Do you donate to the DNC, to PACS, or individual candidates?

[Clarkie1]

Here is my favorite (and the only one I have donated money to this year):

"Citing the need to help Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans’ campaigns for Congress become sustainable without party support, New School President and former Nebraska Senator Bob Kerrey joined the Board of Advisors of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Political Action Committee (IAVA PAC) today.

“Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans running for Congress represent the new generation of leadership that this country desperately needs. As newcomers to politics, however, these candidates need a certain level of support that IAVA PAC will provide,” said Senator Kerrey. “Neither party can afford to discourage this new generation of Veterans from serving in public office. I am proud to stand with an organization that is doing the opposite – encouraging more Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of both parties to run for office.”

“I am excited that Senator Kerrey has decided to join our movement, and help me as an advisor,” said Jon Soltz, a 28-year old Iraq combat Veteran and Executive Director of IAVA PAC. “From the moment I met Bob Kerrey, it became very clear that besides being an American hero, he is also one of the most intelligent minds in any business. He has credibility as a non-partisan voice on the issues our organization is addressing, and will be a powerful ally.”

Mr. Kerrey joins retired General Wesley Clark, Iraq Veteran and former US House and Senate candidate Paul Hackett, former President of the Council on Foreign Relations Leslie H. Gelb, best-selling author and Iraq and Afghanistan Veteran Nathaniel Fick, and Iraq Veteran Paul Rieckhoff on the Board of Advisors."

http://www.iavapac.org/index2.html

Although they are non-partisan, they support Democrats overwhelmingly. My support for them is my way of supporting the troops, and I get satisfaction from knowing all my $$$ are to support these brave men and women who deserve to be heard. I also think getting Democratic veterans into congress is the best way the Democratic Party can improve it's image on national security and "take back the flag."

I would be interested to know what PAC(s) other DU'ers support and why, or if you exclusively support the DNC and DCCC. I think this is a good topic for discussion because in 06' it is critical our resources go to where they will do the most good and revitalize the Democratic Party.

[Redstone]

1. Neither.

Redstone

[waiting for hope]

2. Why can't they

just dissolve the DCCC and the DLC and let the DNC handle it all - too many conflicting messages from the three groups and that's part of the problem.....I will donate to an individual candidate when I feel the need, NARAL and the ACLU get my money first...

[Clarkie1]

4. Good question. n/t

[benddem]

3. Pacs and Individuals

and once in a while to the DNC when I think they are hammering Howard. I don't donate to DCCC or DSCC

[AlinPA]

5. DNC.

[Dunvegan]

6. Dean's Democratic Organization is the only one I recognize for donations.

And I give to individuals.

I'm looking to make my next donation to the Band of Brothers/Sisters (more ex-military women step forward and run, if you please!)

[AlinPA]

9. I give money to the DNC (letter that has Dean's signature). Yes, the

Band of Brothers/Sisters deserve our donations.

[Hekate]

7. Individual candidates and PACs like Planned Parenthood, MoveOn...

I never gave a dime to the DNC until Howard Dean got on board; since then I've donated a couple of times.

My preference is to donate to candidates in my city and my state, particularly if it is going to be a hard-fought campaign and a close election. I made an exception for Howard Dean and John Kerry.

As for PACs, I'm a lifelong supporter of Planned Parenthood, mostly sending money for our local (tri-counties) clinic operations, a smaller amount to the national office, and ever since PP had to start fighting for its life against the nutcases, to their PAC as well.

MoveOn
Electronic Frontier Foundation
People for the American Way

VETPAC (Band of Brothers/Sisters) -- Max Cleland seems to be involved with this group of vets (men and women) who are running as Democrats

Can't remember what else would qualify as a PAC that I've donated to in the past year -- mostly I give for direct activities:

Direct Relief International (*highly* recommended)
Amnesty International
Doctors Without Borders
Veterans for Peace
Second Harvest
Food Bank (local)
Tsunami Haven Pre-Schools -- direct aid to a Tamil village in Sri Lanka; my Canadian cousin's project

I'll look up some of the websites and add them to this post later. I hope some DUers will decide to follow up.

Hekate

[Hekate]

8. Links

Looks like people aren't stopping by -- but I'll add these anyway.
Hekate

Planned Parenthood
http://www.plannedparenthood.org

MoveOn
http://www.moveon.org/

Electronic Frontier Foundation
http://www.eff.org/

People for the American Way
http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/

VETPAC (Band of Brothers/Sisters) -- Max Cleland seems to be involved with this group of vets (men and women) who are running as Democrats
http://www.bandofbrothers2006.org/

Direct Relief International (*highly* recommended)
http://www.directrelief.org/

Amnesty International
http://www.amnesty.org/
http://www.amnestyusa.org/

Doctors Without Borders
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/

Veterans for Peace
http://www.veteransforpeace.org/
http://www.veteransforpeace.org/Arlington_west_121003.htm

America’s Second Harvest; the Food Bank Network
http://www.secondharvest.org/

Tsunami Haven Pre-Schools -- direct aid to a Tamil village in Sri Lanka; my Canadian cousin's project.
http://www.abcbookworld.com/?state=view_author&author_id=8394
http://www.tsunamihaven.org/contactus.htm
http://mypage.direct.ca/g/gwill/len.htm

[tinfoilinfor2005]

10. I'm active in my local party and I attend many local and state events

throughout the year that cost an arm and a leg. This is not a cheap hobby. :) Aside from this, and my phone pledges to the DNC (most of which I honor, depending on how often they gang up on me) I give campaign contributions to specific candidates.