Is Dean raising as much money as McAuliffe?

[Proud2BAmurkin]

That's the most important question as far as winning elections. You might not like it but there it is. Anyone know the answer?

[xultar]

1. I think it is only fair. I'd like independent information on DNC finances

Before we go hog wild on Begala. Let's see what the deal is.

[jsamuel]

3. I have to go right now, but off the top of my head...

Dean was outpacing the previous DNC Chair by around 25% in money raised...

Much of that was raised through individuals rather than groups, which is a first, I think.

[xultar]

5. OK. How much have we spent?

[Renew Deal]

2. Record fundraising in 2005

But here are the facts:

1.) The DNC raised more than $51 million in 2005 – a record for a non-election year and a 20% increase over the total raised in 2003.

2.) More than 30,000 Americans have invested in the future of the Democratic Party through the Democracy Bonds program. At an average contribution of $20 a month that's roughly $7 million a year in recurring small-dollar contributions.

3.) To date, the DNC has hired talented, experienced, diverse political professionals in 43 states. Thirty of those states have sent their staffers to Washington, DC for several days of training from top Democratic operatives about how to effectively organize Democrats in their communities.

4.) Governor Dean and the DNC invested more than $7 million to elect new Democratic governors Jon Corzine in New Jersey and Tim Kaine in Virginia. Democrats also reaped important ballot box victories at the local level in places like Mobile, Alabama, St. Paul, Minnesota and King County, Washington.

5.) Governor Dean has traveled to 34 states and territories during his first year as chairman to talk about Democratic values and raise money for the local parties. Those states, red, blue, and purple, include:

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.

So why is there so much misinformation and anonymous discontent out there? The truth is, much of it is not intentional. This is a new way of doing business, re-building the party from the grassroots up, organizing in every state, and asking Americans from Main Street, not K Street, to sustain the party via their small dollar contributions. Unfortunately, there will be the contingent of those who are threatened by the new shift in balance... and those are often the ones cited anonymously on page one of the Washington Post when inaccurate stories about DNC fundraising come out.

http://www.democrats.org/a/2006/01/record_fundrais.php

[xultar]

7. Well I'd like to see independent confirmation but o.k. I buy what

you are selling.

[Renew Deal]

9. What am I selling?

:wtf:

[xultar]

11. OK. I hear what you are saying. That better or would you like me to

frame that again for ya?

:wtf:

[Renew Deal]

17. That's better

Thanks :)

[aquart]

4. Oh, goody. It's a GET DEAN campaign.

Color me disgusted.

[xultar]

6. No. I'm sure the facts are in his favor. Why not just get them out.

[madfloridian]

47. I posted the facts and you said not to worry.

I thought you wanted fundraising facts.

[Synnical]

8. There's a graph at this link

But, it's from a Bob Novak article.

Basically, it says the DNC has raised 74 Million between Jan 2005 and March 2006 and spent 70 million.

http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=14385

[Malikshah]

12. Looks like Begala's been talking with his old buddy Novak

If this isn't a smoking gun for some folks....

Lord, help them.

[xultar]

15. if 2+2 = 4 for a Republican it doesn't = 4 for a Democrat? Be for real

How much have we spent?

How much have we raised?

Before we say Begala is wrong or Dean is wrong. Let's get independent confirmation of the numbers.

Whassamatta with ya'll?

[Malikshah]

16. I'm all for independent numbers but the fact that Begala's

numbers match so swimmingly well with Novaks

and that the two were bestest of friends for years on CNN

and that numbers can be spun any number of ways

and that it's a lovely soundbite to throw at folks to feed Jabba the Hut--I mean Candy Crowley on a Thursday afternoon when real news re: USS Enterprise, NSA records, Fitz GJ on Friday...etc.

That's real enough for me.

[xultar]

20. What if his numbers are correct? That's all I'm sayin. Why blast

the guy if the numbers are right?

No biggie.

[Bucky]

26. The numbers look pretty unspun to me. They're just reading the same report

These numbers match because they're from the same financial reports. Geeze, Begala isn't in cahoots with every person who happens to read the same press releases. That's why the numbers match "swimmingly well": they're the same numbers. Acting obtuse does not enhance your credibility in a debate. These aren't secret "sources", but public information.

and that it's a lovely soundbite to throw at folks to feed Jabba the Hut--I mean Candy Crowley on a Thursday afternoon when real news re: USS Enterprise, NSA records, Fitz GJ on Friday

These wonky little fundraising stories don't carry anything near the weight of the carrier deployments and major corruption scandals. We still have momentum and these "inside baseball" stories don't really detract from that. I think the party's strong enough to endure an honest debate over how the money's being spent. I think the 50-state strategy will pay off big if there is still a Democratic groundswell in November--and that strong grassroots will help to sustain this current groundswell if they're used right. But that's a big "IF" and a semi-journalist like Begala casting a spotlight on how those dollars are being spent can only help insure that they're being used efficiently.

Scrutiny should not be a cause for panic, nor panic an excuse for insulting Ms Crowley over her weight issues.

[xultar]

30. I think you should see Post # 28 in this thread baby. Begalas numbers

are correct.

He doesn't agree with how the money is being spent. That is his beef. He didn't fuck Novak to get them. Anyone can. The shit is online.


So don't people look like assholes. The guy's numbers are pretty solid. You may disagree with the nosepickers but you can't about his numbers.

[Malikshah]

46. Wow. "Baby" "Nosepickers" "shit"

Just love the level of discourse here.

Obfuscation is as obfuscation does.

Enjoy the oblivion. :)

[madfloridian]

48. Dean explained that several times on TV

He said the GOP had their party built, we didn't. That is why he is not banking so much yet.

Frankly I think a lot of it is jealousy that he raised more than the others while they were yelling he wasn't raising money.

[xultar]

13. Novak is not independent.

[Synnical]

23. Never said he was

But, it's more information than you've posted thus far.

Anyway, here's the Boston Globe:
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/03/13/dean_seen_boosting_dnc_from_bottom_up/

Dean seen boosting DNC from bottom up
March 13, 2006

<snip>

But Dean's push to rebuild state parties has been costly, and has left the DNC coffers surprisingly bare. He has burned through nearly all the $61 million the party has raised since the beginning of 2005, according to Federal Election Commission data filed last month. That leaves the party with a nest egg of just $6.9 million, virtually all of it left over from the 2004 campaigns.

Though the DNC's fund-raising was up 20 percent last year over 2003 -- the last year that didn't have congressional elections -- the party has brought in far less than the Republican National Committee.

Ken Mehlman, RNC chairman, has already begun amassing a war chest for use in 2006 and 2008 -- it stands at $38.9 million so far -- even as Dean sends huge sums to many states where Democratic prospects appear to be bleak for the foreseeable future.

<snip>

In 2004, as in other recent presidential years, the DNC under then-chairman Terry McAuliffe saved most of its cash to help the nominee with television ads and paid operatives.

[xultar]

25. Sorry. I suck @ searches. I am a part time stand up comedian...

so if you need me to work a party let me know.

[Synnical]

49. So, you're just a big ole whiner?

I'll keep that in mind.

-Cindy in Fort Lauderdale

[sandnsea]

10. Staying on message is

to tell the truth. Money helps get the message out, but if the rank and file prefer to buy into the right wing and/or left wing spins, no amount of money can overcome that. Spending the money wisely is also important, but I'm willing to wait and see on that one. I think we've got enough money going to various places that money shouldn't be an issue this year, no matter what Dean is doing and I'm not saying he's doing anything wrong.

People just need to get behind their local candidates come hell or high water.

[xultar]

14. The way we eat our own. I'm not sure if many could get behind their

local Dems.

[William769]

18. How much is he pocketing?

[xultar]

21. I'm sure he's not pocketing anything. He's working pretty fuckin hard.

Running a party is Hard Work...:rofl: No. He's not pocketing anything I couldn't believe any of that would be going on.

[frustrated_lefty]

19. Not nearly as much!

Get over it people, McAulliffe raised + $200 million. Dean has barely scratched out a few grand, which Judy Dean promptly snorted off his "little soldier" and then shared in a deep-throated lesbian smooch with an underage Guatemalan sex-slave. You really don't want to know where they get the fluid to moisten stamps on outgoing mail.

McAuliffe was our spirit and Begala was his voice. Saviors, they're saviors if you only just squint right.

-fl

[xultar]

22. Aww please. That isn't even the fucking point. It was funny though.

[LSK]

40. n/m

Learn to use :sarcasm: please

[Warren DeMontague]

24. McAuliffe's obnoxious fundraising tactics almost got me fired in 1996.

Silly me, I gave the DNC my "work" phone number when I contributed. And they called every day, two, three times a day, after I repeatedly told 'em I was making barely over minimum wage, I had given all I could, and would they PLEASE STOP calling me, because I was working at a place where the phones needed to be used for business.

Finally, after I told phone guy #3,235,589 that one more call would make me -a lifelong, yeller dog democrat- leave the party, the calls stopped.

Terry was a little TOO focused on raising $$$, and nothing else. If we run inspiring (ahem) people who aren't afraid to stand up for things we believe in, the money will follow.

[Name removed]

27. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[xultar]

28. We don't call people names here... But this is good info.

Thank you. Can you post this in a new thread please!

[Bucky]

32. "dean-o-craptics", "dean-bot"---Give the poison a rest, Ms Moretti

If your job is to plant solid information in these discussions, I welcome you. If your job is to insult people you might want to find a website where bitter vitriol and cheapshot insults to people you disagree with is the norm. You've posted five times and you're using the ugliest and most juvenile of language against regular posters here. You seem to be a real Democrat, but that doesn't mean you're not acting like a disruptor.

[xultar]

33. Why not hit alert.

[Bucky]

36. Because she's using facts along with the playground insults

I want to see a real debate. I suspect Ms Moretti works for Begala's staff and I think the world would be a better place if we all held hands. I mean, if we actually debated facts (which she clearly has and understands) instead of calling each other names. I want to reform her, not punish her.

Jeeezus, I'm a liberal.

[M_Moretti]

41. Sorry to disappoint

but I don't work for Begala, or the party. I'm a student, at a public college in New England. Love politics, and am a liberal democrat. I just don't happen to like watching some who call themselves democrats show themselves to be as fascistic as their peers on the right wing, lying about and slandering good democrats.. expecting everyone to be goose stepping in line with the Deaniac mindset rather than respecting others rights to opinion, etc..

[M_Moretti]

37. I'll be happy to, if..

the other side refrains from their name calling and stereotyping.

[madfloridian]

29. Fundraising....DNC more than the DSCC and DCCC for the year.

"The DSCC reported raising $6.9 million in March, bringing its total for the 2005-2006 cycle to $56.4 million, with $32.1 million in the bank. The NRSC reported raising $5 million in March, bringing its total to $50.4 million for the cycle, with $16.5 million in the bank."

The DCCC has raised a total of $52.8 million in the 2005-2006 cycle, compared with the NRCC's $83.3 million. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee reported having $23 million in the bank.

"The Democratic National Committee reported quarterly figures showing that it has raised $74.1 million so far in the 2005-2006 cycle. That puts the party on track to break its 2001-2002 record of $93.4 million for a year with no presidential election -- with the best months for pulling in cash still to come as the midterm elections approach.

But the DNC had only $10 million in the bank, less than a quarter of the Republican National Committee's $43 million balance."

Dean says the RNC can bank theirs as they are not having to the build the party like he is doing. He is right.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/20/AR2006042001870_pf.html

[xultar]

31. I don't think people are saying hes wrong. People were pissed with

Begala saying the numbers were wrong. Begala was right about the numbers...even if you hate him for saying it. He was truly correct in his stats.

[Bucky]

34. Never doubted the numbers. It's the "picking their noses" line that's off

That could mean "they're really doing nothing", or it could mean "the money isn't going to Beltway consultants like me." I welcome criticism since that's what you want a press to do. But if Begala wanted a real debate, then he'd act more like a grown up and less like a smug little Fauntleroy.

[xultar]

38. True. I agree with you there.

[Proud2BAmurkin]

42. well he has a record of getting Democrats elected president so

maybe knows somethign about how to spend the money

[madfloridian]

35. People are pissed with Begala for the insults.

There are insults all over this board today. You can have correct stats and be a bastard. And he is.

[xultar]

39. Well I will admit the name calling was uncalled for but he has fought

a good fight for our team. So insulting him back doesn't seem so grownup either.

[madfloridian]

43. Oh, I disagree on that.

I think his rudeness was out of order, and it was planned.

[xultar]

44. It is TEEV it is all planned. That is what people in TEEV like. So you

should take it with a grain of salt.

[madfloridian]

45. Yes, dear.

With a grain of salt unless it your ox being gored.

Don't you see what is happening?