College Republican National Committee Con Artists offer refunds

[Broca]

From AARP's "Bulletin" May 2005

The College Republican National Committee, which came under fire during the 2004 presidential campaign for aggressive fundraising tactics that targeted older people, has terminated its long-standing relationship with the company that generated the high-pressure appeals and has invited unhappy donors to request refunds.

The CRNC, which is not affiliated with the Republican National Committee, raised more than $12 million in the last election cycle. While the Washington-based organization claims 120,000 members on more than 1,100 college campuses, more than two-thirds of the money came from people who identified themselves as retired ($8 million) or homemakers ($780,906), according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a Washington nonprofit group. The Seattle Times reported last year that the median age of the CRNC's 50 top donors was 85.

Among the donors who want refunds is Monda Jo Millsap, 68, of Van Buren, Ark. Last year, after being told that her money was need to help re-elect President Bush, she emptied her savings account and took out a loan to send nearly $60,000 to the CRNC. "I wanted to help ," she says. "But I didn't want to lose as much as I lost."

In all, Millsap sent in 185 checks, ranging from $3 to $1,500, in response to appeals from "Republican Headquarters 2004," " Republican Election Committee" and other names used by the CRNC in addition to its own.

Since 2002 the CRNC has raised more than $20 million, with almost all of it going to pay for more fundraising. More than half has gone to Response Dynamics, direct-mail company in Vienna, Va., and four affiliated firms.

In March, the CRNC announced that it was ending its 13-year relationship with Reponse Dynamics, effective June 1.

"When the situation arises where there's a person who's given more than they can afford or who is confused, we want to be able to refund that money," Doug McGregor, the CRNC's executive director, says. "We will do what we can to honor those requests."

by - Susan Q. Stranahan

[BlueStateGirl]

1. Took out a loan to send almost 60 grand? Good Lord, that's nuts.

[beyurslf]

2. Rule #1 of fundraising: don't spend what you raise.

They raised $20 million and spent most of that on more fundraising?

And people dumb enough to take our loans to donate 60K don't deserve to get their money back

[FreedomAngel82]

3. I think it's so wrong

And disgusting. Scaming older people. *sigh* Just like their neocon elders.

[starroute]

4. There was a lot of research on Response Dynamics here last fall

As well as the College Republicans, they were doing fundraising for the National Center for Public Policy Research -- the group that Jack Abramoff was running funds through to cover the golfing junkets for his politician friends.

They were also working for Gary Jarmin -- he's the fellow who engineered Reverend Moon's coronation at the Senate Office Building.

Altogether an unwholesome bunch. It sounds as though they were playing the College Republicans for patsies more than anything.

[johnaries]

5. This is the same group that was teaching voter suppression

techniques to students. See this thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3741010