Your Experiences

[Robert Willington]

What has been the most effective pitch for you to open you wallet and donate money to a political cause?

FIRST - Was it a letter, phone call, radio ad, television ad, email, banner other? What was the medium?

SECOND - What was the pitch?

[Roger Stryeski]

My contribution money goes to fundraising events. A breakfast event with a speaker is one that attracts me. Do a miniature golf outing and I'm there. As a local Chairman, I go to many bar mixers, house parties and buffet dinners.

The biggest trick is to keep track of your outside donors. The neighboring Assemblyman asks me to bring friends when I contribute to big ticket items - it helps build his list. And, always send invites, when you win, to the free after swearing-in functions.

[Jason]

The most effective pitch for me was watching Ron Paul in all of the Presidential Primary Debates preach about limited government, low taxes, small spending, a foreign policy of non-intervention, border control and security, and personal freedom...things none of the other candidates were talking about. It was the MESSAGE, not some cheesy way of promoting false promises with slogans that we hear EVERY election season! It also helped watching him on YouTube, and reading more about his policies on his website.

You have to be a really narrow-minded individual for a letter, phone call, radio ad, television ad, email, or banner to make you want to donate money to a political cause. Every politician just tells you what you want to hear in all of those forms of promotion that you listed, and it's embarrassing to this country that people still fall for it. More important than words are a voting record that can back it up!

There were people saying, "I'm voting for McCain because I like my guns." Meanwhile, McCain had an F- from Gun Owners of America and a C+ from the NRA. We live in a very ignorant, and maybe even just plain stupid society! It's like people just assume they know something about a candidate, and they're completely off.

[Karl Weld]

For some people it may be that letter, phone call or banner that triggers their research into a cause or candidate. Then if that cause or person is to their liking, they'll donate. For you the process was hearing Ron Paul speak. For someone else it could be something different. Some of these discussions pertain to operational matters, as boring as that may be. It's not all about the message, though that is the most important thing. The delivery mechanisms and other operational issues, whether you choose to believe it or not, are important too.

Your reply could've been as simple as, "Televised debates, YouTube and candidate's website through which I learned about positions on issues I felt compelled to support with a donation." No sarcasm. No anger. Just a simple answer to what got you to donate without the need to proclaim Ron Paul! at the top of your lungs. We all get that you supported him, judging from your numerous posts in seemingly every forum discussion. Enough already.

[Jon from Western Mass]

Yeah, I'll only send money to strongly principled candidates or issue groups that I agree with. I'm not sending money to xyz generic GOP candidate, much less to the national party. I do go to fundraisers for local/regional GOP groups, but not that much.

[Whitehorse (Robin Ray)]

For me the most effective pitch is when the cause is something in which I fervently believe. I don't have much disposable income, so I research the organization. Email with supporting links works best for me.

[asp]

Robert K. Dornan, CSPAN

His record.

Constitution Party----party beliefs and platforms. Even the addition of Sarah Palin to the ticket could convince me to vote for McCain. I have cast my last vote for the "lesser of two evils".

Honesty.

[Suzanne]

Ron Paul speaking truth to power.

[asp]

DO NOT, REPEAT, DO NOT ASK ME TO SEND MONEY TO THE NATIONAL OR STATE ORGANIZATIONS UNTIL THEIR POLICIES CHANGE BACK TO REPUBLICAN.

[Robert Willington]

Folks, please help make this conversation constructive so we can learn best-practices:


Was it a letter, phone call, radio ad, television ad, email, banner other? What was the medium?

What was the pitch?

[Captain]

Amen! When they return to Conservative values!

[ashok]

I gave to Bret Schundler when he was running for governor of NJ. I had known about the work he did in Jersey City, and had actually seen him speak. He was really gentle, but had very sharp and informed views. The speech was a very small and intimate one: he spoke to about 10 of us at a College Republican meeting.

So there really wasn't a pitch I can remember. In fact, I remember the campaign being horrible. I just gave because he was the sort of person I wanted to represent me.

[Roger Stryeski]

Bret got tied up in the Prolife/prochoice fly trap. It was odd that my town is next to Elizabeth and Bob Franks district, but we went for Bret in the Primary. Primarily we were ticked off at the switchroo by the Trenton guys when Donny D went down. Just like last year!