Group Plans Campaign Against G.O.P. Donors

New York Times ^ | August 7, 2008 | Michael Luo

[reaganaut1]

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.

“We want to stop the Swift Boating before it gets off the ground,” said Mr. Matzzie, who described his effort as “going for the jugular.”

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.

The group is also hoping to be able to respond if an outside conservative group broadcasts a television advertisement attacking Senator Barack Obama, or another Democratic candidate, by running commercials exposing the donors behind the advertisements.

Judd Legum, who was the research director for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s presidential campaign, has signed on to play the same role for Accountable America.

[EagleSword]

Talking Points Memo has a couple of pages up which may or may not be the threatening letter in question:

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/docs/letter-accountable-america/

[MichiganConservative]

I wish I could get one of these letters. I’d return it to them with my own message.

[magellan]

Legally, this will get real interesting. By organizing with the sole intent of intimidating, threatening, and harassing people, it seems subject to investigation under the RICO Act. As the organization is mailing threats to multiple people, it opens up a class action response. Then there has to be something about sending threats or harassments through the mail.

I say bring it on. This could open MoveOn to be sued into nonexistence.