Wealthy Liberals To Finance Liberal Think Tanks
by RonChusid August 6th, 2005 @ 9:33 pm
The Washington Post reports that “At least 80 wealthy liberals have pledged to contribute $1 million or more apiece to fund a network of think tanks and advocacy groups to compete with the potent conservative infrastructure built up over the past three decades.”
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Good news!
COOL
Are they hiring yet:)
Personally, I find this article from the WaPo more troubling:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/06/AR2005080601165.html
Its about Mehlman’s outreach to the black community. How the GOP plans to use cultural conservatism as an means to increase the percent of blacks voting GOP. \
Note: Gore got 90% of the black vote in 2000, Kerry got 89% in 2004. Since 1964, only two Democrat nominees got a greater percent of the black vote than Kerry did.
Gore (90% in 2000)
Mondale (90% in 1984).
Notice that a certain “first black president” got a SMALLER % of the black vote than Kerry, who comes from a state that is only about 5% black.
Nick,
I didn’t really see that article as major news since the Republicans have been working towards this for a while–and have not been having any success. Having Mehlman speak before black groups is certainly a wise thing for them to attempt, but it is not enough to overcome the Republicans’ record.
Still it does show the difference between the parties. Republcans have Mehlman speak before hostile crowds and attempt to increase their support. Democrats have Dean getting the liberal base excited. The question is if the recent Ohio race is evidence that they are expanding the message to others.
The full article is worth reading – partly to become familiar with some of the names.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/06/AR2005080600848.html?referrer=email&referrer=email
The key player as far as I am concerned is Rob Stein. In “Start Making Sense” Don Hazen (Alternet) covers his keen efforts to target people with power, influence and money to educate them with a brilliant PowerPoint presentation on “The Conservative Message Machine Money Matrix”. Follow the money and you come up with why the noise machine exists and penetrates every sector.
Another good contribution to the book is Holly Minch (Director of SPIN project at the Independent Media Institute). On working with local media and lining up our priority issues like dominoes- so we can get the first one to fall.
And back to money: check out BuyBlue.org. They have tracked campaign donations from major industries and provide information to voters so we can vote with our wallets. Did you know the Fruit of the Loom guys were red? OK, they looked embarassed, turns out anything for a buck:)