How to anger conservatives into action
posted at 9:35 am on August 8, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Try sending them a letter in an attempt to intimidate them into silence:
Nearly 10,000 of the biggest donors to Republican candidates and causes across the country will probably receive a foreboding “warning” letter in the mail next week.
The letter is an opening shot across the bow from an unusual new outside political group on the left that is poised to engage in hardball tactics to prevent similar groups on the right from getting off the ground this fall.
Led by Tom Matzzie, a liberal political operative who has been involved with some prominent left-wing efforts in recent years, the newly formed nonprofit group, Accountable America, is planning to confront donors to conservative groups, hoping to create a chilling effect that will dry up contributions. …
The warning letter is intended as a first step, alerting donors who might be considering giving to right-wing groups to a variety of potential dangers, including legal trouble, public exposure and watchdog groups digging through their lives.
Sorry, but if you think brown-shirt intimidation letters from lunatic Lefties such as yourself will frighten conservatives into silence, then you don’t know squat. Conservatives persevere despite media scorn, Hollywood demonizing, and lunatic protests outside our conventions. A “foreboding warning letter” won’t scare them, especially from someone who couldn’t make Progressive Media USA survive in a progressive-friendly cycle.
In fact, such fascistic tactics will have the reverse effect. Conservative activists have mostly stayed on the sidelines in this election, frustrated by the nomination of John McCain and a Congress that won’t stop spending money. Threats from the Left will convince them that they need to get into the fight just to make sure that the Left’s candidate for President loses the election.
So send out those “warning letters”, please, and remind them all of what the Left will do when it takes full control of the government. Keep issuing extortionist threats to people who engage in political life, and keep revealing your true nature. Motivate conservatives to get back into action.
This sounds like another one of Mattzie’s ill-considered ventures. He blew $12 million in funding for his anti-war group last year, Americans Against Escalation in Iraq, and showed nothing for his efforts. He also was involved in MoveOn’s preposterous General Betray-Us ad last September. The biggest surprise is that Mattzie still finds fools with money that need parting.
Update: Brian Faughan notes that Mattzie didn’t do much Googling before latching onto the name … of a conservative activist group — and its logo. See-Dubya and Michelle have more.
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It’s not wimpy to avoid putting a GOP bumper sticker on your car. Your car can’t protect itself from left-wing loons who see vandalism as an acceptable form of political expression. It’s also logical to be cautious in discussing your personal political beliefs in a workplace that’s chock full of devout left-wingers. What they don’t know can’t hurt you.
Jill1066 on August 8, 2008 at 1:21 PM
“It’s not wimpy to avoid putting a GOP bumper sticker on your car. Your car can’t protect itself from left-wing loons who see vandalism as an acceptable form of political expression.”
That’s why I use magnetic stickers, so I can remove them when I’m away from the car.
But I wouldn’t want my wife driving around with the stickers. The anecdote about the woman being hit by a far left man makes sense, these gutless wonders pick on vulnerable people.
I’ll take that chance that they’ll hit me. I’ve fought for my country overseas during the first Gulf War, I will not back down on American soil, that’s for sure.
NoDonkey on August 8, 2008 at 1:27 PM
$12 million for a group I’ve never heard of…….such waste.
omnipotent on August 8, 2008 at 1:31 PM
I’m sorry but I’m a Conservative and I’m as intimidated as all get out.
Now, I’m going to vote for B. Hussein O.
pabarge on August 8, 2008 at 1:32 PM
“Now, I’m going to vote for B. Hussein O.”
Since Democrats are so enamored with card check ballots for unions, I’m sure it will be only a short amount of time before they propose the same for elections.
Then Vinny the union rep can come to your door and you will conveniently be able to vote for Democrats as many times as he asks you to.
100% participation will follow.
NoDonkey on August 8, 2008 at 1:57 PM
DemocRats: The Good Idea People.
LOL
Califemme on August 8, 2008 at 2:06 PM
That’s an excellent point! I don’t waste time reading junk mail.
Kensington on August 8, 2008 at 2:18 PM
Wow. What idiots. The Dems make the 2nd amendment more and more relevant.
foxforce91 on August 8, 2008 at 2:22 PM
I’m wondering. Is this a Rovian plot to increase donations.
I guess the “Donate $100 and get a free t-shirt, donate $250 and get a free duffel bag” was going slow.
“Donate $500 and get hate mail from a complete ****-nozzle suitable for framing” might be a workable plan.
But they need to be more public about what the cutoff is. I’d want to know for sure that I’m getting that cool letter that will make me the envy of all my friends.
gekkobear on August 8, 2008 at 2:29 PM
Threats designed to prevent people from acting in ways legally protected by the Constitution?
Sounds like extortion to me.
Blaise on August 8, 2008 at 2:44 PM
Where’s his brown shirt? Will conservative supporters have to wear a Star of David? Is he going to “visit” your kids at school?
GarandFan on August 8, 2008 at 2:49 PM
“Where’s his brown shirt?”
From the looks of this guy, he’ll have to go to REI Outfitters and pick out a four man tent.
NoDonkey on August 8, 2008 at 3:12 PM
Sloppily………………. never a more descriptive word for this fool.
Seven Percent Solution on August 8, 2008 at 4:10 PM
I’ve got car insurance. I proudly display my conservative bumper stickers in a lot filled with liberal teachers and LOVE to annoy them with my conservative comments when they start spouting off in the faculty lounge!
No fear, people. Make it work!
mathscience41 on August 8, 2008 at 4:26 PM
Can someone give me the address of an anti-Obama 527 where I can send a donation to?
Sean68 on August 8, 2008 at 4:32 PM
yes, it’s THE LORD, THEY GRANT ONE, ONE HEAVEN, DEMO_CRATE PARTY, WASHINGTON, DC
foxone on August 8, 2008 at 6:10 PM
This is hilarious! I should find some McCaine stickers and do the same and put them over the Obama stickers. Unfortunately that would probably mean the lefties would key, vandalize, or crash into that car by mistake,thinking it’s owner were Republican.That wouldn’t be nice.
Where do I get some McCain stickers?
gzelmiami on August 8, 2008 at 6:19 PM
Good point, I was thinking the same thing myself.
Liberty or Death on August 8, 2008 at 6:22 PM
Liberalism: The sound rust would make if rust could speak english.
Black Adam on August 8, 2008 at 6:33 PM
I’ve scolded the GOP a lot this summer when they send me a begging letter for funds which I refuse to send but as November nears I’ll send them a check along with a terse letter that they deserve. It’s gonna be fun when we rerun the videos of their great hope and they self destruct and wonder what the hell went wrong.
mixplix on August 8, 2008 at 6:38 PM
If you get such a letter, it is like winning the lottery, because you’ll have standing to sue these idiots.
If they mail this across state lines, they could be prosecuted for extortion - with the letters as evidence.
Right_of_Attila on August 8, 2008 at 6:38 PM
I am not a lawyer, but this dolt may have just admitted to what is known as Bias Intimidation……….
Ed, ask Allah how far off I am…………….. maybe we have a class action and can take him for every $0.01 he has.
Seven Percent Solution on August 8, 2008 at 6:52 PM
I predict Mr. Matzzie will end up in Fort Marcy Park.
noblejones on August 8, 2008 at 6:54 PM
I remember the Democrat party tried to do this to my wife in 2004. She volunteered to be an election “judge” in our very very liberal county. Two days before the election, a letter with DNC masthead came with a “warning” that anyone who challenged a suspected fraudulent voter would be subject to scrutiny themselves…a real setup job, trying to frighten her.
It didn’t work.
Recovering_Democrat on August 8, 2008 at 7:00 PM
Momentarily channeling Mr. T:
Where is the fool at? I pity the fool! He’s crazier than Howlin’ Mad Murdoch, and he was plenty fool!
I’d channel Mike Gravel, but stalking this guy and his family is a bit much, even if he’d like to play mafia boss.
I R A Darth Aggie on August 8, 2008 at 7:09 PM
Sounds like Union tactics to me. I wonder how much Soros is paying this guy …
DannoJyd on August 8, 2008 at 7:21 PM
Mattzie.
Rhymes with Nazi.
drjohn on August 8, 2008 at 7:29 PM
Of course the big question is, who’s funding Tom Matzzie ??
Maxx on August 8, 2008 at 8:16 PM
Gee, I wonder why this little piggie doesn’t have a ‘contact us’ link on the website for his organization: Accountable America…Bwahahahaha, ACCOUNTABLE Amerika?…ROFLMAO.
Methinks he wants to ‘hear’ his own thoughts, or the sounds of silence. Two choices only folks, move along.
Christine on August 9, 2008 at 1:16 AM
“I wonder how much Soros is paying this guy”…good question.
Christine on August 9, 2008 at 1:18 AM
I know this. I am a conservative.
I listened to Rush Limbaugh talk about a high powered conservative gathering where complaints about RINO candidate McCain were met with ‘Get Over It!’
People posting on HotAir have been called ‘not conservatives’ or ‘trolls’ for not approving of a RINO candidate or the triangulation of the GOP primary by the GOP machine to install McCain as candidate
Since the current GOP program is RINO, many conservatives are more conservative than McCain
According to Webopedia, to troll is to
Not a troll, Keemo ( August 8, 2008 at 9:58 AM)
Meanwhile, I hope I will receive a threatening letter. It could have historic value one day
entagor on August 9, 2008 at 12:09 PM
McCain ought to give the guy some money. The ones who can be intimidated by being outed as conservatives have already been neutralized
It is possible Soros is slowing down with age. Rich guys like him usually run on auto pilot though
The oil run could be giving a few people getting second thoughts
That could explain the letter
entagor on August 9, 2008 at 12:19 PM
The final veil falls and the true face of the American Left is exposed: Fascism.
Nothing says “Failed Political Ideals” and “Rejection by the Majority” quite like the need to engage in attempts to silence and intimidate the opposition.
Stack this on top of the recent Gravel statements and you can only draw the one conclusion: the left wants to take this all the way.
I don’t see this ending well for the brownshirts.
SuperCool on August 9, 2008 at 7:47 PM
TO CONSERVATIVES WHO CAN’T GET BEHIND McCAIN
“ITS THE JUDGES, STUPID”
“ITS THE JUDGES, STUPID”
“ITS THE JUDGES, STUPID”
“ITS THE JUDGES, STUPID”
“ITS THE JUDGES, STUPID”
“ITS THE JUDGES, STUPID”
“ITS THE JUDGES, STUPID”
“ITS THE JUDGES, STUPID”
GET IT??
AReadyRepub on August 10, 2008 at 1:06 AM
As I posted in Michelle’s thread…
If you do a search on the organization, you find Laurence E. Gold as the registered agent of Accountable America.
If you search on Laurence E. Gold, you find he’s a lawyer with the AFL-CIO who was whining about stifling the speech of union members before the Senate in 2000.
91Veteran on August 11, 2008 at 1:54 AM
Matzzie has ties going back some time to the AFL-CIO, and the registered agent for Accountable America is Laurence E. Gold, who is the general counsel for the AFL-CIO.
Gold whined in testimony to the Senate back in 2000 about union members having their political speech stifled.
…and now he’s backing a group looking to do the stifling.
91Veteran on August 11, 2008 at 2:05 AM
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