I'm a sponsor for a Dem fund-raiser next week .. need advice from DU.

I am one of 34 sponsors (some of the other sponsors are couples, some are well-known local Democrats, and one is a former cabinet member of Bill Clinton's). The event is for a Democratic challenger to a one-term GOP do-nothing member of Congress. Still, in the upstate of SC, GOP rules.

The fundraiser is a cocktail deal at a downtown restaurant. We (the local Democratic organization) have had very successful (and very informal) fund-raisers there in the past. I do like this Democratic candidate (good thing our phone calls are local, and I have met him face-to-face, one-on-one at breakfast at Tommy's Ham House), but I am telling him he is way over-cautious (he is afraid to discuss those issues we, and he, love, for fear of losing votes). But there is a more acute problem. The fund raising party. It has been made exclusive, and I have big problems with that.

The "invitation" says .. wait. Invitation to a fund-raiser? What about the donor with $500 to burn who hears about the party that afternoon? Want to keep him out? But I still haven't gotten to the part of the "invitation" that gives me severe heartburn. To wit:

Monday, June 19, 2006
Five-thirty until Seven o'clock in the evening
Restaurant X, upstairs lounge
1234 S. Main St, Anywhere, South Carolina
$50 donation per person
hors d'oeuvre and cash bar
Business Attire

I have already, as a sponsor (I've contributed nearly a half-grand so far), invited some students, some minorities, and some blue-collar workers to the party. I told those I invited that a donation was expected, the bar is cash and high price, and the restaurant's liberal dress code applied (my Democratic friends take small hints well). Clean jeans, shoes, and a nice shirt works well at restaurant "X".

Dr. D want's me to wear farmer's overalls. "That's your business," sez she, extrapolating (or exaggerating) a bit. I'll wear my usual summer attire to restaurant "X". Shorts (not Reno-911 Dangle shorts), collared long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves turned up five rolls (anal-retentive? Moi?), and sandals.

But what say the DUers? I am most concerned about the $50 minimum contribution and the dress code (business attire). I'll see the candidate on Thursday (at a fish-fry). What would you say to a candidate you support, in a reddest of red states, who has a poor chance, into whose campaign you are pouring your last dollars, who (the candidate) wants to position himself away from his own core beliefs to keep from losing (WIN is not an operative word either, in this campaign)?

I think I know what DU'ers will say. I just need some choice tidbits to take to our candidate tomorrow.

Mac

"business attire" BS you can throw your sponsor weight around.

with you being casual, if anyone else shows up in summer attire they can't stop em eh? with you already blazing the way


we're freaking DEMOCRATS! we stick up for the guys who get their hands dirty and their overalls greasy and they should be welcome no matter what they're wearing

I know its upstate South Carolina. I know its southern/conservative. But why is oyur guy running away from his personal beliefs? You infer he has no chnace of winning. So why not just run on what you (he) believe? Look at it this way. If some minor equivocation will get him a win, then do it. If it will not change the outcome, why not grease the skids for the next guy by raising issues that matter and fighting hard for them?

It may not yet be time for them to be widely accepted, but to at least start some people thinking would be a good thing.

..... just a thought .....

And wear whateverthehell ya want!

he's gonna be made nasty at by the repukes? In SC?

Tell him that if he has not come to grips with the reality that even if he runs to the right of Atilla The Hun, they are gonna go after him with straight razors. He needs to be honest about his beliefs, come ready for a 5 month Brazilian JuJitsu match, or don't come at all.

Business attire is the least of his worries.

Man, I do so love how South Carolinians put so much stock in how folks dress and not what they bring to the table. Note: All the people from my mother's side are from Sparkleberry/Ben Avon/Greenville. I know of which I speak.

I wouldn't be happy about paying $50 to a candidate who can't or won't speak from his heart.

I prefer the less formal get togethers. By prefer, I mean if it were a formal thing I wouldn't go, cause I hate that shit. I've gone to a number of rallies, I've been to ice cream socials in public parks where we didn't have fancy drinks and appetizers - we each got a popsicle. And that was fine. I've been to potlucks at private houses where we all brought a dish to pass, so the organizers didn't have to lay out any money at all. I've been to union halls with bottles of water or cans of pop. Actually, all those places had plumbing, so that was the luxury list of where I've been on account of politics.

But not everyone is me. Some people are naturally social and elegant and gracious, and I suspect I'm not one of them.

and I assume everyone who pays $50.00 is a choir member, he'd be nuts not to lay it on the line.
I live in Oregon, business attire is jeans, birkenstocks, and just about anything else. Who made that decision.

have lost various elections recently, is that they're trying to be "Republican Lite" and it's just not the way to win an election. John Kerry thought it more important to try to appeal to Bush's base than to his own. Never mind the chicanery with voting machines, he almost never stood up for real core Democratic values and it hurt him.

Your guy should be presenting himself as a clear alternative. We need to be holding the Republicans' feet to the fire, so encourage him to speak out freely. Hopefully it will do some good.

A $50 event is considered a low donor event. And it's summertime in the south, so resort casual should be more than appropriate. I've attended fund raising events here in Kansas that cost more than that to get into, and people dress anywhere from business casual to very casual.

;))))

As for your dilemma - Can you add a student price?

I would also tell him that consultant driven caution is not the future of politics. In the postKatrina country we live in we are sick of being lied to by incompetents, and an earnest, hard working ethic and competence are the desired qualities.

First of all, let people know it is a suggested donation. So what if someone shows up and can only give $25? Let 'em in. Besides, unless you pay sales tax, all donations have to be that way, suggested. That's how we do it. Some give less than the suggested donation and it works out very well.

Also, you may want to later have an event that's less pricey. Throw an outside summer event, get a burger and a beer for ten or fifteen bucks. A variety in fundraisers, the types of events, has always served us well here. Those who can afford the pricey events go to them. Those with more limited funds will come to those they can afford.

Julie

Also, I see nothing wrong with having a higher-level fundraiser at some point as well as the "basic-level" event you suggested.

But, I agree, the donation is a suggested amount. Accept what people are able to give with a sincere thank you and move on.

the big donors were inside and we had a cook out outside for 400 more who showed up with their 20 dollar bills at the ready.

That's the best way to do it. :toast:

and, as you say, he's in the reddest of reddest state, how smart is it to exclude so many people? It's your money and your time, of course, and I'm a bleeding heart, bed wetting "librul" from way back but I wouldn't be backing any candidate who a) won't take a stand (What? We don't have enough of these bozos in Congress as it is?) and b) is EXCLUDING people through a minimum contribution ($50.00 is a LOT of money for a LOT of people). This SO sends the wrong message: "Pay to play." Where have we heard THAT before? My two cents which is about all it's worth. :hi: