Posted on 07/25/2007 5:44:45 AM PDT by Valin
Politico's Jeanne Cummings has a story on the dollar gap that is opening between the Dems and Republicans. It is large and growing, and a complete turnaround from the ordinary situation. So, what is going on?
There are three answers.
First, the top tier GOP presidential candidates are equally matched and there's a lot of money on the sidelines waiting for the main event to begin. When a strong frontrunner emerges who begins to take the campaign to the Dems, especially on the war, the contributions will flow. If Romney is that nominee, expect some serious 527 efforts as well funded by his extraordinarily successful colleagues in the world of investment banking. Rudy Giuliani, too, will not lack for cash if he is the nominee.
The disparity in cash on hand between the campaign committees of Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate are much more significant, and harder for the GOP to fix. The Dems are enthusiastic about adding to their majority, and recognize that if they can keep if through this cycle it will be theirs for some time. Though pressed by the anti-war fringe into absurd ploys and defeatist rhetoric, the Dems can count on their foot soldiers in the unions and the groups to keep sending in the small contributions, whether by payroll deduction or on a voluntary basis.
The Republicans have a double disadvantage.
Quick, name one GOP House candidate challenging a Democratic freshman. That's the first problem. The House GOP has done almost nothing to present the face of the comeback, and until it does, don't expect a lot of enthusiasm or contributions from the base. Show me 20 Republican challengers, including a bunch of vets with service in Iraq and Afghanistan who are running on a platform of victory, and the House coffers will start to fill.
The problem in the Senate isn't a lack of candidates, it is that some of the candidates are not merely old and uninpsiring, some, like Orgeon's Gordon Smith, have gone over to the defeatist ranks. Others like Domenici of New Mexico and Warner of Virginia sit on the fence. There is simply no way that even the most committed Republican activists are going to give money to the National Republican Senatorial Committee and see it work for Smith's re-election, or the re-election of other Republicans not committed to victory in Iraq.
When the GOP's senate challengers to defeatist incumbent Democrats emerge in Montana, Louisiana, Iowa, and Arkansas to join Bob Schaeffer in Colorado, there will be some rallying to them if they run on a victory platform, but not until then, and then only into the campaigns of the individuals. I got another e-mail from Senator John Ensign today, a good conservative who chairs the NRSC, asking me to contribute to the Committee to help turn back Hillary Clinton's assault on talk radio. Now, you'd think I would respond to that, right? Not a chance, because I know that my contribution would end up helping Gordon Smith. Keeping the Fairness Doctrine at bay means almost nothing compared to a loss in Iraq that allows al Qaeda to establish a new home base, and trying to appeal to donors in any way that ignores the debate over the war will fail. When the GOP caucus in the Senate serves notice that it won't be sending money to the defeatist rump in its midst, then donations will pick up. Until then, save the stamp, or the e-mail.
Who would give to a party that supports Arlen Specter.
Because we have plenty of illegal aliens already, and no need to buy ourselves a new crop. ;)
Republicans aren’t donating to “teach” a lesson. Unfortunately for the U.S.A. that lesson will cost us dearly if Hillary Clinton is elected.
Because the party wants to give us the same tired old repackaged crap. I give to individual candidates.
Simple. They are waiting for Fred.
Maybe when the Republican party actually represents conservative causes once again I will consider donating. You would think with all the mailings they receive emblazoned with the text "NO AMNESTY," "BUILD THE WALL" and "DEPORT THE ILLEGALS" that they might get the message.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1791031/posts
My Email to the Republican National Committee
The GOP blew it with the immigration debacle.
Because “a fool and his money are soon parted”, or “show me a candidate and I’ll show you some money”.
We might as well just donate to the Dems. We get the same if we were to donate money to the RINOs.
Check your mirror, Hugh. HAHA
To me at least, the Republican party (overall) has remained reasonably firm in supporting victory in Iraq.
The big disappointment for me is the illegal immigration issue.
1. Immigration
2. RINOs
>>>I give to individual candidates.
bump
The GOP left me here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1829933/posts?page=28#28
SOME BIG DONORS REFUSE TO FINANCE CHRISTIAN CONSERVATIVE AGENDAA POST-ELECTION SURVEY FOUND THAT CHRISTIAN COALITION SUPPORT MADE VOTERS LESS LIKELY TO VOTE FOR DOLE-KEMP EVERYWHERE EXCEPT THE SOUTH.
Excerpt:
To understand why behind-closed-door revolts against the religious right are gathering speed - and cash - at lofty levels of the Republican Party, look at a plebeian congressman like Tom Coburn of Oklahoma. No sooner had 65 million Americans embraced ``Schindler’s List’’ last Sunday than Coburn denounced NBC for affronting ``decent-minded individuals everywhere’’ and hitting an ``all-time low’’ by airing a movie with ``multiple gunshot wounds, vile language, full frontal nudity and irresponsible sexual activity.’’
Coburn co-chairs the Congressional Family Caucus and is an exemplar of Christian Coalition values: He scores 100 percent on the Pat Robertson-Ralph Reed machine’s voter guides. But is he anywhere near the American mainstream that decides national elections? Panicked GOP elders had to school him in the fact that nudity and violence were just plain unavoidable in the Holocaust before he retreated.
It’s religious-right poster boys like Coburn who make some Republican leaders fear that their party is doomed to drive away even more women and moderates, thereby continuing its losing streak in presidential elections and risking a bicoastal congressional meltdown. A post-election survey by American Viewpoint, a GOP pollster, for the Log Cabin Republicans found that Christian Coalition support made voters dramatically less likely to vote for Dole-Kemp everywhere except the South.
When Ralph Reed once again lorded his power over the party in January - bragging to the columnist David Broder that ``Christian conservatives were decisive’’ in electing James Nicholson to succeed Haley Barbour as GOP chairman - one party powerhouse got sore enough to take action. John Moran - the GOP and then Dole finance chairman in recent years - wrote a letter to 15 other Republican heavy-hitters saying that the Christian Coalition and far right had put the party ``in jeopardy.’’ He proposed that big donors give to a separate organization to promote a more moderate GOP.
(snip)
And entered the Main Streeters, Party of Lincoln, Log Cabins and what ever other fancy spin off of the same group they put under that tent.
I only give to political parties that take strong stands against illegal immigration, including refusing to hand over the Serbian provice of Kosovo to the Moslem Albanian illegal immigrants temporarily occupying it.
Simple...
FairTax w/repeal 16th ammendment
Privatize SS/Medicare
Legitimate border enforcement and resolution of chronic festering alien malmanagement.
Congressional Term Limits
100% Lobbying/Financial Transparency of those on Capitol Hill for their limited term and in the Executive Branch
Just for starters....
Because we are tired of spineless Republicans acting like Democrats and spewing out liberal candidates like Rudy. I give money to the two best Senators in the US. Oklahoma Senators Inhofe and Coburn. They are conservative to the core, and when the Republican party gets back to conservatism they will begin to see the money flow again.
There are other examples, but the fact that the RNC backed a man who wouldn’t even vote for President Bush in the 2004 election speaks volumes.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.