FReeper PAC discussion thread

Free Republic ^ | 12/18/2010 | Jim Robinson

[RebelTex]

Another item to consider is: tax consequences to FR.

Will creating, supporting (on FR forums/threads/home page), “advertising the PAC” incur any tax consequences for JimRob?

IIRC, (from prior PAC research), the FEC reporting rules are very stringent and complex. I was advised that it is best to have either someone very experienced or a professional (CPA specializing in campaign finance) handling the job. I was referred to a CPA firm that does that for Republicans only, and was highly recommended. I will provide that if needed to whomever needs it.

As for a website for the PAC (or whatever we create), one idea is to have a list of all 100 Senators, broken into 3 groups according to re-election year (2012, 2014, 2016) and sorted by state within each group. Each senator could be color coded by party (red, blue) and then designated as RINO, CINO etc., with the senator name as a hot link to a page that lists reasons he/she is a RINO/CINO, etc.

For some ideas on stated principals, see:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2645113/posts?page=61#61

[Vision]

I would like to help.

I live in the DC area and have wanted an anti RINO effort for years.

[sam_paine]

What if the PAC manager(s) were to form an alliance with another one? It likely wouldn’t be a big fish in the pond alone, but there is strength in numbers while still having control over some of the funds.

Money talks. Suckas walk. FRPAC will have say proportionate to $$$$. Like I said, Coming up with a paltry $100k will hurt us more than help as it will say, "See, you needed worry about caving, the conservatives have no clout."

Coalitions is what gets you the GOP as it is now. Coalitions require compromise. Compromise for a conservative means sacrificing principles. Pretty soon, you're singing Lindsay Graham's tune.

Again, what's the objective here?

Advancing conservative ideals, or getting a hand in the corrupted process as it exists?

[afnamvet]

I was thinking perhaps we could come along the side of the Tea Party PACs. It would give us a higher impact if we all had the same goals.

[RebelTex]

"I am a n00b."

Ya ain't nomore, LOL.
5 years qualifies you for 'long timer'.
Ya got a ways to go, though, to be an 'old timer', heheh.

;^D

[humblegunner]

Have we started a blog yet for this project? :-)

If we do, and it posts excerpts, the poster can expect to get a ration of crap about it!

[humblegunner]

“humblegunner- will you please ping the group to this important discussion item?”

Yes, ping to post 115:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2645113/posts?page=115#115

Also, here is how the list stands thus far:

________________________________________________

50mm;
adm5;
afnamvet;
Allegra;
americanophile;
apronius;
Army Air Corps;
Artcore;
bert;
blam;
BoxerDawgs;
brothers4thID;
BuckeyeTexan;
CAluvdubya;
CaptainPhilFan;
Christian Engineer Mass;
Col Freeper;
dajeeps;
DaxtonBrown;
dixie sass;
EDINVA;
ejonesie22;
ELS;
FlingWingFlyer;
freeangel;
getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL;
GitmoSailor;
goodnesswins;
huldah1776;
humblegunner;
Islander7;
itssme;
JDoutrider;
Jemian;
Jim Robinson;
Kevmo;
Liberty Valance;
MamaB;
manc;
Markos33;
mojo114;
montag813;
mstar;
no-to-illegals;
onyx;
Outlaw Woman;
OwenKellogg;
Persevero;
pillut48;
Presbyterian Reporter;
Prince of Space;
PROCON;
Prov3456;
re_nortex;
RebelTex;
Red Steel;
RedMDer;
RnMomof7;
Ron H.;
ScottinVA;
shibumi;
Snerdley;
SoConPubbie;
Sola Veritas;
sonofagun;
STARWISE;
surroundedbyblue;
swheats;
Syncro;
Tennessee Nana;
Ticonderoga34;
upchuck;
Utah Binger;
Vision;
w4women;
Waryone;
weeder;
Yaelle;

[BuckeyeTexan]

You’ve been here a long time. So obviously, you can hold your own in a discussion. I’m going to pick on you just a little bit as an example for others.

How will you be able to help? Would you ...

- contribute financially to FRPAC?
- be willing to serve in a leadership role?
- help with fundraising activities?
- research and compile voting histories of our targeted RINOs?
- help write newsletters to update FRPAC donors?
- help develop FRPAC’s policies and objectives?
- help lobby (by phone, email, snail mail) conservative politicians to endorse FRPAC’s chosen opponent against a targeted RINO?

I see lots of offers of help but few specifics. How can you help?

Also, what are your thoughts on whether or not we need a PAC?

Thanks in advance for your cooperation and answers.

FRegards,
Tex

[surroundedbyblue]

I think you are right that FR is valuable in dissemination of info BUT I know from volunteering for a few campaigns that every little bit of $$ helps. Even if we were only able to give $10k to 25 candidates, it certainly can help them.

[mad_as_he$$]

Good example.

[BuckeyeTexan]

Here are some thoughts I received via FReepmail:

“I ran a PAC years ago. Like 25 years ago, and haven’t kept up with the relevant laws as they would have changed over those years.

I can tell you it is a full time job, whether staff or volunteer, regardless of the PAC’s nature or size. (...) But whoever runs the FR PAC has to be knowledgeable about the relevant laws. Obviously, a lawyer specializing in election law would be aware of those regulations, but who wants to call their lawyer every day before doing anything? I.e., what is considered ‘coordinating’ with a campaign? What constitutes an in-kind contribution? How/if bundling can be done?

FR PAC might be able to work with a conservative group’s PAC that is already established in DC to share a staffer’s time and costs. Someone has to be designated to do the ‘nuts and bolts.’ Nuts and bolts of a FR PAC would be fundraising, tracking contributions and expenditures for FEC filings, coordinating with members in the various states, updating members of what the PAC is doing, and what its preferred candidates are doing. Maybe setting up meetings, rallies, etc.

I don’t yet have a picture of what y’all have in mind, but am trying to think of what was involved when I worked in this field. We had a Board that met quarterly, but with continuous intervening telephone conversations. We had people in most of the 57 states who would help with providing information, suggestions and/or introductions to candidates in their state or various congressional districts. When feasible I met with (non-incumbent) candidates, but someone connected to our PAC always did, and then would make recommendations on donations to his/her campaign. Donations over $X had to be approved by the board. As the primary staff person, I was also Treasurer, but IIRC, my public address was that of the trade association, not my home. I don’t know if a PO Box suffices.”

[BuckeyeTexan]

Here are some thoughts I received via FReepmail:

“I ran a PAC years ago. Like 25 years ago, and haven’t kept up with the relevant laws as they would have changed over those years.

I can tell you it is a full time job, whether staff or volunteer, regardless of the PAC’s nature or size. (...) But whoever runs the FR PAC has to be knowledgeable about the relevant laws. Obviously, a lawyer specializing in election law would be aware of those regulations, but who wants to call their lawyer every day before doing anything? I.e., what is considered ‘coordinating’ with a campaign? What constitutes an in-kind contribution? How/if bundling can be done?

FR PAC might be able to work with a conservative group’s PAC that is already established in DC to share a staffer’s time and costs. Someone has to be designated to do the ‘nuts and bolts.’ Nuts and bolts of a FR PAC would be fundraising, tracking contributions and expenditures for FEC filings, coordinating with members in the various states, updating members of what the PAC is doing, and what its preferred candidates are doing. Maybe setting up meetings, rallies, etc.

I don’t yet have a picture of what y’all have in mind, but am trying to think of what was involved when I worked in this field. We had a Board that met quarterly, but with continuous intervening telephone conversations. We had people in most of the 57 states who would help with providing information, suggestions and/or introductions to candidates in their state or various congressional districts. When feasible I met with (non-incumbent) candidates, but someone connected to our PAC always did, and then would make recommendations on donations to his/her campaign. Donations over $X had to be approved by the board. As the primary staff person, I was also Treasurer, but IIRC, my public address was that of the trade association, not my home. I don’t know if a PO Box suffices.”

[apronius]

Speaking for myself

I’ll

contribute financially,

help with fundraising

research and compile voting history

help lobby by phone, email, snail mail.

[Sola Veritas]

“Ephesians 6:10-18 (New International Version, ©2010)”

Bless you...appropriate verses to quote!

I do prefer the NKJV or latest ESV over the NIV versions though... :-)

[BuckeyeTexan]

More from FReepmail:

“I’d say the first thing that has to be done is to establish very, VERY clear criteria for contributions to candidates. FReepers have a way of not agreeing among themselves on much of anything. IMO, the term “RINO” gets tossed out a little too frequently. (...) Some FReepers in TX or AL don’t understand how an otherwise conservative member from PA or MA would vote differently than, say, Jeff Sessions.

If it becomes an individual’s or group of individuals’ PAC, it will disintegrate very quickly. PACs are, by their nature, ‘special interest groups,’ emphasis on group. Give to one ‘wrong’ candidate and you lose your donor base. Obviously, some will donate to a FR PAC regardless, and it would be interesting to see how that holds up. Would it be worth the cost/time/effort put into a PAC if only the hard core stay with it? In that case, it’d be easier to just suggest to them who they may want to donate to directly.

The other side of that coin is: how many candidates would be willing to take the hard core positions FR PAC would require? Depending, again, on the congressional district or state, it might be unwise for a candidate to put him/herself into that box. Probably it would be best to have a pre-set list of positions with which any potential recipient would have to agree. I.e., the obvious, pro-life, pro-gun, but with as much specificity as possible.

Among FReepers, there are mostly ‘pro life’ folks, but then you get to the details .. some are no abortion, no way, no how. Others afford some flexibility for life of the mother, etc. A few are just pro-choice. Some believe everyone under the sun should own as many weapons of any variety as s/he wants, others believe in pro-choice. But, in asking people to donate to this PAC, they’d have to know to what extent the candidate is on board with them. Some will require 100%, others 80%. Given the congressional district, some would take 50%, others would never go for that.”

[JerseyHighlander]

I understand the good intentions.

Playing devil’s advocate here:

1. FR is too diverse, even amongst the inner circle of long time moderators/contributors/donors.

2. Serious questions about religious bias amongst policy decisions.

3. The donor base, and the donations to candidates or other 507s or non profits etc would be token amounts that would only be significant through the amplificatoin and magnification of the cause or donation through the FR forum and long tail blogosphere, and that amplification effect will be good for one election cycle, or until the first serious mistake.

4. The long term viability of freerepublic.com is put into jeopardy. The forum becomes a de facto echo chamber of the inner circle of the PAC committee members’ personal biases.

5. Necessary separation of duties between FR 501(c) and FReeperPAC would create divergent agendas between independent posters on the forum and the views espoused and financially backed by the PAC committee and the PACs largest contributors and rented lobbying firm/agents.

6. FreeRepublic.com already hosts the Republican Liberty Caucus forum, RLC has a PAC, Freepers outside of Texas and New Jersey have never been active in RLC PAC. Why would the creation of a new PAC change the equation regarding participation/donation rates?

7. The FR 501(c) will be under constant scrutiny by Democrat administration IRS agents, combatant liberal media agendas, and every idiot or troll who posts of FR forum would be amplified even more than in the past to discredit the PAC, causing enough public scrutiny that intended recipients of FRPAC monies would be forced to publicly announce their position on various troll threads/comments in the forum before accepted or rejecting PAC donations.

8. A FreeperPAC removes the honesty involved in the “grassroots” descriptor from the FreeRepublic mission statement.

regards

[NormsRevenge]

RINOFreeAmerica

RINOFreeCongress

lol

I’d settle for

RINOFreeGOP

RINOFreeHannity :-} (good luck on that one!)

[WVKayaker]

I no longer have much use for KJV and it's versions. It is just a re-hash of the Latin Vulgate translated into 16th century English. It was the Anglicizing of "the church", due to the King's lust.

The NIV, however, is a more scholarly approach, using the best texts in Hebrew, Latin, Aramaic, Greek, and any other sources. They are not supporting the Apocrypha, which has a lot of dubious claims. I agree to the Bible construction as gathered by the Nicene council. The Holy Ghost was obviously there and active. It is truly "God breathed".

As for those verses, they are as succinct as eternity can be...

I look at a Christian as being under an umbrella of love, with our sins hidden from His view forever. God does not distinguish between the degree of sin. He hates all sin. Anything not perfectly within the will of God is sin! Anything not in the center of His bullseye is sin.

[Allegra]

What I’m hearing people say is that they want FR to get back into focused political action. Perhaps we don’t need a PAC to do that. I don’t know.

Back in the early days, FR was quite active in grass-roots activities such as counter-protesting liberal events (anti-war protests, illegal immigration rallies, Cindy Sheehan circuses, even the Oscars, etc.), staging major rallies during the 2000 election fiasco and other methods of ensuring that conservative voices were heard. That has fallen off drastically over the past few years.

What is our goal? We want to target RINOs. How are we going to do that? With money? By educating the public through targeted information about specific RINOs?

Those are excellent questions and we do need to define our goals and how we want to achieve them. (I'll think on that some more...)

As far as fundraising goes, I've never done that, but there are well-connected people who do this sort of thing for a living. I wonder if FR has any such people among our ranks?

[Red Steel]

Probably it would be best to have a pre-set list of positions with which any potential recipient would have to agree. I.e., the obvious, pro-life, pro-gun, but with as much specificity as possible.

A few posts have expressed concern on this matter. A clear mission statement on who and what issues are supported by the PAC. I think we can agree social conservative issues should be at the forefront.