Howard Dean writes:

As of this month, the Democratic National Committee no longer accepts =
donations from Washington lobbyists or special interest PACs.

We're joining the campaign of our presumptive nominee, Barack Obama, in =
setting a new standard for a people-powered politics.

Unlike John McCain and the Republican National Committee, we will not =
allow Washington lobbyists or PACs to control our campaigns, manipulate =
our candidates, or drown out the views of the American people.

But we face a crucial financial reporting deadline on Monday night, which =
will be the first test of the financial consequences of this decision.

Please make a donation of $25 now to show that our party is at its best =
when it's powered by ordinary people giving whatever they can afford:

https://donate.barackobama.com/DNCdeadline

Your support of our 50-state strategy has helped create the opportunity =
for Barack Obama to run a true 50-state campaign -- but we need your help.

We have our work cut out for us.

John McCain and the Republican National Committee had a three-month head =
start on the general election, and they raised nearly $45 million last =
month alone.

Over the past three years, we've worked tirelessly to build our party from =
the ground up in all 50 states.

Now, for the first time in a generation, a presidential campaign is =
putting staff in all 50 states so Democrats across the country can compete =
in races up and down the ballot.

And that campaign, and the national party supporting it, are refusing =
contributions from Washington lobbyists and special interest PACs.

We'll need unprecedented resources to build our operation in every state =
-- and we'll need them at the same time we're cutting ourselves off from a =
major fundraising source campaigns usually rely on.

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This is a damned historical miracle--a whole party turning its back on special interests. It may not be snow-driven purity but in the world of American politics, it is worthy of plaudits.


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