Let me tell you another tale of the DCCC in Florida.

[madfloridian]

How the DCCC is doing it in FL 13.

http://www.barbaraboxer.com/news?id=0037

"SARASOTA COUNTY -- In just over an hour on Tuesday morning, Democrat Christine Jennings raised more than $100,000 in political contributions in her bid to win a seat in Congress.

While $100,000 in a day is not abnormal for Republican fund-raisers in Sarasota County, it's a surprising one-day haul for a Democrat. In 2004, Jennings raised $264,000 during her entire campaign. Boxer said she wouldn't have made time for the fund-raiser if she didn't think Jennings could win. She said she checked with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee before agreeing to do the fund-raiser with Jennings.

"What did it for me was the fact that the DCCC said she can win," Boxer said.

Boxer isn't the first big name national Democrat to support Jennings. Political action committees for former presidential candidate John Kerry, House minority leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and DCCC Chairman Rahm Emmanuel have all contributed to Jennings campaign."

But wait, Jennings has a couple of opponents. One of them got 45% of the vote in the general election against Katherine Harris in a district that is only 32% Democratic.

http://www.answers.com/topic/jan-schneider

"Jan Schneider (born May 3, 1947) is a Democratic politician. She ran for United States Congress from Florida's District 13 in 2002 and 2004. Both times she won the Democratic Primary, and lost to Katherine Harris in the open election. She is running again for the open seat in the same district in 2006.

Schneider received her BA from Brown University; an MA in international affairs from Columbia University; and a JD and a PhD in political science from Yale. She has been a practicing lawyer, a law professor, an international civil servant, a businesswoman and a policy advisor. She is also the author of two books and numerous articles.
Congressional Elections

Schneider won 45% of the vote in both the 2002 and 2004 elections, in a district of 32% Democrats. Her campaign captured the largest portion of the vote of any congressional challenger in the state of Florida."

External link
http://www.votejan.com /

Jan's endorsements from last time and this time, just to show the power the party wields in such cases. It is truly amazing.

http://www.votejan.com/endorsements.html
ENDORSEMENTS
Former U.S. Comptroller of the Currency Eugene Ludwig
Former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert B. Reich
Former Deputy Administrator U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Robert M. Sussman

PREVIOUS ENDORSEMENTS
Sarasota Herald –Tribune
The Herald
Venice Gondolier
Pelican Press
Alliance for Retired Americans
American Association of University Women PAC
Brady Voter Education Fund
Business & Professional Women USA/PAC
Daily Kos
Democracy for America
Florida AFL-CIO,
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers PAC
Teamsters Union PAC
United Auto Workers PAC
Florida Consumer Action Network
Florida League of Conservation Voters
HillPac (Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton)
Manasota Veterans for Common Sense
Ms. President PAC
National Organization for Women PAC

National Women’s Political Caucus
People for the American Way PAC
Planned Parenthood Federal PAC
Sierra Club PAC
Women’s Action for New Directions PAC
Women’s Campaign Fund
Edward Asner, actor
Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun, former U.S. Senator from Illinois
Senator Max Cleland, former U.S. Senator from Georgia
Former Sarasota Mayor Jerome Dupree
Former Sarasota County Tax Collector Rebecca Eger
Harvard Economist John Kenneth Galbraith
Former U.S. Comptroller of the Currency Eugene A. Ludwig
Former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno
Martin Sheen, actor
Former Deputy Administrator U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Robert M. Sussman

Last time we talked to Jan she was just not sure she was running, not sure she could overcome any of the machine. I have not heard lately if she is. This one is kind of personal. She is a classy lady.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. Trust me when I tell you:

The DCCC sucks. Just flat sucks.

[leftchick]

2. I trust you completely

It SUCKS.

[madfloridian]

4. This is why I get upset to hear folks say the party leaders know best.

This one really is personal to me and my hubby.

I get furious thinking about it. A lot of DUers gave to her back in the day. We had some good posts about it. But now it is all divided so there won't be more like that.

[WCGreen]

59. I m a long time party person who was given the shaft by the party...

I never said they know best....

They just know enough to see who can win....

In their minds...

Everything is done bu the numbers, polling, strategic planning....

Emotion doesn't play apart....

In 1996, I ran against an entrenched candidate... Raised over 50k almost a dollar at a time... He 65 - 32 I was trounced... No one thought I was going to win...

I was setting myself up for the next race in 2000 to run against a fresh face... Term Limits...

I was in the race early, running hard, raising money... We had almost 40 k in the bank...

They picked a mayor instead of me... backed him and it shut off my money... IU got out of the race... The mayorm with the GOOD name, got 30% of the vote against a unknown challenger...

But I still am with the party... Running another campaign... We didn't get the party endorsement... But this time, we are fighting back... Cause we know we can win in November...

[RazzleDazzle]

48. Appalling

and pathetic

I'm really getting to hate Rahm Emmanuel.

[DaveinMD]

3. so

you are upset that they promoting a candidate that didn't lose twice before. Okey dokie.

[madfloridian]

5. Yes, I am. Your critique is wrong.

But then you knew that.

[DaveinMD]

7. what's wrong

she lost twice already. Running against the most extreme Republican. All she has demonstrated is that she can lose again.

[madfloridian]

9. In a Republican district....32% Democrat. Tell the truth.

That district was totally out of play until she showed them it was viable.

Just like another district in another state.

Two lines stand out in endorsements...they carry over to other races. We maybe need to start thinking about that.

Daily Kos
Democracy for America

[KoKo]

10. Winning isn't everything.... At some point (like now) we need principled

people in the House and Senate. Haven't we learned enough to know that we need fresh blood serving us and not the Party bosses that have been losing elections since 94? Jan Schneider has fantastic endorsements and really would have a chance this year already having name recognition, plus Florida is turning against the Repugs in the latest polls.

It's not helpful with the Party Bosses step in and run the show when a candidate already has great endorsements and can raise the money.

[DaveinMD]

11. winning is everything

When we don't win, we get the conservatives taking this country back 100 years. We need to win to make progress, no matter how slow it is.

[madfloridian]

14. We said that in 04, and we lost big time.

I will vote my conscience in the primaries, and so far I will vote Democratic in the election.

But you know what? When they do things like they have lately, voting for the Patriot Act renewal without the needed changes, then I am hard pressed to keep up my good intentions.

[DaveinMD]

16. and bad bills

don't come up if Dems are control. I don't care who you vote for in the primaries. But stop acting like your choice is morally superior to those here who disagree with you.

[LincolnMcGrath]

24. Uh, Voting on your principles in the primary,

not "who will win" would in fact be a moral superiority, would it not?

[DaveinMD]

29. not necessarily

biting off your nose to spite your face is not morally superior.

[LincolnMcGrath]

30. " I don't care who you vote for in the primaries."

Those are your words, correct?

[DaveinMD]

31. yep

anyone is free to do as they wish without the constant lecturing from the originator of these threads. The party has a responsibility to recruit candidates that they think can win.

[LincolnMcGrath]

32. As opposed to your lecturing. lol

Perhaps we could run all our future thread topics by you before we post them.

[DaveinMD]

33. or perhaps

every candidate should be forced to pass your strict ideological purity test.

[ldf]

37. well, a whore is a whore is a whore

winning is everything?

so we win, and fill washington with the handpicked "winners" of the democratic leadership.

and what happens? more of the same. that is all they have ever done and that is all they will ever do.

BUT, they will still have the power, and the money, to continue doing what they have done all along, pander and compromise to the point of being indistinguishable from the republicans.

thanks, but no thanks.

[DaveinMD]

39. hmmm

Under Clinton, tax were increased on the rich. Health care programs were expanded. Tax credits and scholarships for college went up. Social Security was protected. Medicare was made more sound. We had a foreign policy based on collaboration with our allies and we didn't go to war. A women's right to choose was protected. Yeah. No difference from the Republicans.

[LincolnMcGrath]

41. In your haste to bash a fellow Democrat, you forgot a few things.....

A. this is a thread about candidate selection.

B. You have NO clue what my ideology is.

Unfortunately for you, a certain few DUers have really worn out the "purity/purist" meme. You might want to look for a new one.

[DaveinMD]

42. I have no haste to bash Democrats

that's what this thread does. Both party leaders and the candidates being supported by those leaders. I never threatened to bolt my party as some on this thread do. And the entire purity thing is a big problem on this message board. Of course, that line continues to move.

[LincolnMcGrath]

44. Spin Spin

Dodge Spin

More baseless nonsense.

[DaveinMD]

45. hardly

but nice try.

[LincolnMcGrath]

47. 10-4

[madfloridian]

34. But their track record has not been exemplary.

Not by a long shot.

Guess who is in charge? The most radical bunch of fools ever, and we lost it all to them. The House, the Senate, the WH, all of it.

Maybe it is time for change.

[DaveinMD]

36. and the current leader of the DCCC

was not the leader in past elections. Nor was the head of the DSCC.

[madfloridian]

38. Well, then they are not doing any better picking.

Sorry, but as a Democrat I have a right to tell them they screwed up in some cases.

[DaveinMD]

40. that's true

You have the right. But just because you think so, doesn't make it so. Only time will tell on that point.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

28. And who twists the Dems' arms to VOTE FOR bad bills?

This "oh, well, the Republicans have the majority--might as well vote for all their stuff" attitude is infuriating.

[The Magistrate]

6. The Problem Escapes Me, Ma'am

The person lost twice, once in contest for an open seat. There is no reason to suppose she will do better this time. It is certainly possibe someone else will do better.

[madfloridian]

8. I think you need to do some research. Think about it yourself.

Don't let the party leaders tell you something is right, when there is so much more to it.

You have every right to believe what you want, but please don't pretend the rest of us don't get to take part in our democracy.

I really hope you don't think that.

It is my country, it is our Democracy, or at least what may be left of it.

As I said, this is personal.

[The Magistrate]

12. Again, Ma'am

You recur to the view that Party leadership should have no input, and exercise no influence, in the affairs of the Party. That does not seem sensible to me.

[madfloridian]

13. You are way too intelligent to think I am saying that, Sir.

You know I am not saying that. There is a huge difference between input and total control.

You know better.

[The Magistrate]

15. Gratitude For The Compliments Aside, Ma'am

That does seem to me pretty close to what you are saying, certainly close enough, as they say, for government work.

Certainly to be endorsed ands supported by Party ;eadership gives a candidate a great boost, particularly in funding, but it does not rule out a successful challenge. If some of these figures you complain are being pushed aside were actually so popular locally as you maintain they are, they would likely be able to prevail against the Party leadership's choice. And it is pretty likley as well, were that the case, that the Party leadership would court them to its side, rather than seek their replacement.

[madfloridian]

17. Well, sir, if you don't trust the figures I give...you will have to verify

Did you look at the endorsements from before, and the ones at the top from this time?

There is no doubt it is the fact that the DCCC is doing this to her again. It does dry up funding, of course it does.

[mitchtv]

18. The ability to raise funds, is the only criteria

I believe, to buy a DNC franchise.

[The Magistrate]

27. It Is Not A Bad Criterion, Sir

"War requires funds, you know."

[mitchtv]

35. Not a "bad" criteria, but the only?

I guess thaT's how we get Ben Nelson DemS.

[The Magistrate]

19. It Is Not A Question Of Distrusting The Figures, Ma'am

The vote totals were surely correct, and are fairly impressive, though Ms. Harris is not awfully popular personally. But they did not suffice, nor do they seem to have broken out of a trading range. Most of the endorsements are the sort any Democrat will be able to count on in a general election, and some of the rest are problematic. Sec. Reich, for instance, is an excellent fellow, and spot on in many of his comments and prescriptions, but an endorsment from him for a candidate in a district running two Republicans to every Democrat has a sort of doubled edge to it, to put it mildly.

[madfloridian]

20. We will never agree.

But then that is what Democrats do...never agree.

[The Magistrate]

21. We Have Found Areas Of Agreement, Ma'am

Even recently, as you may recall.

[madfloridian]

22. Yes, you are right on that.

But my resolve to stick with the party in the election and vote conscience in the primary can not see the light of day as they are taking away our primaries.

The harder I try to stay on board, the harder they make it.

[madrchsod]

23. i`ll agree with you

how many other races in the country is the big boys and girls have their hands in? from what you posted jan has the backing of the people who count the most in her district..i guess it doesn`t matter who the people want it`s all decided in the "smoked filled rooms"...ya that`s really progressive.

oh--- our friends moved to outside tallahassee and she works for a state run intuition which she describes as a hell hole unlike nothing she`s never seen before...i think the state needs every dam democrat it can elect

[madfloridian]

25. Thanks.

Tell your friend they have privatized every institution in the state. We even have faith-based jails with baptisms.

Everything is privatized. Jeb is doing some horrible things quietly, and they will out soon, I hope.

[LincolnMcGrath]

26. I have a Floriduh State Senator in the family.

Of course, he resides on the dark side.

More here

[Punkingal]

43. As if the DCCC knows who can win....

They don't exactly have a great track record, now do they?

[goodhue]

46. typical DCCC kingmaking

They decide won can win, and the money flows to their choice. I don't know anything about this district or these candidates, but I hope Jan Schneider stays in the race.

[madfloridian]

49. And an article about Jan's opponent whom she beat last time...

http://www.sptimes.com/2004/04/18/Columns/A_congression...

"SARASOTA - The Ritz-Carlton staff beamed as the woman in pearls and blue St. John pants suit strode across the marble lobby.

"Hi, Ms. Jennings!"

"Great to see you again, Ms. Jennings!"

And well they might know Christine Jennings. As founder and CEO of a community bank, she became a millionaire who also made a lot of investors a lot of money. As the gung-ho leader of civic endeavors ranging from the Ringling Museum to the Sarasota Film Festival, she won a host of admirers.

Lately, some of the state's savviest Democratic leaders and strategists are quietly buzzing: Is this the candidate who could actually unseat U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris?

It's an uphill battle, no doubt. Calling Democratic prospects of beating Harris a stretch would be generous. The national Democratic Party more or less writes off the race. Democrats account for about 30 percent of the electorate in the district that includes Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto and Hardee counties, as well as part of Charlotte County."

Well, Jan beat her last time, went on to win 45% of the vote against Harris. So the party is saying thank you, Jan, for showing us the seat is in play....now go and play with the not so rich people and let us handle it all. Sincerely, the Florida Dems and the DCCC.

[infogirl]

50. Jan is running..

send her a check!!!

She did the best in the state, they should be helping her. She is a hero for running against Harris.

The party should not be telling us who we are going to vote for.

grrr.

[madfloridian]

52. For sure? We have not heard. Will donate.

She makes efforts to come to gatherings, meets and visits with people. This has been upsetting to us, and I know it has to her.

[infogirl]

51. The DCCC is promoting the one who lost last time...

Jan beat Jennings in the primary by 25%. She was the only candidate that came within 10% in fla. She came within 5%, they should be helping her.

The DCCC is promoting a candidate that has a HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION ONLY!

Jennings will be a sheep for them...Jan will get real work done. Is this why the party who is more repub every day is promoting the loser jennings?

Jan ran twice, but Jennings ran last time too, and Jan beat the pants off of her!

[windbreeze]

53. Just Curious About Something In General

Because I don't know any of these people running....but I thought it was up to the people(registered voters) to decide, via a primary, who they wanted for their candidate? That a primary IS the democratic way to make that decision when there is more than one candidate from one party?

So now you have an organization...who seems to be deciding on some basis or set of criteria, who THEY want to run/win in the general elections, and everyone one else is being forcibly excluded(drying up funds, does affect a decision to stay in the running, after all)...so does anyone have a clue what this method is supposed to accomplish in the long run? Eliminate primaries totally??...(thereby also eliminating the voter's right to make the choice??)

Listen people, anytime an individual or a group, sets themselves up, as the entity with the right to make your choice for you...you better be asking why...and you better be demanding answers....
...(we bitch about the R's controlling the voting machines...but we might also want to pay attention to what's going on, in our own back yard, and never forget to question WHY is this ok...and ask yourself if you agree with these tactics)

I wouldn't even say I begin to understand what their intentions really are...but I keep remembering this one old adage....The road to hell is paved with good intentions...even though this group's intentions might be the best....what they are doing, is troubling....and smacks of a type of desperation...perhaps they should focus on what the Democratic message should be...instead of eliminating candidates...
windbreeze

[Freddie Stubbs]

54. If she couldn't beat Catherine Harris,

what makes you think that she will fare better against a Republican with less baggage?

[madfloridian]

55. 30% Democrats in district. She tried.

She got 45% of the vote. But how did I know you would say that it was her fault. Makes sense. So they put in the one she best before. Makes sense.

[Freddie Stubbs]

56. If she is such a strong candidate,

she should have little trouble winning the primary.

[madfloridian]

57. Yes, no money needed, no endorsements, nothing.

Just fight the system and win. Oh, yeah, real easy.

That is the only argument the big boys can give. Hey, if you are good you will beat us anyway. No, it does not always work that way.

[Freddie Stubbs]

58. If she is already popular in the distract

She won't need to raise as much as her opponent.

[madfloridian]

60. What a simplistic way to explain away the party power machine.

It is not fair to do that.

[Freddie Stubbs]

61. Life is often unfair

Politics isn't for the weak or whiny. If Ms. Jennings can't take the heat, perhaps she should get out of the kitchen.

[madfloridian]

62. Ms Jennings is the chosen one, she does not have to take heat.

The unchosen one is Jan.

[Freddie Stubbs]

64. Chosen by whom?

I thought that the primary wasn't until September.

[madfloridian]

65. Not playing word games with you over very serious stuff.

It is not funny, it is serious.

[infogirl]

63. Yes, Jennings calls Jan's supporters screaming

"why did you give her a check" the party is supporting me! She is a basket case...

Jan is running so please donate...

I did!

[madfloridian]

66. Kick for a classy lady.

Kick against party interference.