Today I received a thinly-veiled "Leadership Survey" donation request from the DNC.
Dr. Dean kindly asked me to give my opinion on lots of matters, so that he could see what the rank-and-file had to say about the direction of the party.
At the end, Dr. Dean asked me to make another damn contribution to the DNC. I used to be a Democracy Bond holder, after all -- this was essentially a request to get me to kick into the kitty once again.
Sorry, Dr. Dean: Its not happening this time around, not until I see some movement from the Democratic Leadership on the issues I hold dear. More after the flip.
There's not a bunch of space for comments on this survey. I got about three lines where I could make any statement I wanted. But I've never been about coloring within the lines. I decided I'd send a bit of a message so on the back of my return envelope I wrote:
NOT ONE CENT UNTIL YOU STAND UP FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES.
* RESTORE HABEAS
* NO WARRANTLESS SEARCHES
* NO TORTURE
LEAD, FOLLOW, or SHUT THE HELL UP.
In my three lines that I was allocated, I wrote: WHY SHOULD I GIVE YOU ANY MONEY WHEN YOU KEEP SELLING OUT PROGRESSIVE CAUSES? WHY DO DEMOCRATS SUPPORT TORTURE? WHY DO THEY WANT TO GIVE TELECOM COMPANIES IMMUNITY FOR DOMESTIC SPYING?
I have no doubt that my comments will be ignored. The leadership of our party apparently views me as an ATM machine -- something that dispenses money when the right code is pushed -- and lately I've grown mightily sick of being asked to pony up when the party keeps ignoring the values I hold dear.
Here's the thing: I don't have any other way of making my voice heard. I write. I vote. I participate in the Party. I call. I lobby. I even occasionally get to speak to Congresspeople directly (yes, I have donated enough that I get personal calls). By and large, they don't listen -- all they hear is Ka-ching! when I write another check.
Sen. Schumer's latest foray onto this site had that same effect. Remember that? The day after the Senate ignored the progressives and voted for telecom immunity, Senator Schumer had the audacity to come here and do a drive-by blog to ask for more money.
So I'll still give to progressive candidates. I'm all about that -- direct contributions to candidates who I support. But until we see some movement on progressive issues from the leadership, I won't be sending in any money to any of the Democratic organizations -- the DNC, the DSCC, the DCCC. Instead, I plan on answering the suveys with demands that the Democratic Congress get off its ass and do something with the power we gave it.
Can you hear me now, Dr. Dean? Yes, I realize that you are one of the good guys -- but I wonder if you aren't just the smiling and progressive face that convinces us to ignore the depredations of the blue dogs who so constantly support the anti-progressive agenda..
I urge everyone else to make your displeasure known directly to the DNC, the DSCC, and the DCCC when they come around asking for money. Give the money instead directly to the candidates, and, more importantly, tell the DNC, the DSCC, and the DCCC why you aren't giving them money.