In a surprising turn of events, Democratic donors who contributed to the Harris Victory Fund are finding themselves in an unexpected situation. Even after Kamala Harris’ defeat to Donald Trump two months ago, the joint fundraising committee set up by her campaign and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) continues to charge monthly recurring donors. This revelation has sparked a debate about the ethics of online fundraising, particularly when it comes to recurring credit-card donations that are set on autopilot.
The Unsettling Revelation
Many of these donors were taken aback when they discovered that the fundraising committee was still debiting their accounts even after the election. One Democratic operative, who chose to remain anonymous, described the situation as “silly, out of touch, and needlessly taking advantage of our most loyal supporters.”
While the operative did not contest the December charge, understanding the wrap-up expenses that come with every campaign, a January charge was unexpected. The committee did not solicit explicit approval to continue the donations after the election. Instead, it sent emails thanking the donors for their “generous monthly commitment” and stated that the donations would continue until donors contacted them.
Comparative Analysis
Interestingly, this situation has been compared to the 2020 Trump campaign’s tactics of making it increasingly difficult for donors to realize they were signing up for automatic monthly donations. This was achieved by burying this information in pre-checked boxes hidden in fine print, resulting in over half a million refunds, amounting to $64 million, in the last two and a half months of 2020.
However, the Harris Victory Fund situation is different. No one seems to dispute that they signed up for monthly withdrawals. The question that arises is whether these contributions should continue even after the victory is no longer possible.
Where Does the Money Go?
It has been reported that the Harris Victory Fund donation page remains active on ActBlue, the digital fundraising platform for Democratic candidates. However, the fund itself is defunct, and any contributions now go directly to the DNC. A DNC official stated that “those HVF donations are going to help Democrats across the country as we rebuild the party.”
However, this redirection of funds raises another ethical question. Is it fair to donors who contributed to a fund bearing Harris’ name, knowing that she won’t have any access to the money as she evaluates her political future?
Conclusion
This situation underscores the importance of transparency and clear communication in political fundraising. While some professionals argue that recurring donations should cease after Election Day, others believe it is acceptable to continue as long as it is transparent, compliant with fundraising platform guidelines, and serves a purpose.
The ethical debates surrounding online fundraising are far from over. In light of such controversies, it is crucial for donors to be vigilant about where their money is going and for political campaigns to ensure they uphold the highest levels of transparency and respect for their supporters.
