Calling Out "Mikey Moneybags"

This great letter from Chris Bowers appeared last Saturday in the Bucks County Courier Times (still trying to clean out my "in" box)...

Regarding the July 9th (letter to the editor) that claimed I was a "fat cat" who Patrick Murphy needs to "renounce." This writer clearly knows very little about me. In 2005, I made about $38K, which was the first time that I exceeded $30K. I have personally contributed a grand total of $50 to Patrick Murphy's campaign for Congress.

Through my web site, mydd.com, along with three friends of mine (including Markos Moulistas, whom the letter writer also indicated Murphy needs to "renounce"), I have helped raise money for Patrick Murphy, a progressive, fighting Democrat for whom I hold the highest respect. Patrick's campaign has captured the imagination of many local grassroots activists. As one of those activists who has been inspired by Patrick, I have decided to raise money for his campaign of my own accord.

Overall, we have raised $9,500 for Patrick, from 480 donors. With our average donation coming in at just under $20, I fail to see how we qualify as "fat cats." This is about as grassroots as fundraising can get.

By contrast, Congressman Michael Fitzpatrick has raised more than $800,000 from PACs alone. A quick look at opensecrets.org reveals that most of these PACs are from large corporations and far-right ideological organizations, including money from indicted former Republican House leader Tom DeLay. Many of these PACs, including Tom DeLay's, have given $10,000 or more to Fitzpatrick's campaign: more money than we raised combined. While Patrick Murphy raises money from small donors, Michael Fitzpatrick is the candidate who is bought and paid for by fat cats, extremist ideologues, and corrupt politicians in Washington, D.C.

As a final note, it needs to be said that Fitzpatrick's attempt to protect children from online predators is terrible public policy. His bill will not protect a single child from danger, but it will restrict grassroots organizing online (the netroots). As with Ginny Schrader in 2004, grass roots activists online have been inspired by the candidate challenging Fitzpatrick, and now we are working as hard as we can to elect Patrick Murphy.

Since one of the biggest dangers to Michael Fitzpatrick's re-election chances come from the netroots, he is trying to pass a law to restrict the grassroots activity of his political opponents. That is politics at its worst, and quite frankly un-American.

To help Patrick Murphy, click here.