Campaign donations: Have you made any? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

abaya · 09-04-2008, 07:50 AM

Have you ever made a campaign donation? What made you decide to donate? If not, why?

I just made my first campaign donation today. There are two reasons working in tandem to explain this, for me:

1) I care far more about the outcome of this year's campaign than I have about any others in the past (even though I have always voted, since I was of age). It had never even occurred to me to make a campaign donation in the past; I am not registered under any party, and I never felt terribly supportive of any candidate in particular. I also was a bit intimidated by the idea of donating, since I wasn't sure how to do it and didn't feel interested enough to ask. Not this time--it was extremely easy to do it online, in a few minutes.

2) I have been living in Iceland for the last 18 months, watching all this from abroad, and there isn't much I can do about it from here other than vote by absentee ballot (both primary and general) and talk about it via online social networks. But it occurred to me a few weeks ago that I wanted to do something more... and again, seeing that I could do it easily online, encouraged me even more (I had gotten used to donating online since joining TFP, incidentally).

So I'm curious about how many people actually donate to campaigns, if y'all are willing to talk about it.

EDIT: Or, whether or not you have not donated financially, have you donated your time? I have not volunteered for campaigns in any capacity, but Snowy has pointed this out as a very valid form of political contribution.

snowy · 09-04-2008, 08:42 AM

What about a donation of time? I volunteer almost every election in some way. This election I've been volunteering with a PAC associated with Planned Parenthood. During the primaries we simply wanted to get the message out that McCain is a pro-life candidate and scores a 0 with NARAL in regards to abortion rights. I'll probably start volunteering with a specific campaign soon. I don't have a lot of money right now, but I do have time

abaya · 09-04-2008, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onesnowyowl

What about a donation of time? I volunteer almost every election in some way. This election I've been volunteering with a PAC associated with Planned Parenthood. During the primaries we simply wanted to get the message out that McCain is a pro-life candidate and scores a 0 with NARAL in regards to abortion rights. I'll probably start volunteering with a specific campaign soon. I don't have a lot of money right now, but I do have time

Excellent point; I hadn't thought of that, since obviously I can't volunteer much from over here--so I was just thinking financially. Will add that to the poll, if I can figure out how...

EDIT: Well, can't edit it from here, so let's keep the poll to financial donations only for now... and then talk about volunteer time in the responses.

Willravel · 09-04-2008, 08:48 AM

I've donated time and money to different campaigns. I sent $500 to Kucinich last year, even though I knew he didn't stand a chance.

SecretMethod70 · 09-04-2008, 09:19 AM

I volunteered for awhile and now I work with a campaign. Lots of time donated (pretty much my life until Nov 5!

)

dc_dux · 09-04-2008, 09:47 AM

I gave to the Dem Senate Campaign Committee this year...they can spread it around the close races and with a little luck, the Dems will pick-up 6-7 seats in the Senate.

BTW, if you contributed, you should be in the FEC database...

...or if you want to see if any neighbors contributed to a candidate (how much and who did they give it to), its all publicly available:

Advanced Individual Search

search by name, city or zip

So much for privacy!

abaya · 09-04-2008, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dc_dux

So much for privacy!

Well, do you think it should be private?

Cynthetiq · 09-04-2008, 10:06 AM

Does checking off the $1 box in the 1040 Income Tax form count?

dc_dux, thanks another way for me to find family members and individuals.

I've not donated anything as far as campaigning is concerned. Last night's dinner they were inviting many of us to volunteer on election day, I don't think I'll have the time or interest.

I've not donated money because I've not attened any fund raising activities. I'm not interested in just donating monies directly for some reason.

Willravel · 09-04-2008, 10:07 AM

LOL, I'm not in the database. Maybe it's incomplete? Or maybe Dennis ran off with my $500 and spent it on alcohol and prostitutes?

dc_dux · 09-04-2008, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abaya

Well, do you think it should be private?

Nope...I am for full and open disclosure.

But many contributors are probably not aware that data on how much and who they contribute to is so readily available

I might recommend that candidates be required to provide some type of standardized, easy-to-read form to all contributors so that the contributors know the data is pubilc.

loquitur · 09-04-2008, 12:19 PM

A friend of mine holds local office here, so I donated some money to his campaign a few times. Other than that, I have made precisely one donation to a political campaign in my life. Back in 1993, when NYC seemed to me to be on the verge of collapse, with high crime, lousy services, chaos in the streets, race riots, high taxes, and a bunch of other ills, I was convinced to the verge of certainty that if David Dinkins was re-elected there would be no city worth living in by the time his second term was done. This was a matter of great concern to me because I own a home and because, frankly, I love this city. Dinkins was grossly incompetent and i really thought it was almost a matter of life or death to get rid of him. So I donated to Giuliani's campaign. I didn't donate to Giuliani the first time he ran (in '89) or to his re-election campaign in '97, but that one time I really thought it would be a total disaster if the guy I was voting for didn't win.

Except for that one time, my general feeling is that the country/state/city is fundamentally OK, and we'll muddle through even if the majority disagrees with my preferences. The point being that I don't get exercised enough over this stuff to want to give money.

jorgelito · 09-04-2008, 02:01 PM

I have a problem with political donations. It feels wrong somehow. Like bribery or corruption.

ASU2003 · 09-04-2008, 03:36 PM

I am the only candidate I would donate money too. Or maybe if a family member ran for office I would support them.

But I trust the government only a little more than I trust large corporations. And they are both very low on the list.

Tophat665 · 09-04-2008, 06:10 PM

Obama lost his right to my money when he voted for the FISA thing. I understand why he did it even though I disagree with his reason, and he gets to keep my respect and my vote, but he 'll do just fine without me helping his bottom line.

Tully Mars · 09-05-2008, 04:19 AM

In 2004 I volunteered for a couple different candidates and gave money to about 3-4. Not all from the same party either. One day I drove from a mailing work group for a local GOP candidate to work security at an Edwards event.

I'm on the list. I give the same amount every month to Obama.

abaya · 09-05-2008, 04:44 AM

Hmm, odd... I'm not on the list. Maybe it takes a while for them to add on the newest donors?

I've been talking with a few of my friends from college (evangelical university, mind you), and several of them have made donations--to Obama--in the last week or so.

I find that quite interesting (and cool)--they aren't fooled into voting for him based on moral faux-conservatism, and social justice plays a much bigger parts in the votes of the evangelical 20- and 30-something generation than it does for the older generations. And yes, many of them are moms, but there's no identification with Palin there. I'm happy to see that.

The only die-hard Republican I know (and I have a lot of conservative/religious friends!) is someone who is not religious in any way--she's financially conservative, though doesn't care for the moral legislation bit of her party... so I'm working on that point with her.

I would not be surprised if the majority of my old college professors will be voting for Obama as well--there's a reason that many of us graduated from that university with surprisingly liberal attitudes (even those who still remain in the fold). The bio profs are all evolutionists, for example, and I know they won't stand for Palin's creationist stance.

Poppinjay · 09-05-2008, 04:52 AM

Quote:

LOL, I'm not in the database. Maybe it's incomplete? Or maybe Dennis ran off with my $500 and spent it on alcohol and prostitutes?

With his wife, he shouldn't be anywhere near the pros.

This is clearly a man who married up, X10.

I've volunteered much over the years.

Tully Mars · 09-05-2008, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abaya

Hmm, odd... I'm not on the list. Maybe it takes a while for them to add on the newest donors?

I've been talking with a few of my friends from college (evangelical university, mind you), and several of them have made donations--to Obama--in the last week or so.

I find that quite interesting (and cool)--they aren't fooled into voting for him based on moral faux-conservatism, and social justice plays a much bigger parts in the votes of the evangelical 20- and 30-something generation than it does for the older generations. And yes, many of them are moms, but there's no identification with Palin there. I'm happy to see that.

The only die-hard Republican I know (and I have a lot of conservative/religious friends!) is someone who is not religious in any way--she's financially conservative, though doesn't care for the moral legislation bit of her party... so I'm working on that point with her.

I would not be surprised if the majority of my old college professors will be voting for Obama as well--there's a reason that many of us graduated from that university with surprisingly liberal attitudes (even those who still remain in the fold). The bio profs are all evolutionists, for example, and I know they won't stand for Palin's creationist stance.

My Aug. and Sept. donations are not on the list. If you're using a CC you have to enter the zip code of that CC's mailing address. I used my current address and got nothing, then switched to my drop box mail forwarding addy and found me.

Yeah isn't it odd that educated people tend not to be social conservatives? A few hundred years ago it was the earth is flat and the center of the solar system. Now it's 6000 years old and evolution is a crock. Least now we're not burning people at the stake for not agreeing with the church, least not yet.

abaya · 09-05-2008, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tully Mars

Yeah isn't it odd that educated people tend not to be social conservatives?

Well, if you consider that they were educated at an evangelical Christian university--yes, it is a little odd. The stereotype would say that they should be voting solidly conservative, no? But they aren't for the most part.

Strange thing is, I do know one person who votes ONLY based on a candidate being pro-life (she voted Bush twice)--and while she is strongly religious, she attended a state university--not my school. Sometimes I think my little Christian uni did a pretty bang-up job of teaching us all how to think critically, precisely because they didn't want a heap of ass-hat Christians walking around with the university's name on their diploma.

Then again, the university itself is associated with the Discovery Institute (the main "thinktank" for "intelligent design")--something which I do hold against them.

Anyway... back to campaign $$.

jorgelito · 09-06-2008, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abaya

Hmm, odd... I'm not on the list. Maybe it takes a while for them to add on the newest donors?

I've been talking with a few of my friends from college (evangelical university, mind you), and several of them have made donations--to Obama--in the last week or so.

I find that quite interesting (and cool)--they aren't fooled into voting for him based on moral faux-conservatism, and social justice plays a much bigger parts in the votes of the evangelical 20- and 30-something generation than it does for the older generations. And yes, many of them are moms, but there's no identification with Palin there. I'm happy to see that.

The only die-hard Republican I know (and I have a lot of conservative/religious friends!) is someone who is not religious in any way--she's financially conservative, though doesn't care for the moral legislation bit of her party... so I'm working on that point with her.

I would not be surprised if the majority of my old college professors will be voting for Obama as well--there's a reason that many of us graduated from that university with surprisingly liberal attitudes (even those who still remain in the fold). The bio profs are all evolutionists, for example, and I know they won't stand for Palin's creationist stance.

Yes, exactly. I do think you people have to give us more credit here. We are not monolithic in our beliefs etc. Conservative does not equal "stupid" or uninformed. It always shocks me when liberals discover we actually have a mind of our own. It is that disconnect I think that separates us and is harmful. Mutual respect can go a long way.
-----Added 6/9/2008 at 04 : 48 : 57-----

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tully Mars

My Aug. and Sept. donations are not on the list. If you're using a CC you have to enter the zip code of that CC's mailing address. I used my current address and got nothing, then switched to my drop box mail forwarding addy and found me.

Yeah isn't it odd that educated people tend not to be social conservatives? A few hundred years ago it was the earth is flat and the center of the solar system. Now it's 6000 years old and evolution is a crock. Least now we're not burning people at the stake for not agreeing with the church, least not yet.

I am very educated thank you very much but I am very much socially conservative as well as my parents who hold Phds and are highly respected in their fields. This attitude is appalling. That somehow conservative people are stupid, It is precisely this attitude that cause the elitist liberals to lose credibility. That type of liberal backward thinking is why you lose votes from the common man, the people you despise and insult.

Tully Mars · 09-07-2008, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jorgelito

Yes, exactly. I do think you people have to give us more credit here. We are not monolithic in our beliefs etc. Conservative does not equal "stupid" or uninformed. It always shocks me when liberals discover we actually have a mind of our own. It is that disconnect I think that separates us and is harmful. Mutual respect can go a long way.
-----Added 6/9/2008 at 04 : 48 : 57-----
I am very educated thank you very much but I am very much socially conservative as well as my parents who hold Phds and are highly respected in their fields. This attitude is appalling. That somehow conservative people are stupid, It is precisely this attitude that cause the elitist liberals to lose credibility. That type of liberal backward thinking is why you lose votes from the common man, the people you despise and insult.

So do you believe the earth is 6000 yrs old and that evolution is a crock?

marcelval · 09-07-2008, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jorgelito

I have a problem with political donations. It feels wrong somehow. Like bribery or corruption.

It's sad that our political system has come to revolve almost totally around money. I have donated both in the last election and this one. I finally came to the realization that the only way I could make my voice heard was with my wallet. Unless we reform our system to one of fully publicly financed elections (with no exceptions and loopholes) our politicians will always need to look to get money from private sources, and those sources always expect something in return.
-----Added 7/9/2008 at 12 : 45 : 29-----

Quote:

Originally Posted by jorgelito

It is precisely this attitude that cause the elitist liberals to lose credibility.

It's interesting that you do not wish stereotypes placed upon your own thinking, and yet you seem to be unable to use the word Liberal without preceding it with the word elitist. Well I don't believe conservatives are stupid, but if you mindlessly keep referring to me as an elitist just because I hold different values, then I might change my mind.

loquitur · 09-07-2008, 09:47 AM

In case it matters to the discussion, the friend of mine in local office to whom I have contributed is a Democrat from an old-line Democratic family (of course, this is NYC and pretty much everyone is a Democrat, even the most conservative people I know).

ratbastid · 09-07-2008, 10:06 AM

I gave a total of about $150 to Obama during the primaries. Haven't contributed to the general election yet, but I might if things start looking closer than they are now. Not that my couple hundred bucks will sway things one way or another, but I assume I'm not the only one sitting back, and I'd be happy to contribute to a funding surge a little later on in the month, should one be organized.

jorgelito · 09-07-2008, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marcelval

It's sad that our political system has come to revolve almost totally around money. I have donated both in the last election and this one. I finally came to the realization that the only way I could make my voice heard was with my wallet. Unless we reform our system to one of fully publicly financed elections (with no exceptions and loopholes) our politicians will always need to look to get money from private sources, and those sources always expect something in return.
-----Added 7/9/2008 at 12 : 45 : 29-----

Agreed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by marcelval

It's interesting that you do not wish stereotypes placed upon your own thinking, and yet you seem to be unable to use the word Liberal without preceding it with the word elitist. Well I don't believe conservatives are stupid, but if you mindlessly keep referring to me as an elitist just because I hold different values, then I might change my mind.

But I didn't. I have liberal friends, but they aren't elitist. The ones I take exception to are the ones with elitist attitudes.
-----Added 7/9/2008 at 02 : 19 : 44-----

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tully Mars

So do you believe the earth is 6000 yrs old and that evolution is a crock?

No. Like I said, I'm socially conservative, not scientifically conservative.

Tully Mars · 09-07-2008, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jorgelito

No. Like I said, I'm socially conservative, not scientifically conservative.

So let me get this straight. I post-

Quote:

Yeah isn't it odd that educated people tend not to be social conservatives? A few hundred years ago it was the earth is flat and the center of the solar system. Now it's 6000 years old and evolution is a crock. Least now we're not burning people at the stake for not agreeing with the church, least not yet.

And you respond with-

Quote:

I am very educated thank you very much but I am very much socially conservative as well as my parents who hold Phds and are highly respected in their fields. This attitude is appalling. That somehow conservative people are stupid, It is precisely this attitude that cause the elitist liberals to lose credibility. That type of liberal backward thinking is why you lose votes from the common man, the people you despise and insult.

Then I think part of our disagreement then is how we're defining social conservatism. In my post I attempted to define the type of social conservatives to which I was referring- those people who do believe the earth is 6000 years old and that evolution is a crock. By your latest response I'm lead to believe you feel I should have used the term "scientifically conservative" rather then social conservative. After reading your first response I had to go back and make sure I didn't state "all conservatives are uneducated and stupid." Which of course I didn't state. I stated "Yeah isn't it odd that educated people tend not to be social conservatives?" I then went on to define the type of conservative I was referring to-

Quote:

those people who do believe the earth is 6000 years old and that evolution is a crock.

Your response to that was-

Quote:

This attitude is appalling. That somehow conservative people are stupid, It is precisely this attitude that cause the elitist liberals to lose credibility. That type of This attitude is appalling. That somehow conservative people are stupid, It is precisely this attitude that cause the elitist liberals to lose credibility. That type of liberal backward thinking is why you lose votes from the common man, the people you despise and insult. is why you lose votes from the common man, the people you despise and insult.

Since you do not seem to believe the things I pointed out I'm a little lost why you would find my attitude appalling. I'm also confused why you would think-

Quote:

It is precisely this attitude that cause the elitist liberals to lose credibility. That type of liberal backward thinking is why you lose votes from the common man

Again if you yourself do not believe the items I pointed out why would you think it's "backwards thinking?"

As for-

Quote:

the people you despise and insult.

I try not to despise or hate people. In my experience these type of feelings have a much more negative effect on those doing the despising and hating then those being hated and despised.

As for insulting- if you were insulted by my post I apologize. But I have to say I read your post and I find many reasons to be insulted myself. You have me thinking backward and despising people. If I had thinner skin, which I don't, I would be insulted.

host · 09-07-2008, 11:55 AM

jorgelito, "I know you are....but what am I" ? I wince when I see the phrase, "elitist liberals"....it strikes me that the messenger is hopelessly influenced by the results of the investment in "the Mighty Wurlitzer".

Quote:

In Thomas Frank's

"What's the Matter with Kansas?" (published as "What's The Matter With America" in the UK) the idea of a liberal elite is suggested to be similar to the character of Emmanuel Goldstein in the George Orwell book Nineteen-Eighty Four, the hated enemy of the people who did not actually exist. Frank argues that anger directed towards this perceived enemy is what keeps the conservative coalition together.

"Not long ago, Kansas would have responded to the current situation by making the bastards pay. This would have been a political certainty, as predictable as what happens when you touch a match to a puddle of gasoline. When business screwed the farmers and the workers - when it implemented monopoly strategies invasive beyond the Populists' furthest imaginings -- when it ripped off shareholders and casually tossed thousands out of work -- you could be damned sure about what would follow.

Not these days. Out here the gravity of discontent pulls in only one direction: to the right, to the right, further to the right. Strip today's Kansans of their job security, and they head out to become registered Republicans. Push them off their land, and next thing you know they're protesting in front of abortion clinics. Squander their life savings on manicures for the CEO, and there's a good chance they'll join the John Birch Society. But ask them about the remedies their ancestors proposed (unions, antitrust, public ownership), and you might as well be referring to the days when knighthood was in flower."

Quote:

HaloScan.com - Comments

The rich who 've made a fortune will be saved by the masses and this will ultimately lead to extreme resentment and revolution...

Doubt it. Marx knew what happens: the screwed just get more religious. That's why you need revolutionary elites to make the screwed understand where their interests lie. We don't, and probably never will, have such a group.

Quote:

http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/tilted-...ml#post2518973

http://www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/o...ion.2004.3.pdf
(page 12)
....This leaves less than a third of the total for the remaining ninety percent of the population. A subset of that group, families in the bottom half of wealth distribution, held only 2.5 percent of total wealth in 2004, and this figure is significantly different from the higher estimates for 1995, 1998, and 2001; of course, those differences reflect movements elsewhere in the distribution, but the statistical power of the tests is not sufficient to identify where among the groups shown the offsetting changes ccurred. A possible explanation of the decline for the lowest wealth group might be changes in their use of debt, but a separate examination of gross assets yields a pattern similar to that seen for net worth....

(page 28)
....The lowest 50 percent of the wealth
distribution, which held only 2.5 percent of total net worth in 2004, came close to its population
share only in holdings of installment debt (46.2 percent of the total) and credit card debt (45.7 percent of total outstanding balances)......

jorgelito.... repeat after me....""[t]here is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat....."

Quote:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...900776_pf.html

By David S. Hilzenrath
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, March 20, 2008; D01

...OFHEO Director James B. Lockhart III dismissed as "nonsense" speculation that one or both of the companies could require a bailout. Both companies are financially safe and sound, he said at a news conference. In a statement, he pledged to supervise them with vigilance and "act quickly to address any deficiencies that may arise."...

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...GJ8&refer=news
By Rebecca Christie and Dawn Kopecki
More Photos/Details

Sept. 7 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. government seized control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac after the biggest surge in mortgage defaults in at least three decades threatened to topple the companies making up almost half the U.S. home-loan market.

``It is necessary to take action,'' Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, who engineered the takeover along with Federal Housing Finance Agency Director James Lockhart, said in Washington today. ``Our economy and our markets will not recover until the bulk of this housing correction is behind us. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are critical to turning the corner.'' ....

....``There is no reason to expect taxpayer losses from this program, and it could produce gains,'' the department said.

Lockhart said today's action was prompted by a judgment that the companies ``cannot continue to operate safely and soundly and fulfill their critical public mission without significant action to address our concerns.''...

n0nsensical · 09-07-2008, 12:50 PM

I'd rather burn it. That would probably do more good for the world.

jorgelito · 09-07-2008, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tully Mars

So let me get this straight. I post-

And you respond with-

Then I think part of our disagreement then is how we're defining social conservatism. In my post I attempted to define the type of social conservatives to which I was referring- those people who do believe the earth is 6000 years old and that evolution is a crock. By your latest response I'm lead to believe you feel I should have used the term "scientifically conservative" rather then social conservative. After reading your first response I had to go back and make sure I didn't state "all conservatives are uneducated and stupid." Which of course I didn't state. I stated "Yeah isn't it odd that educated people tend not to be social conservatives?" I then went on to define the type of conservative I was referring to-

Your response to that was-

Since you do not seem to believe the things I pointed out I'm a little lost why you would find my attitude appalling. I'm also confused why you would think-

Again if you yourself do not believe the items I pointed out why would you think it's "backwards thinking?"

As for-

I try not to despise or hate people. In my experience these type of feelings have a much more negative effect on those doing the despising and hating then those being hated and despised.

As for insulting- if you were insulted by my post I apologize. But I have to say I read your post and I find many reasons to be insulted myself. You have me thinking backward and despising people. If I had thinner skin, which I don't, I would be insulted.

Thanks for your reply and clarification. There is no need to apologize at all my friend. My intention was not to insult others either. As you can see, these types of discussions can go both ways. It was my intention to point that out and try top restore some balance.

It really comes down to in the same way liberals don't like to be generalized or painted with the same brush, neither do conservatives. Perhaps we could all do well to keep that in mind. Sometimes things can get pretty lopsided around here which is why I respond. The attitude I am referring to is more of a directed general application. The overall feeling that many posts have a derisive attitude to any brand of conservatism in general.

Tully Mars · 09-07-2008, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jorgelito

It really comes down to in the same way liberals don't like to be generalized or painted with the same brush, neither do conservatives. Perhaps we could all do well to keep that in mind. Sometimes things can get pretty lopsided around here which is why I respond. The attitude I am referring to is more of a directed general application. The overall feeling that many posts have a derisive attitude to any brand of conservatism in general.

I think part of the problem is the labels we end up assigning people. Which is why I tried to define what I meant by "social conservative" in my post.

I don't believe the vast majority of conservatives would approve of the way the Westboro Baptist Church conducts themselves. Nor do I think the majority of liberals would agree with the Earth Liberation Front activities. There are extremes on both ends, no doubt about it.

jorgelito · 09-07-2008, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tully Mars

I think part of the problem is the labels we end up assigning people. Which is why I tried to define what I meant by "social conservative" in my post.

I am guilty of this from time to time. Not intentionally usually, but it does happen. We try to do our best.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tully Mars

I don't believe the vast majority of conservatives would approve of the way the Westboro Baptist Church conducts themselves. Nor do I think the majority of liberals would agree with the Earth Liberation Front activities. There are extremes on both ends, no doubt about it.

Agreed.

ottopilot · 09-16-2008, 06:45 AM

telekinetic · 09-16-2008, 06:58 AM

Whoa, what happened in here? I donated to and voted for Ron Paul in the primaries, and donated to and will vote for Obama in the general...this was my stated plan from the beginning (I think I even posted something to that effect before the primaries).

View Poll Results: Have you ever made a campaign donation?
Yes	12	41.38%
No	16	55.17%
I don't remember	0	0%
I prefer not to say	1	3.45%
Voters: 29. You may not vote on this poll

09-04-2008, 07:50 AM	#1 (permalink)
abaya Location: Iceland	Campaign donations: Have you made any? Have you ever made a campaign donation? What made you decide to donate? If not, why? I just made my first campaign donation today. There are two reasons working in tandem to explain this, for me: 1) I care far more about the outcome of this year's campaign than I have about any others in the past (even though I have always voted, since I was of age). It had never even occurred to me to make a campaign donation in the past; I am not registered under any party, and I never felt terribly supportive of any candidate in particular. I also was a bit intimidated by the idea of donating, since I wasn't sure how to do it and didn't feel interested enough to ask. Not this time--it was extremely easy to do it online, in a few minutes. 2) I have been living in Iceland for the last 18 months, watching all this from abroad, and there isn't much I can do about it from here other than vote by absentee ballot (both primary and general) and talk about it via online social networks. But it occurred to me a few weeks ago that I wanted to do something more... and again, seeing that I could do it easily online, encouraged me even more (I had gotten used to donating online since joining TFP, incidentally). So I'm curious about how many people actually donate to campaigns, if y'all are willing to talk about it. EDIT: Or, whether or not you have not donated financially, have you donated your time? I have not volunteered for campaigns in any capacity, but Snowy has pointed this out as a very valid form of political contribution. __________________ And think not you can direct the course of Love; for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course. --Khalil Gibran Last edited by abaya; 09-04-2008 at 08:48 AM..

09-04-2008, 08:42 AM	#2 (permalink)
snowy Kick Ass Kunoichi Location: Oregon	What about a donation of time? I volunteer almost every election in some way. This election I've been volunteering with a PAC associated with Planned Parenthood. During the primaries we simply wanted to get the message out that McCain is a pro-life candidate and scores a 0 with NARAL in regards to abortion rights. I'll probably start volunteering with a specific campaign soon. I don't have a lot of money right now, but I do have time __________________ If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

09-04-2008, 09:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
SecretMethod70 Human Administrator Location: Chicago	I volunteered for awhile and now I work with a campaign. Lots of time donated (pretty much my life until Nov 5! ) __________________ Le temps détruit tout "Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling

09-04-2008, 09:47 AM	#6 (permalink)
dc_dux Location: Washington DC	I gave to the Dem Senate Campaign Committee this year...they can spread it around the close races and with a little luck, the Dems will pick-up 6-7 seats in the Senate. BTW, if you contributed, you should be in the FEC database... ...or if you want to see if any neighbors contributed to a candidate (how much and who did they give it to), its all publicly available: Advanced Individual Search search by name, city or zip So much for privacy! __________________ "The perfect is the enemy of the good." ~ Voltaire Last edited by dc_dux; 09-04-2008 at 09:49 AM..

09-04-2008, 08:48 AM	#4 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	I've donated time and money to different campaigns. I sent $500 to Kucinich last year, even though I knew he didn't stand a chance.

09-04-2008, 10:06 AM	#8 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	Does checking off the $1 box in the 1040 Income Tax form count? dc_dux, thanks another way for me to find family members and individuals. I've not donated anything as far as campaigning is concerned. Last night's dinner they were inviting many of us to volunteer on election day, I don't think I'll have the time or interest. I've not donated money because I've not attened any fund raising activities. I'm not interested in just donating monies directly for some reason. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

09-04-2008, 10:07 AM	#9 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	LOL, I'm not in the database. Maybe it's incomplete? Or maybe Dennis ran off with my $500 and spent it on alcohol and prostitutes?

09-04-2008, 12:19 PM	#11 (permalink)
loquitur Junkie Location: NYC	A friend of mine holds local office here, so I donated some money to his campaign a few times. Other than that, I have made precisely one donation to a political campaign in my life. Back in 1993, when NYC seemed to me to be on the verge of collapse, with high crime, lousy services, chaos in the streets, race riots, high taxes, and a bunch of other ills, I was convinced to the verge of certainty that if David Dinkins was re-elected there would be no city worth living in by the time his second term was done. This was a matter of great concern to me because I own a home and because, frankly, I love this city. Dinkins was grossly incompetent and i really thought it was almost a matter of life or death to get rid of him. So I donated to Giuliani's campaign. I didn't donate to Giuliani the first time he ran (in '89) or to his re-election campaign in '97, but that one time I really thought it would be a total disaster if the guy I was voting for didn't win. Except for that one time, my general feeling is that the country/state/city is fundamentally OK, and we'll muddle through even if the majority disagrees with my preferences. The point being that I don't get exercised enough over this stuff to want to give money.

09-04-2008, 02:01 PM	#12 (permalink)
jorgelito All important elusive independent swing voter... Location: People's Republic of KKKalifornia	I have a problem with political donations. It feels wrong somehow. Like bribery or corruption. __________________ "The race is not always to the swift, nor battle to the strong, but to the one that endures to the end." "Demand more from yourself, more than anyone else could ever ask!" - My recruiter

09-04-2008, 03:36 PM	#13 (permalink)
ASU2003 immoral minority Location: Back in Ohio	I am the only candidate I would donate money too. Or maybe if a family member ran for office I would support them. But I trust the government only a little more than I trust large corporations. And they are both very low on the list.

09-04-2008, 06:10 PM	#14 (permalink)
Tophat665 Minion of the scaléd ones Location: Northeast Jesusland	Obama lost his right to my money when he voted for the FISA thing. I understand why he did it even though I disagree with his reason, and he gets to keep my respect and my vote, but he 'll do just fine without me helping his bottom line. __________________ Light a man a fire, and he will be warm while it burns. Set a man on fire, and he will be warm for the rest of his life.

09-05-2008, 04:19 AM	#15 (permalink)
Tully Mars Living in a Warmer Insanity Super Moderator Location: Yucatan, Mexico	In 2004 I volunteered for a couple different candidates and gave money to about 3-4. Not all from the same party either. One day I drove from a mailing work group for a local GOP candidate to work security at an Edwards event. I'm on the list. I give the same amount every month to Obama. __________________ I used to drink to drown my sorrows, but the damned things have learned how to swim- Frida Kahlo Vice President Starkizzer Fan Club

09-05-2008, 04:44 AM	#16 (permalink)
abaya Location: Iceland	Hmm, odd... I'm not on the list. Maybe it takes a while for them to add on the newest donors? I've been talking with a few of my friends from college (evangelical university, mind you), and several of them have made donations--to Obama--in the last week or so. I find that quite interesting (and cool)--they aren't fooled into voting for him based on moral faux-conservatism, and social justice plays a much bigger parts in the votes of the evangelical 20- and 30-something generation than it does for the older generations. And yes, many of them are moms, but there's no identification with Palin there. I'm happy to see that. The only die-hard Republican I know (and I have a lot of conservative/religious friends!) is someone who is not religious in any way--she's financially conservative, though doesn't care for the moral legislation bit of her party... so I'm working on that point with her. I would not be surprised if the majority of my old college professors will be voting for Obama as well--there's a reason that many of us graduated from that university with surprisingly liberal attitudes (even those who still remain in the fold). The bio profs are all evolutionists, for example, and I know they won't stand for Palin's creationist stance. __________________ And think not you can direct the course of Love; for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course. --Khalil Gibran

09-07-2008, 09:47 AM	#23 (permalink)
loquitur Junkie Location: NYC	In case it matters to the discussion, the friend of mine in local office to whom I have contributed is a Democrat from an old-line Democratic family (of course, this is NYC and pretty much everyone is a Democrat, even the most conservative people I know).

09-07-2008, 10:06 AM	#24 (permalink)
ratbastid Darth Papa Location: Yonder	I gave a total of about $150 to Obama during the primaries. Haven't contributed to the general election yet, but I might if things start looking closer than they are now. Not that my couple hundred bucks will sway things one way or another, but I assume I'm not the only one sitting back, and I'd be happy to contribute to a funding surge a little later on in the month, should one be organized.

09-07-2008, 12:50 PM	#28 (permalink)
n0nsensical Junkie Location: San Francisco	I'd rather burn it. That would probably do more good for the world. __________________ "Prohibition will work great injury to the cause of temperance. It is a species of intemperance within itself, for it goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man's appetite by legislation, and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A Prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded." --Abraham Lincoln

09-16-2008, 06:45 AM	#32 (permalink)
ottopilot let me be clear Location: Waddy Peytona	edit __________________ "It rubs the lotion on Buffy, Jodi and Mr. French's skin" - Uncle Bill from Buffalo

09-16-2008, 06:58 AM	#33 (permalink)
telekinetic zomgomgomgomgomgomg Location: Fauxenix, Azerona	Whoa, what happened in here? I donated to and voted for Ron Paul in the primaries, and donated to and will vote for Obama in the general...this was my stated plan from the beginning (I think I even posted something to that effect before the primaries).