they say "swift boating" like it's a dirty word

on 7 august 2008 at 16:08, tom matzzie (with others) launched a new organization called "accountable america".  from its name, one might think that this was an organization aimed at holding americans, particularly those in politics and the public forum, accountable. 

but no, no, no.  perish the thought!

the initial post on their website says this:

Welcome to Accountable America. We're working to stop the Right Wing special interest groups who are pushing lawmakers in Washington.

Accountable America works to stop the outrageous policies of right-wing and special interests in Washington especially in the areas of economic policy, energy policy, national security policy and government reform.

Our first project seeks to discourage groups and right-wing donors trying to "swiftboat" progressives. We aim to educate the public about the connections between these donors, many with unsavory business and personal stories, and lawmakers in Washington.

Accountable America is a non-partisan, non-profit corporation. We do not seek to elect or defeat candidates or endorse candidates for federal office.

Our funding comes over the Internet, from individuals and from unions and progressive political organizations.

however an article in the ny times paints quite a different picture.  accountable america is an organization that is, according to leader matzzie, "going for the jugular" in its attempt to "stop the swift boating before it gets off the ground."    and how do they intend to accomplish this feat?  by sending letters to 10,000 gop backers threatening to expose the donors behind any ad containing an "anti-obama"message.

tom matzzie, the former washington director of moveon.org (ultra-liberal money/politics machine for those of you who have been asleep for the past several years) is the leader.  his research director is none other than judd legum who previously served in the same capacity for senator clinton's ill-fated presidential campaign.

you can read the whole ny times article here if you are so inclined.  in michael luo's article, the letters are described as being the "first shot accross the bow" in an effort "to create a chilling effect that will dry up contributions" to conservative groups.  it is their intention to alert donors who might be considering giving money to a conservative group of potential troubles including "legal trouble, public exposure and wathdog groups digging through their lives."

so far the group has raised only $200,000 of it's goal of $2,000,000 - they need this money so they can run ads "outing" the donors of the ad with an anti-obama (or democrat) message in order to counter that conservative ad.  and oh yeah, before i forget, they are also offering a $100,000 award to obtain:

information that is material to either a criminal conviction for committing a felony or a misdemeanor, or a final and unappealed judicial or administrative determination of civil liability that entails the imposition of fines or penalties of at least $10,000, for a violation of federal campaign finance, tax or other statutes or regulations by an organization that operates or purports to operate under Internal Revenue Code Sections 501(c)(4), 501(c)(6) or 527 and that primarily serves business or ideologically conservative interests.

there are more disclaimers and condition; you can read the whole thing here.  seems to me, what with the current story flitting around about the original oompa loompa obamaoompa campain finance woes, these guys would be a little more agressive against conservatives.  i mean, how effective can matzzie's current scheme really be?  after all, unlike the campaign itself, those contributing to these groups - conservative or liberal - are protected by anonimity laws...

btw, am i the only one who finds it ineteresting how many democratic presidential candidates (a least in recent years) have been accused of violating campaign finance laws.  on the other foot, here are tuns of accusations by those on the left that the republicans are in the hand of certain high dollar industries, but  no accusations of campaign finance laws being broken by the gop.  i'm still investigating that side of things, but it is intriguing, to say the least.

one has to wonder what constitutes an ad message that is worthy of being "countered" by accountable america.  would it include ads such as this one where the words come directly from obama's mouth?  phforamerica bills this as "the most explosive 527 ad of the 2008 election".  they may just be right - so far.

non-partisan my patootie.  if it's a non-partisan organization why not go after any advertisment containing anything negative about any candidate?  well, the nyt asked matzzie and they had this to say about his response:

"Mr. Matzzie said he had decided to focus exclusively on conservative donors because such an effort could be done cheaply."

call me cynical, or perhaps mjust blonde, but my take on that response is that there are just too many negative ads being offered by the liberal groups to ever be able to afford going after them.  chris lacivita, a republican strategist and former swift boat organizer, was questioned in regards to accountable america and he indicated that effect on potential donors would probably be opposite of what tom matzzie’s group intended saying:

“They’re not going to be intimidated by some pipsqueak on the kooky left."

personally, i agree with mr. lacivita.  i, for one, am fired up and looking for a 527 to donate to.  what say all of you?

Comments

[Z]

Would it sound corny to say I weep for our country? This is what Conservatives are now relegated to? Being threatened like this, enough to where the NY SLIMES, for goodness sake, asked about NON PARTISANSHIP? THAT's rich, huh!?

I'm linking this at my blog, Heidianne..I rarely do this (I'm an egomaniac, after all!! hee hee!) but THIS has to be read by THE WORLD. Actually, I may send this to friends, too..........

you do such excellent work. Geller and Schlussel have NOTHING on you, kiddo. xxxx

[heidianne jackson]

corny? heck no, sane and knowledgeable, but not corny. i keep hearing mr. t in my head saying "i pity the fool" and i keep applying it to anyone who thinks we're on the right track moving leftward in this country. how silly is THAT???

thanks for the kudos - especially since i think geller and schlussel are da bomb!

[FJ]

Alinsky RULES for RADICALS #12 - Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it." Cut off the support network and isolate the target from sympathy. Go after people and not institutions; people hurt faster than institutions. (This is cruel, but very effective. Direct, personalized criticism and ridicule works.)

[JMK]

The Soros-funded MoveOn crowd is well-funded, well organized and extremely malicious and malignant.

They are truly "an enemy within."

Excellent post, Heidianne!

[cube]

I pity the conservative fool that would fear these idiots. We need to be smarter than they are & it's not all that hard.

[Karen]

Terrific post, Heidianne. I had not heard about this freak. John O'Neill lives here and he did nothing but tell the truth, beginning when he and Kerry both came back from overseas. Now, his partner, Joe Corsi, has a book out on Obama.

Facts are stubborn things.

[heidianne jackson]

fj, i know you are right, but we need to be smarter than to fall for it. psychological warfare only works if we let it... thanks for stopping by!

[heidianne jackson]

thanks jmk, they are an enemy within - sortof. the funding is just as much from without the country than within if soros is to be believed...

[heidianne jackson]

LOL cube, you are so right. now if we could only convince the rnc that the way to beat them is show we're conservative and not to emulate them...

[heidianne jackson]

you are correct, karen. i'm the middle of "the case against obama" by david freddoso and so far it's amazing. corsi's "obama nation" is on my list next...

[Nikki]

The video disturbed me the most. This man calls himself a christian? Fine if you want to go with the harsh leviticus chapters but the sermon on the mount? Blessed are the pure in heart, blessed are the peacemakers, blessed are the meek...I am shocked. Unbelievable information heidianne! nice job...I suspect this will be a smoking gun. I hope it gets legs soon. :)N

[nanc]

"Welcome to Accountable America. We're working to stop the Right Wing special interest groups who are pushing lawmakers in Washington."

and, what might TF these special interest groups be?

i get so sick of the left thinking (with what) we have something up on them in the special interest group. THEY INVENTED THE EFFING TERM!

[Uncle Joe]

The witch hunters have organized! Why engage in public debate with conservatives that you can't win when you can pack them into box cars and lock them up. Thanks for the heads up on this crowd.

[nanc]

i just read the best nomenclature for hussein obama at moonbattery:

OBAMUNIST!

bwah! i left my own: OBAMARXIST

[heidianne jackson]

nikki, i don't think HE calls himself a christian - i think he just repeats the words because it's what is required to get elected. disturbing - pious fraud indeed.

[heidianne jackson]

yes, nanc, they invented the term and now they try to use it like it corporations (especially oil) are "special interests". i can't decide which tagline i like best, but both are definitely fitting...

[heidianne jackson]

uncle joe, leave it to you to find the perfect idiom. witch hunters is precisely right!