A week ago a supporter released a video called "One Trick Pony," an indictment of Diaz-Balart's red-baiting and desperation. I don't think they got the message:
Yesterday they released a statement asking us why we didn't release the names of our small-dollar contributors – people donating less than $200 dollars. While we're happy to provide this information (and proud of our more than 2,000 donors), keep in mind that campaigns are not required to do this. For example, neither Obama nor Clinton does, and this is the first time Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart has. The release:
A simple analysis of Joe Garcia's campaign finance report (see attached), shows that Garcia is concealing the source of more than $51,000 in campaign contributions. The decision to cover up the identity of these contributors raises serious questions. Who are these contributors? Are these contributions legal? Were they cash contributions? Did any of these contributions come from outside the United States?
And this is where it gets ridiculous: Mario Diaz-Balart's campaign has coupled this release with a whisper campaign that says we're taking donations from the Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro regimes. In the past few days, our campaign has received numerous calls about this.
While Mario Diaz-Balart's campaign is funded by Big Oil executives, rich PAC's, and moneyed special interests, our support comes primarily from people like you – average Americans thirsting for real change and an end to politics-as-usual. Last quarter over 2,000 donors raised $331,000 dollars in just six-weeks. That's more donors in six weeks than Mario Diaz-Balart has had in his Congressional career.
When they attack our small-donor, people-powered campaign, they're not just trying to stop Joe Garcia. They're trying to stop you. They're trying to stop real change and the progress we are demanding – health care, environmental protection, and an end to this war.
So please contribute and join us in rejecting this attack on our netroots support. They're following the Republican, South Florida playbook. And it may have worked in the past, but, this cycle, we have an army of supporters just like you that are not going to sit-down and rest.
-Augusto Granados, Campaign Manager