David Brock's Tough-Talking Third-Party Group Fizzles(Obama is taking control of campaign's message)

[RedEarth]

David Brock's Tough-Talking Third-Party Group Fizzles
By Greg Sargent - May 15, 2008, 11:47AM
A few weeks ago, Media Matters' David Brock announced to great fanfare that he was taking over Progressive Media USA, a third-party group that would, he vowed, raise $40 million for ads to soften up John McCain in advance of the general election.

Now the group is quietly shuttering those efforts with barely a whimper.

Barack Obama's fundraising team has been quietly putting out word to major donors that they didn't want any money to go to such third-party groups. Instead, they wanted the cash to go to the Obama campaign, so Obama advisers could be in sole control of the campaign's message.

........

Two things about this. First, the speed with which Obama closed this thing down is yet another sign of how rapidly Obama is taking control of the party in advance of his all-but-certain nomination. And second, it looks as if this election is going to be impacted far less than anyone expected by groups like this, at least on the Dem side.


http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/05/david_brocks_toughtalking_thir.php

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Smart move

Obama doesn't need a third party to get out the message--too easy for the GOP to get in there and louse things up.

[beachmom]

2. You know, this is smart. According to exit polls in 2004, the public

viewed KERRY as being more negative than Bush. I mean, WTF?? After the swiftboating? Well, it was because of the hodge podge of 3rd party liberal groups who had no clearly themed message. So this is smart. Now the pressure is on John McCain.

[xchrom]

3. i'm not sure what to make of this.

right now -- mostly because of my dislike for obama -- i'm not comfortable with alleging
that obama's campaign has something to do with this.

[bunkerbuster1]

4. Me neither. David Brock's good people, I think.

He saw the light and Media Matters has been an impeccable source of truth and wisdom for quite some time now.

[xchrom]

5. right now -- that's my thinking as well. nt

[uberblonde]

6. It's not an allegation, it's a fact.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0508/10315.html

Don't worry, I'm sure he only wants to use his powers for good! </snark>

He's building a national version of the Chicago machine.