Yeah, Joe, but is it a BFD? If not, forget it…

Got this fund-raising email this morning from Joe Biden (really, from the DCCC):

Brad —
This is serious:
House Republicans just passed the most radical budget we’ve ever seen. That’s not hyperbole. It’s a direct attack on President Obama’s second term agenda — and a slap in the face to the middle class.
Right now, we need your help to fight back.
The deadline in 48 hours is the most important yet. We need 24,700 donations behind the campaign to win a Democratic House and put an end to this Republican nonsense. Will you chip in $5 or more right now?

Yeah, Joe, it may be “serious,” but is it a BFD? If not, why are you bothering me?

Not that I’d ever donate anyway…

15 thoughts on “Yeah, Joe, but is it a BFD? If not, forget it…

  1. Bryan Caskey

    “The deadline in 48 hours is the most important yet.”

    Wait. What? They should have had a countdown clock like they have on the intro to “24”. What happens in 48 hours? The Tea-Party bomb goes off somewhere in DC.

    Only you (and your donation) can stop it.

    1. Brad Warthen Post author

      Something is usually SOMETHING imminent in these appeals — an effort to trump up a sense of urgency. As though the candidate couldn’t make use of money that comes in after that date or something…

  2. Harry Harris

    Quarterly contribution figures (including deadlines) are a big deal to political fundraisers and operatives. The unfortunate thing about this appeal is that it takes about 5000 donors at my level to match the haul from one Rove or Koch fundraising event. That money is used to fund ads such as the ones associating Sheheen with criminality. Another unfortunate issue is that money donated to many of the 501K “charitable” groups is deducted from the taxable income of the donor, thereby causing other taxpayers to subsidize their political “speech” and advocacy. If you think that kind of stealth campaigning doesn’t work, ask John McCain what Rove, Inc. did to him in SC in 2000. And look at the disinformation and distortion promoted about the Affordable Care Act – including ads aired in SC shown to be clear distortions of the facts behind the persons allegedly harmed, some of whom are Republican operatives or local party officials.

  3. Bart

    “The unfortunate thing about this appeal is that it takes about 5000 donors at my level to match the haul from one Rove or Koch fundraising event.” Harry Harris

    Lets be fair, Harry. How many private donors for one of Obama’s exclusive dinners does it take to produce the equilavent of 5000 donors at $5 each? Most of the private events start at around $20k and goes up to $38k per person. Think about that for a moment and get back to me about the differences between Koch, Rove, and Obama’s vast financial support from millionaires and billionaires not including wealthy celebrities.

    At $5 a clip x 24,700 = $123,500. Divide that by an average of $29k and it only takes 4.3 attendees at just one private event to equal it. The private events usually have between 50 to100 or more attending.

    Since the Corleone family has been quoted, maybe Michael’s comment to the senator from Nevada is appropos. “Senator, we’re both part of the same hyprocisy.”

    1. Bryan Caskey

      Nice. I may start responding to requests for political donations as follows:

      “Senator? You can have my answer now, if you like. My final offer is this: nothing. Not even the fee for the gaming license, which I would appreciate if you would put up personally.”

    2. Harry Harris

      The usual attempt at asserting equivalence employed by Republicans and their sympathizers is pervasive, but not nearly accurate. It’s not even relevant. I never expect Democrats to be on a par with Republicans is the amount of campaign cash available, except when monied interests “invest” with Democrats because they are in power. What is at issue is the stealth money spent by allied groups, many of them posing as “educational” endeavors eschewing candidate or issue advocacy to get 501c status. Money donated to such groups should never be tax deductible. It should never be hidden from the public record under the guise of the group being “charitible.” Who’s doing that? Mostly Republican-allied groups. OFA, Move-On, and numerous other groups haven’t even applied for 501c (but might be tempted to thanks to the Roberts Court). I’d lay a bet that Haley will stay at arm’s length from the scurrilous ads the RNC and Koch brothers are airing on her behalf, and may never admit her campaign’s complicity. Check on the dark and stealth money being raised by both Republicans and Democrats. Nowhere near equivalent.

        1. Harry Harris

          Look at the ratio of union to corporate. No contest. And the union money is on the record. Also visible is union activity in voter registration and get-out-the vote. the greater concern is the dark money.

          1. Doug Ross

            Yes, there has never been any hint of corruption or strong arm tactics used by unions. They are virtuous organizations.

      1. Bryan Caskey

        “OFA, Move-On, and numerous other groups haven’t even applied for 501c (but might be tempted to thanks to the Roberts Court).”

        Haven’t even applied? What? Are we living on the same planet?

        Move-On and OFA are both 501(c)(4) organizations.

        Come on, man!

      2. Bart

        Once again, an uninformed comment about the Koch brothers. Do you have proof the Koch brothers are paying for the RGA ads attacking Sheheen? If so, provide it – not with speculation but proof – actual cash values.

        Democrats vs. Republicans raising money not being equivalent? You might want to do some actual checking instead of speculating and parroting the propaganda coming from Huffington, Move.On, MSNBC, and other liberal sources. To be fair, the other side is just as guilty when it comes to misinformation. The disparity does not exist except in the minds of extremists on both sides of the aisle. When one considers that in 2012, close to $1 billion was raised by both sides, it staggers the imagination and does not fit your narrative.

Comments are closed.