RNC fundraising slideshow

**Blueneck** · 4th March 2010 06:16 AM

The Republican National Committee plans to raise money this election cycle through an aggressive campaign capitalizing on “fear” of President Barack Obama and a promise to "save the country from trending toward socialism."

The strategy was detailed in a confidential party fundraising presentation, obtained by POLITICO, which also outlines how “ego-driven” wealthy donors can be tapped with offers of access and “tchochkes.”

The presentation was delivered by RNC Finance Director Rob Bickhart to top donors and fundraisers at a party retreat in Boca Grande, Florida on February 18, a source at the gathering said.

In neat PowerPoint pages, it lifts the curtain on the often-cynical terms of political marketing, displaying an air of disdain for the party’s donors that is usually confined to the barroom conversations of political operatives.

The presentation explains the Republican fundraising in simple terms.

"What can you sell when you do not have the White House, the House, or the Senate...?" it asks.

The answer: "Save the country from trending toward Socialism!”

What a trip.

“The document was used for a fundraising presentation Chairman Steele did not attend, nor had he seen the document,” RNC Communications Director Doug Heye said in an email. “Fundraising documents are often controversial.

“Obviously, the Chairman disagrees with the language and finds the use of such imagery to be unacceptable. It will not be used by the Republican National Committee – in any capacity – in the future,” Heye said.

The most unusual section of the presentation is a set of six slides headed “RNC Marketing 101.” The presentation divides fundraising into two traditional categories, direct marketing and major donors, and lays out the details of how to approach each group.

The small donors who are the targets of direct marketing are described under the heading “Visceral Giving.” Their motivations are listed as “fear;” “Extreme negative feelings toward existing Administration;” and “Reactionary.”

Major donors, by contrast, are treated in a column headed “Calculated Giving.”

Their motivations include: “Peer to Peer Pressure”; “access”; and “Ego-Driven.”

The slide also allows that donors may have more honorable motives, including “Patriotic Duty.”

RNC mocks donors, plays on fear

Slideshow Link

**Devil505** · 4th March 2010 06:32 AM

That's the RNC's stock & trade.....Play on fears to confuse, deceive & disorient the voter.

(do anything BUT present constructive ideas for how to make things better)

**Gypsy** · 4th March 2010 06:40 AM

GOP portrays Dems as evil Scooby, Cruella

RNC chair disowns document showing Democrats as cartoon ‘Evil Empire’

Democrats on Wednesday sharply criticized a Republican National Committee fundraising document that caricatured President Obama as the Joker, while Chairman Michael S. Steele sought to distance himself from it.

Also depicted were House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (Nev.), presented as Cruella de Vil and Scooby-Doo, respectively. The three Democratic leaders were gathered under the heading "The Evil Empire."

The cartoonish images were part of a 72-page PowerPoint presentation assembled for potential campaign donors and fundraisers.

The document was obtained by Politico after being left at a Florida hotel where the Republicans had gathered Feb. 18.

The presentation also outlined how donors will be encouraged to give to Republicans at a time when the party holds neither the White House nor Congress: "Save the country from trending toward Socialism!"

'Fear-mongering, lunatic fringe'

It cites "fear" and "extreme negative feelings toward existing administration" as reasons why donors might contribute to the GOP.

Said Democratic National Committee spokesman Brad Woodhouse: "If you had any doubt, any doubt whatsoever, that the Republican Party has been taken over by the fear-mongering lunatic fringe, those doubts were erased today."

He added, "Republicans across the country have cheered on crowds where these very images appeared."

Steele did not attend the presentation in Boca Grande, Fla., and had not been aware of the document, spokesman Doug Heye said.

"Fundraising documents are often controversial. Obviously, the chairman disagrees with the language and finds the use of such imagery to be unacceptable," Heye said in a statement.

"It will not be used by the Republican National Committee -- in any capacity -- in the future."

Raynard Jackson, a GOP activist who has worked to attract blacks and other minority members to the party, was outraged by word of the presentation.

"This is just beyond the pale," he said.

"And the best we can get is Michael Steele issuing a statement through a spokesman? And they wonder why they can't get minorities, especially black people, involved in the party?"

GOP aides privately said that the document might hurt the RNC because it suggested that its major donors may be "ego-driven" to give to the party and that they might be motivated by "tchotchkes."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35702481...shington_post/

Pics: http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-s...ment030310.pdf

I think they might want to worry that they imply that their donors are stupid.