) MI_13 No Republican 313-895-0820 202-225-2261 $348,635 $104,591
* John Conyers, Mich (14) MI_14 Token Republican 313-438-2004 202-225-5126 $300,185 $90,056
* John D. Dingell, Mich. (15) MI_15 No Republican 313-791-2707 202-225-4071 $819,829 $245,949
* Russ Carnahan, MO (3) MO_03 Token Republican 314.534.2004 202-225-2671 $202,771 $60,831
* Robert E. Andrews, N.J. (1) NJ_01 No Republican 856-858-9810 202-225-6501 $2,121,856 $636,557
* Frank Pallone Jr, N.J. (6) NJ_06 Token Republican 732-571-4141 202-225-4671 $2,306,262 $691,879
* Steve Rothman, N.J. (9) NJ_09 Token Republican 201 646-0808 202-225-5061 $1,907,609 $572,283
* Donald M. Payne, N.J. (10) NJ_10 No Republican 973-705-9171 202-225-3436 $780,662 $234,199
* Rush Holt, N.J. (12) NJ_12 Token Republican 609-278-0800 202-225-5801 $751,624 $225,487
* Gary L. Ackerman, N.Y. (5) NY_05 No Republican 718-423-2154 202-225-2601 $843,583 $253,075
* Joseph Crowley, N.Y. (7) NY_07 Token Republican 314.534.2004 202-225-3965 $736,302 $220,891
* Jerrold Nadler, N.Y. (8) NY_08 Token Republican 212-352-0370 202-225-5635 $662,407 $198,722
* Anthony Weiner, N.Y. (9) NY_09 No Republican 718-520-1234 202-225-6616 $220,006 $66,002
* Nydia Velazquez, N.Y. (12) NY_12 Token Republican 202-421-8986 202-225-2361 $260,714 $78,214
* Carolyn Maloney, N.Y. (14) NY_14 Token Republican (212) 987-5516 202-225-7944 $689,467 $206,840
* Charles Rangel, N.Y. (15) NY_15 Token Republican 212-862-4990 202-225-4365 $519,650 $155,895
* Michael McNulty N.Y. (21) NY_21 Token Republican (518) 271-8536 202-225-5076 $310,616 $93,185
* Brian Higgins, N.Y. (27) NY_27 Token Republican 716-683-1107 202-225-3306 $498,754 $149,626
* Louise Slaughter, N.Y. (28) NY_28 Token Republican 585.697.0840 202-225-3615 $266,156 $79,847
* Marcy Kaptur, OH (9) OH_09 Token Republican 419-693-0078 202-225-4146 $818,025 $245,408
* Dan Boren, OK (2) OK_02 Token Republican 918-683-2401 202-225-2701 $349,032 $104,710
* Earl Blumenauer, OR (3) OR_03 Token Republican 503-235-3399 202-225-4811 $340,085 $102,026
* Robert A. Brady, Pa. (1) PA_01 No Republican 215-665-9047 202-225-4731 $837,631 $251,289
* Chaka Fattah, Pa (2) PA_02 Token Republican 215-877-6213 202-225-4001 $226,919 $68,076
* Paul Kanjorski, Pa (11) PA_11 Token Republican 570-825-6070 202-225-6511 $906,662 $271,999
* Mike Doyle, Pa. (14) PA_14 No Republican 412-244-9101 202-225-2135 $283,253 $84,976
* Patrick Kennedy, R.I (1) RI_01 Token Republican 401-455-2006 202-225-4911 $758,408 $227,522
* James Clyburn, S.C. (6) SC_06 Token Republican (803) 854-4700 202-225-3315 $347,968 $104,390
* Bart Gordon, Tenn. (6) TN_06 Token Republican 615-898-1992 202-225-4231 $380,455 $114,137
* John Tanner, Tenn. (8) TN_08 Token Republican (731) 885-7070 202-225-4714 $890,789 $267,237
* Ruben Hinojosa, Tex. (15) TX_15 Token Republican (956) 686-6455 202-225-2531 $349,527 $104,858
* Lloyd Doggett, Tex. (25) TX_25 Token Republican 512-391-2343 202-225-4865 $1,968,471 $590,541
* Norm Dicks, WA (6) WA_06 Token Republican 253-272-5884 202-225-5916 $373,466 $112,040 $50,286,719 $15,086,016
*
* Note: "Token Republican" means a Republican who has raised under $10,000
Look folks; if all you can do is whine about how your favorite democrat has to run for office or has given in the past or has done fundraisers etc... please spare us. We have heard your arguments. We aren't buying. If Barney Frank and Adam Schiff can step up, so can everyone else. You don't see Frank telling us about what he did last month. He just pledged and gave. Good for him.
It is very simple. Everyone has given in the past. Everyone has done fundraisers, so what? It's great that Kerry and others have done fundraisers. But that doesn't help those who have never been seen as close enough to a win to get a fundraiser.
We are looking at cash on hand at the end of September, who has it and who doesn't need so damn much and should step in and help candidates who haven't to this point gotten any help from the party or from PACS.
Tell Kerry to pony up, and Clinton, Edwards, Bidden, Clark etc... and a lot of congress people. Tell them to do it today. Having raised other people's money is not good enough. Sorry about that and we will remember in 2008. People like Barney Frank who has stepped up to the challenge will be remembered and so will people who make a million rationalizations for not helping now, at this point when we are at an extraordinary crossroads that could not have been predicted a month ago, will also be remembered.
BTW, the republicans in congress have given almost twice as much as democrats in the same circumstances. They are trying to save their majority and we can't get democrats to care as much about winning theirs back? That is just inexcusable as far as I am concerned. We aren't asking anyone to empty their bank accounts like many kossacks, DFAers, PDAers and Move On members have. We are ONLY asking them to contribute money someone contributed to them.
People all over this world are starving. We have wiped out hundreds of thousands of people in Iraq with this lousy war. Americans are losing their healthcare. The banks and the insurance companies and oil companies have had their say in congress since 1994 while we have seen our real income shrink along with our civil rights and our respect around the globe. A democratic majority is not going to instantly fix everything. Frankly there are some democrats who have voted for way too much republican policy and failed to be fight back hard enough.
But you'd have to be nuts to think that a Democratic Party majority wouldn't be better for people and for the world at this point. We can get it if we are really committed and really bold in confronting republican mistakes, lies and manipulations and if we can put forth a plan for the future that "lifts all boats". And some of you, good lord, all you can think about are the 2008 primaries or who you want to run for senate that year. Obviously most office holders think the same way. I am amazed at how many people just don't "get it".
Things have changed. We are at a crossroads. People are going to work and coming home and busting their asses for candidates and we are the people who are responding to these constant fundraising drives and signing up to make calls and manning booths and canvassing. And most of the people here are doing it for free and giving money at the same time and all we want is for our elected politicians to step up one tenth of the amount that we are.
Instead most of them sit on piles of cash and they can't recognize the reality of the chance we have at this moment and what it would mean to get a real majority in congress. It seems to be more important to us than to them. And I think it is shameful that republicans are giving more than democrats are giving.
From Mydd:
Use It Or Lose It: Republicans Using It More
by Chris Bowers, Mon Oct 23, 2006 at 07:16:50 PM EST
OK, considering how often I have been told about the huge amounts of money safe Dems are giving to Democratic challengers and the DCC, now I'm actually getting a little enraged. CQ politics has the September transfers to the DCCC and the NRCC of over $100,000 from safe incumbents. Here are the transfers of over $100K form safe Democrats to the DCCC:
Notable transfers from campaign committees of House Democrats:
* John P. Murtha, Pa.: $200,000
* Charles B. Rangel, N.Y.: $200,000
* Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Calif.: $185,000
* Allyson Y. Schwartz, Pa.: $150,000
* Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer, Md.: $150,000
* Ben Chandler, Ky.: $125,000
* Mel Watt, N.C.: $110,000
* Louise M. Slaughter, N.Y.: $100,000
* John D. Dingell, Mich.: $100,000
That's $1.27M. Now, here are the transfers for over $100K from Republicans to the NRCC:
* John Shadegg, Ariz.: $350,950
* Thaddeus McCotter, Mich.: $250,000
* Jack Kingston, Ga.: $250,000
* Ed Royce, Calif.: $200,000
* Robert W. Goodlatte, Va: $200,000
* Majority Leader John A. Boehner, Ohio: $175,000
* Devin Nunes, Calif.: $150,000
* Spencer Bachus, Ala.: $150,000
* Wally Herger, Calif.: $150,000
* Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, Ill.: $150,000
* Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Fla.: $145,000
* John L. Mica, Fla.: $125,000
* Doc Hastings, Wash.: $125,000
* Joe Knollenberg, Mich.: $111,000
* Edward Whitfield, Ky.: $100,000
* Lamar Smith, Tex.: $100,000
* F. James Sensenbrenner Jr., Wis.: $100,000
* Frank D. Lucas, Okla.: $100,000
* Charlie Norwood, Ga.: $100,000
* Gary G. Miller, Calif.: $100,000
* Joe Pitts, Pa.: $100,000
* Rodney P. Frelinghuysen, N.J.: $100,000
* Shelley Moore Capito, W.V.: $100,000
* Gresham Barrett, S.C.: $100,000
That comes out to $3,531,950, or $2.3M more for Republicans in large transfers than Democrats in large transfers. Now, Republicans have a pay-to-play system where how much you donate to the NRCC is a factor in determining seniority in Congress. However, elections also have a pay to play system, where if you don't have a majority in the House, you can't get anything done, and you can't stop Bush's agenda. The entire reason why the NRCC has more money in the bank that the DCCC is because Republican House members in safe districts are transferring more to the NRCC than Democratic House members in safe districts are transferring to the DCCC.
I'm sure that if you have made any calls on the Use It or Lose It campaign that you have been told, at least once, just how much money the Democratic Representative in question has given to the DCCC and Democratic challengers. However, no matter how much they have given, the fact remains that they are not given at equal rates to their Republican opponents. Not even close. This is something you need to remind them of when you call their offices and ask them to give more.
Safe Republicans are giving more than safe Democrats. Call safe Democrats in your state and tell them that.
I have said many times here that there are a thousand people posting on this site that are brighter and more committed; more informed than the people they are helping elect. Why the grassroots/netroots should be killing themselves to help people who are constantly playing it safe I have no idea. I say we send the guys over at Mydd to congress. They seem to at least understand what is at stake and are capable of thinking outside of the box, seeing beyond conventional wisdom.
I have seen people here say we are being "to hard on the politicians". WTF? These are some of the most pampered privileged people in this country. Don't expect any tears from me on their behalf. Not one of them worth their salt would expect your pity. When they understand the wisdom of this plan, those people will fork over the cash. It's just that they don't get it yet and they need to be convinced. So get calling and give them some encouragement. Time is flying.
Half way through writing this I got on the phone with an old friend I used to be married to. We have a relationship where for years we screamed and yelled at each other long after the divorce was over. Now we manage not to do that. But we still talk and we tell each other the truth and we try to buck each other up. I remember telling him about five years ago that even though I had no experience running my own business, my impression of how you got to be really successful was to be willing to jump off the cliff even when you weren't positive of the soft landing.
Well he has his own business and has for many years. He does really well because he is willing to take risks, because he is trustworthy and because he is smart and hard working. About 6 months ago he repeated the analogy back to me about jumping off the cliff and I think he forgot I was the one who had said it to him in the first place. But the point is that I have a lot of respect for him for being willing to take risks to make his business work and I wish that the people we are asking to step up could understand that they have to take a risk now if they expect us to look out for them in the future.
I mean come on; there are congress people who post here all the time. Do they think we are going to forget their help should the time ever come that they are at risk for losing their seat? They need to understand that times are changing and they need to change with the times or get left behind.
We aren't their rabble or their ATM and we aren't the "others". We are the ones who are most involved with them and what they are doing in congress and in their campaigns.