Help us Herd Cats in Denver

Revised and updated from original posting at SquareState: Are We Confused Yet?

For a couple of weeks now, I've been railing about the lack of a "donation" link on the Democratic National Convention website, especially given the much-publicized fund raising shortage by the convention "host committee".  I mean, our presumptive candidate is a master at web-based fund raising.  The Chairman of the DNC, the Good Doctor Dean, started the trend during his own primary run back in 2004.

I sent an e-mail to the "information" link on the web site asking: why?

And I received an "out of office" auto-reply.  Actually, it wasn't an "out of office" reply: that's just what the re: line read.  It actually was a "we're far too busy to reply to e-mails" auto reply.

Again — WTF?

So yesterday, I called the phone number listed on the website.  I stated my question and, after being grilled about whether I was with the media (uhm, no — I'm a Denver resident, and a citizen of the blogosphere, posting at Daily Kos and Square State), I was passed on to someone in the press relations department (which leads to the additional question: why would it matter if I was with the media if I was going to the press liaison anyway?).

The gentleman I spoke to explained that www.demconvention.com — the "Official 2008 Democratic Convention Website" — was legally prevented from having a "contribute" link on their site; there's another website where one can make on-line contributions to the host committee: Democratic National Convention — Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee.

So I asked: OK, if you are prevented from fund raising on "The Official 2008 Democratic Convention" site, could you not provide a link to the host committee site donation page?

I was told that was also illegal.

Yet another WTF moment.

OK, so how about you just have a link, not to the donation page of the host committee, but a link to the home page?  Anything illegal about that?

The gentlemen was unsure — it seemed to be something they hadn't even considered linking to on the "Official 2008 Democratic Convention Website" (and, uhm, another stupid girl question but, isn't the host committee a pretty fucking major part of the Official Democratic National Convention?  I know, I know — I'm just a girl).

I also pointed out that it was really, really bad form to have the "information" e-mail send out auto-replies that say "out of office" in the re line, and inside the message state that they are much, much too busy to reply to e-mails requesting information (then why have a "request information" e-mail addy, which won’t distribute information?).

Oh, and to get even more confusing, if one googles "denver democratic national convention", one will come up with yet another website: Democratic National Convention - 2008 DNC Denver Info & forums.  This one is "an unofficial" site, "Brought to you by citizens who support the 2008 DNC in Denver" (h/t to msn1).  Now, that web site does have a place to donate to the Democratic National Committee — but does not have an option to donate to the host committee.  It does, at least, have a link to the host committee site.

So there we have it: the Democrats are herding cats.  Three separate websites for one convention, two "official" in their own very special ways, and one which is has a disclaimer that it is not official, but which is asking for contributions for the Democratic National Committee, but not for the benefit of the Denver Host Committee.

If you want to make an on-line donation to the Host Committee — you know, to help us host a great party for the Party  you don't go to the "official" 2008 Democratic National Convention web site.  You go here.  Think of it as a pot-luck:: with everyone contributing what they can, we get a better bash (and yes, we had a grand time at the meeting of the Garden Blogging Garden Party and Meeting of the Colorado Chocolate Fountain Caucus):

I'll clean this up and post it on dKos tomorrow.  Anyone else have any input?  Like, perhaps, an explanation of what election law would prevent the "Official 2008 Democratic Convention" site from assisting the host committee in fundraising?

Input from the SquareState Comments:

Tax Issues.  Under our tax laws, the DNCC is in a tricky spot. To be tax exempt the people raising the money aren't actually integrated with the party, but are set up to do events (and by 'events' I mean one) for the benefit of the City of Denver.

The host committee is allowed to raise money. The convention committee is allowed to spend money. The two of them have to stay firmly on their own sides of the fence.

There are even issues if they want to use the same email lists or take advantage of the mybarackobama.com tools.

There are ways around it.  For instance selling "ad space" to one another, or just cross-linking as it's an equivalent exchange of value.

Organizations have been doing this forever.

That's how we have the MoveOn 501(c)(3), the MoveOn 501(c)(4), the MoveOn PAC, and the MoveOn 527.

Or in 2006, Coloradans for Fairness and Equality, Coloradans for Fairness and Equality Action Fund, Coloradans for Fairness Issue Committee, etc. all for Ref. I. and Amdt. 43.