Why Aren't Republican Donors Giving?

Politico's Jeanne Cummings has a story on the dollar gap that is opening between the Dems and Republicans. It is large and growing, and a complete turnaround from the ordinary situation. So, what is going on?

First, the top tier GOP presidential candidates are equally matched and there's a lot of money on the sidelines waiting for the main event to begin. When a strong frontrunner emerges who begins to take the campaign to the Dems, especially on the war, the contributions will flow. If Romney is that nominee, expect some serious 527 efforts as well funded by his extraordinarily successful colleagues in the world of investment banking. Rudy Giuliani, too, will not lack for cash if he is the nominee.

The disparity in cash on hand between the campaign committees of Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate are much more significant, and harder for the GOP to fix. The Dems are enthusiastic about adding to their majority, and recognize that if they can keep if through this cycle it will be theirs for some time. Though pressed by the anti-war fringe into absurd ploys and defeatist rhetoric, the Dems can count on their foot soldiers in the unions and the groups to keep sending in the small contributions, whether by payroll deduction or on a voluntary basis.

Quick, name one GOP House candidate challenging a Democratic freshman. That's the first problem. The House GOP has done almost nothing to present the face of the comeback, and until it does, don't expect a lot of enthusiasm or contributions from the base. Show me 20 Republican challengers, including a bunch of vets with service in Iraq and Afghanistan who are running on a platform of victory, and the House coffers will start to fill.

The problem in the Senate isn't a lack of candidates, it is that some of the candidates are not merely old and uninpsiring, some, like Orgeon's Gordon Smith, have gone over to the defeatist ranks. Others like Domenici of New Mexico and Warner of Virginia sit on the fence. There is simply no way that even the most committed Republican activists are going to give money to the National Republican Senatorial Committee and see it work for Smith's re-election, or the re-election of other Republicans not committed to victory in Iraq.

When the GOP's senate challengers to defeatist incumbent Democrats emerge in Montana, Louisiana, Iowa, and Arkansas to join Bob Schaeffer in Colorado, there will be some rallying to them if they run on a victory platform, but not until then, and then only into the campaigns of the individuals. I got another e-mail from Senator John Ensign today, a good conservative who chairs the NRSC, asking me to contribute to the Committee to help turn back Hillary Clinton's assault on talk radio. Now, you'd think I would respond to that, right? Not a chance, because I know that my contribution would end up helping Gordon Smith. Keeping the Fairness Doctrine at bay means almost nothing compared to a loss in Iraq that allows al Qaeda to establish a new home base, and trying to appeal to donors in any way that ignores the debate over the war will fail. When the GOP caucus in the Senate serves notice that it won't be sending money to the defeatist rump in its midst, then donations will pick up. Until then, save the stamp, or the e-mail.

I'm not exactly certain, but it sounds to me like you're against those who would shun Tom Coburn.

Based upon the snipit you sited, I would have to say I'm against him too. I can think of a whole lot more gratuitous movies to rail on against, but "Schindler's List " would not be one of them.

And while the movie did indeed contain ``multiple gunshot wounds, vile language, full frontal nudity and irresponsible sexual activity.’’, one must view it in the context of the times and events it portrays. Outside of those who lived it, and even the GI's who liberated the camps, it is very difficult for the rest of us to understand the true horror that was the Nazi regime. And while many may not like what they see, it is indeed important to try to accurately portray it so future generations will learn the lesson and understand why the Jews will tell you: "Never Again".

Schindler was a man who, confronted by the horrors he witnessed, put himself, his family, and his personal fortune between the Nazi SS and the Jews he sheltered.

Mighty Christian of him.

The only problem with that calculation by the GOP, is that we don’t need nor want liberal-lite policies.

They are not a professional sports team that you support just because of the logo on the jersey. Even then I don’t stick around to support a team who’s managament I believe is only interested in revenue and NOT winning as well.

Incompetance would frustrate me, but I could deal with it. Losing because the other guys are better than you that time, I can deal. Users that take your money with no intention of trying to win the biggest trophies in their sport I disregard unil new management comes in to take over my team.

The Republican leadership, or many of them, are users.

They exist to fatten their pockets and their prestige but the greatest trophies for conservatives (confirmation of Judges, win WOT, secure Borders, Tax Cuts, Cut Spending) they refuse to give or only under extreme duress do they whip back into moderate shape.

We need conservative politicians. I won’t deny that. We don’t need more Liberal politicians, and that is what they give us.

Who loses here? Well, we both do. We don’t get conservative politicians and they don’t get elected. In the long run conservatives will find a way to exist independent of Republicans though. Mainly because conservatives stand for principles they are passionate about that much of the American public supports. While these elitist Republicans only stand for re-election, and the public in majority couldn’t care less about their retaining their cushy jobs.

Hugh theorizes why funding is down. Well, one reason is that some apolitical people give only to the people they believe could be in power to buy an open ear sympathetic to their cause. Right now more people then not do not believe Republicans will be the majority or win the Presidency.

Second reason is that the base does not trust the party anymore. Why would they. They have been called sexists, elitists, bigots, unpatriotic, extremists, many of the elites anually take snide shots at Conservatives and Christians. Why should they support people that disrespect and even seem to hate them? I think the party has forgotton there is a reason Reagan Democrats crossed over. The Democrats treated them the way Republicans now are doing. They aren’t beholden to support a party that treats them so ill, and they won’t stand for it. They have a history of walking and they did again in ‘06.

Just because amnesty is dead-—for now——and just because Lindsey and McCain are saying the right things on the war doesn’t mean all has been forgotton. IMO, the only way the GOP can get back trust quickly is to replace mcConnell, Lott and Kyl with DeMint, Sessions, and then choose among Thune, Cornyn or Coburn. Afterwards engage in high profile conservative battles and WIN. None of this backstabbing that went on with Frist. The RINO’s would have to hold the line and have the new leadership’s back. Only then would some trust begin to spurt.

Third, if some conservative Republicans don’t believe the Republicans are going to win, and they are ambivalent about those republicans anyway, why would they waste their money and donate? Just because the Government throws money at lost causes doesn’t mean others that work hard for that money are going to.

Fourth, even if you plan on donating to the nominee for President my guess is that you prefer not to do until the field has widened substanially. Right now Obama and Hlliary are the only two really seen in the mix. On the Republican side you have Rudy, which everyone has doubts he can win because he’s a liberal. You have Mitt, sorry Hugh, but he has not yet made the sell as the conservative nominee and registers around 10% nationally. You have McCain, someone that has alienated conservatives on half a dozen issues and alienated liberals on the war. Then you have a candidate that, yes, is making an impressive start in polling but technically isn’t in the race yet. You stll have Newt out there making waves about a run (he would lose a General election).

All in all, why would republicans be doing well in funding?

They aren’t ecited about getting the “R” back into power, they don’t trust the party anymore, conservatives feel disrespected personally, their issues are being disrespected, apolitical fundraisers feel the Democrats are the better bet for a win in ‘08, and republicans have no settled nominee yet for ‘08.

Personnally I’m through with the argument that says one must vote Republican—any Republican—just to keep a Socialist DIMWIT out of office. That logic provides no incentive for the Republican Party to return to its conservative roots. In any case, ours is the biggest economy and most functional society in the world. Trust me, we can survive even—dare I say it—the Hildabeast. Embracing illegal alien (that’s what they are) amnesty was the last straw for me. But that was after Republican failure to curb federal spending, failure to control the border (how can you have a war and not secure the borders?), embracing global warming (no credible evidence has ever been presented that anything man does or does not do can influence whatever may be happening with the climate), and failure to vigorously and effectively fight for social security reform. On top of that the administration has tried to fight the WOT on the cheap and politically correct. My son has been deployed to Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq (twice). The main battle between Islamic fundamentalism and western domocracy should have been won at least 2 years ago. Our power is being frittered away day-by-day and casualty-by-casualty. Oh, and one more thing—if you do not have the political will to take out Iran and Syria all the rest is a waste of time. Dooltotheend

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