Forum Post: Don't give money to Democratic Party front group ActBlue
Posted 12 years ago on Oct. 16, 2011, 4:29 p.m. EST by lurch194
(75)
from Guatemala City, Guatemala
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
ActBlue, a Democratic Party front group, is selling OWS yard signs to raise money for Obama. If you care about keeping OWS independent from the Wall St. War parties, please do not give them your money. You can also go to ActBlue's facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ActBlue) and tell them how you feel about their rank hypocrisy and opportunism.
A Democratic Party front group raising money off of OWS is the purest example of political opportunism and hypocrisy. It's like neo-nazis earning a commission on Bar Mitzvahs.
What do you mean by "User Submitted"? Isn't that an official stand of Occupywallst.org ? Please respond one way or another.
I posted it as my personal opinion.
Adrian Arroyo says that ActBlue is transparent about how much is being raised and by whom. Technically true, but many of the people who buy the OWS tea shirts are not realizing that their money is going to forces that are contrary OWS interests. Seeming transparency is in actuality duplicity of the worst sort.
Liann you dumped a lot of crap here. But you are not getting the point. It isn't about begging the Democrats to save us from the Koch brothers. Everyone knows who the Koch brothers are and what they do.
The occupations are about We The People. This isn't about the fantasy of the Democrats being God's chosen warriors against the evil Republicans or the evil Koch brothers. Both parties are destroying America and hurting We The People.
This is about keeping the OWS movement independent and not letting anyone use them. Especially not the Duopoly. The veterans among us are hip to how Democrats and their little helpers work. We will not allow you to take over OWS or use OWS to further your political ambitions. Anyone who wants to donate to OWS can do it directly. They don't need Act Blue and neither do we.
Dear DFA/ActBlue, You are a PAC and therefore part of the current political system. Please refrain from attempting to associate yourselves with the OWS movement. Please refrain from attempting to extract contributions from donors by pretending to represent the OWS movement. You may still attempt to extract contributions from donors, just not under the guise that you represent, in any way, the OWS movement. Thank you.
Adrian Arroyo of ActBlue pretends that ActBlue is an innocent bystander in Democracy for America's disgusting attempt to raise money for the Democratic Party in the name of OWS: "All of the text on that page is by DFA, and they're pretty clear about that fact. ActBlue is the software that allows..." I like that last phrase, "ActBlue is the software..." Actually, ActBlue is a partner in fundraising for the Democratic Party, and Adrian is its Director of Communications.
Adrian of ActBlue forgot to mention the following disclaimer on the web page that takes your money for the Democratic Party in the name of OWS: "Our lawyers say we need to make it clear that the total amount of your purchase is a contribution to Democracy for America under the Federal Election Campaign Act. Please contribute now and get your lawn sign today."
Don't give money to either party. they'll both get enough of it from the corporations and elite that support them. At least then some money will be going back into the economy, but that too will probably just go to the 1% Dang it!
To fight corporate media influence we need the Fairness Doctrine back:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairness_Doctrine
Hey guys, I work for ActBlue. We're just a fundraising conduit, and while we help Democrats raise money we are not an organ of the party and certainly not a "Democratic front group." The signs being sold are being sold by an organization called Democracy for America (DFA) and that fact is clearly indicated on the page:
https://secure.actblue.com/page/occupy
As far as ActBlue's mission is concerned, we're about democratizing power by making it easy for people to participate in the Democratic fundraising process, and as you can see from our website we're very transparent about how much is being raised and for whom.
Also, we'd appreciate it if you wouldn't spam our FB page.
Best, -Adrian Arroyo, Director of Communications for ActBlue
Adrian Arroyo, you are raising money for Howard Dean's Democracy for America, a Democrat Party front group. That makes you and ActBlue a Democrat front group. What's worse, you are misusing the occupation movement, which does not support the Democrat Party and is repudiating the Wall Street criminals who fund the Democrat Party. If you don't see what's wrong with that, you are clearly a dishonest person from a dishonest group and you clearly have no moral compass!
Well said, CAD. And hey Adrian, what is "Democratic fundraising" anyway, if it's not fronting for the Democratic Party?
I agree...think it is totally disengenuous
Actually, we're providing a way for groups like DFA to process credit card contributions online. We are a platform and a processor, the same way PayPal allows you to send money to your friends.
So to be clear, DFA is asking you to donate and receive a sign. They are doing it using our software, but that's the only way we're involved. The text on the page is theirs.
I'm trying to clarify what's going on. But hey, if you feel like calling me dishonest and think it's going to be productive, go nuts.
-Adrian
Adrian, was it ActBlue or DFA that designed the deceptive content that leads people to believe they're contributing to OWS? Did you help push the deceit that supporting the Democratic Party is consistent with the aims of OWS?
Again, those are some pretty judgmental questions. All of the text on that page is by DFA, and they're pretty clear about that fact. ActBlue is the software that allows them and Elizabeth Warren and thousands of other Democrats to accept credit card contributions from grassroots donors.
You obviously feel that DFA is referencing OWS in a way that you don't support or approve of. Instead of insulting me and my organization repeatedly, I suggest that you correct your initial post and get in touch with DFA.
Even if ActBlue is nothing but a conduit, Adrian, if you are allowing deceptive adverting on the site, you are guilty. You have a responsibility to prevent fraud and deception, just as eBay has a responsibility to prevent fraud and deception on its site.
"Again, those are some pretty judgmental questions..." You're damn straight they are. What else can one ask someone who takes the "I was only following orders" escape route.
"ActBlue is the software..." Wait! You're a software? I could have sworn you were pretending to be a human being when you said you were the Director of Communications for ActBlue.
"You obviously feel that DFA is referencing OWS in a way that you don't support or approve of. Instead of insulting me and my organization repeatedly, I suggest that you correct your initial post and get in touch with DFA." I did get in touch with DFA, which took my post down in about 30 seconds. So since DFA, despite its farcical name, doesn't actually like democracy, I guess I'll have to direct my comments to its tools, like ActBlue.
The signs aren't only being sold BY DFA (a Democratic Party front group); all of the money raised goes to DFA, and NONE of it goes to OWS. ActBlue is nothing but hypocrisy and political opportunism.