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Ok, I know, I need to move on....
Online Communcations Director
hoffman@ohiodems.org
Ohio Democratic Party
We get to cover a big event and talk to the star of the show
Readers get pics and audio of our candidates rockin'
ODP gets the table covered for their fundraiser
and Obama gets more love for finding the simple solutions.
So now it begins, who gets selected to go, who gets left out, and no I'm not stating this as someone who wants to go. It's not in Toledo and there' s no way I could get to where it is. So do we now put pressure on John Kerry when he comes to Toledo for bloggers to be included in the private reception? What about volunteers that have put years into helping the Democratic Party? Is Obama going to buy a table for them if they write him too? I know quite a few locally who have put years into the Democratic Party that can't afford a $150.00 per person ticket. What this says is their contribution means nothing yet bloggers do?
This could potentially cause even more hard feelings and even more blog vs ODP drama.
I know you aren't going to agree with me but I really have a problem with this.
ODP ran a comp for grass roots folks so some could go.
I think it's a positive thing. Should get some great stories out of the event for everyone to enjoy and get pumped up about.
As for what are bloggers worth ? I dunno that either. Clearly some think bloggers are worth something and others don't. Are we the future or a fad ? Obviously some bloggers are worth more than a phone banker. Chris Baker raised a shit load of money for Hackett.
As for me, here is what I say - I have been to and blogged countless events (over 20) in the last 6 months all on my own dime - it's part of what I do. I must have racked up well over 2,000 miles driving. This event just happened to have a steep entrance fee unlike the others. But a bit of hard work, some phone calls and emails and now we're gonna have another event covered with a top tier attraction.
ps - you can go see Kerry for $20 - email me for details...trying to get some MTB time with him while he is here
I don't even bother to speak up because it's really not worth it in the final big picture. I invest time in my blogging too, we all do it's not about who spends more time or money. It's about the message that it sends and that's what I had a problem with. I also have a problem with the way this was done. It's just my opinion, I knew writing it most of you wouldn't get it and that's fine. I can handle people not agreeing with me, I am after all married to a conservative. :-)
However, I didn't say I didn't think blogs were important. If I felt that what I was doing here in Toledo wasn't important I wouldn't be putting so much of my time, my heart and my soul as well as knowing at times making our finances even more tenious because of it. I'm not a beat the dead horse type person so whatever happens will happen and there's not much that can be done about that.
http://blog.oh02.com/
Would I like to go? Sure. Will I? Hell if I know, but if I don't, you can be sure I'll want to see posts as soon as those in attendance return to their computers. And I'll be glad they were there.
I'm in the "if you dont ask" camp myself. When i wrote ODP a week or so ago about this I didnt imagine it would turn out like this. I figured ODP would be happy to set a table up in some dark corner for us somewhere to capture the evening.
Heck now what was a typical low key fundraiser has a bit of a buzz and anticipation about it.
mine...actually, it's pretty much indians for me now. when wgn stopped carrying every game, I stopped having interest. too difficult to watch very often.
ps - I was j/k about Carbondale. Love the place, but never did more, or have desire than to, merely visit.
still think there was no 527 coordination ? heh.
So is the thing, then, that 527s should just be PACs, except that they don't want their donations limited like pacs? OR...are there some legit 527s that truly stay legit and simply focus on the issue? OR does it not matter - issue, candidate, whatever -there should be limits? Or no limits?
I think there are some legit 527's. ACT for example did just GOTV. But the problem is the myriad of 527's where transparancy simply doesnt exist.
I'd be much happier if everything fell under the PAC umbrella.
I had to do a paper on this, and when I called the FEC's "help" line asking for an explanation, that was the oh-so-helpful response I got, in between demands to know why I was calling and whether I was a reporter:
"Are you a reporter?"
No, I'm a student at OSU and have to do a paper on this.
"You should be talking to our media relations department if you're with the press."
I'm not part of the media, I'm an undergrad at OSU. "Why do you want to know this?"
and so on. Not a pleasant experience.
Essentially what it boils down to, at least in this case:
A lot of larger organizations have created both standard PACs & 527s, as well as various types of 503s.
The PAC handles donations to candidates and express advocacy-this is the hard money end of the table: Limits on contributions from donors to the PAC and from the PAC to candidates, but they can coordinate with the candidate's campaign, the parties, etc.
The 527 is segregated from the PAC, and handles issue advocacy-the soft money stuff. You can give as much as you want to a 527, they can spend as much as they want on ads and whatnot, but can't coordinate it with a candidate, and they can't do express advocacy.
Are you saying that a 527 is a subset of PACs that focuses solely (in theory anyway) on issues advocacy? From what I read, "political action committee" is a term of art, not a generic term that you'd apply to a 527. But I might be wrong. Nothing that I read indicated that 527s are in fact PACs, though they are groups that advocate for something - although in theory, not for candidates.
What's the attribution for the quote you include at the top of your comment? Thanks.
the FEC has their heads up their asses. 527s are not pacs, but they can operate pacs. pacs are not 527s.
see: http://www.opensecrets.org/527s/types.asp
Technically, a 527 is not a PAC. 527s are regulated by the IRS (they're named for the section of the tax code they fall under.)
In function, they have the same basic goal: Electing candidates who share their policy preferences.
The main difference has to do with money. PACs can only take hard money, 527s can take soft money. 527s can't coordinate with campaigns or say the 14 magic words, PACs can.
all political entities are functions of the irs. pacs are under section 527, if memory serves. but, unlike pacs which are subject, by federal law, to the oversight of the fec, 527s are subject to the irs only. the deciding factors in determining pac vs. 527 is the source and purpose of the money they receive. this places 527s in the same legal situation of 501(c) groups.
most non-profits that do political work have 501(c)(3) for public education, 501(c)(4) for lobbying and member-to-member electioneering, PAC for donations to candidates, and 527 for GOTV and public political education.
the issue is not whether emily's list has these four entities -- it's how they worked, together or separately, on this particular campaign.
Financing, coaching, consulting, mentoring, fundraising, recruiting, ordering direct mailings to be sent out via a subcontractor: Ohio Women Vote! ?
"heh" is right
I wish the ODP had the vision and imagination to make an exception to their rules for us bloggers, but since they didn't, I'm glad that Obama is making this gesture, and I'd be thrilled to participate.