I've been concerned for a while that the Obama/Clinton contest is becoming a surrogate battle between the Dean and McAuliffe wings of the DNC. It is a battle between those that believe in the "important states" vs. "the other 40", between DLCers and DFAers, between an addiction to corporate/special interest money and those that believe that small donors in vast numbers are democracy at its most powerful.
What I read in the NYT today, makes me concerned that McAuliffe and those that he represents are trying to ambush Dean using Clinton donors.
The NetRoots helped Dean get where he is today. With the DNC coffers very low right now, he is under attack. He needs us.
More below the fold...
Today, the NYT has run a piece about Clinton donors complaining to the DNC about how they are handling the FL delegate dispute with at least one large donor demanding his donation be returned. Behind the ambush is none other than McAuliffe:
About 250 top fund-raisers for Mrs. Clinton met Wednesday in Washington. Terry McAuliffe, the Clinton campaign’s chairman and a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, encouraged the donors to pick up the phone and call party leaders, as did Mrs. Clinton.
As we all know, money talks and the Clinton donors are leveraging their donations to settle this dispute in a way that can help their candidate:
Pushing to seat the Florida delegates, at least one top Clinton fund-raiser, Paul Cejas, a Miami businessman who has given the Democratic National Committee $63,500 since 2003, has demanded Democratic officials return his 2007 contribution of $28,500, which they have agreed to do....
Christopher Korge, a Florida real estate developer who is another top fund-raiser for Mrs. Clinton, held an event last year in his home that brought in about $140,000 for the national party, which was set aside in a special account for the general election battle in Florida. But he told committee officials this week that if Florida’s delegate conundrum was not settled satisfactorily he would be asking for the money back.
The Clinton/McAuliffe wing of the party would like nothing more than to see Dean removed from the DNC, and frankly I see them using the fight over the seating of Michigan and FL delegates to be part of their attempt to bring him down in an fight about whose really has the power to make the rules in the Democratic Party.
When Dean first came to the power at the DNC, the NetRoots supported him with money bombs everytime he came under attack and when he stood up for the principles so many of us progressives believe in.
I believe it is time to shower Howard with some love once again in a language even McAuliffe understands.
Show Dean we have his back UPDATED w/ new ActBlue link--h/t to Glinda for setting up an ActBlue page so we can tabulate donations and match any money they've threated to pull!
Post your support of Dean in the thread (and in true dkos fashion, be sure to add on .01 to any donations so Dean knows where his support is coming from.
Update:--Thanks to all who are donating! Please spread the word on other blogs. Here are some other great related diaries/articles:
Big Hillary donor threatens to pull resources...
Clinton tried to delay TX delegate count
Glinda's diary on Act Blue page
Pattyp Diary w/DNC fundraising link
McAuliffe Hypocrisy Exposed
Update: $10,000 on this thread and Glinda's ActBlue Page and Pattyp's DNC page. Need to keep it going if we are going to have an impact--please cross-post!
Update: Per La urracca's suggestion, contact our Dem leaders to express our support for Dean as he is under attack from McAuliffe-inspired donors who would rather weaken the party than not get their way.
From the comments:
Call Howard Dean. Right now.
Here is the number. Please call.
Howard Dean 202-863-8000
But we can do MORE. TODAY.
DFA
Democracy For America
( used to be Dean for America)
Phone 802-651-3200 or snail mail at:
Democracy for America
PO Box 1717
Burlington, VT 05402
http://www.democrats.org/...
email page...
Democratic National Committee
( Hillary supporters, mainly)
430 S. Capitol St. SE
Washington, DC 20003
Main Phone Number:
202-863-8000
go to: http://www.democrats.org/...
Nancy Pelosi
Washington, DC - (202) 225-4965
San Francisco, CA 94102 - (415) 556-4862
sf.nancy@mail.house.gov
or
AmericanVoices@mail.house.gov
or
go to: http://www.house.gov/...
Al Gore
Fax: 615-327-1323
Phone: 615-327-2227
For press interview requests, email Al Gore’s spokesperson, Kalee Kreider at Kalee@carthagegroup.com (sorry - best I could do)
Honorable Al Gore
2100 West End Avenue
Suite 620 Nashville, TN 37203
John Edwards
Phone: (919) 636-3131
Fax: (919) 967-3644
(left over from the campaign - tel. # has answering machine)
Mailing Address:
410 Market Street
Suite 400
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
go to: http://www.johnedwards.com/...