Fundraising

Donor Beware: A Guide To The Scammiest Conservative Direct Mail Shops

Jillian Rayfield | May 12, 2010, 12:44PM

It's become a significant siphon on conservative fundraising, intensified amid grassroots anger on the right in the age of Obama: direct mail or direct email outfits hit up conservatives around the country for small donations to beat the liberal agenda, or to support an unknown but exciting new right-wing candidate.

But the vast majority of the money goes to the group's favorite vendors, or in some cases to enriching the group's leaders.

So, for the conservatives out there, here's a guide to some of the questionable groups TPMmuckraker has encountered -- it's probably best to send your money elsewhere:

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Topics: AmeriPAC, BMW, Fundraising, Gary Kreep, Republican Majority Campaign

AmeriPAC

Perpetual Money Machine: Conservative PAC Raises Millions In Order To Raise More Millions

Justin Elliott | May 12, 2010, 9:07AM

The fundraising emails from AmeriPAC stream in with subject lines designed to give a conservative a heart attack: "Obama Plays 'Russian Roulette' With Supreme Court" ... "Illegals March Terrorizing American Cities" ... "Stop Reid's Extreme Left-Wing Agenda."

In lurid prose sprinkled with bold and underlined capital letters, the emails highlight the outrage du jour and ask like-minded people to help fund the fight against President Obama's agenda: "We need you to donate regularly every week or month with the same commitment to candidates that are listening and help AmeriPAC give the maximum support we can to every candidate that will pledge to take back America," a typical pitch goes.

But despite promises to spend donor money on conservative candidates, a review of AmeriPAC's campaign finance reports by TPMmuckraker shows the outfit has used just $1,300 on campaign-related spending out of nearly $1.3 million raised in the 2010 election cycle. Meanwhile, about 85 percent of the money -- which was raised in $20, $50, and $100 dollar increments from individuals around the U.S. -- has gone back into fundraising expenses, with nearly $1 million going to a single Pennsylvania-based email marketing firm with a history of controversy.

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Topics: 2010 Elections, Alan Gottlieb, AmeriPAC, American Political Action Committee, Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, Diener Consultants, Fundraising, Harry Reid, Jim Gilchrist, Minuteman Project, Obama Administration, Second Amendment Foundation