Did you get a threatening letter from an organization called "Americans for Limited Government Foundation (www.GetLiberty.org)? My wife was one of a supposed 11,000 progressive recipients. Not quite like being on Nixon's enemies list, but an achievement nonetheless.
Apparently, this letter is a response to letters sent by "Accountable America", a liberal organization headed by an ex-Moveon leader named Tom Matzzie, to conservatives in an attempt to undercut funding for the swiftboating of liberal candidates.
The meat of the GetLiberty letter said "Your name has been put in our database... it is our intent to publicize your involvement in your local community." It further threatened her with legal action if any organization she supported broke the law.
Her response is instructive, I think: she was angry. Far from being intimidated, she was boiling and ready to strike back. Perhaps Accountable America needs to think about that.
Here is the letter in its entirety:
Dear Ms. xxx,
Recently a new left-wing organization announced that it would be targeting donors to conservative, free-market organizations. The major press announcement stated that the organization intended to engage in such activities as "public exposure," having "watchdog groups digging through the lives" of these individuals, and "possible legal trouble."
As someone who has been put through that abuse over the years, I can tell you from first-hand experience that it is not fun and not something to take lightly. I have supported groups and efforts that I believe will push back against the radical agenda of the Left. And, I have paid the price for it, in attacks, slurs and threats.
As a donor to one or more of these organizations and efforts, you have been able to engage in these activities without notice, operating in relative obscurity. I am writing to inform you that this will no longer be the case.
Your name has been put in our database. We are monitoring all reports of a wide variety of leftist organizations. As your name appears in subsequent reports, it is our intent to publicize your involvement in your local community. Should any of these organizations be found to be engaged in illegal or questionable activity, it is our intent to publicize your involvement with those activities. You should know that instances of coordinated voter fraud are surfacing all across America and investigations into possible criminal coordination are underway.
For your review, I have enclosed a memorandum from our legal counsel.
Sincerely,
Howard Rich
Chairman
So funny how he starts by complaining "being harassed is hell", and follows with "we are going to harass you". Plus the wording is vague, and essentially seems to say "if you break the law we'll notice", which is a lame threat.
The announcement of Accountable America is here. One of its goals is to "offer a $100,000 reward to those providing information that leads to the conviction or judgment against a conservative or business-related organization that violates the law.". It also states that "Next week the organization plans to send a mailing warning nearly 10,000 Republican donors of the consequences of funding organizations that break or skirt the law." Currently their front page discusses the GetLiberty letters.
You can read about Howie Rich at Stop Ballot Fraud. They even include this observation about the current letters:
Of course it's of great irony that the person who was caught up in an unprecedented web of fraud and hidden money in 2006 would be the leader of an effort to keep the process clean. On the other hand, if anyone knows about fraud, it's Howie Rich.
I know we need to play hardball this time around, but it seems counterproductive to me to try to intimidate donors with such a letter. Our reaction was anger at being threatened, followed with a renewed desire to fight the Republican smear machine at every turn. Shining the spotlight on illegal or questionable activity - of course, and I believe that is Accountable America's goal. But I suspect that intimidation will backfire.