RNC Fallout: Ashamed donor says he wont give.

**witness23** · 03-07-2010, 11:02 PM

If only more donors from the Democratic and Republican parties would have the same backbone as this man has and stop donating when they cross lines that should not be crossed. Although I'm sure most in this forum will say the Republicans are not doing anything wrong, it is a sad commentary.

Source: Politico

March 06, 2010
Categories:RNC Chair
RNC Fallout: 'Ashamed' donor closes checkbook
A prominent Evangelical figure and Republican donor says he will end his contributions to the organized Republican Party in reaction to the leaked fundraising presentation that advised using "fear" to solicit contributions and displayed an image of President Obama as the Joker from Batman.

Mark DeMoss, who heads a major Christian public relations firm in Atlanta and served as a liaison to the Evangelical community for Mitt Romney in 2008, wrote Chairman Michael Steele yesterday that he was "ashamed" of the presentation, calling depictions of Obama, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Majority Leader Harry Reid "shameful, immature and uncivil, at best."

"I’m afraid the presentation is representative of a culture and mindset within the Republican National Committee," DeMoss, a past member of the RNC's "Eagle" program for top donors who gave the party $15,000 in 2008, wrote in the letter to Steele, which he shared with POLITICO. (DeMoss hasn't given this cycle.) "Consequently, I will no longer contribute to any fundraising entity of our Party—but will contribute only to individual candidates I choose to support."

The letter was copied to House and Senate Republican leaders, whose campaign committees DeMoss said he'd also stop supporting.

DeMoss, whose causes include a project devoted to civility and who is the scion of a major Evangelical family, concluded:

"Mr. Chairman, I love giving money to candidates at every level who I believe in and want to see elected. But it is becoming increasingly difficult to consider making a contribution to the Party itself. The sort of behavior displayed in Boca Grande only contributes to the widespread cynicism of politics in general and our Party in particular. It is, in my opinion, indefensible and destructive."

His full letter is after the jump.

March 5, 2010

Chairman Michael Steele
Republican National Committee
310 First Street SE
Washington, DC 20003

Dear Mr. Chairman:

Like many Republicans today, I am ashamed of the fundraising presentation given by RNC Finance Director Rob Bickhart at last month’s GOP gathering in Boca Grande, Florida. The depictions of President Obama, Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Harry Reid were shameful, immature and uncivil, at best. While I realize your office made steps to distance you from this presentation I’m afraid the presentation is representative of a culture and mindset within the Republican National Committee; consequently, I will no longer contribute to any fundraising entity of our Party—but will contribute only to individual candidates I choose to support.

I have been a member of the Republican Eagles on a number of occasions in the past, including the 2008 cycle. I have been constantly solicited by the RNC, the NRSC and the NRCC, among other GOP organizations and efforts. Recently I was visited in my office by Lynn Westmoreland, who shared with me the redistricting efforts he is leading in the House. He was requesting funds for this initiative (without the sort of nonsense presented recently by your Finance Director) and I was considering contributing to the project. I will not consider doing so now, with apologies to Congressman Westmoreland

Mr. Chairman, I love giving money to candidates at every level who I believe in and want to see elected. But it is becoming increasingly difficult to consider making a contribution to the Party itself. The sort of behavior displayed in Boca Grande only contributes to the widespread cynicism of politics in general and our Party in particular. It is, in my opinion, indefensible and destructive.

Sincerely,

Mark DeMoss

President, The DeMoss Group

Founder, CivilityProject.org

cc: Peter Terpeluk, RNC Finance Chairman

Rob Bickhart, RNC Finance Director

Sen. John Cornyn, NRSC

Sen. Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader

Rep. Pete Sessions, NRCC

Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, NRCC

Rep. John Boehner, House Minority Leader

Rep. Eric Cantor, House Minority Whip

**1CHINGON** · 03-08-2010, 05:58 AM

Wonder why this post has no responses. But this post shows well that "spinning" information is simply a sham! Makes me wonder how many did fall for that creative presentation and opened up their wallets to support a shameful event.

**Turtle** · 03-08-2010, 08:48 AM

There are hundreds, thousands, millions, heck, billions of people who won't donate to this or that cause because they no longer believe in the cause. Film at eleven.

**layoutshooter** · 03-08-2010, 08:58 AM

I for one will not be donating anything to either of those two criminal organizations that we call political parties in this country.

**Poorboy** · 03-08-2010, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by layoutshooter

I for one will not be donating anything to either of those two criminal organizations that we call political parties in this country.

Me Neither, But What Depictions was he Talking about? Did I Miss Something?

**greg334** · 03-08-2010, 11:35 AM

It was a presentation where Obama was depicted as a Joker as on a playing card - among the group who were depicted in what some say is not too faltering.

Honestly I don't give a crap about it, after the big deal being made about Obama and the monkey thing this morning, it is one of those things which is good for one side but not for another to do. By the way someone pointed out that Bush in his first year has been so vilified by the media, especial the comedians that it is rather we can't say anything wrong or lampoon Obama because he is a god.

The other thing is, we need to remove this religious aspect out of the RNC anyways, it is a big turn off to a lot of people.

**witness23** · 03-08-2010, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by greg334

The other thing is, we need to remove this religious aspect out of the RNC anyways, it is a big turn off to a lot of people.

Wow! Now that is a telling statement about ones self.

**jaminjim** · 03-08-2010, 12:04 PM

Actually Obama was portrayed as The Joker from the Batman movie. Not really offensive like they are trying to say.

**Moot** · 03-08-2010, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by greg334

the big deal being made about Obama and the monkey thing

What about Bush and the monkey thing?

**Poorboy** · 03-08-2010, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by jaminjim

Actually Obama was portrayed as The Joker from the Batman movie. Not really offensive like they are trying to say.

Oh That, I Remember seeing that One, That's Not Offensive!But I thought that someone else Had come up with a Offensive One! If That's All It is It's no worse than the One that the Dems Came up with Bush! Some People Tend to Forget when the Shoe is on the Other Foot..

**LDB** · 03-08-2010, 04:18 PM

Discrimination / Affirmative Action

Criminal alien / Undocumented worker

This is a total bs case just like so much else that's one thing on the right side and something else on the wrong side. There's a reason the right is the right and the liberals are the left. In the majority of cases the liberals are wrong. The above two examples clearly show the right thing and then what the wrong side *******ized it into. Showing how easily Obama could morph into Heath Ledger's Joker isn't something to get that bent out of shape about. As mentioned, it was fine when Bush was repeatedly compared to apes but a big deal when Obama is compared to a Hollywood character? Isn't Hollywood his people anyway?

**Shadowpanda** · 03-08-2010, 07:32 PM

Well Mr DeMoss has done a very good thing. Now if another few hundred thousand donors would follow suit perhaps the schoolyard name calling will stop and actual dialog and work can occur.