Shamnesty fundraising: Bad for the national GOP, good for state GOPs
posted at 9:35 pm on June 3, 2007 by Bryan
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But it’s only good for state GOPs that oppose amnesty. Go figure.
President Bush’s immigration bill is hurting fund-raising by the Republican National Committee, but fierce grassroots opposition to the legislation is helping several state Republican parties, Ralph Z. Hallow will report Monday in The Washington Times.
Tina Benkiser, chairwoman of the Republican Party in the president’s home state of Texas, says raising money has been successful “in large part to our principled stance against illegal immigration.”
If you’re anything like me, you took a moment to savor that. Bush’s policy is killing the national GOP, but his own state party’s opposition to his policy is benefiting the state party. Heh.
Both phone and direct-mail fundraising remain strong for Republicans in Michigan, said state chairman Saul Anuzis.
“In Michigan, seven out of nine congressional Republicans oppose the bill, our activists are publicly opposing amnesty and we are also re-establishing our brand image by fighting a Democrat attempt to increase taxes,” Mr. Anuzis said. “These issues are keeping our people engaged, where otherwise we could feel a [donations] drop off.”
Similar reports from other state GOP officials in Arizona, Colorado, Iowa and Delaware indicate that opposition to any form of amnesty for illegals is a fund-raising winner.
Meanwhile, inside the beltway:
The pain is particularly felt at the Republican National Committee.
First-quarter fundraising by the committee this year was the most difficult in four years, according to records of the Federal Election Commission. In the first three months of this year, the committee collected $24.6 million, down from $35 million in the same period last year, $32.3 million in the first quarter of 2005 and $46 million in the first quarter of 2004.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee reports similar distress.
The Senate committee raised $9.1 through April — less than half the $18.3 million raised by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee during the same period.
You know why so many grassroots Republicans oppose the amnesty bill? It’s not because of national security or supporting law and order or fairness for legal immigrants or any of that. It’s because you’re all just too comfortable around bigots.
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If money doesn’t get their atención, nothing will.
digitalintrigue on June 3, 2007 at 9:42 PM
The government better start paying attention to the will of the people. I think it says something about it in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution…
gmoonster on June 3, 2007 at 9:43 PM
It’s also affecting the relationship between the 2 Senators from SC
My parents in SC say most people are pissed at Graham. GOOD!
SouthernGent on June 3, 2007 at 9:50 PM
I’ve been saying those morons in DC ain’t the party. We are.
Iblis on June 3, 2007 at 10:00 PM
Call me skeptical: divert! divert! divert!
Tru2my2 on June 3, 2007 at 10:08 PM
Good. It’s going back to a fundamental Republican value - state control, not federal.
amerpundit on June 3, 2007 at 10:09 PM
Calling Karl Rove… can we play connect the dots?
flutejpl on June 3, 2007 at 10:12 PM
Rise the libertarian party. Come on people.
lorien1973 on June 3, 2007 at 10:22 PM
More pressure being put on the contrary yahoos, let’s see which way the President and his cohorts jump.
Speakup on June 3, 2007 at 11:20 PM
I say hit some more pocketbooks.
Find what companies are employing illegals and boycott the living hell out tof them.I’m talking national grassroots campaign.Newt is right, punish the people hiring them, and what better way than hotting their bottom line.
Dry up the funding to the pro-amnesty tools.
bbz123 on June 4, 2007 at 12:35 AM
Hey Mel Martinez, you should talk to Ken Mehlman and ask him what it’s like to be a former RNC head.
WisCon on June 4, 2007 at 12:48 AM
I believe they’ve just begun to hurt. The next report will be even more devastating, and should be.
If this bill will be killed, it will have to happen in the Congress. Fred enters the race at a perfect time, with a perfect huge item. People from both sides will understand his appeal. So far, candidates from both sides are hiding behind this issue, not addressing what’s in the bill, for different reasons/drivers. Both don’t necessarily like it, but both have enough pearls in it to love it, while screwing their constituents.
Entelechy on June 4, 2007 at 12:51 AM
I’m more convinced than ever that this Mr. Bush wanted Mel Martinez in that role for the purpose to help pass this bill. It will backfire big time.
Entelechy on June 4, 2007 at 12:54 AM
Yes I am sorry to say the night of the 04 Victory Party at the Marriot Ballroom at in Ft.Lauderdale Martinez came to the podium with a complete Mariachi band. I guess we were too caught up in the moment with the exit polls getting pwned. This is the thanks I get for being an observer at the polling place and working the phones for hours at the local Republican Hqts.
sonnyspats1 on June 4, 2007 at 1:10 AM
You guys are letting up. Unless they get at least 300 phone calls a day against the bill, they think we are for it:
Valiant on June 4, 2007 at 7:12 AM
Bush and his RINO lapdogs are intentionally splitting the Republican Party. Personally, I feel that he cut a deal with the Clintons and other powerful Dums so they won’t go after him and start any of their impeachment crap. When was the last time you heard Conyers even mention the word “impeachment”?
lynnv on June 4, 2007 at 7:40 AM
I’m afraid the truth is that “those guys” don’t care if they get 1000 calls a day against the bill, they’re going to ram it down our throats secure in the knowledge that enough folks will still vote for them instead of a Democrat.
Buzzy on June 4, 2007 at 7:56 AM
From the WaPo headline above:
Bryan, With this article on fundraising and many others HA has been very good at educating us about what is happening with the amnesty bill and giving us information to use when contacting our senators. Thank you all.
It would be interesting to see the response of a poll on questions similar to these:
1. I oppose amnesty.
2. I oppose amnesty and contacted my senators.
3. Illegal immigration is not a big issue with me.
A poll like this may even encourage some more readers to take a few minutes to google the home pages of their senators and make their concerns known.
(I have no idea how difficult it is to do a poll like this.)
roydee43 on June 4, 2007 at 8:20 AM
Don’t be fooled by the state GOP tactics. When a little pressure comes from on high, they will be goose-stepping behind the Chimpuehrer and Karl Roebbels on amnesty.
Only give money to individual candidates with the courage to actively campaign against the RINO power structure on this and other issues.
Valiant on June 4, 2007 at 9:18 AM
roydee43
I like the poll idea. No need to google anything. Go here,
http://www.rightmarch.com/
and scroll down a little, and you’ll see the links that will help you take action on this. It’s so easy to do this, that even a slug such as I got my licks in. You can compose your own letter (if you really hate your congressman–Jim Webb [of deception], or want to encourage them–Virgil Goode), or you can use a pre-written letter if you just have your run-of-the-mill contempt for them. Someone posted this link on HA a few days ago; kudos to that individual.
smellthecoffee on June 4, 2007 at 9:30 AM
I left the AZGOP over this. I am going to work as hard as I can to get Kyl and McCain out during the primary and won’t vote for either in the General.
Tim Burton on June 4, 2007 at 3:01 PM
I just found this out. You can get back any money you donated to the RNC in the past 12 months.
PRCalDude on June 4, 2007 at 10:49 PM