WP: Rich Democrats start new $80 million fund

[quaoar]

The Washington Post

WASHINGTON — At least 80 wealthy liberals have pledged to contribute at least $1 million each to fund a network of think tanks and advocacy groups, to compete with the potent conservative infrastructure built up over the last three decades.

The money will be channeled through a new partnership called the Democracy Alliance, founded last spring in a series of liberal initiatives as the Democratic Party and its allies struggle with the loss of power in Congress and the White House. Many influential Democratic contributors were left angry and despairing over the party’s poor showing in last year’s elections, and are looking for more effective ways to invest their support.

Financial commitments totaling at least $80 million over the next five years at a time when some other liberal groups, such as George Soros-backed America Coming Together, are floundering -- suggest the Democracy Alliance is becoming a player in the long-term effort to reinvigorate the left. The group has a goal of raising $200 million, a sum that would inevitably come partly at the expense of more traditional Democratic groups.

Alliance chairman Steven Gluckstern, a retired investment banker, said President Bush’s victory over Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., after millions were put into pro-Democratic ”527” groups caused many contributors to think that a dramatically new approach was needed.

[Maat]

1. Yahoo!

I think that we can all work together.

While I clearly identify with the more liberal wing of the party, and will always admit straight up to not agreeing with the centrists, the party is a big tent. There is no reason we cannot work together.

Of course, I do not know whether or not these guys are centrists.

But at least we Democrats are making a good effort.

[starroute]

2. If they have any sense, they'll spread their investments widely

That's what the right has done -- fund any group that seems promising, provide seed money for even more, and get young conservatives onto the fast track with internships and well-paying entry positions. The left could use to imitate exactly that pattern.

[Maat]

9. I agree.

"Never put all of your eggs in one basket," as Grammie used to say.

[iconoclastic cat]

3. Weird, I can't find anything on them. Google has nothing for

"Democracy Alliance." What gives?

[madfloridian]

5. Look for Rob Stein, or Phoenix group.

They are not as public yet. I just posted something about them.

[madfloridian]

4. There are two separate groups forming...

One is NPI being formed by Simon Rosenberg. The other is the Democracy Alliance or Phoenix group. Here is an article.

http://www.ndnblog.org/archives/001086.html

"The New Politics Institute is a think tank for politics. It has been established by people from across the country and across the political spectrum to help progressives succeed on the dynamic new battlefield of 21st century politics. NPI’s founding team includes Sergio Bendixen, Jamie Daves, Gina Glantz, Markos Moulitsas Zuniga, Mark Penn, Cecile Richards and Joe Trippi. Simon Rosenberg is NPI’s founding President. Bay Area philanthropists Andy and Deborah Rappaport, as well as The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) are major partners in the start-up phase of this exciting new venture." (I have noticed that there has been tendence among some of these to be critical of the DLC, so we wil have to see. I notice the DNC is working heavily with the hispanic community, so does this group)

WHO:
Danny Goldberg, Air America CEO
David Brock, Media Matters
Simon Rosenberg – NDN President
Jamie Daves, NPI Fellow

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Here is more about the Democracy Alliance, I believe Rob Stein. Harder to find stuff on it, but it is separate....though many of the same people are involved. From April:

http://ff.org/centers/csspp/library/co2weekly/2005-04-28/phoenix.htm
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Here is more about Democracy Alliance also called the Phoenix Group:

"Rob Stein, a veteran of President Bill Clinton’s Commerce Department and of New York investment banking, convened the meeting of venture capitalists, left-leaning moneymen and a select few D.C. strategists on how to seed pro-Democratic think tanks, media outlets and leadership schools to compete with such entrenched conservative institutions as the Heritage Foundation, the American Enterprise Institute and the Leadership Institute.

Senior Democratic National Committee (DNC) officials were quietly briefed about the meeting in recent weeks. DNC Chairman Howard Dean was aware of it, in part though his friendship with Stein, but one senior DNC source said the organizers “kept that list kind of tight.”

Sarah Ingersoll, de facto spokeswoman for Stein’s Democracy Alliance, said it was “a very preliminary meeting of committed donors interested in building a community to support progressive infrastructure.”

The Democracy Alliance will act as a clearinghouse and is expected to channel much of its money to new organizations and existing ones such as John Podesta’s Center for American Progress and David Brock’s Media Matters for America.

The money details are several weeks away. “There aren’t dollar figures at this point,” Ingersoll said."

This article from The Hill mentions both groups.
http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/051105/tank.html

[Stinky The Clown]

6. While this is great and I am grateful to them ........

........... in my opinion what is most needed, and as soon as possible, is a truly fair media outlet.

I used to be of a mind that we needed a liberal media oulet. And while I'd still love that, it would be better to one with unassailable journalistic creds.

The truth is on our side. We just need it reported.

Truthfully.

Not fair and balanced. No need for debating talking heads.

Just facts.

Maybe the Joe Friday Network.

Whatever.

But HONEST above all else.

<edit for bad typing>

[madfloridian]

7. Unfortunately you need money to get the truth out.

But I intend to keep an eye on both groups for accuracy. They are trying to fight such groups as the Heritage Foundation, and you sure can not do that without some financial backing.

[applegrove]

8. Yipee!