why i hate donating to political campaigns

[moonshinegnomie]

i understand,it takes a huge amount of money. and i occasionally donate to a local candidate (like Beto). but once i do i start getting a huge amount of text messages from candidates across the country begging for money. I text back stop which stope that particular candidate but i still get more and more.

so far today ive gotten message from 3 states to donate. 5 different message. it really makes me want to stop donating.

[Fiendish Thingy]

1. Yeah, it's a real PITA. Nt

[MLAA]

2. I hear you. It's gotten out of control.

I also get around 15 a day. Eventually I get disgusted and start unsubscribing. Then I donate again and it all repeats.

Also the psychology used in the requests doesn’t appeal to me at all, I’m hoping it motivates other Dems to contribute 🙂

[CrispyQ]

3. Yeah. I made one donation to a dem candidate & now I'm on a lot of lists.

The other thing I don't like is how all the dem candidates donation pages send you to Act Blue, so unless you want to send a check, you have to go through Act Blue to donate. I wonder if it's Act Blue who shares the email info?

[Arkansas Granny]

16. I'm pretty sure they do. When I made my first donation to Act Blue, I didn't notice that I had

misspelled my name. Now I get numerous emails using the misspelled version in the greeting line.

[Effete Snob]

4. Annoying as hell

I’m really fed up with having my contact information be passed around to campaigns all over the country.

[Shellback Squid]

5. Yes, I donated to more candidates then I ever have this election cycle, guilting emails

and texts are driving me insane!

[Skittles]

6. agreed

it is extreme overkill, and likely works against them

I feel I would donate more if I had an occasional request as opposed to daily multiple appeals

[pwb]

7. Give by mail.

Buy a postal money order and only fill in your address. You may get some mail but you are not distracted in your daily life.

[Elessar Zappa]

8. It sucks but donating is necessary.

Democratic campaigns rely on small donors, unlike Republicans.

[Kaleva]

9. My donations to Hillary in '16 continue to get me texts and emails

[50 Shades Of Blue]

10. I could have writtent this!

[WVGal1963]

11. Just consider this, though....

Small donations indicate to a campaign that they have wide spread support among voters. Seasoned campaign strategists can then present this data to major donors to indicate and basically lobby that they have levels of endorsements from all over the economic/income level strata. I learned this a long time ago. It made sense to me then, and makes sense to me now. Even Census data becomes of extreme importance.

Major donors consider a lot before they contribute or back a candidate. Those $5.00 asks help candidates in ways that are amazing. The dollars add up, to be certain. But every dime donated is analyzed, dissected, categorized, taken into account, etc.

OH and I UNDERSTAND the constant texts……I am receiving dozens per day, right now!!! And fortunately, I’m an owner of a little brick and mortar store and when there are no customers in the store, and my phone “dings” I announce our loud “Oh. It’s Joe Biden. Excuse me while I answer his text because it’s urgent.”

It’s become a moment of laughter for my store family. We’re all lefties.

[PortTack]

14. Kudos to you! I just ignore the constant emails and texts...they need the money and if my small

Contributions help any dem get elected from dog catcher to senator I’m here for it. Send away

[emulatorloo]

21. Excellent post, thanks for putting it together.

I have to say I get worried when I see threads on DU like this right before an election we really need to win.

[CrispyQ]

34. This should be a thread of its own.

I did not know this:

Small donations indicate to a campaign that they have wide spread support among voters. Seasoned campaign strategists can then present this data to major donors to indicate and basically lobby that they have levels of endorsements from all over the economic/income level strata...Major donors consider a lot before they contribute or back a candidate. Those $5.00 asks help candidates in ways that are amazing. The dollars add up, to be certain. But every dime donated is analyzed, dissected, categorized, taken into account, etc

Thank you so much for posting! I was going to save all my donation bucks for closer to the election, but not now.

Please consider posting this info in General Discussion for others!

[WVGal1963]

39. I don't know how to post it elsewhere! But thank you! n/t

[napi21]

12. Agree with all of you but there's another thing that really ticks me off. The darn questionnaires.

They're ALL begging for $$$! Then there's the PANIC emails. "OMG, we've lost Texas (or wherever). When you open the email, it says something like "If we don't collect $xxxxxx by midnight, we could lose this very important State!" I've gotten to the point where I just delete them all without ever reading them. Does this junk really get some donations? I hope we hold on to the Congreess but I can't wait till the election is over!

[Timewas]

13. Yes

I also quit donating because of that very reason

[Demsrule86]

24. If the GOP takes over... then what? It takes money to win campaigns. I give what I can afford

and ignore the rest.

[nclib]

15. How do they have your phone number?

I donate with an email I only use for donations and then never open or read any emails I get from them. I never give my phone number. Less stressful.

[progree]

17. Odd, I gave $2000 to our candidate for U.S. Senate from Iowa in 2020 and $1000 to Mandela Barnes

(U.S. Senate from Wi) about 2 weeks ago, and have not been bothered with texts (none) and email (a very few). I think its all been thru Act Blue.

I don't know what I'm doing right, I probably didn't give any phone number out, I don't remember. I do know I never would unless I absolutely have to put a phone number in order for the donation to be accepted. And then it would be my landline. I don't think I've ever put in a fake phone number because that just wouldn't be right (it might actually be some person's phone number and it just isn't right to put the burden on that person).

The few emails I've gotten in the last few years I squash them right away with an unsubscribe. I don't know why in the world anyone would want to remain subscribed to ANY of those. I've always found my unsubscribe requests to individual candidates immediately honored.

But I get a lot of snail mail appeals from Senate and governor candidates, which is fine except for the environment.

I have had problems with being spammed to death in various forms (I forget now) with Democratic party organizations like the DSCC (Senate) and DCCC (House), about a decade or more ago, so I have not donated to those since. Likewise the Minnesota's Democratic Party (DFL) was a pain and got on my never-give list. I only donate to individual candidates and haven't had any real problems.

By the way, Mandela Barnes is in a very close race against Ron Johnson in Wisconsin. Ron Johnson wants Social Security and Medicare to be subject to appropriation every year, instead of the way it is now -- automatically using formulas in long long ago passed laws. Omaha Steve has set up a DU link for Barnes - https://secure.actblue.com/donate/duforbarnes22

For all his donation links (you can find that pinned to the top of General Discussion) : https://upload.democraticunderground.com/100217073340

[Tolerant1]

18. I created a new email account that I use only for campaign donations...

That really helps keep my "daily driver" inbox cleaner. And I never give my phone number.

I give my street address because I don't mind the mail...but most of it goes straight to the trash as soon I'm in from the mailbox.

[UTUSN]

19. Beto charges "donations" $30 for small yard signs, gets huge celebrity contributions

[moonshinegnomie]

23. My Beto sign was $5

[UTUSN]

27. Price is not the issue. Fence space is in-kind donation, free advertising.

[emulatorloo]

20. If you can't donate, knock doors and GOTV

Dems need to win.

[DET]

22. Tired of The Hype

For better or worse, I’ve cut down significantly on donations since I’m so disgusted by the emails. It’s not just the quantity (dozens a day), but the content. One day it’s “Great news, Cathy!” (My name is not Cathy), the next day it’s “Devastating news, Cathy!”, followed by a groveling plea for money in either case, usually accompanied by a ridiculous poll, and insisting on payment by midnight to meet some important made up deadline - or else, often to support a candidate that I’ve never even heard of.

I find this insulting. Who do they think we are - Republicans? I’d be a lot more receptive to a periodic polite non-hyperbolic request for a donation on behalf I someone that I actually recognize. Somewhere there are a bunch of ‘strategists’ making a fortune insisting that spamming donor’s inboxes with this crap is a surefire money maker. I think they’re wrong.

[Demsrule86]

25. It is for worst...our Republic hangs in the balance. I give what I can. I know that with

United caused by folks who didn't donate and didn't support Gore, our candidates need money and volunteers. During this election, our Republic hangs in the balance so I absolutely do not agree with your post.

[DET]

28. I Get It

Although I would contend that Gore’s loss and Citizens United were not caused by a lack of money. Our Republic does hang in the balance; it terrifies me. Which is why Democratic candidates and operatives need to be especially strategic in targeting donors and voters. I will never understand why Jaime Harrison was chosen to head the DNC after losing his election despite a monumental war chest. He has not been effective.

I hate to say it, but the never Trumper Republicans like the Lincoln Project and Liz Cheney have done a better job marketing Democratic positions than our side has. Until that changes, I’ll continue to donate to candidates and organizations that I think effectively reach the voters (like Fetterman) and are no holds barred fighters.

[Demsrule86]

30. Donations were down for Gore...the primary was brutal thank Michael Moore and others and

of course, we had a Green in the mix...it is impossible to write how badly Greens who are not green at all suck. I agree about Jaime Harrison...that job has become a popularity contest or a reward. Harrison albeit a very good fundraiser has little election experience. And he lost his election. If we had a professional who understood elections like Howard Dean, we could have done way more this year. As for your method of donating, I get it. However, if we don't take the Senate and the House an individual Senator that you like won't have much power. It is about electing a majority.

[Demsrule86]

26. I am trashing now. I don't even want to see a thread that encourages folks not give what they

can...this is such an important election.

[emulatorloo]

31. Suppressing donations before an important election.

Democracy is —really— hanging in the balance. And nobody is talking about doing GOTV, which is a great way to help if you can’t donate money.

I don’t understand this thread.

[pstokely]

29. you'll get begging emails even if you never donate a single buck

I signed up for some GQP lists years ago under obvious fake names and they pass around those lists

[emulatorloo]

32. THESE are the races that will determine control of the House of Representatives! Please help!

Some much needed counterprogramming to negate your anti-Democratic OP, which blatantly discourages DU’ers from helping Democrats defeat Republicans in close races.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217206774

THESE are the races that will determine control of the House of Representatives! Please help
OP by DU Member Wednesdays

Contribute To Battleground Congressional Races!

Also, if you live in or near these districts, consider volunteering for the campaigns!


Updated 9/29/2022

Competitive House Races, according to 538 (as of Sept. 29) “toss-up” or “leans D or R”. If the Democrats win a majority of these, we will almost certainly keep the House --
https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2022-election-forecast/house/


Alaska (Mary Peltola)
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/mary-peltola

Arizona 2nd (Tom O’Halleran)
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/tom-o-halleran-1?refcode=directory

California 22nd (Rudy Salas)
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/salaswebsite

California 27th (Christy Smith)
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/christy-smith-1

California 45th (Jay Chen)
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jay-chen-for-congress-2

Colorado 8th (Yadira Caraveo)
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/caraveo-for-congress-1

Illinois 17th (Eric Sorensen)
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/eric-sorensen-for-illinois-1

Iowa 3rd (Cindy Axne)
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/cindy-axne-for-congress-1

Kansas 3rd (Sharice Davids)
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/sharice-for-congress-1

Maine 2nd (Jared Golden)
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jared-golden-for-congress-1

Maryland 6th (David Trone)
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/david_trone

Michigan 3rd (Hillary Scholten)
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/scholten-for-congress-1

Michigan 10th (Carl Marlinga)
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/marlinga-for-congress-1

Nevada 3rd (Susie Lee)
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/susie-lee-for-nevada-1

New Mexico 2nd (Gabe Vasquez)
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/gabe-vasquez

New Jersey 7th (Tom Malinowski)
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/tom-malinowski-1

New York 1st (Bridget Fleming)
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bridget-fleming-for-congress-2022

New York 3rd (Robert Zimmerman)
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/zimmerman-for-congress-1

New York 18th (Pat Ryan)
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/pat-ryan-for-congress-1

New York 19th (Josh Riley)
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/riley-for-congress-1

New York 22nd (Francis Conole)
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/conole-for-congress-1

North Carolina 13th (Wiley Nickel)
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/wiley-nickel-for-congress

Oregon 5th (Jamie McLeod-Skinner)
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jamie_for_oregon_2022

Oregon 6th (Andrea Salinas)
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/andrea-salinas-for-oregon-1

Pennsylvania 7th (Susan Wild)
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/susan-wild-for-congress-1

Pennsylvania 8th (Matt Cartwright)
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/matt-cartwright-1

Pennsylvania 17th (Chris Deluzio)
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/chris-deluzio-for-congress-1

Texas 15th (Michelle Vallejo)
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/michelle-vallejo-for-congress-1

Virginia 2nd (Elaine Luria)
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/elaine-for-congress-1

Wisconsin 3rd (Brad Pfaff)
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/pfaff-for-congress-1

[Note: I will be out-of-town without my laptop from September 29 through October 10, so I won’t be posting during that time. I’ll resume my posts by October 11.]

[moonshinegnomie]

33. my anti democratic OP????

complaining about a slew of candidates sending me text messages begging for money is somehow anti democratic??

I live in texas. we have a vitally important governors race that i have donated to. my donation to beto doesnt mean bombard me with pleas from across the country. and from the replies to my OP the feeling is shard by many others. the constant begging is out of control.
If im going to donate to a candidate its going to be locally. for example you listed 30 congressional candidates. only 1 of them is even in my state. Ive donated to beto,and some other local races but im sorry a candidate from alaska has no business sending me a text message begging for money.

[emulatorloo]

35. Grow up. It is easy to ignore texts. Your thread is discouraging other DU'ers from helping Dem

candidates get the resources they need.

These candidates aren’t ‘scammers,’ so stop insinuating they are.

If Republicans take these seats and control the House the country is fucked.

Thanks for donating to Beto! .

[moonshinegnomie]

37. the countless texts are doing more to discourage donations than anything else

just look at the responses in this thread. and i saw another thread started today on the same topic. all the countless begging is going to do more to discourage donations than anything else. a few messages asking for donations and people might consider it.
countless begging just turns people off so they wont donate to anyone. and every cycle it gets worse and worse.

Its not the email so much those can easily be filtered but the countless text messages. Act blue needs to set something up so people can either limit the number of text message or stop them completely.

[csziggy]

36. I'm fed up with the number of begging emails I'm getting

Dozens a day - a good third of them from Raphael Warnock.

I might have contributed to his campaign if he had not been spamming me - even though I have gone through the "Unsubscribe" dance several times. Now, I won't contribute to him - ever. It seems every time I asked to be removed, I got put on yet another of his email lists.

I was gone for over two weeks and when I returned it took me nearly an hour to go through and delete just the political begging emails.

Texts on the other hand are not a problem. I seldom give out my cell number so the campaigns don't have it. Yay!

[milestogo]

38. I've gotten shaming messages from the national DNC that I haven't contributed yet this year.

That's not how I do things. I support candidates.