(Cross posted from BoydaBloc)
(First off, we have to thank or good friend Ally for helping spread the word...this is a tremendously important story, and we need to get the message out!)
Outside of the hilarious burn rate we see in Jim Ryun's fundraising report (he's spent 75% of the money he raised in 2007), we're horrified to see in it three unique expenditures for "caging."
Caging, as you remember from posts here and on Blue Tide Rising, and on other blogs nationwide, is a practice by which registered mail is sent to a poor person, a college student, or someone serving in the armed services, at the address provided by them on their voter registration card in hopes that that letter comes back undeliverable.
If it does come back undeliverable, the campaign logs that name and address, and will use that information to contest that person's vote come election day.
Not only is it unethical to attempt to deny someone their vote, it's also illegal.
Now, the Kansas Republican Party tried, and I'm sure Ryun will as well, to convince people "caging" is just a mailing term and that nothing untoward is occurring.
That just doesn't jive, though. To quote the web site of one of the firms Ryun has used:
We don't engage in creative design, printing or lettershop services. We don't sell mailing lists or involve ourselves in fundraising management. No, we do just one thing- caging.
How anyone hoping to be the representative of the people can actively engage in disenfranchising voters is beyond us, and we hope the mainstream media nails him to the wall for it.
In other news this filing period, Congresswoman Nancy Boyda came up on top over her two Republican opponents, particularly when it comes to vital cash on hand.
Congresswoman Nancy Boyda (D)
4th Quarter raised: $218,054.81
Cycle-to-Date: $771,305.76
And, the important one:
Cash on Hand: $654,229.18
Frm. Congressman Jim Ryun (R)
4Q raised: 198,454.18
Cycle-to-Date: $960,127.85
HUGELY important:
Cash on Hand: ONLY $364,789.19!
State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins (R)
4Q raised: $90,376.52!!!!
Cycle to Date: $406,377.37
Again, the number that pushes us all forward:
Cash on hand: $416,241.73 (it's higher than contributions because of some pesky "other receipts."
Notice Ryun's spent nearly all the money's he's raised, eliminating his fundraising advantage, and also notice the previously adept fundraiser Lynn Jenkins ended up not even breaking the one hundred thousand dollar mark.
All this means is we're going to have to work that much harded to keep up the momentum.