Dean Changing the Political Landscape with BuzzFlash quote

Dean shocked the political world by raising more money -- roughly $7.5 million -- in the last quarter than any of his more established opponents, and, according to his campaign, he raised nearly half of that in the eight days before the June 30 filing period ended, largely through online contributions. In one day, noted Trippi, Dean took in $800,000 online. Dean's figures show that 80 percent of his first-time donors gave less than $250; 60 percent gave less than $100.

While Republicans have cultivated both big and small donors, Democrats have let their small-money base atrophy. Democrats have been investing in beefing up their mailing lists, but Rosenberg sees Dean and organizations such as MoveOn.org proving that the Internet can make small-money fundraising cheap and thus efficient.

Ah, but won't this benefit Democrats on the "extremes" by empowering the frequenters of Web sites that drip with contempt for President Bush? The Internet has certainly provided a powerful outlet for Bush's opponents. Mark Karlin, the editor and publisher of BuzzFlash.com, a liberal Web site, sees it as becoming "the progressive or Democratic alternative to right-wing radio," a place where activists can congregate and exchange views.

Given how much Rush Limbaugh and his imitators have done for the right and the Republicans, it's hard to see how progressives or Democrats will be hurt by having an outlet of their own. But Karlin, Rosenberg and Wes Boyd of MoveOn question the assumption that left-wing ideology is the sole motivator on the progressive Internet.

Karlin describes his constituency as "energetic" rather than ideological. Boyd sees the Internet as rewarding "insurgents" willing "to say something different from what's being said inside the Beltway." Rosenberg thinks the Web helps any candidate of any ideology who demonstrates "the passion, the cause and the commitment." This description applies quite well to Sen. John McCain, who took the first steps in making effective use of Internet fundraising.