Sources: Cash-Strapped FreedomWorks In State Of Financial Disarray

[KharmaTrain]

http://www.buzzfeed.com/rosiegray/sources-cash-strapped-freedomworks-in-state-of-financial-dis

The disarray represents a staggering fall from power for an advocacy group that was widely credited with turning the grassroots fervor of 2010 into a wave election year for Republicans. FreedomWorks — which has been instrumental in getting dozens of federal candidates elected, including Tea Party darling Sen. Ted Cruz — was described by The New York Times in 2010 as having “done more than any other organization to build the Tea Party movement.” Their early influence was largely manifested in identifying obscure, conservative candidates in races across the country — often in GOP primaries — and channeling volunteers and significant financial resources toward helping them win. FreedomWorks began as a Koch brothers-funded group called Citizens for a Sound Economy, which eventually split into two groups, one of which became FreedomWorks. In recent years, the organization has depended heavily on Dick Stephenson, a major donor in Illinois.

But several sources said the group has lost clout and fundraising ability since the 2012 election, and especially since FreedomWorks co-chairman Dick Armey staged a high-profile coup attempt last September, during which he attempted to wrest control away from the two top executives, Matt Kibbe and Adam Brandon. Armey agreed after a few days to leave the group in exchange for $8 million.

“This year I would say that an educated guess at where they’re [for fundraising] at is on the low end $3 million and on the high end $9 or 10 million,” said one former employee. Two sources with intimate knowledge of the financial situation at FreedomWorks said the organization had raised less than $2 million in the first quarter of 2013.

A drop-off in fundraising was to be expected for FreedomWorks in an off-cycle year. But insiders say the new financial woes go hand-in-hand with an internal spendthrift culture, and a growing divide in the organization over what FreedomWorks should be focusing on.

Methinks this one will get juicier as the teabagger sun sets and the blame game heats up.



Discuss...

[Fridays Child]

1. Oh, damn. Hey, here's an idea: let's raise cash for them!

We can buy the baggers their very own island country with no regulations, no taxpayer-funded services, and, best of all, no pesky Kenyan president--a teatopian paradise!

[B Calm]

2. No, they did their job, now it's time for them to go!

[Fridays Child]

16. And helping them find the door might just be the best investment that...

...we reality-based community members could ever make.

[Tanuki]

3. Now that it is common knowledge that it is a Koch front group,

it has become a liability to them. They prefer to keep a low profile and will move on to murkier swamps to exert their influence.

[trusty elf]

4. ........

[IMG][/IMG]

[tclambert]

5. Palindromes don't bite, nor rabbits?

Having trouble with the translators. Latin or French?

[trusty elf]

12. That's what it says, yes.

The phrase itself is a palindrome in French.



Silly, I know. I just like palindromes.

[IMG][/IMG]

[Trekologer]

6. I thought that conservatives were the fiscally responsible ones

They can't even keep their own finances in order.

[BumRushDaShow]

7. "A drop-off in fundraising was to be expected...in an off-cycle year"

Last edited Fri Oct 11, 2013, 08:50 AM - Edit history (1)

Wait wut?

Was not 2010, when these astroturds first launched their assault on America, "an off-cycle year"? I.e., off-year is when these types of groups go into overdrive with the fund-raising and FUD-spewing (see 1994's "Contract with America&quot knowing that the more docile Democrats tend to sit home. In fact, the 2010 GOP used the 1994 playbook and with the help of their bought-and-paid-for shills on their RW-owned corporate M$M, they set the stage for 2010 and a 60-some seat coup.

[font size="5"][font face="serif"]The Caucus[/font][/font]
The Politics and Government blog of The New York Times

[font size="1"]January 13, 2010, 7:24 pm
G.O.P. Lawmakers Revisit 1994 Contract
By CARL HULSE[/font]

Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, the House Republican leader, told his party rank-and-file on Wednesday that House Republicans would assemble a 2010 campaign document akin to the famous Contract with America embraced by Republicans in their takeover of the House in 1994.

<..>

The idea, which Republicans have been kicking around for some time, is to again develop a central platform and theme that Republican House candidates can rally around. Presumably, they would also make a series of pledges they intend to fulfill if they reclaim control of the House.

Given the political emphasis of House Republicans these days, the pledges would probably center on spending, taxes, jobs, immigration and a push against government bail-outs and takeovers of failing businesses among other issues.

<..>

But given the increasing optimism Republicans express about their chances for retaking the House, party leaders evidently believe that an updated contract will prove to be a boon for a party trying to reconnect with conservatives disenchanted with the way Republicans ran Congress after taking control the first time.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/13/gop-lawmakers-revisit-1994-contract/?_r=0

Am hoping this is the death knell... We cannot sit out 2014.

[leftyohiolib]

15. We cannot sit out 2014 - like in 2010 this this this !!!!

[SoCalDem]

8. I always wondered how the Tea bag people thought those fancy buses showed

up to haul them around to town hall meetings & to "train" them to disrupt..

The Kochs knew when and where to place their funds..

the 2010 elections gave the republicans many state legislatures (their favorite playgrounds) and governorships..and of course enough of them showed up in DC to ruin the house of reps.

Kochs are on to bigger & better things now.. the tea bag people are on their own now..

no more fancy buses & boxed lunches..

[Hekate]

19. So what are those darling brothers going to do now? Anyone know or have a good guess? nt

[SoCalDem]

20. Resegregate schools & keep minorities from voting

[Sunlei]

9. the non profit paid him 8 million to leave! They'll probably start more 'non-profits' for 2016

This Mother Jones article gives more details.

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/06/boyden-gray-james-burnley-resign-freedomworks


No wonder legit charities hurt for donations in America. Everything goes into political 'charities'.

[underpants]

10. Limbaugh was trying to dispel "rumors" of a mainstream Repub takeover

He said their was an infiltration but Freedom works is alive and well.... I knew something was up

[irisblue]

11. HAHAHAHAHAHAH

bAST$%dS

[kairos12]

13. The reached their dumb ceiling

[FSogol]

14. DUzy! Usually, they just vote to increase their dumb ceiling.

[alcibiades_mystery]

17. These are the dumbshits who are supposed to teach us about budgeting?

[4bucksagallon]

18. That's what you get when you spend too much on astroturfing fools that....

kant speel gud enugh soes noone unda stanz em. You might as well throw your money away.
"Some of FreedomWorks' campaigns have been called "astroturfing", and some claim that they project a false impression of grassroots organizing"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FreedomWorks