'They're Not Going to be Intimidated by Some Pipsqueak on the Kooky Left'

Enemy of society

Classy. Some jackbooted leftist thug who obviously doesn't realize we live in a free country is organizing a campaign of intimidation against GOP donors.

This probably went over well in the Soviet Union. In this country, however, this punk is going to either wind up facing charges or getting a punch in the face.

Hopefully both.

Naturally, the New York Times sees nothing wrong with this. If the roles were reversed we'd be hearing screams of fascism and calls for the Justice Department to investigate.

Nearly 10,000 of the biggest donors to Republican candidates and causes across the country will probably receive a foreboding “warning” letter in the mail next week.

The letter is an opening shot across the bow from an unusual new outside political group on the left that is poised to engage in hardball tactics to prevent similar groups on the right from getting off the ground this fall.

Led by Tom Matzzie, a liberal political operative who has been involved with some prominent left-wing efforts in recent years, the newly formed nonprofit group, Accountable America, is planning to confront donors to conservative groups, hoping to create a chilling effect that will dry up contributions.

“We want to stop the Swift Boating before it gets off the ground,” said Mr. Matzzie, who described his effort as “going for the jugular.”

The warning letter is intended as a first step, alerting donors who might be considering giving to right-wing groups to a variety of potential dangers, including legal trouble, public exposure and watchdog groups digging through their lives.

These schmucks can only blame themselves when Obama loses, but of course they'll never do that. Instead, they'll blame some sinister forces that somehow managed to outsmart them.

In the end, it will no doubt backfire and, if anything, will fire up the GOP base.

“This idea sounds even more sloppily thought out than his last venture, which, of course, went belly-up for lack of financial support,” Mr. Patru said.

“I doubt anyone will be intimidated by him,” he said, “but if it gives anyone pause, they are always welcome to give to Freedom’s Watch — all of our donors are entitled to complete anonymity by law.”

Indeed, anonymity is a potential obstacle to the group’s efforts. Outside political groups organized as 501(c)4 entities, including Accountable America, do not have to disclose the names of their donors.

Chris LaCivita, a Republican strategist who helped organize the Swift Boat effort, said Mr. Matzzie’s group was likely to have the opposite effect on potential donors, firing them up instead of discouraging them.

“They’re not going to be intimidated by some pipsqueak on the kooky left,” Mr. LaCivita said.

Naturally, this slob used to be a MoveOn.org honcho.

Update: Ed Morrissey notes fatboy was one of the morons behinds the disastrous general Betray Us ad last year. Sounds like a real track record of success.