Dean hopes to decline matching funds

[topdog08]

If you doubt my claim, please see the highlighted text.

Howard Dean sent out the following letter today, along with the instructions on the specific procedures as to how this online vote will work.



A message from Governor Howard Dean to his supporters on November 5th, 2003

Dear Friend:

I am writing to place the most important decision of this campaign in your hands. We need to choose whether we will decline federal matching funds or accept them.

Our political system is drowning in a flood of large corporate interest money. The pens that sign the checks of the lobbyists in Washington are the same pens that write our legislation.

Oil corporations write energy laws in the Vice-President’s office. The pharmaceutical industry drafts our Medicare laws. Billions of dollars worth of contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan are awarded to Bush contributors. For the Republican primary election, even though he has no opponent, George Bush is raising $200 million from large corporate interests.

The Bush campaign is selling our democracy so they can crush their Democratic opponent.

We are building the only campaign that can stop this outrage. Our campaign has not been just talk about future reform, it has been the action of real reform. Through hundreds of thousands of donations averaging $77, the impossible is happening -- ordinary Americans are poised to overpower the largest mass of special interest money our nation has ever seen.

But soon our opportunity to compete dollar-for-dollar against George Bush’s army of special interests may be gone. If we accept federal matching funds, our spending will be capped at $45 million -- and the greatest grassroots movement in the history of presidential politics will be stopped from raising money almost immediately and will reach the spending limit well before the end of the primaries. We will not have any funding until the Democratic convention at the end of July.

I have always been committed to public financing. But the federal matching funds law, though it was meant to provide an incentive for ordinary Americans to participate in the funding of our elections, is doing the opposite of what it intended. It could end up punishing a movement that has raised more from ordinary Americans than any campaign in history, while rewarding the campaign that has blatantly abused both the spirit and intent of campaign finance, selling off piece after piece of our country.

This is how the Bush campaign believes they can defeat us. If we accept federal matching funds -- and the $45 million spending cap that goes with it -- they will have a $155 million spending advantage against us. From March through August, they will be able to define and distort us, and we will have no way to defend ourselves.

We do have the option to go toe-to-toe with the big corporate donors of George Bush by getting 2 million Americans to give a hundred dollars each. By declining matching funds, we free ourselves to raise the money needed to defend ourselves during the crucial months from March through August against the attacks of George Bush and his special interest backers.

But let me be clear, if you decide to decline federal matching funds, it will require a significant commitment from all of us who have brought this campaign to this point. Declining matching funds means turning down almost 19 million dollars that the federal government would give to this campaign.

That means we will have to raise that money ourselves if we are to win the primary, beat George Bush, and take our country back. Declining federal money and funding a campaign with grassroots support has never been done before, and if you choose this option it will be a challenge -- but with your commitment, your dedication and your hard work, we can do it.

This decision is no longer mine to make. This is a campaign of the people, by the people and for the people. Your successful effort of raising a historic amount of money through small contributions has made this choice possible. This is why I am putting this decision in your hands.

I am asking you to vote on what kind of a campaign we will conduct from this point forward. No matter how well intentioned both our options are the choice is difficult: do we choose option (a) to fund our campaign ourselves and decline matching funds, or do we choose option (b) and accept federal matching funds and the spending limits?

You will receive a ballot via email on Thursday and have until midnight Friday to vote. The results will be announced on Saturday.

The fate of this campaign rests in your hands, and I believe the future of our American democracy rests on your decision.

Sincerely,

Governor Howard Dean, M.D.

[VolcanoJen]

1. Dupe... locking

ON EDIT: As it turns out, this is a duplicate thread.

Please continue discussion here, in the original LBN thread on this topic:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=200417

- - - - -

Your original headline of "Dean to decline matching funds" is kind of misleading.

While we do allow official campaign press releases in the Latest Breaking News Forum, and recognize that clear headlines don't always accompany such press releases, your subject line should be edited to more accurately reflect the content of this letter.

Something like "Dean to poll supporters on matching funds decision" would be more accurate.

This is a very interesting development, and I hope you'll edit your subject line to comply with LBN Rules so we don't have to move/lock this thread.

Thanks! :-)
VolcanoJen
DU Moderator

[topdog08]

4. Could any Dean supporters vote for matching funds after reading that?

I think it is fair to say he hopes to decline matching funds. If it was a complete toss up as far as Dean was concerned, that would be a different news story. I don't think "Dean to poll supporters" is accurate, unless you mean "push poll." See my point?

If you feel it is too much opinion, feel free to delete. Rephrasing the title as you suggested would make it just a Dean press release.

[DannyRed]

2. Please be accurate.

Dean is not declining matching funds, he is putting the question of whether to accept or decline matching funds up to his campaign supporters, like me.

It's called democracy in action, and it works.

If the campaign votes to accept, then Dean will accept.

If decline, then decline.

Once again, please be accurate...this is a vote by the campaign members on this issue, not a decision by Dean or Trippi.

Obviously, from the tone of the letter, it is clear that Dean is leaning towards declining matching funds, but the fact remains that this is up to US in the campaign to decide.

PS....I have not decided how to vote yet, and I am torn between practical reality - that declining matching funds allows a lot more leeway and gives us a better chance over all...and idealism and political change - that campaign finance reform is crucial to defending our democracy from oligarchs and corporate interests....

[bluestateguy]

3. I think he should do it

He's right. The Goopers will have more money than the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost during the dark period between primaries and the convention. The nominee cannot afford to let $200 million of Bush ads simply go unanswered, and the DNC can only make up a small percentage of that.

If Dean takes the nomination, he'll have $25 from me in March.