Republican National Committee Presentation Pushes Fear to Raise Funds

Depiction of Obama in RNC presentationA confidential Republican National Committee (RNC)
PowerPoint presentation about fundraising strategies discusses raising money for the 2010 election cycle by capitalizing on donors' fear of President Obama and promising to "save the country from trending toward socialism." One page of the presentation titled "The Evil Empire" depicts Obama as the Joker from Batman, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as Cruella DeVille, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid as Scooby Doo. Another page explains that major donors who engage in "calculated giving" are "ego-driven," react to "peer to peer pressure" and are motivated by "access," while smaller donors -- called "visceral donors" -- are "reactionary," motivated by "fear" and "extreme negative feelings toward existing Administration." The presentation, titled "Tools for Success," was prepared by Party finance staff and delivered by RNC Finance Director Rob Bickhart at a $2,500-a-head party retreat held in Boca Grande, Florida on February 18. The full 72-page document was provided to Politico.com by a Democrat who found a hard copy that was left behind in the hotel where the RNC hosted the event.