From my original Blog on DNC.org, but now with added information to clarify.
"Oh, how I love Howard Dean, let me count the ways... A. 50-state-strategy B. New DNC Policy. I'm sure most of us already have looked at this, but I do have some questions about it. Can we have a discussion here about what it means?"
Probably like many of you, I got this letter today.
"Dear Diana,
I wanted to drop you a quick note about a major policy change here at the Democratic Party.
As we move toward the general election, the Democratic Party has to be the Party of ordinary Americans, not Washington lobbyists and special interests. So, as of this morning, if you're a federal lobbyist, or if you control political action committee donations, we won't be accepting your contribution.
This is an unprecedented move for a political party to make -- one that has sent shockwaves through Washington and has turned the debate on clean campaigns upside down. We've unilaterally agreed to shut lobbyists out of the process, and are we're relying on people just like you. Just imagine what hundreds of thousands of Americans donating $20, $30, or $50 at a time can accomplish together. Imagine the signal that it sends to anyone who looks at John McCain's political machine and the special interest money it needs to fuel every move it makes. We have a chance to change the way business is done in this country, and we're taking the lead. Will you join us and make a contribution right now to help us elect Barack Obama?
http://www.democrats.org/...
I've written before about guys like Charlie Black and Rick Davis, lobbyists who are at the highest levels of McCain's campaign. But they're just the start -- John McCain and the RNC suck up lobbyist money millions of dollars at a time.
In May, McCain had his best fundraising month of the campaign, and it was directly because he refuses to shut special interests out. But we did, and we need your help. This is an example of the kind of White House Barack Obama would run. Make a contribution to help elect him:
http://www.democrats.org/...
I'll be in touch later about our plans for the general election, but I wanted to let you know about our policy change right away.
Thanks,
Howard Dean"
I'm thinking this could be great, or it could bankrupt the party. And what defines "lobbyists"? Are Unions lobbyists? They are special interests--they try and get policy passed.
One one side this could get more individual donors realizing there responsibility is more then just a union due. This would get them to donate even more. On the other side we aren't letting organized groups (some lobbys are good) pool money and then give to the DNC.
I'm not an expert on how this stuff works, so please pass along information you may have (especially works sited) so that I can learn more.
Peace,
Diana M. Painter"
Here was one especially interesting reply I got.
Oh Yeah
Reply
By Democrat in Denver, CO Today at 2:27 am EDT
If this is following Obama's lead can anyone tell me why he has on his payroll some of the biggest lobbyists in Washington? Teal Baker, Emmett Belveau, Ertharin Cousin, Stephen Geer, Steven Hildebrand (2006) and Brandon Hurlbut were all registered lobbyist in 2007. They also were salaried employees of the Obama campaign. There are others. And he has the gaul to complain about other candidates. REALLY!
My Reply was
Re: Oh Yeah
Reply
By Diana M. Painter Today at 3:31 am EDT
Is this the Repub TP you are referring to?
RNC Press Release
Here is a good article discussing it, taken straight from the RNC TP.
Obama's Lobbying Ties
From that article, if people actually read it
"Obama now has 14 bundlers who are also federally registered lobbyists, but they are currently inactive, according to Public Citizen. [this means WERE](Clinton has 22 lobbyist bundlers; McCain has 70.) However, campaign-finance reformers point out that no campaign has ever taken the step of banning current and former lobbyists. "It's hard to come up with any stronger of a firewall," says Craig Holman of Public Citizen."
That's not to say there isn't a distinction between Obama and McCain. "The McCain campaign, you can't spit without hitting another lobbyist there," says David Donnelly, director of the Public Campaign Action Fund."
This new policy is a really is a big step. But it will only work if we support it 100%.
The other thing I think is that when individuals (even lobbyists) donate the law gets applied the same to everyone. We all can only give so much. Fairness (more balance) between me and those with LOTS of money is lowered , but not extinguished. This is one reason I like not taking PAC money.
But I know it is hard for "little d" campaigns to not use them as a source of money. I work for a little d campaign, and we need every dollar we can get. We need yard signs, palm cards, websites, and rewards for the volunteers. This financing is something that our county party has discussed in depth and we will continue to discuss. I like public financing instead. There, I said it. But that hope isn't going to help us win our local races.