Should DU raise money for Democratic candidates?

[Tiggeroshii]

Poll question: Should DU raise money for Democratic candidates?

We seem to do a good job at raising money for ourselves, but in terms of raising money for Democratic nominees who coould seriously use the help... how realistic is it? It seems that for a group of our size dedicated in the promotion of progressive politics and, in a way, also dedicated in opposing the Republican agenda and President Bush, there couldn't be a more noble cause. Of course, I suppose there would be many obstacles posed in following the campaign finance laws for contributing to campaigns, but can't it still happen?

Just think about how much a site like ours can influence races such as Webb's or Ford's and get 2 more Democratic victories than expected(in red states) in doing so? Is that a possibility, or unrealistic and inconsistent with what DU stands for? Any insight on this topic would be appreciated. I frankly haven't seen much discussion on this here, and am not sure how most of us feel about that.

Poll result (31 votes)
Good idea	(8 votes, 26%)	Vote
Bad idea	(23 votes, 74%)	Vote

[Tiggeroshii]

1. Anybody wanna give their insight?

Why would it be a bad idea?

[Oreo]

2. Bill Winter needs help against Tancredo

I think Tancredo can be beat... problem is that tancredo has 3x the cash to get his ignorant beliefs spread by the media.

http://www.winterforcongress.com

My name is Bill Winter and I'm running for Congress in Congressional District 6. I didn't come to this decision lightly, but I believe that it is my duty to defend the Constitution and to serve my Country, my native state, and the District where I grew up.

We are running a campaign unlike any that has waged before in this District. My team is launching an active ground and media strategy that will reach across party lines and labels to bring all voters in CD6 a viable alternative and a message of hope and change.

Colorado is my home. This is my community and the people here are my family. I have had a wide variety of life experiences, but a few things are constant, most importantly a desire to be of service to my community and country. I believe in supporting all Coloradans - every man, woman, and child. I hope that you will join me in that effort.

"I am not a career politician. I'm not going to Washington to advance myself or some narrow ideology. I want to continue the service to my country that began when I was a 17-year old Marine and fight for a better future for Colorado and all Americans"

- Bill Winter

[Tempest]

3. Very bad idea

DU would have to register as a PAC and our information would have to become available to anyone who asks for it.

It will also open up DU for IRS audits and a large amount of scrutiny.

[Tiggeroshii]

4. Why wouldn't it be worth it?

We can make a lot of impact doing it, even if we have to put up with some crap on the way.

[Tempest]

11. I'll cancel my membership and request my information removed

You may want to put up with some crap, I wouldn't.

If DU is found delinquent by the IRS, they can file against anyone who is a paying member as well.


Then there's the issue of employers getting the information through a source and being fired for supporting Liberal candidates. Don't laugh, it's happening more and more.

[NV Whino]

5. I agree with you.

There are PACs out there that you can use to get money to dem candidates. That is not DU's job.

[Tiggeroshii]

8. Then what's our job?

Just talking about them?

[Tempest]

DU's mission statement

http://www.democraticunderground.com/about.html

Democratic Underground (DU) was founded on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2001, to protest the illegitimate presidency of George W. Bush and to provide a resource for the exchange and dissemination of liberal and progressive ideas.

[Tiggeroshii]

13. How would this idea not be consistent with the statement then?

[Tempest]

18. It's completely inconsistent with the mission statement

"to provide a resource for the exchange and dissemination of liberal and progressive ideas"

Providing contributions to a candidate is neither an exchange or dissemination of ideas.


If it is agreed upon that a candidate will get DU contributions that I don't agree with, my membership in DU is non-consent consent.

Are you willing to place a disclaimer on every contribution with the list of DU members who don't agree with the contribution and require the candidate to post the disclaimer so that those members are not associated with the contribution?

[TheFarseer]

56. I see alot of posts telling our members

about candidates that need help and are in close races or exemplify our goals who could use some campaign contributions. I am sure democratic candidates receive funds in this way quite often. I think this is better because you can target for yourself which candidates get a little extra support.

[UDenver20]

33. So? Financial scrutiny is good - unless your a Republican

Further, there are ways to create two separate organizations with a symbiotic relationship...

You would just need to establish seperate governance and a unique decision-making process.

[Tiggeroshii]

37. Maybe somebody can come up with a DU PAC? Seperate from the forum?

That sounds possible.

[Tempest]

42. It is very possible

Not realistic for this election cycle though.

The work involved is lengthly.

But we need to think ahead and start talking about to see if there's enough interest for 2008 and beyond.


Good job on getting this out in the open.

[Tiggeroshii]

43. Thanks!

I just hope the discussion can last beyond this thread.

[Tempest]

45. Start a new thread every couple of days

Until enough people sit up and take notice.

In the meantime, start developing your ideas and fleshing out a game plan.

Work with the politics moderators and have them start up a 2006 election forum to get the ball rolling.

[Tempest]

39. Which is not what the original poster wanted

I agree with you on creating a separate organization, but the poster wanted it done on DU.

But as I said before, why create the overhead of another organization when 100% of the contributions can go to the candidate just by donating directly?

[Vidar]

48. Good point.

[Eric J in MN]

49. DU could put up an Act Blue page like "Daily Kos."

...and various other blogs.

Or just post a prominent link to theirs:
http://www.actblue.com/page/netrootscandidates?refcode=...

"Act Blue" is a PAC. DU wouldn't have to become a PAC, just like "Daily Kos" didn't have to become a PAC to create an Act Blue page.

[OzarkDem]

6. Of course they should

this is the Democratic Underground, after all.

If people don't like a particular candidate, they don't have to donate, but we should provide an opportunity for everyone to donate to Dem candidates, especially those in tight races.

Grassroots, baby.

[orleans]

7. what tempest said, and then some...

who do we fundraise for? which candidates get the money? do we all agree on who should get how much?

what if we had a thread that listed various candidates and links to their websites, and we all make the decision as to how much to give. (which reminds me...i forgot to send du a check last week--i have to go write it now...)

[Tiggeroshii]

12. Why can't we just raise a buncha money and send them to Dem nominees

in close races? Or decide through some kind of concensus? Maybe te Amdins(or somebody) can decide on a set of candidates to donate to and DUers can decide which ones their money will go to?

[Tempest]

14. Why not contribute directly to the candidate?

And remove the overhead of a middle man?

Who will pay for the cost of PayPal and other collection agencies it takes?

Who will be responsible for auditing DU's contributions?

What if there's a disagreement? Who is responsible for resolving those?

[Tiggeroshii]

16. I've heard about how kos has raised so much for Dem candidates.

Have you caught exactly how they do it? I don't think they are a pac. Is it the simple endorsement? How could our endorsements be just as powerful?

[Tempest]

19. Kos doesn't directly raise money for candidates

Kos links to groups who are raising money, and he links to the candidate's web sites.

The site does no direct fundraising.

[Tiggeroshii]

21. I know.

Why don't we start doing that? And if we are, how can we make it more effective here -as effective as kos?

[Tempest]

27. It's already being done on DU

There are threads where members are requesting contributions for candidates they support.

If you mean to somehow centralize it in a forum, for example, that's one thing.

But that's not what you were talking about.

You were talking about making DU a PAC by collecting the contributions on this site.

[Tiggeroshii]

35. And you've convinced me that's a bad idea.

Now how do we feeel about centralizing a forum for contributing to Dem nominees? A new thread should be made with these ideas, I think. Seeing how my suggestions are pretty much unrealistic.

[Tempest]

41. You've got us thinking about it though and offering different ideas

And for that I thank you.

[panader0]

17. Raise money and send it to Dem candidates. Just not thru DU

[MissWaverly]

46. Good Idea,

Some bright DU'er thought up a link that when I go to DNC to donate, it says that I am from
Democratic Underground, I would like DU to get credit but not the hassles of hiring an
accountant and paying to track donations, is there a way to show our support which is
hassle free?

[Eric J in MN]

50. The DNC doesn't have a space on their donations page

...for people to mention their favorite websites.

That is a good idea to create more two-way interaction.

If they added a space to their donation forms like:
Optional: One of my favorite political websites is...

It would give them more information on where their donors are coming from.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

9. I wouldn't call it a bad idea...

...but I would prefer to see DU raise money for alternative media than political candidates. I would love to see Moveon do this as well, rather than budget so much on commercial advertising through corporate media. Taking our country back means somehow reaching millions (yes millions) of people with truth and that won't happen if alternative media isn't supported and helped to grow.

[Tempest]

22. Good idea

We could raise funds for a sister web site that is news oriented and publishes reports from around the country on the issues written by a set list of coorispondents.

Something like Indymedia.

[Tiggeroshii]

26. Somebody want to start a tthread about this?

I think I like it better than my original idea.

[Tiggeroshii]

25. Yeah, I like that too n/t

[Eric J in MN]

51. Great idea. But...

..when I've raised the issue of a fund-raising drive for something other than the website itself (such as buying an ad on "Air America Radio") Skinner has said he doesn't want to because people would donate less during the regular fund drives if he did that.

[INdemo]

10. Pretty good idea but

it might be best if one would contribute directly to the candidate.Or what is needed for most candidates (at least in my state)is campaign workers,canvasing etc. Certainly funds are needed for advertising,materials etc but just helping out with good ol'grass roots camapigning is so important.

[Tiggeroshii]

15. What if DU just endorsed candidates on their home page and suggested

donating to them?

[snowbear]

20. During primaries... should DU take sides though?

I mean.. this is what most of us look like during primaries:



I don't think DU has a problem with people on here providing links to various candidates websites.. so maybe that's the best route during primaries..

...then, when we're down to one Democrat, we can all come together (kum bye yah ) like we always do.

[Tiggeroshii]

24. I think we shouldn't take sides during primaries.

Just for Dem nominees.

But I think the best idea would be just giving the Dem nominees a higher profiel here than we do. And mayeb we can just discuss the competitive races more effectively.

[snowbear]

29. Ok, good!

Because you know how it is here Tigger..

Primary season at DU:

Post-primary season at DU:

Just the way it is!

[orleans]

30. ? maybe. don't know if they would do it.

what about creating a new forum strictly for 2006 election that would entail candidates, race info, poll info, and fraud taking place on november 7? put it up with the other "big" forums--so we can check in on a regular basis & find out what's going on.

hey skinner! what do you think?

[Tempest]

32. Best idea yet

There was one for the 2002 and 2004 elections.

I'm surprised the 2006 forum hasn't been created yet.

[snowbear]

38. Great idea, 'cept for one thing.....

How the heck is anyone going to try and get DU'ers to post poll data and candidate info in a specific section here...

I can already see it now.

Comment from DU'er to other DU'er:

"Nice thread, but you were supposed to post this in the candidate and polling section"

Still.. great idea if people here actually would remember to do it!

I've ALWAYS thought that polls.. ALL POLLS should be in one section here at DU. It would solve a lot of problems.

First, we wouldn't keep duplicating threads about the latest poll... Secondly, we could see all polling threads in ONE place, and lastly, it would make it much, much easier to compare both pollsters, as well as how the polls were changing.

[Eric J in MN]

52. Something like that already exists. It's called "Campaign Underground."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[Sherman A1]

23. And there are no means to give to the candidate of your choice?

I see absolutely no need to involve the DU in fund-raising, there are plenty of ways to give, without adding one more to the field.

[Jed Dilligan]

28. What might be good

Is if somewhere on the site is a "clearinghouse" of direct links to the donation sites of Dems in closely contested races. I live in an uncontested area and I may be somewhat "flush" (by my meager standards) around election time. So I'd appreciate--in the spirit of "sharing information," of course--a direct line to places where my contribution might make a difference. As far as directly administering political funds goes, I don't think that's an appropriate role for this website.

[Tiggeroshii]

34. I think we should have something dedicated to that.

I totally agree.

[Tempest]

36. I'm surprised there's no 2006 election forum

There was one for 2002 and 2004.

I didn't visit those, but I saw them. I just looked and there's no 2006 forum.

[Tiggeroshii]

40. I guess there's something like it in the research forums. Here's this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[Tempest]

44. That's good, but under Reseach?

It needs to be front and center on the banner that shows up on at least the home page and on the Latest page (which is where I go to directly, bypassing the home page).

[UDenver20]

31. Abso-FRIGGING-lutely

Every single outlet that the left can muster to match the financial resources of the right are needed.

Further, there is strength in saying that it comes from "the liberal netroots"...

I absolutely believe DU should raise money for *certain* candidates and that we should democratically decide who we support.

Our own little PAC. Our own process of financing those we believe in.

What could it hurt!

[cmd]

47. I already have a link

Thanks for your contribution.

[LWolf]

53. Bad idea.

DU doesn't need to become a PAC, and DUers personal info doesn't need to become available to others. Those of us likely to donate to campaigns are already doing so.

[Eric J in MN]

54. The Daily Kos has an "Act Blue" page.

Would you be against DU creating an "Act Blue" page or prominently linking to the Daily Kos one?
http://www.actblue.com/page/netrootscandidates?refcode=...

[LWolf]

55. It depends on whether

that page, or that link, would require DU to register as a PAC, and divulge donor information.

Perhaps there could be a section on the front page for that link, as well as links to other groups like DFA, PDA, etc., or a thread pinned to the top of the Activist forum with pertinent links.

[Eric J in MN]

57. No.

"Act Blue" is the PAC. DU wouldn't have to become a PAC to post an "Act Blue" page.