Gearing up: David Brock to launch outside group for 2012 (WH sent the message & it's been received)

[Pirate Smile]

Gearing up: David Brock to launch outside group for 2012

By Greg Sargent

With the White House now signaling it wants outside groups on the left to ramp up for 2012, Media Matters founder David Brock is in discussions to form a new group designed to raise and spend big bucks to counter the right's powerful new infrastructure, a person who's spoken directly with Brock about his plans tells me.

Brock's move represents the first clear sign that lefty Beltway power players will heed the White House's call to arms. It also indicates that they've decided the quasi-collapse of the campaign finance system has left them with no choice but to gear up in order to counter the massive spending of outfits like the U.S Chamber of Commerce and Karl Rove's groups.

"David is on the road right now talking to donors and strategists who would be interested in this," the source tells me, adding that Brock intends to create a 527, which has partial donor disclosure rules. "He's out pitching it right now."
"There's a general sense that in 2010 nothing was done and it cost Democrats," the source continues. "People realize, including in the White House, that something needs to be done in 2012 or progressives will suffer at the ballot box again."

Reached for comment, Media Matters spokesman Ari Rabin-Havt would only say: "No comment."

During the 2008 campaign, Obama famously directed outside liberal groups to close down and let his enormously successful fundraising operation dominate. But as the magnitude of the right's 2010 spending in the wake of the Citizens United decision became apparent, White House senior adviser David Axelrod began quietly signaling a new openness to outside spending on the left.

As Brock's efforts clearly show, the message has been received.


UPDATE, 2:42 p.m.: Brock tried to form a similar group against John McCain in 2008 but it was one of the groups Obama shut down. Things will be different this time around.


http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/11/gearing_up_david_brock_to_laun.html

It's.On.

[LynneSin]

1. If anyone understands how the right-wing nutjobs work, it's David Brock.

Only because he use to be one of those right-wing nutjobs. But he really has shown that you can see the light and recognize what a joke the right-wing is and how they use propaganda to accomplish their goals. David Brock is one of the good guys!

[arcane1]

2. Well-said!

:toast:

[Pirate Smile]

3. I kinda love the fact that it is David Brock. Media Matters kicks ass.

Soros just gave them a bunch of money so get ready for more (no surprise) crazy beck chalk board/puppet show insanity.

edit to add - This seems like the kind of thing Carville might be good at too. Raise a ton of $$$, James, and come up with some searing ads against Repubs.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Pirate Smile]

33. WTF right back at you bud.

[flamingdem]

47. What was that? Wingnut going off on George Soros? lol nt

[stevenleser]

36. If he is going to be out there pounding it for Obama, is there a reason we shouldnt be? n/t

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

4. Has he been de-programmed?

[KoKo]

26. He's done some good stuff after he Converted..but to see DLC Dems signing onto him...

Well...that's a DEFINITE CONVERSION... Amazing to see. Maybe it's good..or maybe...I dunno' :shrug:

[CitizenLeft]

55. amen!

[grasswire]

5. David Brock is a treasure.

I'll never forget the night when he stood up to Bush tool Joe diGenova on Geraldo's old TV show. diGenova plumped up like a Ball Park frank, turned purple with rage.

Thank you David. Thank you.

[flpoljunkie]

6. Public financing of their campaigns would free them to work for us and not special interests.

More money in the system is not the answer for our corrupted finance system and a Congress that works more for special interests than the public interest.

Pricing the Fair Elections Now Act
By Dylan Matthews

One last thing on the Fair Elections Now Act: Given as it's a public financing plan, it costs money. Not a lot of money, but enough to make deficit hysteria a viable excuse for lawmakers who want to oppose it anyway. The bill provides $900,000 per campaign to House candidates, and $1.25 million to Senate candidates, plus $250,000 per congressional district in their state. I did some back-of-the envelope math, and assuming two candidates in every race in the country -- all 435 in the House, all 36 (an unusually high number due to special elections) in the Senate -- qualify for funding, that adds up to $1.045 billion in funding per election cycle.

Of course, that number will be much lower in practice, because many campaigns will opt out, or not qualify, and that cost is over two years, meaning it's yearly budgetary impact is only half as big. But the actual cost of a bill has never gotten in the way of would-be deficit hawks' desire to kill spending proposals in the past, and I doubt it would here either.

By Washington Post editor
July 8, 2010

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/07/pricing_the_fair_elections_now.html

Fair Elections Now Act: http://www.fixcongressfirst.org/pages/fair-elections-now-act/

[Pirate Smile]

8. We'd all prefer that but it's not happening. Instead of unilateral disarmament by Democrats, they

are fighting back. Thank.Gawd.

[flpoljunkie]

12. And, it won't happen if we do not demand it. We need them to work for us not the special interests.

And, we need a Democratic party that's from the 'Democratic wing' of the party--not more 'Third Way' New Dems and Conservadems

[stevenleser]

37. Yeah, in the wake of Citizen's United, good luck with that pal...

I'm not for setting our candidates up to be punching bags.

[stevenleser]

38. Exactly. well said. n/t

[KharmaTrain]

41. Nice Words...No Votes

Even among Democrats. It's now a money war out there and will be until enough people have lost bad enough that they unilaterally disarm...but I don't see that happening.

[Doctor_J]

7. Sounds like a good place to spend my campaign bucks

I know it will be better spent that the DCCC

[Pirate Smile]

9. I know people hate comments on rec's and unrec's but it seems really weird that this can't even get

up to five. I think most people would want to know about this and it signals Democrats fighting back. I don't get why people on DU would be unrec'ing that. It isn't an attack on any group of Dems or an interest group. It isn't even pro or anti-Obama. I don't know. Just seems odd.

edit to add - of course, after I post this, it gets to 5. Oh, well. I just saw the numbers see saw up and down first.

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Pirate Smile]

32. LOL. I don't know what the hell your problem is but your stalking me on this thread is totally

bizarre and I'm not a DLC Dem. Who the hell do you think you are? You do not get to define who is or is not a Democrat.

[Parker CA]

10. Kick and Rec!!

[musiclawyer]

11. I want the 527 to court all the labor unions worldwide

along with foreign governments, and foreign environmental groups, and freindly foreign billionares, except some of the toxic ones. I want us to go hat in hand to the whole freakin world, all in open daylight, and ask for money. Invite the press. It's the only way to destroy Citizens United.

[KoKo]

27. Is David Brock signed on to this? Is he sending his readers to

"Common Cause" Website and getting them involved with THEIR EFFORTS FOR PUBLIC FINANCING OF ELECTIONS?

Is he Sending You THERE?

I watched them on C-Span Today: CHECK IT OUT!

Post-Election: What Follows the Money?

We've just come through a $4 billion election, and it wasn't pretty. Wall Street, Big Oil and dozens of secretive new political groups formed to capitalize on the Citizens United decision poured hundreds of millions into our elections. And now the question we're left with is: What do they want in return for their investment?.

Common Cause held an event at the National Press Club this morning (Wednesday, November 10 at 10:00am eastern) to discuss that topic.
Watch the event on C-SPAN.
Join the conversation on CommonBlog.

http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=4741359

[KT2000]

13. Infrastructure!

He does get it. It is no longer a battle of ideas but rather the near complete takeover of our media by the RW. David Brock so gets that.

[impik]

14. 2012 is the most important election of our lifetime

We need to fight like crazy. That's a good start.

[Dr Fate]

15. I'm nervous about this. Brock could turn into a far left loose cannon.

This sounds good on paper, but I'm frightened that my conservative friends across the rows might frame this as a "Liberal Power Grab." Once they get a frame going, we will have no chopice but to go along with it. Voters will think we are power-hungry far lefts.

I'm also scared that mean people in the media might say bad things about us if we do this. The conservative swing voters who we want to be in our base dont really like all this George Soros stuff. In the last election, they said they wanted us to be more like Republicans- not to fight them.

So long as this group does not expect DEMS to do anything far left, I guess I can live with it- but I have serious doubts.

Do we really want to be beholden to a group headed by a gay man (obviously a far left) who is crazy enough to say that the media is not Liberal?

Is this going to be a WINNING centrist effort like all those at the DCCC, or another embarassing far left, Micheal Moore thing?

I have to say that as a centrist, I'm not as excited about this. Seems like it might open us up to a form of Liberal black mail.

We are better off trying to secure donations from patriotic foreign and transnational corporations- at least they will let us be the pragmaitc centrists & conservatives that we MUST BE without complaining about it all the time.

[musiclawyer]

16. No one said take money from Putin or the UAE

Be smart about it........... There is plenty of money from left leaning organizations, governments and people worldwide who understand that a GOP controlled USA is a menace to world peace. 2012 is death match. If you are a real democrat you are arming yourself to the teeth and ready to fight. The GOP sure is. Once we win and get majorities again we kill Citizens United and do real reform

[Dr Fate]

51. But we would have to do what the far left says. Easier to court $$$ from trans-national corporations

If we take money fromt he far lefts, next thing you know they will be demanding that we abandom pragmatism in favor of crazy positions that are really, really hard to fight for.

If we just try to get money from the corporations, it will make it easier for us to work with the other side, b/c they will be getting money from some of the same trans-national corporations.

The conservative swing voters in our base seem to already agree with what these corporations want- so we can spend less time fighting.

This seems much more consistent with the recent voter mandate where voters demanded that we all work together. We saw what happened in the last election when we failed to listen to the demands of conservative swing voters.

[Qutzupalotl]

19. Is this satire?

You're "frightened" by what your conservative friends might say? You're "scared" of mean people in the media? Get a grip, man!

Voters will think we are power-hungry far lefts.

Not like those unselfish heroes McConnell and Boehner.


Do we really want to be beholden to a group headed by a gay man (obviously a far left) who is crazy enough to say that the media is not Liberal?

What does being gay have to do with anything? And the media are corporate, not liberal. They are not our friends.


We are better off trying to secure donations from patriotic foreign and transnational corporations- at least they will let us be the pragmaitc centrists & conservatives that we MUST BE without complaining about it all the time.

That has to be the worst advice I've heard in a long time. For one thing, that opens us up to the charge of foreign influence over our elections. For another, it's unnecessary. There are sufficient donors here at home who will respect us if we stay true to our principles.

[Dr Fate]

52. I dont expect the far left to understand reality based politics and pragmatism.

I'd just assmue that centrists CENSURE people like the moveons, like we did before.

Associating with these types makes us look like protesting hippies.

As soon as it gets out that we are using far left front groups to attack the new voter mandate, say bye-bye to swing voters & moderates.

In the alternative, the media and the GOP will not attack us quiote as much if we rely on $$$ from established, trusted, transnational & foreign corporations.

[KoKo]

29. LOL's...Cynical .........Well Said....WHO KNOWS...the truth of it all...

we are batted back and forth like my cat does her "fur bunnies." HA! FOR SPORT...the HUNT and then the KILL!

[Catherina]

48. Good satire. +1 n/t

[Dr Fate]

50. It's not satire. I am from the Far-Center of the Big Tent.

And it is not your place to question my values, whatever they may be at the moment.

We all have the exact same goals too, it's just that we are much more pragmatic.

[Catherina]

56. So sorry, we most certainly do not have the same goals.

Unfotunately Our goals are trillions of kms apart. The DLC can shout all it wants that we have mm in common but it ain't fooling no one.

[defendandprotect]

62. We have a right wing party and a radical right wing party now ....the center is the far right .....

[Ramulux]

57. Hilarious

I thought this was serious until half way through.

[defendandprotect]

61. That's what I'd be hoping for ....

[Awsi Dooger]

17. Great news; everyone should read David Brock's books, from "Blinded" forth

You'll never underestimate how far the right will go to vaporize a perceived obstacle.

During this Pelosi debate I keep remembering one aspect that Brock emphasized, that conservatives despise women in positions of power, to the point the right wing magazines sell in wild numbers when a woman is mocked on the cover. Throughout the cycle I kept that in mind and concluded our House losses would be more severe than estimated. A guy like Reid is bland and forgettable enough to muffle a zealous stampede to the polls. As much as I like and respect Pelosi I often wish she weren't such a high profile and easily attached target. A male ideological equivalent would be preferable for the bottom line.

[Beetwasher]

18. All those old, white, male douchebags who thrive on hating and villifying strong women will be dead

and their votes with them and will be replaced by strong, young women to whom Nancy serves as a fantastic role model. I like her just fine as Speaker and wish she were staying and hope she has a chance at the gavel again.

[KoKo]

23. Beetwasher! I've NEVER SEEN you BE SO KIND TO PELOSI...!

Mostly I've seen you TRASH HER!

What CHANGED for you? :shrug:

[Beetwasher]

49. Uhh, What? I Have Never, Ever, Ever Trashed Her. Not Once. On What Planet Have I Ever Trashed Her?

Show me one time. I love Pelosi and always have. You must be thinking of someone else. I've never had a bad word to say about her.

[jillan]

22. I will gladly donate to Media Matters! So sorry DNC!

[KoKo]

25. With DNC Head Tim Kaine still there..with no Mea Culpa...How can you not do what you do!

I agree with you......

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Pirate Smile]

34. WTF is your problem? Brock has been working on Media Matters for a long time now. We all know about

his conversion. Hopefully, it helps him understand how to fight the RW better.

[KoKo]

35. What about getting the BIG UNDISCLOSED MONEY outta' the Elections?

Post-Election: What Follows the Money?

We've just come through a $4 billion election, and it wasn't pretty. Wall Street, Big Oil and dozens of secretive new political groups formed to capitalize on the Citizens United decision poured hundreds of millions into our elections. And now the question we're left with is: What do they want in return for their investment?.

Common Cause held an event at the National Press Club this morning (Wednesday, November 10 at 10:00am eastern) to discuss that topic.
Watch the event on C-SPAN.
Join the conversation on CommonBlog.

http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=4741359

[Pirate Smile]

39. I'd prefer that but it isn't happening because the Republicans have blocked it. We just had an

election where one side took full advantage of the disgraceful Citizen's United case and the other side just had to take it. I'd love to have public financing. I'd love to get the Disclose Act passed. HOWEVER, if no changes occur then the Democrats need to be ready to fight back because I'm sure the amount of money the corporations and greedy bastards threw at the Democrats in the 10' elections will look like a pittance compared to what is headed towards us in the 2012 Presidential election.

Yes, the Democrats need to be prepared to fight back.

What do you want the Democratic Presidential nominee and all the Democratic Congressional nominees to do in 2012?

[NYC Liberal]

42. I have to ask..what are you going on about?

I was reading this thread and I feel like I'm missing something.

Really confused here.

[HughMoran]

43. What in gods name are you talking about?

:crazy:

[SeattleGirl]

45. Whaaaaaaat?

I think you got some s'plainin' to do here, because you are making zero sense! :crazy:

[bagimin]

28. Thank god

somebody has a f'n plan!

[Scurrilous]

30. K & R

:thumbsup:

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

31. I wondered where David was; I see Eric Boehlert all the time, but haven't heard from Brock in a long

time!

[SidDithers]

40. K&R...nt

Sid

[Gold Metal Flake]

54. Me, too. nt

[craigmatic]

44. Funny how when it's the president's job on the line that it's all hands on deck but when dems in

congress needed help it was fine not to use outside groups. We could've done this all along and won back the house in the process instead of trying to fight this.

[defendandprotect]

59. If Obama had any control over this or profited from it in any way...I'd have nothing to do with it!!

[flamingdem]

46. Really good news nt

[BrklynLiberal]

53. I hope this is the first of many such groups....

[defendandprotect]

60. They have to be independent of White House and Dem Party ... and selective ....

I'd favor only if money went to liberal Dems --

[defendandprotect]

58. In reading this I'd be concerned that it was in any way connected to WH -- Yikes!!!

or DLC or any other right wing corporate group --

In order for me to be interested in this would have to be completely independent of the

Democratic Party and go ONLY to Dem liberals and progressives --

Otherwise, this would remind me of the women's organization -- Emily's List -- which when

it first began gave money to PRO CHOICE candidates BOTH Repug and Dem ....

Unfortunately, there are corporate interests in the Democratic Party now -- an infestation

of them -- and certainly I'm giving no financial support to them!!!