David Wade from Sen. Kerry's office sets the record straight

[ProSense]

Money, Money, Kerry's Money

Campaign contributions and raising money for candidates is not my strong suit, so I rarely dissect what goes on in these realms. However, today some things were reported then blogged about that just have to be answered. I'm going to do my best to do that in this post.

According to the F.E.C. website, as of September 30, 2006, Senator Chuck Schumer has $10,091,773.15 on hand. Senator Schumer has given only $100,000 to the DSCC (again according to the F.E.C. site). Why isn't anyone hitting old Chucky on these facts; asking him questions? If these numbers are correct, why isn't he coughing up more cash?

Snip…

When I talked to Senator Kerry's office today and asked them about the brouhaha, needless to say I got a rousing response.

“The posting alleging Kerry has given only 15k to DSCC is 100% wrong. Beginning with the million dollars John Kerry gave to the DSCC at the beginning of this election cycle when the committee's coffers needed a boost to show a positive balance at year-end, John Kerry has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars, adding up to $3.5 million, to colleagues and challengers since December of 2004. The bottom line: combined, the Friends of John Kerry, Keeping America's Promise PAC and JohnKerry.com grassroots contributors have provided $3,540,553 in direct contributions, directed donations and online contributions to the DSCC and 22 Senate incumbents and candidates. To Attack John Kerry isn’t just cuckoo for cocoa puffs, it’s garbage, it’s wrong, it’s bullshit of the highest magnitude. You don’t take lies lying down, you fight back with the truth.” - David Wade

Snip...

People need to do more than just pull out one number and run with it. It's damaging to us all, but most especially to someone who is working his ass off in this cycle, regardless if you like or hate John Kerry.

As for whatever money he might or might not have in his own coffers, I think the fundraising above shows his willingness to work for the party, his colleagues and Democratic hopefuls. I also have to bluntly ask why anyone should be made to drain his or her political coffers dry when they're working balls to the walls day in and day out in a given election cycle. Is the man supposed to give every last dime and be left with nothing going forward? Again, it's not like he's sitting on his ass watching the days tick by until this is all over.

So next time Hotline or anyone else does a blog post, maybe they should consider giving the full truth or at least pick up the phone or send an email to check the bottom line. There's also the obvious fact that if Kerry has money left that he raised himself for his own coming reelection or political ambitions, as long as he's working his ass off for others in an off election cycle for him, why should he or any other politician have to sell his or her future out to appease the political peanut gallery?

Again, our top Democratic Party politicians owe the party a lot, especially when they have the clout to give it, but whether we're talking about Hillary Clinton or John Kerry or Joe Biden, they do not owe anyone the gift of their own future, whatever path they might choose to take.

Kerry allies prefer to keep the focus on what Kerry has done this election cycle to help Democratic candidates. Since he lost to Bush, Kerry has raised $13.5 million through his leadership committees, his aides say. Of that, he has given nearly $10 million to Democratic candidates, supporting 166 candidates for congressional, state and local offices in 40 states, they say.

He has traveled to 24 states to help Democratic candidates, working strenuously to erase any lingering bad taste Democratic leaders and activists have from his loss to Bush.

Since that day, calamitous for Democrats, Kerry has collected about 215,000 contributions, say his aides. He has benefited handsomely from a database with the names of 3 million Democratic activists and supporters compiled during the presidential campaign.

Kerry has also given $1 million from his old presidential campaign war chest to the Democratic National Committee (DNC), $1 million to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and $500,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. His fundraising prowess and generosity have drawn praise from party big wigs.

“John Kerry has been relentlessly active during these last couple of years raising money for other campaigns,” said Steve Grossman, a former DNC chairman and close adviser to the current chairman, Howard Dean. “It seems to me John Kerry is playing a strong leadership role. He has been as strong an asset as this party has.”

Grossman noted that Kerry raised most of the money in the John Kerry for President and the GELAC accounts and that the money was given to elect him president.

“To the extent the Kerry campaign raised money, it seems to me that that money is to be used by John Kerry for his own political purposes,” he said. ...

Sen. Kerry ponders uses of his $14 million

[rox63]

1. Damn straight!

K&R!!!

[TayTay]

2. Thank you David Wade

It is indeed bullshit to say that John Kerry is hoarding money or not supporting Democrats in this cycle enough. The people behind this smear should be ashamed of themselves.

[mloutre]

3. amen, brother wade!

All other niceties (such as the many complicated legal entanglements that are involved in repurposing campaign contributions after the fact) aside...

I gave money to John Kerry because I wanted to give my money to *John Kerry*, not to some random 2nd- and 3rd-tier schmoes who have no money in their campaign war chests because not even their own constituents are willing to donate money for them to put in their campaign war chests.

So to all the whiners out there gritching about how John Kerry should cough up even more of his funds to support their pet candidates:

Please stop all the shilling and shrilling about what *you* think *he* should be doing with *my* money, thankyouverymuch. That’s between him and me, and it’s none of your damn business.

[ProSense]

5. Welcome mloutre! Well said!

There were a lot of people calling on Democrats not to donate money, now it's a critical issue. John Kerry stepped up!

[newyawker99]

25. Hi mloutre!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[WildEyedLiberal]

4. Thanks David Wade and Taylor Marsh

It IS bullshit - and gee, WHO could benefit from telling Kerry to give away ALL his money to be used for a future campaign?? Seriously kids, think that one through... it doesn't take a brain surgeon.

[dwahzon]

6. Casey Morris

wanted me to pass this along from her post over on dailykos:

This is political blackmail.

And it's getting old. I don't know about anyone else, but the amount of money Kerry has raised and donated is easily verified and I have done so.

And you know why I am so sure? Because this is the third time around on this idiotic blackmail post...and the facts are still the same.

Kerry is still leading everyone in money donated and money raised.

Here's what I wonder: who is behind this? Do I smell Harry Reid and Chuck Schumer?

Frankly, this is exactly the kind of crap that bugs me about the Democrats. Boy, all you have to do is get close to winning, and the people start shooting each other trying to get to the power.

This just looks and feels like political blackmail to me.

[ProSense]

8. Thanks!

Agree! It's despicable. In fact, it makes my stomach turn to think that any Democrat is the source of this attack.

[_dynamicdems]

15. That was my first thought too: this is "friendly" fire.

And it is crap!

Now who exactly is Kerry the biggest threat to? Sad. Very sad.

[Mass]

17. Josh Marshall seems to confirm that.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/010463.php

He should ask Schumer how much of his warchest he gave.

[MH1]

7. An interesting post about the Hillary angle

http://www.dailykos.com/comments/2006/10/19/211213/54/31#31

and you know, there is another factor (7+ / 0-)

Recommended by:
Adam B, GussieFN, DMiller, MH in PA, blueyedace2, mjd in florida, jmonch

The article points out that Kerry and Bayh don't face federal election this year, so anyone who has already donated the max cannot give again. Hillary, on the other hand, can hit up the same people for her 'senate' campaign as soon as this election is over! So she should be more generous. And I have always felt she was raising money under false pretences.

So, one post defending her, and one criticizing her. I am wishy washy.

www.bluejersey.com New Jersey Progressive Politics

by John DE on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 09:25:11 PM EDT

I might not be so inclined to point out the Hillary aspect (except this is a nuance of the law I didn't even know), but all the posts calling for Kerry to do more seem to glaringly omit calling on Hillary to do more - even though she has more money, and has this post points out, has more legal capacity to raise it after this November's election.

[Canuckistanian]

9. Well, then.

I guess that settles that.

Enough of this "Kerry is sitting on MILLIONS while Democrats struggle".

Thanks, Prosense.

:thumbsup:

[ProSense]

10. It's obvious that some people prefer to do research and

others prefer to ignore it! Thanks!

[JI7]

11. who is the asshole behind the website ?

is there any way we can find out ?

[_dynamicdems]

16. That's what I'd like to know too.

All those standing ovations he got in NH got somebody worried.

[hughee99]

12. I've never seen so much love (and it's not really that much)

for a FAUX reporter. This is David Wade, Fox 25 News (Local Affiliate, not Faux News Channel), Boston.

[Mass]

13. I never noticed the name. I never watc h Fox, but it is not him.

It is Kerry's communication man, Nothing to do with Fox.

[hughee99]

14. My mistake...

I thought this was from a David Wade (Fox 25 Boston) report, quoting from Kerry's communications man. I guess I should have read the link and not just the OP.

Thx.

[AtomicKitten]

18. An update from Josh Marshall

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/

(October 19, 2006 -- 11:52 PM EST // link)

Lemme say a few more words about John Kerry and this issue of giving to the party committees in the final weeks.

First, John Kerry has done a lot of fundraising and contributing for candidates around the country in the last two years. Here's a page they've just put up on their site making that case.

Second, for all the officeholders now getting dunned for extra money, this is a unique situation. In many cases, these are folks who've played by the established rules of the road, ponied up this or that amount. So at least from me, the issue isn't that these folks are party giving scofflaws or deadbeats.

Yet it is, as I said, a unique situation. We don't know what will happen on the 7th. But it looks like the Democrats may have an opportunity for a historic tidal wave type election, like 1974 and 1994. But they won't be able to take maximum advantage of the opportunity without a lot more money right now to fund late-campaign pushes for second and third tier candidates around the country.

So, with Kerry, it's not that he hasn't already done a lot. It's that he's sitting on a lot of money. And he can do even more. And with these stakes, he should.

But Kerry's only one guy. And this applies to lots of members of the House and Senate. While I think he should pony up even more, nothing I'm saying here should be construed to mean that he's uniquely the source of the problem.

Finally, there appears to be a dispute about how much Kerry has given to the DSCC (the senate campaign committee) this cycle. The DSCC records I referenced earlier say he's given $15,000. He says he's given $1 million. It's late and I haven't been able to speak with all the parties involved. But I've looked in this and I believe the issue is this: Kerry gave $1 million to the DSCC just after the 2004 election to help the retire its debt. They, I think, don't see that as money for this cycle. He does.

Presumably the parties in question can address that particular question tomorrow.

But here's the bottom line. Candidates sitting on a lot of money should be sending more to the party committees. That's the only efficient and quick way right now to move the money where it's needed. Kerry's folks say he's already done a ton. I don't know all the particulars. But I think it's true. (See the Kerry page to make up your own mind.)

To me at least this isn't about what's come before. It's about right now. More money is needed. Now. And those who are sitting on a lot of it should give more, regardless of what they've done to this point.

To those whom much is given, much is expected in return.

-- Josh Marshall

[Mass]

19. As we already said, if it is Schumer, why is it not upfront.

Why does he use an anonymous website. And why only Kerry. How much did M. Schumer give to the DSCC? According to the record: $100K out of $10 M.

Chicken!!

[Cameron27]

20. The issue is the money

Kerry has left over from his 2004 campaign.

"Bauer said Kerry was raising money up until Election Day 2004, even though he would wind up finishing the race with nearly $14 million in unspent cash."

“I think he was hedging his bets, absolutely,” Bauer said. “I think he decided to hold on to a chunk of money so he would have a good strong head start on the 2008 election.”

"Bauer has held a fundraiser for Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del.), who is also angling for the Democratic nomination.
There is no legal restriction on Kerry’s transferring all $14 million in the old presidential account to a presidential primary campaign, said former Federal Election Commission Chairman Scott Thomas."

"Counting the $14 million in the two 2004 presidential campaign accounts and $179,000 in his Friends of John Kerry Senate reelection account, Kerry could have the largest war chest at the start of the 2008 presidential primary. Whether he does will depend how much Clinton raises and spends in her reelection race."

http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/071906/kerry.html


I'll of course wait for all this to be verified, but I gave a pretty hefty chunk of change to Kerry in 2004, and it was NOT so that he could hedge his bet and build up a war chest for 2008.

[blm]

26. Except it's HORSEPOO - The leftover money was from PRIMARIES - ILLEGAL to

use money from the primaries in the General Election which starts the moment Kerry accepted the nomination at the convention.

All the funds that had come in at the end of the primaries, and in the days of the convention would still be intact at the end of ANY Campaign. Look at Gore's. Look at Clinton's. Gore ended up donating a big chunk of his remaining funds in 2004.

I think people don't understand how the system works, but have devoted ENDLESS AMOUNTS OF ENERGY to furthering a lie based on ignorance of campaign law.

[emulatorloo]

24. When will Josh Marshall acknowledge that heyjohn is ANONYMOUS website

with a masked registration and a contact number listed as [phone]????

Sorry this stinks to high heaven and Hotline Blog and TPM should investigate further as to where this is coming from.

--

http://who.godaddy.com/whois.aspx?domain=HEYJOHNKERRY.COM&prog_id=godaddy

<snip>

Registrant:
Hey John Kerry
4224 37th St. NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20008
United States

Registered through: GoDaddy.com, Inc. (http://www.godaddy.com )
Domain Name: HEYJOHNKERRY.COM
Created on: 18-Oct-06
Expires on: 18-Oct-07
Last Updated on:

Administrative Contact:
Kerry, Hey John [e-mail]
4224 37th St. NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20008
United States
[phone]

Technical Contact:
Kerry, Hey John [e-mail]
4224 37th St. NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20008
United States
[phone]

[mloutre]

29. different site, but same fogheads

heyjohnkerry.com is just a redirecting URL that points to the site where the anathemous posts & threads are located, heyjohn.org. Here's the WHOIS info for the latter:


Domain ID: D131028533-LROR
Domain Name: HEYJOHN.ORG
Created On: 18-Oct-2006 18:59:26 UTC
Last Updated On: 18-Oct-2006 19:01:46 UTC
Expiration Date: 18-Oct-2007 18:59:26 UTC
Sponsoring Registrar: Go Daddy Software, Inc. (R91-LROR)
Status: CLIENT DELETE PROHIBITED
Status: CLIENT RENEW PROHIBITED
Status: CLIENT TRANSFER PROHIBITED
Status: CLIENT UPDATE PROHIBITED
Status: TRANSFER PROHIBITED
Registrant ID: GODA-024402498
Registrant Name: Registration Private
Registrant Organization: Domains by Proxy, Inc.
Registrant Street1: DomainsByProxy.com
Registrant Street2: 15111 N. Hayden Rd., Ste 160, PMB 353
Registrant Street3:
Registrant City: Scottsdale
Registrant State/Province: Arizona
Registrant Postal Code: 85260
Registrant Country: US
Registrant Phone: [phone]
Registrant Phone Ext.:
Registrant FAX: [phone]
Registrant FAX Ext.:
Registrant Email: [e-mail]
Admin ID: GODA-224402498
Admin Name: Registration Private
Admin Organization: Domains by Proxy, Inc.
Admin Street1: DomainsByProxy.com
Admin Street2: 15111 N. Hayden Rd., Ste 160, PMB 353
Admin Street3:
Admin City: Scottsdale
Admin State/Province: Arizona
Admin Postal Code: 85260
Admin Country: US
Admin Phone: [phone]
Admin Phone Ext.:
Admin FAX: [phone]
Admin FAX Ext.:
Admin Email: [e-mail]
Tech ID: GODA-124402498
Tech Name: Registration Private
Tech Organization: Domains by Proxy, Inc.
Tech Street1: DomainsByProxy.com
Tech Street2: 15111 N. Hayden Rd., Ste 160, PMB 353
Tech Street3:
Tech City: Scottsdale
Tech State/Province: Arizona
Tech Postal Code: 85260
Tech Country: US
Tech Phone: [phone]
Tech Phone Ext.:
Tech FAX: [phone]
Tech FAX Ext.:
Tech Email: [e-mail]
Name Server: NS1.DREAMHOST.COM
Name Server: NS2.DREAMHOST.COM
Name Server: NS3.DREAMHOST.COM

The previous information has been obtained either directly from the registrant or a registrar of the domain name other than Network Solutions. Network Solutions, therefore, does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

IP Address: 208.97.159.59 (ARIN & RIPE IP search)
IP Location: US(UNITED STATES)-CALIFORNIA-BREA
DMOZ no listings
Y! Directory: see listings
Web Site Title: Hey, John!
Data as of: 14-Jun-2005

[mloutre]

30. and as for domainsbyproxy...

It sort of says something about the company they keep when posted prominently on the front page of DomainByProxy.com's website are these links:

If you are in law enforcement, <u>click here</u>

For our subpoena policies, <u>click here</u>



Oh, yeah, and then there's this...

----------------------

As reflected in the Phoenix BBB on: 10/20/06 at 11:32 AM PST
BBB Reliability Report

This information is not authorized for sales or marketing use.

Oprime Aquí Para Español

DOMAINS BY PROXY, INC.
PMB 353, 15111 N. Hayden Road #160
Scottsdale, AZ 85260

The Better Business Bureau reports on members and non-members. Membership in the BBB is voluntary. Members must meet and maintain BBB standards. If a company is a member of the BBB, it is stated in this report.

Original Business Start Date: 02/01/02
Type of Entity: Corporation
Principal: Nima Kelly, General Manager
Customer Service Contact: Douglas Preston, Administrator
Phone Number: 480-624-2588
Email Address: [e-mail]
Web Site Address: www.domainsbyproxy.com
Membership Status: yes
Date Joined BBB: 10/17/02
Type of Business: Internet Products & Software

BBB MEMBERSHIP

This company has been a member of the Better Business Bureau since October 2002. This means it supports the Bureau's services to the public and meets our membership standards.

PROGRAM PARTICIPATION

The company participates in the Bureau's Membership Identification Program. This company participates in BBBOnLine. This company has agreed to use special complaint handling procedures including mediation and arbitration if necessary to resolve disputes.

NATURE OF BUSINESS

This company offers private domain name registrations and related services.

CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

Based on BBB files, this company has a satisfactory record with the Bureau. Any complaints processed by the Bureau in its three-year reporting period have been resolved. The number and type of complaints are not unusual for a company in this industry.

To have a "Satisfactory Record" with the Bureau, a company must be in business for at least 12 months, properly and promptly address matters referred to it by the Bureau, and be free from an unusual volume or pattern of complaints and law enforcement action involving its marketplace conduct. In addition, the Bureau must have a clear understanding of the company's business and no concerns about its industry.

When evaluating complaint information, please consider the company's size and volume of business. The number of complaints filed against the company may not be as important as the type of complaints and how the company handled them.

The Bureau processed a total of 13 complaints about this company in the last 36 months, our standard reporting period. Of the total 13 complaints in the last 36 months, 1 of those was closed in the past 12 months.

Complaints Concerned
Advertising Issues: 2
Outcome of all complaints -
Resolved: 1; Administratively Closed: 1

Sales Practice Issues: 2
Outcome of all complaints -
Resolved: 2

Delivery Issues: 1
Outcome of the complaint -
Resolved: 1

Service Issues: 5
Outcome of all complaints -
Resolved: 4; Administratively Closed: 1

Guarantees or Warranty Issues: 1
Outcome of the complaint -
Resolved: 1

Billing or Collection Issues: 2
Outcome of all complaints -
Resolved: 2

LICENSING INFORMATION

This company is in an industry that may require licensing, bonding or registration in order to lawfully do business. The Bureau encourages you to check with the appropriate agency to be certain any requirements are currently being met.

REPORT DATE: 10/17/2006

COPYRIGHT DATE: 2006 The Better Business Bureau

[_dynamicdems]

21. More LIES!

God, now he's getting a barrage of lies from both sides!

David Wade is spot on: this is GARBAGE!

[Cameron27]

22. I'm completely confused.

What I wrote came from the link in the OP, but if this is all a just a set up to trash Kerry, then I want no part of it.

I'll have to wait for more info before I come to any hasty conclusions.

[_dynamicdems]

27. It could be to make other candidates look good or to get Dems

fighting amongst ourselves. Whichever direction this attack is actually from, the pattern is familiar: they take someone's strength and turn it into a liability. Kerry sure has some folks worried, for this new "swiftboating" to start this early.

Nobody has campaigned harder or earned and given more for Democrats than Senator Kerry. So what do THEY do? They question that just the way they questioned his service in Vietnam and his partiotism for protesting after the war last time. This stinks to high heaven.

And the cowards hide their identity, saying only that they are Democrats. If they are, they aren't any Democrats I'd want to be associated with. But they might be desperate Republicans. We can't tell who they are because they are hiding and taking pot shots. That alone shows that these people don't want to be called on their lies.

I mean there are blatant lies in their garbage. What, don't they think we have brains and can research the facts? Somehow the million dollars he handed to Chairman Howard Dean becomes 15K, etc. and we're just supposed to swallow it hook, line and sinker. I don't think so!

[WildEyedLiberal]

28. Several things to consider:

- the website is COMPLETELY anonymous - who are the cowards afraid to put their names on this, and who do they work for?

- why heyJOHN? Hillary Clinton is sitting on way, way more cash than Kerry - yet she is held as a model to follow according to heyjohn.org, even though she has donated LESS of her stockpile to the DNC, DCCC, and DSCC than Kerry - about half as much, in fact.

- who gains from pressuring Kerry to give away ALL his money? If he is going to run in 2008 - who benefits from him being bankrupt? Especially since similar pressure is NOT being put on candidates with as much or more money?

- Kerry HAS raised more money than any other Dem for 2006 candidates. See http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/07/warner_staffs_u.html for details - $14 million as of July.

So once again, who is behind this? Why are they afraid to put their names on this smear? Who benefits from pressuring Kerry and Kerry alone?

This smells like a rat.

[ProSense]

23. Exactly!

It is tear down Kerry, to make some other candidate look good.