Former DFA webmaster a McCain supporter

[ProSense]

Wanker of the Day
http://atrios.blogspot.com/2006_08_20_atrios_archive.html#115644956058212673">Nicco Mele.

MCCAINIACS.

Word today is that former Dean for America webmaster and current EchoDitto CEO Nicco Mele is swinging into Camp McCain.

http://www.prospect.org/weblog/2006/08/post_1235.html#005985

MORE McECCODITTO.

Following up on Ezra's post, here's the official EccoDitto statement on their CEO's reported flirtation with John McCain:

"EchoDitto was founded to further a progressive agenda online, and we are proud of the partners we've worked with over the past three years and the record we've built doing so.

As a firm, EchoDitto is committed to progressive campaigns and organizations. We do not now, nor will we in the future, support candidates or organizations that are not aligned with our social
mission. Because of that fact, we do not now, nor will we in the future, support Republican campaigns. We have turned down such requests in the past and will continue to do so in the future.

Individually, the members of our team are free to support politically whomever they want -- such is the right of anyone in a democratic society.

Here's what the man himself had to say about McCain on his blog this morning:

A lot of people are asking me about John McCain. When I worked for Common Cause, I worked on the McCain-Feingold bill and worked closely with Sen. John McCain’s office. After Sen. McCain lost the Republican primary in 2000, I traveled with him as part of a group of campaign finance reform staffers as we criss-crossed the country working to secure support for the McCain-Feingold bill. I have long admired Sen. McCain’s work on campaign finance reform and his independent streak. If Sen. McCain runs for president, he’s got my support.

EchoDitto, the company that I co-founded and am CEO of, has not in the past, does not now, and will not in the future do any work for Sen. McCain in any way.

Right now, I’m involved in many projects that have nothing to do with presidential politics. While I currently don’t know what role I’d like to have in 2008, if Sen. McCain runs I hope to be helpful. This is a personal decision for me based on my own first-hand experience. I like Sen. McCain -- I think he should be president!

And why shouldn't he? A handful of additional wars and steep cuts in vital retirement security programs would be a small price to pay for minor alterations to the campaign finance system!

http://www.prospect.org/weblog/2006/08/post_1234.html

[blm]

1. What a pig - I knew there were moles in every campaign and we know this

one now.

McCain-Feingold was the bill that got all the media press because it helped block the discussion of REAL CAMPAIGN REFORM put up by Kerry and Wellstone - Clean Money, Clean Elections public financing of campaigns bill.

Anyone who trumpets McCain-Feingold as a heroic bill and real reform is FULL OF SHIT!

[ProSense]

2. Moles! n/t

[OzarkDem]

3. Moles and trolls everywhere

Expect to find more.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ProSense]

5. To be a right wingnut, you must believe the

Bush, the worst president in history, is competent.

[ProSense]

6. What are you a virus? Your post count is multiplying like crazy. n/t

[BlueIris]

7. Ew. Not like I'm shocked.

This describes a lot of the DFA "leaders" I had the misfortune of knowing in my neck of the woods in '04. Fake Democrats. Can't stand 'em.

[blm]

8. I always thought the more virulent ones were moles cooking up trouble

for the overall Dem party. Many of the "facts" they spread about rival candidates were bald-faced lies. Unfortunately, those new to political activism were more easily swayed by the lies.

[madfloridian]

10. Can I talk about the "virulent" ones who support others as well?

Or would I get my Deaniac butt kicked all over the place? Yep, I just bet I would. Hey, I would even get called paranoid.

There are many virulent Clark people and Kerry folks. I don't think I would ever call them moles or say they lied. Not just because they were supporters of one candidate.

I think this is sad to see what Nicco does with his company being used a means here to bash Dean supporters.

I resent it.

[blm]

14. I have long said that there were moles in EVERY campaign.

This thread is about this particular guy. Why do you take it as an affront? You should be pissed at this guy and ALL moles instead of twisting what's being said into a personal attack against ALL Dean supporters.

[madfloridian]

15. Your post was a direct attack on a group of people...us.

Read it again. Think about it.

You are were not just talking about moles.

[blm]

16. Yes I did - I specifically stated that I always suspected the more

virulent to be moles, and that they preyed upon and misinformed those new activists who didn't know any better.

And I have MANY times said that there were moles in every campaign who were trying to gin up worse trouble between the camps.

YOU decided to take it as an attack to all Dean supporters - now THAT is just a wrong read on your part and an unfair one considering that you KNOW I have posted for several years saying that ALL the camps had moles in them stirring the pot.

[madfloridian]

21. Well, there is no one here to defend me anymore.

So just say whatever you want.

[blm]

23. There is no one attacking you or any of the rank and file DFA.

We like the DFA. We just distrust the motives of SOME leaders in the DFA, and this turn of events proves we were wise to separately support the honest members of the movement while distrusting SOME of those leading it.

If anyone was attacking ALL Dean supporters, I'd be among the first to say FOUL. I have always felt it's important to separate the earnest in ANY movemnet from those attempting to manipulate the movement.

[madfloridian]

9. DFA leaders are just average people...NOT "fake democrats."

That was not a very nice statement.

The other bloggers are going after Nicco. Those who work with him will have their say as well. The situation is well in hand.

But calling DFA leaders "fake democrats" is a little overboard.

[chimpymustgo]

11. Madfloridian, who do you mean, "the situation is well in hand"?

How do you view Nicco?

[madfloridian]

12. I view it as his personal decision. A business decision.

If you have not read what Markos and other bloggers wrote, you really should. The bloggers will take care of their own without resorting to calling Deaniacs names.

I don't like what Nicco is doing, but it has nothing to do with me and others who are/were Dean supporters.

I have a feeling he will regret this decision businesswise. But I don't see any other forum which is equating what Nicco is doing to call us "fake democrats. It is a DU specialty, it is why there are so few of us here now.

I resent it very much.

[blm]

20. Looks to me like SOME of the Deaniacs were fake dems ands moles, just as

there were moles in every campaign. No need to be offended just because THIS PARTICULAR fake dem who posed as a Dean leader is being revealed.

[madfloridian]

13. Question: any other forums using Nicco to attack DFA?

I have the question. Anyone have the answer? Waiting.

It seems to be a DU thing, I have seen it here in several posts. Gripe about Nicco, he is fair game...but don't use what he is doing to call us "fake democrats."

There are annoying people in every camp of every candidate. It is unfair to attack us when there are hardly any here to defend anymore.

So I will.

[blm]

17. I have a question - What post are you claiming is attacking entire DFA?

Because I haven't seen one.

[madfloridian]

18. Parsing words, blm. Don't do that.

.

[blm]

19. I'm pointing out that I don't SEE what you claim is there.

You accuse me of parsing - I'm saying I'm not SEEING.

In my own post I purposely make sure it is known that I always seperated the actions of the more virulent supporters from the rank and file because I felt some of them were moles. How on earth could it be read to attack all of DFA?

[madfloridian]

22. Perhaps you need to read all the posts...

and the ones in the JK forum as well. There are several DFA folks who lurk around here, but they don't bother to defend or say much controversial anymore.

[blm]

24. I still don't see where ALL Dean supporters are being attacked - where do

YOU see it?

[ProSense]

25. OMG! Let me just

quote you in response:

"Gripe about Nicco, he is fair game..."

That is exactly what the OP does! There is no attack on the DFA in the post.

[madfloridian]

26. This post.

This is the one I thought I was referencing. Your post did not...others used it to do that.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2796381&mesg_id=2796948

"Ew. Not like I'm shocked.
This describes a lot of the DFA "leaders" I had the misfortune of knowing in my neck of the woods in '04. Fake Democrats. Can't stand 'em."

There are a couple of other instances. I can't link to them.