Tom Matzzie, mastermind of the failed Progressive Media USA, has put together a group to threaten potential conservative donors with exposure, lawsuits, and general harassment, called Accountable America.
Of course, as you'd expect, the Right is utterly unafraid:
Group Plans Campaign Against G.O.P. Donors - NYTimes.comChris LaCivita, proudly speaking as usual on behalf of the infamous Swift Boat Vets movement, has a great quote at the end of the article,
"They’re not going to be intimidated by some pipsqueak on the kooky left."
From my experience at DCI, I'd liken Chris to the political equivalent of
Venture Bros.' Brock Samson, always willing and able to do whatever is necessary to win. I whole-heartedly agree with his assertion, but fundamentally I think it misses the real point at hand: if a donor believes enough in the political speech of a group to give their hard earned money to finance it, why wouldn't they proudly identify with that group?
If anything, I hope Accountable America
does bring more transparency to political speech. I think discerning voters are well served by knowing who is behind the issue messaging they consume.
If shining the light on where messaging money comes from keeps the disingenuous away or prevents wealthy donors from pouring gas on a political fire they know to be bogus, so be it. But to think that true believers are going to cower in the face of accountability is absurd.