Liberal Intimidation

Left-wingers have long said “the personal is political,” and they really mean it.

---

Desperate to regain credibility after presiding over the failure of the George Soros-sponsored 501(c)(4) pressure group Progressive Media USA, professional liberal activist Tom Matzzie plans to revive his flagging career by playing the heavy with conservative donors. The leader of the improbably named Accountable America, Matzzie intends to intimidate donors planning to give money to conservative groups. Here is the group’s self-description from its website:

Accountable America works to stop the outrageous policies of right-wing and special interests in Washington especially in the areas of economic policy, energy policy, national security policy and government reform. Our first project seeks to discourage groups and right-wing donors trying to “swiftboat” progressives. [emphasis in original]

Accountable America plans to mail “warning letters” to big-money donors to the Republican Party, the New York Times reported:

“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.

Will donors be deterred by the prospect of Matzzie’s kooky MoveOn.org friends sifting through their garbage cans? GOP strategist Chris LaCivita, who was involved in the 2004 Swift Boat effort against John Kerry, said the group’s efforts would backfire as donors react to the tactics. “They’re not going to be intimidated by some pipsqueak on the kooky left,” he said.