GOP Fundraising Documents Cost Them A Donor

The recent accidental release of a presentation for donors prepared by the Republican National Committee continues to create embarrassment. The presentation shows how the GOP, lacking any real policies, tries to fool donors with appeals based upon fear. Ben Smith reports on one former donor who has decided not to contribute to the party:

A prominent Evangelical figure and Republican donor says he will end his contributions to the organized Republican Party in reaction to the leaked fundraising presentation that advised using “fear” to solicit contributions and displayed an image of President Obama as the Joker from Batman.

Mark DeMoss, who heads a major Christian public relations firm in Atlanta and served as a liaison to the Evangelical community for Mitt Romney in 2008, wrote Chairman Michael Steele yesterday that he was “ashamed” of the presentation, calling depictions of Obama, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Majority Leader Harry Reid “shameful, immature and uncivil, at best.”

“I’m afraid the presentation is representative of a culture and mindset within the Republican National Committee,” DeMoss, a past member of the RNC’s “Eagle” program for top donors who gave the party $15,000 in 2008, wrote in the letter to Steele, which he shared with POLITICO. “Consequently, I will no longer contribute to any fundraising entity of our Party—but will contribute only to individual candidates I choose to support.”

Personally I think people should have become wise to the minset of the Republican National Committee when they sent out fund raising letters in 2004 trying to scare people by saying John Kerry would take away their bibles. Better late than never. The full text of the letter is under the fold:

March 5, 2010

Chairman Michael Steele
Republican National Committee
310 First Street SE
Washington, DC 20003

Dear Mr. Chairman:

Like many Republicans today, I am ashamed of the fundraising presentation given by RNC Finance Director Rob Bickhart at last month’s GOP gathering in Boca Grande, Florida. The depictions of President Obama, Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Harry Reid were shameful, immature and uncivil, at best. While I realize your office made steps to distance you from this presentation I’m afraid the presentation is representative of a culture and mindset within the Republican National Committee; consequently, I will no longer contribute to any fundraising entity of our Party—but will contribute only to individual candidates I choose to support.

I have been a member of the Republican Eagles on a number of occasions in the past, including the 2008 cycle. I have been constantly solicited by the RNC, the NRSC and the NRCC, among other GOP organizations and efforts. Recently I was visited in my office by Lynn Westmoreland, who shared with me the redistricting efforts he is leading in the House. He was requesting funds for this initiative (without the sort of nonsense presented recently by your Finance Director) and I was considering contributing to the project. I will not consider doing so now, with apologies to Congressman Westmoreland

Mr. Chairman, I love giving money to candidates at every level who I believe in and want to see elected. But it is becoming increasingly difficult to consider making a contribution to the Party itself. The sort of behavior displayed in Boca Grande only contributes to the widespread cynicism of politics in general and our Party in particular. It is, in my opinion, indefensible and destructive.

Sincerely,

Mark DeMoss
President, The DeMoss Group
Founder, CivilityProject.org

cc: Peter Terpeluk, RNC Finance Chairman
Rob Bickhart, RNC Finance Director
Sen. John Cornyn, NRSC
Sen. Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader
Rep. Pete Sessions, NRCC
Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, NRCC
Rep. John Boehner, House Minority Leader
Rep. Eric Cantor, House Minority Whip

3 Comments

  1. 1
    SteveTaff says:

    » GOP Fundraising Documents Cost Them A Donor Liberal Values http://bit.ly/bCe5tM

  2. 2
    Warren L. Kammerer III says:

    This is why there is a tea party movement, the DEMOCRAT and REPUBLICAN parties are morally bankrupt power grabbers. True Patriots are fighting for a reduction in the size of government and lower taxes.

  3. 3
    Ron Chusid says:

    Unfortunately the tea party movement is dominated by people feeling blind rage but have no understanding of the actual issues. Therefore many are being misled by the right wing into supporting the politicians who are making matters worse as opposed to those who are improving the situation.

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