As we approach the 2006 midterm elections I'm asking myself a question many of you are likely asking, where should I donate money? Barely a day goes by when my mailbox doesn't have a solicitation from the Democratic National Committee (DNC), various individual politicians, Democracy for America (DFA), and others. My email inbox receives daily messages from Moveon.org, Jim Dean of DFA, Howard Dean, John Kerry, et al. Now I'm getting phone solicitations from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC).
I'm supporting and contributing to Dave Mejias, who will declare tonight that he's running for Congress against Bush lapdog Peter King in New York's 3rd CD. (You can contribute too through
ActBlue.) New York is one of the most liberal states and Long Island is becoming increasingly Democratic. The once Republican controlled Nassau County reelected the Democratic County Executive, Controller and a Democratic majority in the County Legislature. Peter King is the last Republican Congressman on Long Island. I can envision Mejias taking this seat as part of the 2006 realignment. Anyway, enough digressing.
Now that Howard Dean runs the DNC, I've been making monthly automatic credit card contributions. When the DCCC and DSCC telemarketers call, I ask them a simple question, `why should I contribute money to you? Your organization merely takes my money and decides where to spend it. Why shouldn't I just contribute directly to the campaigns that I like and cut out the middleman?' So far, the responses were mediocre at best.
Crashing the Gate has had an influence on my contribution pattern. I agree with Markos and Jerome when they argue that contributing to issue groups such as environmental groups, NARAL, Planned Parenthood, etc., are inefficient. The best way to aid progressive policies is to unseat the Republicans that dominate government who have for five years been hostile to the goals of progressive issue groups. I'm redirecting funds now to candidates that can make a difference.
Crashing the Gate also illustrates how the DNC (prior to Howard Dean), the DSCC and the DCCC were dominated by insiders and consultants who got rich while repeatedly losing elections. Under Dean, I feel safe contributing to the DNC but what about the DSCC and the DCCC? Are donations to them still going to people who Armstrong and Moulitsas say have their own agenda; bully candidates; hire no-nothing consultants who inevitably mismanage candidates to defeat? I don't think this is still true for the DNC but Dean doesn't control the DCCC or the DSCC? Is it still business as usual there, circa 1998 or have those organizations reformed?
The Republicans still out-fundraise Democrats two to one. We therefore must wisely choose the most efficient organizations to donate our scarce funds. We really need to be more unified with our approach to fundraising. As it is now, our different groups compete for the same pool of donors.
I wish I had answers in this diary instead of questions. What I know is that I am not alone. If I'm getting a myriad of solicitations, so are many others. Perhaps it will lead to a dialog about the relative merits of each organization so that we get the most value for our donation dollar. I seems fundimental to building a Demamajority.