According to a Bob Barr fundraising e-mail sent out by campaign manager Russ Verney, the Barr campaign spent $19,000 to install air conditioning at its campaign HQ, which will only be in use through the November election. This, and other expenses that the campaign candidly disclosed in the e-mail, have been called into question by the editor of Last Free Voice, ElfNinosMom. She says:
It is unclear why Barr did not lease a building which already had air conditioning, or why the building’s owner is not responsible for that expense.
Yet for some reason, the Barr campaign believes telling donors about their irresponsible use of donations will encourage donors to give him even more money. More specifically, they want to raise $88,000 by next Friday.
Below is the full fundraising letter sent by Verney:
Dear friend,
We’re gaining ground. Donate Today!
Great opportunities continue to come our way as the Barr/Root ticket continues to present itself to the American people.
Yesterday, Bob interviewed on *CNN’s Glenn Beck* and today Bob will be on *Bill O’Reilly’s radio program*, “The Radio Factorâ€.
Bob has also been invited to appear on the Sunday morning program, “*This Week with George Stephanopoulos*â€.
Since Monday, we’ve *doubled* our YouTube subscribers and our eCampaign Manager, Martin Avila, tells me that we are quickly gaining ground on other Web 2.0 sites such as Digg.
Last week, we received an invitation to appear at NASCAR’s Coke 400 for their first voter registration drive. Bob would have the opportunity to do photo-ops with NASCAR drivers and crews and speak with fans throughout the day.
We’ve even been given a select spot to put up a “Barr Booth†to hand out t-shirts and materials to hundreds of thousands of NASCAR fans who will be in attendance. We may even have room for a show car wrapped in “Barr ‘08″ graphics if we cover the expense.
As I said earlier, great opportunities continue to come our way.
However, we cannot take advantage of them if we cannot fund the campaign.
Yesterday, I wrote a check for $19,000 to install an air conditioner in our large but modest campaign headquarters. We’ve also spent thousands on campaign products preparing for our online store that will open tomorrow.
Those expenses coupled with travel and staff expenses leave us with very little cash on hand.
We’re to the point now where we can only afford to operate and have to pass on the opportunities that are coming our way. *That’s why I need you to donate today *
Unless we raise a good deal of money very quickly, we’re going to have to pass on what I think is a great opportunity with NASCAR. They need $15,000 for the car expense and we’ll need at least $3,000 for fan materials. That’s in addition to the travel expenses to fly Bob and a few staff members to Daytona to meet with the fans.
That’s $18,000 just for one event.
We need to raise much more money in order to move faster and be much more effective.
That’s why I set a goal this morning to raise $88,000 between today and July Fourth.
This will get us back on track after establishing our campaign headquarters and will give us a small lead so that we can move quickly without having to turn down opportunities due to a lack of funds.
43 responses so far ↓
1 Mike Theodore // Jun 26, 2008 at 5:52 pm
I knew it would be criticized when I saw it an hour ago.
I saw it as kind of odd. But it’s not my concern. For all I know, they could be sitting in their boxers sweating like nobody’s business.
2 G.E. // Jun 26, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Another good reason to follow my advice and put the campaign HQ in Alaska.
3 Mike Theodore // Jun 26, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Alaska seems nice.
4 Arthur Torrey // Jun 26, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Note that this is the Barr campaign that has a LONG past record of spending only a tiny fraction of it’s income on actually DOING POLITICS…
See some of the earlier posts on LFV – Barr’s PAC pre-nomination was spending 3-5% of it’s donations on actual political campaigns, the rest going for “expenses”, much of it “Consultants” who just happenned to be friends and relatives…. (Data Per FEC filings)
ART
5 G.E. // Jun 26, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Darn it. I should have titled this story “Barr takes heat for AC expenses.” I think I’m gonna change it.
6 Mike Theodore // Jun 26, 2008 at 7:07 pm
…
Did you just think of that?
7 G.E. // Jun 26, 2008 at 7:08 pm
yep
8 Mike Theodore // Jun 26, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Horrid genius.
9 Fred Church Ortiz // Jun 26, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Barr spending chills Libertarians
10 Mike Theodore // Jun 26, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Damnit, how much can be done with this?
I feel left out, I can’t think of a damned thing.
11 Trent Hill // Jun 26, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Libertarians cool to Barr’s AC spending
12 Mike Theodore // Jun 26, 2008 at 8:24 pm
But that means their happy about it…
13 G.E. // Jun 26, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Mike… “Cool to” = unhappy. “Cool with” is what you’re thinking of.
14 Nexus // Jun 26, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Does anyone know anything about industrial heating and air conditioning? I’d like to know if $19,000 is excessive or not.
I think Barr will get more than $88,000 thanks to the July 2nd money bomb. I have pledged $25. I am not sending him my hard earned money to have him piss it away on silly publicity stunts. Does anyone think this NASCAR event will be worth it?
15 G.E. // Jun 26, 2008 at 8:29 pm
I installed AC in my three-story house about a month ago. It cost $5,000. I did not have the proper ductwork either. It would have been even less.
My guess is that either the campaign HQ is tremendously huge, or they did not shop around for the most cost effective option. My system has an external unit and two inside cooling units. It doesn’t go through the ductwork, since I have an old house with a boiler system. Unless Barr’s HQ is huge, that $19k involves ductwork. It’s possible he could have gone with a system like mine, which works excellently, by the way.
16 Trent Hill // Jun 26, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Most likely–he’s running his campaoign like he ran his PAC. Inefficiently.
17 darcyrichardson // Jun 26, 2008 at 9:03 pm
It sounds like Bob Barr is taking care of the building’s owner at the expense of his contributors.
The Boston Tea Party uses fans.
18 VTV // Jun 26, 2008 at 9:18 pm
I have asked them to stop calling me and mailing me about money for the Bob Barr campaign. His nomination (And the West Virginia LP chairman having an affair with my wife) have made it a little tough for me to be motivated.
However I did write this up for my congressional website. I don’t know how to start an article here, if someone would post it so I can get feedback I would appreciate it. WARNING: website under construction. This is me “debating” my opponent Candice Miller on her “issues” that are distinctly not Libertarian.
(Michigan’s 10th district)
http://nks2008.com/issues.html
19 paulie cannoli // Jun 26, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Threadjack:
http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2008/06/sean-haugh-involved-in-kiddie-porn-press-release/#comments
Comment 91
20 sunshinebatman // Jun 27, 2008 at 12:40 am
NASCAR is a great idea that almost makes up for this A/C BS.
21 G.E. // Jun 27, 2008 at 12:42 am
I agree that NASCAR is a good idea. That’s a lot of money, but at least it’s an innovative idea. I wouldn’t criticize Barr for that. It’s worth a shot.
22 Steven R Linnabary // Jun 27, 2008 at 5:22 am
Is the campaign HQ building owned by somebody close to the campaign, such as a family member?
PEACE
Steve
23 Mike Theodore // Jun 27, 2008 at 5:56 am
Shall we live in absolute fear and paranoia?
Maybe
Shall we live in peace and understanding?
Maybe
Shall I cringe at absolutely every story with conspiracy as a backdrop?
God yes
24 naisarid // Jun 27, 2008 at 5:57 am
Atlanta is a beautiful city, but I am kind of surprised to see that in 2008 there are still buildings there that don’t have air-conditioning.
It will be interesting to see who occupies that space after the campaign.
I’ve got to wonder about the person who wrote that fundraising email. Donors never want to pay for (or hear about) the actual costs of running an office, and they don’t contribute for that — and they certainly don’t contribute to office expenses when the expenses appear questionable or inappropriate.
Donors contribute to see their candidate make a splash. NASCAR won’t appeal to everbody, but to NASCAR fans in the LP, it’s a great idea and they will support it. Different ideas will inspire different people to vote and NASCAR is a legitimate way for a candidate to make an appearance.
The folks who will contribute to see their candidate at a NASCAR event probably won’t contribute to see their candidate in a Gay Pride Parade (and vice versa).
25 Peter Orvetti // Jun 27, 2008 at 5:59 am
This story reminds me of those T-shirts they sell in the French Quarter: “It’s not the heat, it’s the stupidity.”
26 Mike Theodore // Jun 27, 2008 at 6:01 am
Actually, I was quite happy about the idea of him in a Gay pride parade.
But as a cold, calculating, political type…Nascar is a good idea. Maybe it will make him look less serious.
Like the parade, but Root will be there in his stead. Unfortunately he doesn’t project any seriousness anywhere.
27 Thomas L. Knapp // Jun 27, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Quoth Darcy Richardson:
“The Boston Tea Party uses fans.”
To be more precise, the Boston Tea Party’s vice-presidential headquarters — all about 121 square square feet of it, perhaps 36 square feet of which is actually home office — uses a box fan to boost a gimpy old window air conditioning unit that I got off my local “people giving weird shit away” list, and which usually runs on fan mode rather than cooling mode.
We do try to do things on the cheap. Instead of paying NASCAR $18k for featured status at the Coke 400, I’m trying to talk Charles Jay into attending the event, jumping the rail and running as far as he get around the track before security nabs him, in nothing but tennis shoes and carrying a teacup.
28 lgoldman // Jun 27, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Does anyone know the physical address of Barr’s cool, new HQ?
A public record search might be interesting.
29 John P Slevin // Jun 28, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Another article of rubbish. Purely slanted and juvenile.
One blogger, hardly a nationally known blogger, criticizes the campaign (and I like and frequently agree with the comments I see from ElfNino’s Mom).
I, and a few other people are the only Americans who know there is such a blogger.
The article’s title suggests there is some kind of firestorm brewing, with all the activists denouncing Barr and the campaign.
As to the criticism of Barr’s other PAC, and it’s expenses, does any libertarian think he should have spent MORE money on filthy Republicans?
30 Thomas L. Knapp // Jun 29, 2008 at 3:39 am
I’m shocked — shocked — by the sudden appearance of mild sensationalism in political blogging, such sensationalism having of course been a previously unobserved phenomenon.
Is there a “firestorm brewing” over the Barr campaign’s expenditure of $19,000 on air conditioning for a leased campaign HQ? Probably not.
Should there be? Maybe.
The Evans-Novak Political Report recently opined that Barr could might make hay as a “spoiler” in Colorado and Nevada.
The cost of a Sunday full-page ad in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, which would reach about 200,000 readers is (if I’m reading the rate card right) $2,184, or a little less than one maximum $2,300 individual contribution.
The Denver Post charges $400 per column inch. If they bill out at the same full-page versus column inch multiplier as LVRJ (which charges for 21 column inches for a full-page ad), then those that’s $8,400 to reach another 600,000 readers.
So, the Barr campaign effectively decided that that air conditioning is more important than reaching 800,000 readers in key states — twice.
Does anyone believe that any given 4 or 5 individual max contributors to the campaign would rather have had their contributions go toward saving Barr’s campaign staff the inconvenience of setting up some box fans and using extra-strength anti-perspirant for a couple of months than toward reaching 800,000 potential Libertarian voters?
31 Lance Brown // Jun 29, 2008 at 5:33 am
FWIW, for folks who’ve never been to the South in the summer before, it’s kinda hard to begrudge someone the use of A/C in a professional office. And there’s no question in my mind that being at a comfortable temperature can affect the quantity and quality of work folks can do. My problem is that I find it hard to imagine the scenario where spending $18,000 to have air conditioning for 5 months (never mind paying for the utility bill that an $18,000 A/C system is likely to generate) made for a good deal. This must be one mondo office. I wonder how much the key deposit was?
32 Mike Theodore // Jun 29, 2008 at 5:38 am
shhhh….
you’ll wake the baby.
33 John P Slevin // Jun 29, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Knapp writes: “The cost of a Sunday full-page ad in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, which would reach about 200,000 readers is (if I’m reading the rate card right) $2,184…then those that’s $8,400 to reach another 600,000 readers.”
“Reach”? You win campaigns by reaching VOTERS. Or, put another way, it’s the VOTES DUMMY!
Tell me when you see the ads for Obama and McCain…keep a sharp eye out, cause those newspaper ads for WINNING R and D campaigns don’t happen very often.
Why in hell would someone buy ads for an LP candidacy, unless of course it is to follow the LP’s typically stupid campaign “strategies”?
More to the point, the past LP fraud problems involve exactly Knapp’s sort of reasoning. Hucksters at the national committee and the Browne campaign bragged about just such stupidity. Talk radio appearances, etc.
The winning campaigns are struggling to reach voters. The typically moronic Libertarian campaigns are struggling to ape what they see on television, cause they think that is the campaign.
STUPID.
Keep an eye out now, and tell me what percentage of winning campaign budgets go into newspaper advertising.
34 Trent Hill // Jun 29, 2008 at 2:38 pm
John P. Slevin,
First of all–calling Knapp stupid wont convince others here that you are smarter,it’ll do the opposite. We all know him to be intelligent.
As for newspaper ads–Knapp was right in his assertion that it wold reach 800,000 potential voters,wasnt he? As for your arguement, simply substitute “newspaper ad” for “direct mail campaign” or “TV Ad”–it still works.
35 John P Slevin // Jun 29, 2008 at 8:58 pm
No, Trent, Knapp was not correct.
And I did not call Knapp stupid. I said that anyone suggesting that ads in newspapers is the way to get votes is an idiot…yes, I did say that.
So, Knapp, is that what you were saying?
If so, then yes, you don’t know your butt from any old hole in the wall.
Again, I ask everyone, simply look in your local newspaper.
This is JUNE, dammit. Where are the ads? They are not there.
IDIOTICALLY, some twerp blogger criticizes, without any information, buying air-conditioning for an office where people are working in the summer
Then, blowhards like Knapp and the author of this article chime in that they know better how to spend the money.
Can you spell Badnarik?
Knapp is asserting numbers which are incorrect. He’s taking circulation numbers and suggesting that everyone sees the ad, responds to it, is motivated by it…etc.
Ever try to sell a car?
Besides, this is an election. You DO NOT advertise to the general public when you want to reach voters for the simple reason that in most districts you’ll be trying to find 4 in 10 people. That’s the average ratio if you count voting age people only. 4 in 10 you see on the street MIGHT be registered to vote.
If the circulation is 800,000 then the actual number of registered voters would be a little above or a little below 400,000.
Then, consider page views.
Who the hell will see it? Knapp quoted column inch rates…he wasn’t talking full-page ads. He just wanted any old ad. Ok?
So, maybe 20,000…that would be one out of 40.
Ever watch anyone read a newspaper?
And, of that 20,000, MAYBE half would be registered to vote.
Then, on election day, IF you have a “high” turnout, take two thirds…so 12,000 voters would have seen Knapp’s ad.
How many would have known what the hell it all was about?
Well, let’s let Knapp design the ad. Maybe he has some magical touch which has eluded every other campaign operative ever to elect someone.
Maybe Michael Badnarik taught him some neat tricks.
So, again, ONLY AN IDIOT would buy newspaper ads…in June or in October.
36 John P Slevin // Jun 29, 2008 at 9:11 pm
In ALL advertising, repetition is key.
IF you can keep that ad running from whenever thru the election, and do it in enough places, then yes, it might make some sense to include print advertising in your campaign budget.
We’re talking about something different. A third party never can afford that. And the yokels who spend money that way ought to be called out on it.
37 John P Slevin // Jun 29, 2008 at 10:12 pm
and finally Trent, you wrote: “…simply substitute “newspaper ad†for “direct mail campaign†or “TV Adâ€â€“it still works…”
No Trent, it never has. Cite me one instance where it has worked?
Never.
Never. Only idiots suggest it. Which is why, always, it is suggested by the kind of idiots who populate the LP campaigns…and Knapp is one of those.
Idiots don’t grow more fond to me, they grow less.
38 Mike Theodore // Jun 29, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Ok, John
What are your suggestions to win the country’s support. I’m all ears.
39 Thomas L. Knapp // Jun 29, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Mr. Slevin,
OK, I get the message — you don’t think newspaper advertising is the best way to spend money. OK, no problem. Let’s put it in terms you MIGHT consider worthwhile:
At $2.00 per signature, the money spent on AC for the Barr campaign office would have purchased 9,500 petition signatures (collected by people working, for the most part, in outside, non-air-conditioned environments, btw) in states where ballot access hasn’t yet been achieved for the Barr/Root ticket and/or the LP’s state tickets.
I don’t have anything against air conditioning, but money that’s spent on it can’t be spent on other things, and it is therefore reasonable to question whether that particular purchase was a wise use of funds.
40 Mike Theodore // Jun 29, 2008 at 11:16 pm
Now it depends. Someone brought up that it is Georgia, and that place can be hot. I don’t know. I wouldn’t do it, but I’m cheap, and would run a campaign as lenient as possible.
41 G.E. // Jun 29, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Obviously, the campaign needs an office with AC. No one is disputing that.
The question is the cost. $19,000 = 5% of what the campaign has raised thus far. $19k is a LOT to spend on AC. Yes, AC is needed, but would you install a system for $19 million? $19 billion? Saying that AC is necessary and saying the cost is justified are two different things.
$19k for five months. $4k a month. That’s a lot to pay just in RENT. Our Ron Paul HQ in Michigan cost $600/month. Barr needs a better place than we had, no question, but $4k a month JUST in AC? And then leaving an improved building for the owner when they vacate in November? Some schmuck just got his building upgraded with the money that we, me included, have donated to Barr’s campaign. Criticism of this is obviously valid.
42 Mike Theodore // Jun 29, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Here’s the thing.
I don’t really want to make a big deal out of this.
I wouldn’t have done it.
But that’s just me.
43 Jerry S. // Jun 30, 2008 at 1:44 am
LOL-If anyone didn’t know Barr wasn’t frugal with other peoples money, you didn’t see his PAC info. Think about him being POTUS. Do you think he would balance our budget?
You people need to MAXX OUT at $4,600 immediately! They need it to stay afloat the way they handle “other people’s money”. Send it in. Send it in! LOL
The masses are asses, it just didn’t seem there were so many LP members back in the 80s and 90s included!
I wouldn’t give him the time of day. I don’t wear a watch…
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