NYT: Democrats Form New Group, September Fund, for Fund-Raising and Ads

[DeepModem Mom]

Democrats Form New Group For Fund-Raising and Ads
By JOHN M. BRODER
Published: September 14, 2006

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 — Sensing both political danger and opportunity, a top Democratic operative and a group of major party donors have banded together to deliver a barrage of late advertising and on-the-ground action to secure Democratic victories in November.

The operative, Harold M. Ickes, a top aide to former President Bill Clinton and informal adviser to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, and a group of allies are soliciting money for a new organization called the September Fund.

They hope to raise and spend as much as $25 million to influence not only crucial Congressional races but also other campaigns and ballot initiatives at the federal and state level.

Mr. Ickes was among the chief organizers of several groups that raised more than $200 million from wealthy liberals and labor unions in 2004 to try to defeat President Bush....

***

Mr. Ickes has already contacted George Soros, the billionaire financier who gave Democratic committees more than $25 million in 2004. Among others on the fund’s list of potential donors are Steve Bing, a Hollywood producer; Linda Pritzker, a member of the family that owns Hyatt hotels; Herb and Marion Sandler, owners of a California savings and loan; and Ted Waitt, founder of the computer company Gateway....Leaders of the fund include Karen Ackerman, the political director of the A.F.L.-C.I.O., and Anna Burger, chairwoman of the Change to Win labor federation. Others involved are Gen. Wesley K. Clark, retired, the 2004 Democratic presidential candidate; Nick Baldick, who managed the presidential campaign of former Senator John Edwards and the New York mayoral campaign of Fernando Ferrer; and Bill Lynch, a New York lobbyist and strategist....

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/14/us/politics/14donate.html

[Pirate Smile]

1. Good - more $$ but this is the Clinton people trying to form their own DNC

again.

Remember, they didn't want to work with Howard on the voter database. They've insisted on making their own.

Arrgghhhhh!

Work together people! Please!

Edit to add - it mentions it "The September Fund is Mr. Ickes’s second venture this year to conduct political operations outside the formal structure of the Democratic Party and its chairman, Howard Dean. Earlier this year, he established a database of potential Democratic voters, partly financed by Mr. Soros, that some officials complained diverted resources from the party and could be used to assist a presidential bid by Senator Clinton."

I'm glad it is more money for the campaign season, just stop the bickering.

This is all way too important.

[madfloridian]

2. That is the group formed to thwart some DNC fundraising efforts.

It took 10 million to form it, privately funded. It appears to be a way for Hillary to run without needing the DNC.

[MaineDem]

7. I believe Ickes is a DNC member

Appointed (or reappointed at least) by Governor Dean.

[madfloridian]

9. And Dean supports Ickes' right to form his own database.

Yes, I know Ickes is a member. He ran for chairman. My concern is that everyone and his brother in the party will be mining my data and calling me...and I won't be so sure what the source is.

Some other views. The one who did the older DNC databse is helping form this 10 million dollar one. The older one had flaws that kept it from being used at local levels and for all candidates. The DNC now is trying to change that. I don't know if they will succeed against all odds....people not willing to donate to support their party structural rebuilding, people who like things the way they are.

Here are some views besides mine:

"As it stands now, the DNC and Data Warehouse, created by Ickes and Democratic operative Laura Quinn, will separately try to build vast and detailed voter lists -- each effort requiring sophisticated expertise and costing well over $10 million.

"From an institutional standpoint, this is one of the most important things the DNC can and should do. Building this voter file is part of our job," Communications Director Karen Finney said. "We believe this is something we have to do at the DNC. Our job is to build the infrastructure of the party."

That was from MyDD months ago..not a member there, can't search

http://www.ataridemocrat.com/2006/03/08/new-dem-database-to-compete-with-dnc-data/

"Casting a vote of no confidence in the DNC’s microtargeting efforts, Dem operative Harold Ickes and consultant Laura Quinn are starting a private voter database that will sell information to Democratic candidates and progressive causes in direct competition with the DNC. The Soros-financed move is an effort to counter the Republican database advantage, but many also spark a larger intra-party rift between the Howard Dean led DNC and the Washington Democratic elite."

http://government.zdnet.com/?p=2092

"If Ickes builds a better database than the DNC, presumaby it would only be available to paying customers, which might include Clinton. But if she doesn't get the nomination, would the DNC or the winning candidate be willing to fork over the bucks for the best database? Probably not. The DNC sees this as their core job and they plan to build it in-house"

And a statement from Buzzflash by Tom Hamburger is interesting:

"The concern that some Democrats have is that a private database does not have the same kind of power as the Republicans’ centralized Voter Vault, where all fifty state parties are basically feeding data into one centralized file. You know, when you accumulate data, the more data you have, the more it’s centralized, the more powerful it is. "

http://www.workingforchange.com/printitem.cfm?itemid=21286

And here's Dean's views on the database and how he is building the party one. Nothing secret about it, he is very upfront.

http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=11436

I am not the only one with concerns. Just pointing that out.

[madfloridian]

3. They are forming a private voter database that the DNC can not use...

legally. And it taking money that could go toward building state parties.....because they don't want that strategy as it will mean DC will not be the power center anymore.

[wiley]

4. What are you talking about?

How bout some facts? We need more money to do these things. This helps to take some pressure off of DNC and Dean as well. How is this a bad? Now how is Clinton involved in this? Sometimes you are so spot on with your posts. I can't see this as one of those times. Care to discuss?

[madfloridian]

5. I will try.

First off, Dean is not overtly critical of Ickes. In fact he says he can not legally use the Ickes database. Dean does not think it is being set up as a 3rd system kind of thing. So forget that.

But many people do think that is a possibility. Ickes is a Hillary advisor right now.

Ok, the 527 is separate from the database. We need those as well. They can be very good about running ads.

I have some materials in which Ickes as much as stated that he was thinking Dean should worry about 06 first. He was pretty critical of Dean's style of fundraising with smaller donors.

Now, Dean has answered that as well. He said the time is now to start building the party structure again...that if we win there will be no incentive later and it will be the same old thing every 4 years. In the long run everyone would benefit from this rebuilding.

BUT if the states rebuild and start being successful, then the usual DC suspects will lose some power.

Tomorrow I will find where Ickes first talked of the database, and it was far more than taking pressure off the DNC.

I like what Dean is doing. I think he is where he should be. He has described in detail that the DNC is building its own voter files. I also have that.

I am not sure what I said that made you so cross. I think it was fair. I will have to round up some interviews and an hour long breakfast speech to the American Prospect.

Actually, I have often said there is already a 3rd party...the trio of groups that make up the DLC. They operate pretty much on their own. Some say the private voter files by Ickes are not just for Hillary, some say differently.

Whew, it's late.

Dean is apparently quite aware that what he is doing is not popular within the party establishment. He is going to do it as best he can anyway. It will bring pushbacks from those who want to keep their power. Our state party is pretty obvious in its distaste of giving money to all the states. They don't like us, they call us DFAish. Odd term, huh?

Dean says he will continue doing this, and he will probably. If Ickes is a Hillary advisory, and he is building a private database and forming a 527....then I think things are looking pretty clear.

[wiley]

6. Perhaps in response to the unfortunate move by the DCCC?

I also support what Dean is doing, and doing well.

The people you suggest may be conspiring to do "something" are in fact reacting to the DNC Dean/Emmanuel argument over allocation of Party Funds. Clark supports Massa CD-29, in an incredibly winnable race. Cheney came by the other day,ironically , to support Kuhl, who has been charged with threatening his wife twice with a shotgun, and hustling women. As was mentioned on myDD, Cheney might have an affinity for such a shotgun wild person who is a Bush cipher.

Hillary has been campaigning for a candidate who has a good chance of unseating 4 term incumbent Sweeney. The list goes on. The other people involved are also known NY political figures, as well as having national recognition. As the quote from The New York Times below attests, a lot of people, not just New Yorkers, think that a pragmatic decision was made, but that will not stop them from doing everything they can at the local level. Rather than cause infighting among Dems about resource allocation, why not use your local strengths to supplement the efforts of the DNC? I should think that this would make Dean, the DNC, and even Emmanuel ecstatic.

"At the same time, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee plans to spend roughly $50 million on advertisements for races around the country, according to Republican estimates. But none of that money has been set aside for New York races, except for Mr. Boehlert’s seat in the 24th District in the Utica area, according to Democrats involved in the races.

The shifting local fortunes for Democrats could have serious political implications beyond New York. The party needs 15 seats to take control of the House. Even one victory in New York would be an important step toward that goal, giving the Democrats a cushion if they lose elsewhere in the nation."

Think of it as a local effort and it makes great sense to everyone involved.The Republicans in New York are so pathetic and vulnerable, as is their just reward, that Democrats are extremely excited and optimistic about our chances in Nov. Very optimistic. Yet we will work like dogs and go after every voter to remind them of the destruction and chaos Republicans have caused nationally and statewide, and locally. We had a pretty rough primary, but I have yet to hear any grumblings (maybe one exception) from those who just didn't win. Bless Mark Greene. He's a good man. His political skills are lacking, to be kind. Tasini, well, I just didn't support him. He did an amazing job under the circumstances, but he lost by over 80% of the vote. We have BIG fish to fry now, we're moving on.

As for the database thing. Well, contributing to a PAC doesn't prevent anyone from contributing anywhere else they want to as well. Most will most likely already have done so. It's your reading evil from the tea leaves when it's pretty obvious and quite above board what their goal is that gripped me. I, too, remember the 2004 election. Dean was not the only "victim", and Democrats have a lot of blame to pass around by the way they attacked, undermined and back-stabbed each other. Even those who have "apologized" for their actions for past Senate votes have a hell of a lot of selfless work to do before I would consider them rehabilitated. I will no longer call them out on this board. As Jay Leno said tonight," The Democrats are going to have to work very, very hard to lose the 2006 elections"


Lets not contribute to that effort?

Thanks for your response.

[msongs]

8. hillary is a shameless pimp for money...

every 2 weeks we get fund raising mail from the new york senator and we are in california for crap sake. she wants us to send her money for her slam dunk election where she is stock piling cash she obviously has no intention of using for her senate campaign. so why is she pimping in california and what is she going to REALLY do with all this money she claims is going to her fall 2006 campaign?

Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

[madfloridian]

10. I called no one out. I questioned the private database.

My concern is that no one will know who is who and what is what. Dean has explained what he is doing with the database. It is not a secret. Ickes was critical of his efforts and is forming his own. They will present this database to various candidates who can afford to buy into it.

The DNC is planning on making their available to local candidates in precinct levels. Yes, many have questioned the motives. Not just me.

And please don't lecture me about what I do for the party and tell me to hush until the elections are over. This was not criticism, it was critique. And yes, many think Hillary will benefit from this, and those who are her friends.

Some other views. The one who did the older DNC databse is helping form this 10 million dollar one. The older one had flaws that kept it from being used at local levels and for all candidates. The DNC now is trying to change that. I don't know if they will succeed against all odds....people not willing to donate to support their party structural rebuilding, people who like things the way they are.

Here are some views besides mine:

"As it stands now, the DNC and Data Warehouse, created by Ickes and Democratic operative Laura Quinn, will separately try to build vast and detailed voter lists -- each effort requiring sophisticated expertise and costing well over $10 million.

"From an institutional standpoint, this is one of the most important things the DNC can and should do. Building this voter file is part of our job," Communications Director Karen Finney said. "We believe this is something we have to do at the DNC. Our job is to build the infrastructure of the party."

That was from MyDD months ago..not a member there, can't search

http://www.ataridemocrat.com/2006/03/08/new-dem-database-to-compete-with-dnc-data/

"Casting a vote of no confidence in the DNC’s microtargeting efforts, Dem operative Harold Ickes and consultant Laura Quinn are starting a private voter database that will sell information to Democratic candidates and progressive causes in direct competition with the DNC. The Soros-financed move is an effort to counter the Republican database advantage, but many also spark a larger intra-party rift between the Howard Dean led DNC and the Washington Democratic elite."

http://government.zdnet.com/?p=2092

"If Ickes builds a better database than the DNC, presumaby it would only be available to paying customers, which might include Clinton. But if she doesn't get the nomination, would the DNC or the winning candidate be willing to fork over the bucks for the best database? Probably not. The DNC sees this as their core job and they plan to build it in-house"

And a statement from Buzzflash by Tom Hamburger is interesting:

"The concern that some Democrats have is that a private database does not have the same kind of power as the Republicans’ centralized Voter Vault, where all fifty state parties are basically feeding data into one centralized file. You know, when you accumulate data, the more data you have, the more it’s centralized, the more powerful it is. "

http://www.workingforchange.com/printitem.cfm?itemid=21286

And here's Dean's views on the database and how he is building the party one. Nothing secret about it, he is very upfront.

http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=11436

I am not the only one with concerns. Just pointing that out.

[wiley]

11. I had no idea there were people with loaded guns fighting over this

"And please don't lecture me about what I do for the party and tell me to hush until the elections are over."

I surrender. Who am I to express my opinion,anyway.

[madfloridian]

13. You are the 3rd person today to lecture me to get involved.

It is unfair, and I won't let it go by anymore.

[MaineDem]

15. "The DNC is planning on making their available to local candidates..."

You do know that not all states GIVE their candidates access to the voter file for free, right?

Maybe I read your postings wrong but it seems you're saying the DNC/state party voterfiles will not be for sale and Ickes' data will be. The voter files are a major source of income for most state parties and the DNC.

I'm not arguing with you just stating a fact that seems unclear in your posts.

Edited for a typo.

[madfloridian]

16. I realize some charge local candidates....they shouldn't.

However, that was not my point.

If you read the American Prospect post I put above, you will see that it "appears" to be the "intention" of Governor Dean that the local candidates have access.

But it appears no one is concerned that the groups doing the private database and the 527 are in large part closely tied to Democratic lobbyists who worked in support of the Dubai port sale and in support of the Medicare drug bill...as I posted below.

So maybe my posts will be clearer if you read the above and below posts.

Meanwhile I am questioned in another post below about who are my fav Republicans?

[madfloridian]

12. Another take on this....and the people involved.

Since there are several postings today about fundraising, let's continue the conversation. I was not going to post more, but I get tired of being treated as though I am not active in the party. So let's talk.

This is from Matt Stoller at MyDD about this group. Interesting connections, and it shows a pattern.

http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/9/14/19349/4940

Ok, so Harold Ickes is trying to raise $25 million for a new 527 to focus on field and advertising. Rahm Emanuel is hiring the Bob Shrum of field operations, Michael Whouley, to run his DCCC field plan. And another 527 with a presumed budget of $8-10 million is being run by former DNC bigwigs Martin Frost, Tony Coehlo, Joe Andrew, and Don Fowler.

Ok, let's look at what's going on here.
Ickes is tied into the Hillary Clinton axis and the Glover Park Group, which was busted today lobbying for the Dubai Ports deal.
Dubai Ports Deal lobbied by Democrats

Ickes is behind the disastrous Datamart voterfile project, which is project managed by Laura Quinn, the person who screwed up Demzilla in 2004 under Terry McAuliffe and was somehow hired again to screw up another voterfile.

Whouley has a massive telecom contract through his firm Dewey Square, which is tasked with passing the Stevens bill eviscerating net neutrality. He's been all over losing Presidential campaigns, most recently Kerry's in 2004. And he's not only in charge of the DCCC field plan, but he's also managed to convince donors to give him $3 million to map out yet another losing Presidential field strategy in 2008.
http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/7/30/142232/789

And all Howard Dean was trying to do was to rebuild the party with smaller donors, taking it back from the corporations. That is a worthy goal.

More later.

[wiley]

14. Okay.

Why do you feel that anyone is personally lecturing you or attacking you?
THAT is the thing that is making me uncomfortable.
Who is treating you as you are not active in the party?
Does Howard Dean intend to run for President in 2008?
Do you communicate with him?
Do you have the same intensity of feeling about other elected Democratic Senators or House members?
Who is your favorite Republican?

My last post on this subject.

[madfloridian]

17. How does one answer stuff like that?

I can't.