A few weeks ago, I got a call from the fundraising arm of the DNC. I had donated to them last year to help fund the campaigns of "more and better Democrats", including the best Democratic presidential nominee since John F. Kennedy.
The message from the DNC this time was urgent (as it always is): we need to fund a campaign to counteract the lies and distortions about health care reform coming from the Republicans and their monied interests.
I pledged fifty bucks.
So, last week, I finally got around to filling out the card they sent me and wrote out my check. We were in a real dog-fight, and I knew we needed to fight back.
On Thursday, word gets out that Senator Reid is going to back down on the original time line and allow the Senate's summer recess before the Senate votes on a bill.
As I mentioned in a comment at the time, I was pissed off. I checked my account, and saw that my check to the DNC hadn't cleared.
So, I ordered a stop-payment to be placed on the check, and contacted the DNC via their website:
A couple weeks ago, one of your representatives called me asking for money to help push for health care reform. Now I read that Senator Reid is giving in to the Republican stall tactics, which will obviously kill any chance at real reform. I mailed my $50.00 donation to you a few days ago.
I just want to let you know that I AM PUTTING A STOP-PAYMENT on my check. Call me when you get serious about health care reform. In the interim, I may need that $50.00 for a co-pay or deductible.
As it turns out, the dog-fight we are in is a Blue Dog fight. I'm thoroughly disheartened and disgusted that we're being stabbed in the back by our own.
Well, the check came through, but it was stopped. It cost me $24.00 to stop a $50.00 check. Will it matter? Probably not. But, if we eventually get a public option and real reform, I'll write them another check, not before. I'm tired of being played for a sucker on this issue.
Yes, I'm contacting my Senators, especially Herb "milque-toast" Kohl. Yes, I'm persuading my friends and family to do the same. But giving money? Not a chance. From now on, I will reward results, not promises.