Dean's Grass-Roots Cash Cow

snip...

Howard Dean has issued a virtual rebuke to Democrats who can't stop complaining about how difficult it will be to raise money under the reformed campaign finance system.

The message: Don't whine. Organize.

Dean's astonishing success at pulling in such a large haul of online contributions so early in the campaign is revolutionary. It gives Democrats an alternative to their addiction to raising big money from rich people and rich interests. Most of that fundraising will be against the law if the Supreme Court upholds the Campaign Reform Act passed last year. So the Dems had better figure out something.

In the old soft money system, the most efficient way to raise $100 million was through a small number of very rich people. One hundred people giving $100,000 each quickly gets you to $10 million.

But Joe Trippi, Dean's campaign manager and an evangelist for the gospel of online politics, describes the alternative: You can raise $100 million if a million people contribute an average of $100 each. If Democrats can't find a few million people willing to part with a couple of bucks a week, they're in trouble

...snip

Link to article

www.blogforamerica.com is convering the story as well.

How can Democratic political campaigns further capitalize on this trend?

It's put up or shut up time in America. You may be Green, liberal or moderate Democratic, liberal or moderate Republican, Libertarian, Reform, Librarian, whatever... BUSH MUST GO.

If you cannot scrape together $100 to donate to your candidate of choice, you're not looking hard enough. Ever heard of eBay??? Raid those junk drawers. Do whatever it takes to put your money where your mouth is.

If it's just not possible to dole out any money, and every penny is sacred, then DONATE TIME. You can volunteer for a candidate, and that could rake in more money than the $100 you're making up for.

This is crunch time for America. If you love this country, as I believe everyone at DU does, you MUST make the effort, the sacrifice, and be willing to go the distance for WHOEVER is most likely to get the Bush regime out of office in 2004.

Can I get an Amen?

-A

>It's put up or shut up time in America. You may be Green, liberal or moderate Democratic, liberal or moderate Republican, Libertarian, Reform, Librarian, whatever... BUSH MUST GO.<

Adamocrat, you're getting a mighty KICK from me, because this is one of the most important subjects on DU for months.

Those that wring their hands and continue the incessant battles here are MISSING THE GODDAMN POINT, and I'm sorry for yelling, but listen to Adamocrat: The only way we are going to win is if we dig deeper, fight harder, and network more.

Do you want it more than your Republican co-workers, neighbors, family members, and friends?

Are you willing to squeeze whatever money you can out of your family budget, and if not able to do so, will you register people to vote, go door-to-door for your favorite candidate, write LTTE's, volunteer at their local headquarters, on and on and on?

Again: Do you want the White House more than they do?

Do you want your country back badly enough to fight for it?

Julie

I'm a Dean supporter all the way, but if he doesn't get the nomination, I'll support the nominee just as much. I think it's GREAT that we all have our favorites, our champions, our heroes, but we need to be prepared to circle our wagon once the field narrows.

I'm ready to do whatever I can, whatever it takes, to make sure the Democratic candidate wins, and Mr. Bush is packing his crap to move after November 2004. I'll be enormously pleased if Dr. Howard Dean sends him packing, but I'll be just as pleased if it's any of the other contenders. I will support him or her 100%, and I will give as much of my time and money as I can to rid the White House of its current squatters.

-A

from a poster on www.blogforamerica.com
So, I called Debra DeShong to ask her about the quote. Typo. What she said was: “How can we get them over to our site?.” That makes more sense.

Give $10-$20 a month to your candidate of choice. Forego one movie a month ($5 to $10 depending on where you see your movies) or two trips to Starbucks a month ($4 to $9 depending on what you get) and dedicate that money to the candidate of your choice.

Your budget is too tight (lord knows I've been there) to give money, but how about a few hours of your time?

I like this thread, thank you. It has inspired me and helped focus on what we are really trying to accomplish... revitalize our party and stop this disaster of a President. What is it worth to get Bush out of office? Cable? Bottle Water? Dinner out? A new CD or DVD?

Maybe we can start a movement to get Democratic supporters to give up certain "luxuries" to save and give money to restore our country? Things like chocolate, meat, new DVDs, movies, GASOLINE, games, cable channels, etc. I'm a chocoholic, and I'd gladly give up chocolate until November 2004 to get the Bush regime out of power.

We can make up posters like the old WW2 posters asking Democratic voters to make the sacrifice for our democracy and our country! :)

Cheers,
-A

I love it.
Look everyone... put your money where your mouth is PLEASE. I have, and will continue to do so.

We are going to have to bite the bullet some ways. Pick yours!!

'KUCINICH IS A KEEPER'

Great thread.

Just goes to show: pi]YOU HAVE THE POWER!

Eloriel

We really need to look to the past to see what our families did to save money.

This winter, USE EXTRA BLANKETS, and do not turn that heat up. Snuggling under a blanket can be quite fun!

With every purchase you make, seriously consider whether or not you truly NEED it more than you need your country back!

Make every meal count. Make versatile meals that can be stretched into a two or three day leftover feast. Avoid fast food. Avoid extra expense with "convenience" foods.

Turn off those lights! Stay off that phone! Nix those pay channels! Keep bills to a minimum, and funnel the savings to a Democratic candidate!

Most importantly, make sure that the businesses you DO spend money with aren't funneling that money over to the wrong team. Say no to Home Depot! Say no to Wal*Mart! Say no to Publix (for Southerners)! Say no to Circuit City! Say no to Target! (Say yes to Costco/Price Club.) Always check Open Secrets to see where your favorite retailers are sending their donations.

Folks, please add to this list if you can think of ways to SAVE MONEY TO SAVE DEMOCRACY, and maybe we'll stand a chance against the evil Bush regime.

Cheers,
-A

Edit: Removed unintended emoticon.

I'm from Minnesota... we love Target here.

They donate 84% of their donations to Republicans. They're scratched off of my list.

-A

especially since we saw what Dean was able to do...

We need to make sure that any candidate that wins will have as large a war chest as Bush...

If 1.25 million dems give $160 each over the next 32 weeks...then the dem nominee will have $200 million, thus cancelling out any benefit Pres. Sock Puppet has...

I was in a quandry about how to get it going until I saw that the DNC already has a fund set aside for donations for the dem Pres. candidate to get once there is a declared winner...

To donate to this fund, called the epatriot fund, go here:

https://www.democrats.org/epatriots/give.html?sourcecode=P000015

You can donate one time or set it up so that there is a small amount taken out of your credit card per month...maybe some of you are not old enough to remeber christmas clubs...but the idea was to put away a small amount of cash each week and by christmas youd have a large bundle of cash for shopping....lets do the same thing for the dems!!!!

$160.00 is $5.00 a week for crying out loud!!!!!!!!!!

and remember...$160 leaves $1840 more to donate to the candidate under federal law!!!!!!!!!!!

We can DU this! :) We need to spread the word, and get the hardcore Dems/Greens/Libertarians/etc. here at DU on the boat. Everyone needs to play a part in getting the Bush regime out of office. $5 a week is VERY affordable, and if it means a little sacrifice, sign me up.

I want to reach out to ALL progressives, moderates, and liberals to save our country. I think sending Bush back to Texas for good is a cause we should all be able to unite behind. It'll also send a message to the Republicans that their evil ways must change.

Personally, I can't wait for 2004. I have faith, and I honestly believe that good (US) will triumph over evil (THEM).

Cheers,
-A