What were Glenn Greenwald and Jane Hamsher doing with their curious PAC?

[struggle4progress]

Back in 2008, Greenwald and anti-union anti-healthcare activist Hamsher set up a little Federal PAC, for which Hamsher was the treasurer in 2008 and Greenwald was the treasurer in 2008

They seem to have mostly fund-raised in 2008, but in 2010 they spent over $285K. Nevertheless, the PAC reported no contributions to Federal candidates, a small donation to Ryan for Congress seems to have been refunded. Money did flow to Hamsher and to Firedoglake, as well as to Greenwald's DMDM Enterprises, and to groups such as BreakTheMatrix, which seems to maintain a Twitter account and links to a libertarian free marketeer site breakthematrix.com that currently features Ayn Rand on a revolving front-page marquee. We know that at the end of the 2010 election cycle, Greenwald was encouraging libertarians to try to strip progressives away from the Dems by pushing the idea that there was no difference between Ds and Rs and by pushing the idea of voting third party or not voting

... Greenwald fails to mention that he stands to financially gain from donations to FDL, as the treasurer of FDL's PAC, Accountability Now, and his company, DMDM Enterprises, is used to taking money for "administrative expenses" from Accountability Now. An examination of FEC reports shows that Greenwald's DMDM Enterprises received more than $40,000 from FDL's Accountability Now from 2008-2010, and of course, we have no idea how much more he has received as salary as Treasurer ...
Glenn Greenwald, #Occupy, Glass Houses and Stones
Monday, November 21, 2011 | Posted by Spandan C at 12:29 PM
http://www.thepeoplesview.net/2011/11/glenn-greenwald-occupy-glass-houses-and.html

The question is: what were they doing with this PAC?

8 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	Promoting primary challenges to Dems
	1 (13%)
	Obama-bashing
	0 (0%)
	Promoting free-market libertarianism
	1 (13%)
	Taking money from suckers to line their own pockets
	6 (75%)
	Supporting the views of wackos like Paul Ryan
	0 (0%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

[MotherPetrie]

1. I don't give the teeniest tiniest shit. All I care about is that Greenwald is helping expose the

egregious violations of our privacy by the Obama administration.

[struggle4progress]

2. If you're interested in facts, then carefully double-check whatever GG claims: he has an agenda

and his agenda colors all his "reporting"

[99th_Monkey]

28. You mean a "sinister Libertarian" agenda, don't you?

Word on the street is that Greenwald also has a nasty habit
of compulsively ripping labels off his mattresses and pillows.

[struggle4progress]

30. His agenda is to encourage progressives to vote third-party or just not vote

[99th_Monkey]

31. That's not what I hear him talking about, or reporting on, or writing about these days.

I hear him talking about the NSA revelations, what this means for us as a nation,
to have this monstrous super-snooping agency secretly plowing through every last
citizens' emails and phone calls. I hear him talking also about how the NSA might
be reigned in by Congress, to better serve in the public's legitimate interests.

[frylock]

42. we get enough encouragement to do that from democrats

[struggle4progress]

54. Dopey slogans like that helped hand my state to the Rs! Thanks!

After decades of bipartisan centrism, we've now got a legislature full of extremists!

Be proud!

[frylock]

41. we've been waiting for weeks for y'all to expose the agenda..

so far, nothing. just more implications of an "agenda."

[winter is coming]

44. Shh. You're only supposed to double-check the claims of approved suspects. n/t

[struggle4progress]

47. I've posted this link dozens of times. Surely you've seen it by now:

Re-rise of the Naderites: Glenn Greenwald’s third party dreamin’ **UPDATE: on Libertarianism
Posted on April 22, 2011 by jreid

At a talk given the day after the 2010 election — one that was a disaster for Democrats — “progressive” writer and civil liberties lawyer Glenn Greenwald gave a talk at the University of Wisconsin, and expressed the hope that Democrats might suffer the same fate in 2012. Greenwald’s speech mainly focused on civil liberties and terrorism policy “in the age of Obama.” But it was his approach to politics that got members of the Young Americans for Liberty — a Paulite Libertarian group that co-sponsored the event — excited ...

... If all you ever do is complain about how horrible and abysmal the Democrats are, but at the end of the day, right before the election happens, you say, you know what, as much as I loathe you, and as disappointing as you’ve been, and as horrible as the things you have done, I’m going to give you my support because you’ve scared me that the other alternative is just a little bit worse … and therefore since I’ll never vote Republican, you have my unconditional undying support no matter how much how stmp on my values, no matter how horrible the things that you do … what you’re doing is youre guaranteeing that you’ll always be ignored ... And that’s the position that so many liberals and progressives have been in. Which is, you know, really finding Democratic policies to be repellant and yet at the same time, at the end of the day saying, well you’ve convinced me that they’re just a tiny, little bit worse. And the only way to break that is to say well, even though I know that by abstaining or supporting a third party, I’m going to be sacrificing some of my short term political interests; I’m going to be causing a few more Republicans to be elected than otherwise might be elected; on balance, I’m willing to sacrifice my short term interests in order to do something to subvert the stranglehold that these two parties have on the political process because electing more Democrats, even though it’s a little less scary, accomplishes nothing good. And everyone’s going to have to decide for themselves when they get to that point, and I think and hope that that point is pretty close. And if Obama does move to the center as the consensus is telling him that he should and starts doing things like cutting Social Security, which they’re revving up to do if they can get consensus on, in a very short period of time, I think you’re gonna see lots and lots of progressives and Democrats – even people who hated the Naderites for abandoning the party, start to entertain those options, and a lot sooner rather than later. And I hope that’s the case ...

http://blog.reidreport.com/2011/04/re-rise-of-the-naderites-glenn-greenwalds-third-party-dreamin/

In a nutshell, GG's agenda is to split progressives from the Dems and to encourage them instead to vote 3rd party or not to vote. And in 2010, he was hoping that alienated progressives could be induced to vote for Gary Johnson in 2012

[frylock]

56. and as i've stated, the progressives need no encouragement from any outsiders..

the democratic party is doing a standup job itself of alienating progressives.

[struggle4progress]

68. Greenwald and the NC Republicans certainly agree too many progressives are voting Dem -- though

they have different "solutions" to the "problem"

Greenwald's "solution" is to encourage progressives to fall into a funk and then either vote 3rd party or just not vote

The NC Republicans' "solution" is to make it harder for people to vote. In fact, Republicans around the country are playing this game in lockstep

Objectively, of course, Greenwald's "solution" and the Republicans' "solution" aim at exactly the same thing: fewer progressives voting for Dems and an increased chance of rightwing Republican victories

Sometimes, it's appropriate to regard the "useful idiots" as one of the enemy's columns

[frylock]

69. well, you can continue to blame greenwald for the democrat's failings..

or you can make an honest effort of determining why people are no longer enthusiastic about voting for the lesser of two evils. blaming voters for not buying into shit product isn't really a winning strategy imho.

[truebluegreen]

3. +1000

[Whisp]

5. Greenie is helping himself to some fast cash

thanks to the Gullibility of others.

He's a stinkin' Ron Pauler.

[MotherPetrie]

7. I am INFINITELY more concerned about what the NSA is doing!

[Whisp]

9. you are being led by the nose.

sorry, but this is old news and why it is new news now and why is the media also pretending like it is new news? Guess what is coming up in '14.

Greenwald and Hamsher were doing similar shit for the last midterms and look what happened.

Don't get suckered in.

[MotherPetrie]

11. The frantically stepped up anti-GG posts today are just so very telling.

Knock yourself out trashing him, I couldn't care less. All I care about is what he reveals. It sure seems to have the WH in a an equally frenzied tizzy.

[Whisp]

14. I find it so very pathetic that otherwise intelligent people

can fall for that scammer and his lies.

Alarms should be rung hourly.

[liberal_at_heart]

22. and the ignore button should be used when posters insult others with opposing views and

spam the board to make sure that everyone knows they are right. Do you really think spamming the board does anything?

[SunSeeker]

16. No, the only tizzy I see is by the Snowden supporters. nt

[MotherPetrie]

17. Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuure.

[SunSeeker]

12. Exactly! nt

[SunSeeker]

10. I consider trans vaginal probes an egregious violation of our privacy.

But Republicans are doing that.

Obama is doing legal meta data collection, unlike Bush who did it without a warrant.

[MotherPetrie]

15. If it's all on the up-and-up, then why the absolute desperation to smear GG?

[struggle4progress]

19. It's good for real progressives to know exactly who he is and what he's been up to: such facts

are not "smears"

His PAC reported a money flow between it and Paul Ryan's re-election campaign. Does that tell you anything?

[MotherPetrie]

21. I'm infinitely more concerned about what the NSA is doing on Obama's watch.

[struggle4progress]

26. GG is blowing pretty smoke-rings from his butt when he says stuff like "The NSA has trillions

of telephone calls .. in their databases ... all an analyst has to do is enter an email address or an IP address ... it .. lets them listen to the calls or read the emails"

[Recursion]

29. Then GG did his job well with you

Golf clap

[SunSeeker]

20. There is no "absolute desperation to smear GG."

The dude made himself a public figure, so people are reporting facts about him. Smears are lies. What lies have been told about GG?

[AllINeedIsCoffee]

4. Nothing supportive of liberal economic policies, that's for damn sure. nt

[last1standing]

6. Another minute, another smear.

The question is what makes it so important to smear good progressives on a Democratic web forum?

[struggle4progress]

35. Why a monetary transfer between a "progressive" PAC and Paul Ryan's election campaign?

[last1standing]

57. Whoever this PAC donated to doesn't change the facts about NSA spying.

The OP and the hate filled blog it links to are filled with nothing but lies, smears and misdirection in a feeble attempt to change the subject from one of substance to base rumor-mongering and invective.

In other words, this OP is the forum equivalent of Fox News.

[TransitJohn]

8. Anti-healthcare activist is a gross smear of Hamsher.

True, she didn't support the PPACA, because there was no public option as was promised. Once again, the PPACA?health care. Insurance?health care.

[struggle4progress]

13. The link I gave includes video of a tea-party anti-healthcare activist saying

she was coordinating with Hamsher

[TransitJohn]

18. Why are you continuing to conflate the PPACA with healthcare?

It is not health care. It is a method of insurance.

[SunSeeker]

23. it is insurance that allows people to get healthcare.

It will give my brother the ability to finally purchase health insurance for the first time in his adult life. He has a pre-existing condition that prevented him from being able to buy insurance. It is a chronic condition that emergency rooms don't treat. They only stabilize him when he gets really bad and send him on his way. In 2014, he will finally get TREATMENT for the disease, thanks to the PPACA.

For my brother, the PPACA IS HEALTHCARE.

[TransitJohn]

24. Sorry.

Words have meanings, I'm sorry. Insurance is insurance.

[SunSeeker]

25. Right. And a marriage certificate is just a piece of paper.

[TransitJohn]

27. Blue xylephone woodpecker

Charismatic trombone race car.

[SunSeeker]

34. Rand, is that you? nt

[Recursion]

33. The same reason we call SS a retirement program

Last edited Mon Jul 29, 2013, 03:31 PM - Edit history (1)

I mean, SS just gives you money. It isn't actually retirement.

[Recursion]

51. Good God. We're defending Hamsher now

Oh for the DU of days gone by...

[TransitJohn]

67. No, just lamenting the lack of accuracy around here.

Oh for the DU of days gone by...

[Scurrilous]

32. The usual...fleecing the gullible. n/t

[MineralMan]

36. Hey! A guy's gotta earn a living somehow, you know.

A PAC's a great way to get some money without really doing anything. We should all start one, create a website, and put a huge DONATE button on it. Just remember the disclaimer about donations not qualifying for any tax deductions and you're home free.

Write some lofty prose about freedom, justice and liberty, promise to "Take Action," and the money will just roll in. It does help if you align yourself with some popular blog on the Internet, of course, but it's not absolutely essential. The only essential thing is that big DONATE button. You can even use PayPal to collect donations, since people who bid on eBay stuff are the most likely to be gullible enough to donate to your PAC.

I'm going to call mine the "LIBERTY FREEDOM PROGRESS PAC." Yeah...that's the ticket.

?

[olddots]

38. here's 50$

can I get the tee shirt package with the magnetic bumper sticker ?

[MineralMan]

39. You bet! Allow 6 months for delivery.**

Your Donation will be used, 100% in the cause of Freedom, Liberty, and Justice*. You can count on that. We're on your side. We'll do the right thing.




*Fine Print Disclaimer: All donated funds will be used to provide Freedom to do whatever we wish to do with them. We'll take full Liberty to do that, even if we have to pay an expensive lawyer ensure Justice by handling any charges that are filed against us.

**If your reward package does not arrive within the stated 6-month period, we're very sorry, but we will no longer be in business by that time, and will be out of touch in Tahiti, where we maintain a quiet vacation hut.

[OilemFirchen]

59. Just received an email response:

Dear ____,

Thank you for your donation. Unfortunately, our vendor is not able to provide liberty, freedom or progress at the current time. As we are unable to refund your contribution, we are offering the following substitute:

Platitudes

These are available in a myriad of sizes and styles. All are guaranteed to provide sanctimony, self-righteousness, and stridency. NOTE: Intended for amusement purposes only. Please contact us for a list of options.

Regards,

LIBERTY FREEDOM PROGRESS PAC

I'm pissed. Couldn't they have at least offered a pony?

[BumRushDaShow]

37. Kick!

[Major Hogwash]

40. One other tidbit about Jane Hamsher . . .

. . . she was banned from appearing on MSNBC for not disclosing this information when she appeared on several of their cable programs to discuss the ACA in 2009.

Boo-yah!!

[cthulu2016]

43. I like how you started the OP out with a lie

Saved me reading the rest of it

[struggle4progress]

49. It was certainly clever of GG to turn around and attack SEIU after taking SEIU-COPE money. I notice

they didn't make that mistake again

[struggle4progress]

62. "... Having SEIU officials — fresh off endorsing the Obama re-election campaign — shape, fund,

dictate and decree an anti-GOP, pro-Obama march is about as antithetical as one can imagine to what the Occupy movement has been. And pretending that the ongoing protests are grounded in the belief that the GOP is the party of the rich while the Democrats are the party of the working class is likely to fool just about nobody other than those fooled by that already ..."
Here’s what attempted co-option of OWS looks like
SEIU - fresh off its Obama endorsement - decrees "Occupy Congress" to condemn the GOP and venerate Democrats
Saturday, Nov 19, 2011 06:24 AM EST
By Glenn Greenwald
http://www.salon.com/2011/11/19/heres_what_attempted_co_option_of_ows_looks_like/

The ghastly horror of it! A progressive union, having supported Obama and opposed GOP for its union-busting and anti-worker stance, then had the unmitigated gall to CONTINUE supporting Obama and opposing GOP! How could GG possibly express his outrage and expose the unionist bastards? Oh, but look! GG found an angle: SEIU must be trying to co-opt the OWS!

[struggle4progress]

50. The Daily Kos post, that you lifted that from, indicates the PAC would mount primary challenges

to Dems. I notice further that most of the alleged "supporters" ultimately seem to have decided not to provide actual support

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/02/26/702147/-Accountability-Now-PAC

[OilemFirchen]

60. I didn't read your post or the one preceding it.

I win.

[struggle4progress]

48. Which "lie" was that? I provided links

[Major Hogwash]

64. Thin ice.

Probably don't want to skate here anymore.

[SidDithers]

46. DU rec...nt

Sid

[whatchamacallit]

52. The People's View is rancid garbage

but don't let that stop ya.

[struggle4progress]

55. The OP provides a link to OpenSecrets that also contains the info

[Scurrilous]

63. Boink.

[flamingdem]

65. Yessirrree nt

[JNelson6563]

66. !

[Scurrilous]

70. K & R