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Dean Declares Independence From Special Interests
Supporters vote overwhelmingly to forego federal matching funds
BURLINGTON-In a ceremony here today, Democratic presidential candidate Governor Howard Dean, M.D., announced that, following an overwhelming vote by supporters over the last two days, Dean for America would not accept public matching funds.
"Today by a 85 percent-15 percent margin the people who made this campaign have voted to decline public financing. We support public financing, but the unabashed actions of this president to thwart our democratic processes with a flood of special interests money have us forced to abandon a broken system," Governor Dean said.
"Our campaign has not been talk of campaign finance reform, it has been actual reform. Over 200,000 people have given an average of $77 to bring us here and they have now overwhelmingly refused to be intimidated by George Bush and his cronies," Dean added.
In 2000, then-Governor Bush opted out of the public financing system, raising and spending more than $100 million in the primaries. This election, he has decided to opt out of the system again and is widely expected to raise $200 million for a primary where he has no opponent.
Today, Dean-joined onstage at the University of Vermont by seven grassroots leaders from across the country-announced the decision and then proceeded to sign a declaration of independence announcing that the campaign would be "free and independent of special interests."
During the two-day vote, supporters of the campaign pledged or contributed over $5.3 million with an average contribution or pledge of $116.89. Of the 104,746 supporters who voted, 85 percent, or 89,533 Americans, voted to forego federal matching funds-meaning a turnout of over 20 percent. In the only other large-scale Internet vote, the two-day Moveon.org primary over the summer, 22 percent of the 1.4 million eligible members participated. In contrast to the campaign's vote, which was only announced Wednesday morning-less than 72 hours before polls closed-Moveon.org and the campaigns involved had more than two weeks of intense get-out-the vote efforts leading up to its primary.
" has begun to reconnect the bonds between citizens, establish a new communication between citizens and their elected officials, and taken a large step in winning back our government so that it works not for the profit of the few but the benefit of the many. Thomas Jefferson wrote two centuries ago that, 'Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government. Whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied on to set them to rights,'" Governor Dean said.
"So with this campaign, we hope to attract the notice of the people of the United States and we trust that, just as they always have done in the past, they will set things right. We have just begun. This decision means that we have many challenges ahead of us. We must expand this campaign from hundreds of thousand to tens of million," Dean concluded.
Earlier this week, the campaign sent over 600,000 ballots to supporters, and asked them to decide whether the campaign should decline public financing or accept federal matching funds. The ballots, which went out to supporters by email, first class mail, and telephone, allowed them to vote once using a unique code. Voting ended last night at midnight.
During the course of the two-day vote, over 70,000 people commented on their ballots about the decision. While many wrote comments as simple, "Give 'em Hell, Howard!" others provided insight into how they made the difficult decision:
* "As much as I believe in and support public funding of political campaigns, accepting federal matching funds would provide an unfair advantage to the Bush campaign. Once Governor Dean is elected President, I would encourage him to pursue a policy of support and even increase public funding of political campaigns while placing limits on total amounts that can be raised."
* "This is a vote for freedom. We in this country have fought and died for freedom. Just because this is a gentle revolution makes it no less important to our future. Every American has a stake in this vote. Without it, America as we know it, will not survive."
* "The system is broken; Congress should fix it, but the Republicans who control won't fix it when it works to their advantage. No meaningful campaign finance reform can occur unless we first defeat George W. Bush."
* "Let's prove that we have the power to take this country back through the engagement of the people who want to re-establish America's founding ideals, an America that guides, not steers or bullies, an America that has a moral compass, an America that will be admired and looked up to."
* "Although I may not agree with this on a philosophical level, we cannot allow Bush and Cheney another 4 years, and therefore I support an effort to decline the federal matching funds. You can fix the system AFTER you win."
* "I understand the need for Campaign Reform however we need to be playing on a level field in this election. There is so very much at stake."
* "Although I favor campaign-funding reform, this isn't a vote on that issue. Rather it's a vote for all the issues that Howard Dean supports and for the candidate himself, for by declining matching funds, Gov. Dean will have the best chance of reaching the White House and thereby executing his vision."
* "Campaign finance reform is *the* most important issue we face ... Democracy is being undermined by a corporate oligarchy, and no progress of any sort can begin until we get their money out of our electoral system. HOWEVER, until that happens, we can't let the Republicans run roughshod over us."
* "It is the greatest irony that the campaign finance laws have become an obstacle to free participation and an aid to the wealthy. Thank God that Gov. Dean can compete, thanks to the Internet. Let's reform these reform laws after he gets elected."
* "I'm still a strong supporter of campaign finance reform, but I don't think it makes any sense to agree to be bound by spending limits when Bush won't be. Nothing is more important than defeating him in November. Nothing."
* "I would like to see the campaign not have to opt out of federal matching funds. However I think with the monies that Bush is raising leaves no other alternative, but to continue to raise funds without the constraints required for matching funds."
* "Nothing...NOTHING...is more important for the future of this country than defeating George Bush in 2004. If it means admitting that the matching fund system no longer is viable in the current climate...then so be it."* "I believe in common sense campaign finance regulation, but I don't believe in being naive. When faced with the overwhelming money that the Bush campaign has, we can't take the high road to defeat. On the other hand, we can't take the special-interest-money, low-road, either. This is a great experiment in people's democracy. Let's make it work!"
* "I think we need to change the campaign finance system, but in order to make change, Bush must be ousted. Then let's change the system. For now, we need all the money we can raise."
* "Although necessary, this strategy is very undesirable. President Dean should commit to revisiting this issue and working toward an improved, fair public financing system."
* "We have been forced into rejecting federal matching funds by an administration that has sold our democracy to the highest bidder. We the People will not rest until we take our country back."
www.deanforamerica.com
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