The Fundraising Paradox

Janice Arnold-Jones

The political “fund raising” abilities of candidates are always a hot topic. Those who can raise tons of money are treated as if somehow they are better candidates. In recent months we were told by self-described experts that U.S. Congressional District #1 candidate Janice Arnold-Jones was not taken seriously by GOP party insiders. Many media experts pointed to her tepid fund raising totals as the reason. When Arnold-Jones predicted she would garner more than 50% of statewide GOP delegate votes in the pre-primary convention last month some suggested she was merely making a wild boast. This weekend GOP delegates all over the state cast their votes. And it turned out Arnold-Jones had actually under-promised and then over-delivered on her “insider” (delegate) count.
There is a great paradox in New Mexico political fund-raising. Most Democrats find it much easier to raise money than Republicans. In congressional elections radical environmentalists from all over the nation can be counted on to pour money into Democratic candidate coffers. Unions do the same in a big way.

While GOP incumbents have no trouble raising money, they do so only AFTER they are elected. Steve Pearce is the only member of the New Mexico delegation who fits that description though veteran Heather Wilson can also raise money. We are reminded that Susana Martinez was woefully underfunded before her primary victory in 2010. Funny thing. She turned out to be a pretty good candidate anyway. Things haven't changed. Even an eminently qualified candidate like Janice Arnold-Jones must overcome an extreme funding disadvantage. Why is this the norm instead of the exception?

There is a certain irony associated with the entrepreneur community. Entrepreneurs tend to hold attitudes of fierce independence. Self-reliance is perhaps the most necessary mindset of the successful entrepreneur. Most entrepreneurs don’t believe they have the time to be politically active. And they are usually uncomfortable with the mentality of collectivism that is associated with financing campaigns. “You take care of your responsibilities and I’ll take care of mine is the attitude.” Still, most entrepreneurs know that most of the time Republicans will place a much higher value on their efforts. And yet most entrepreneurs will not donate money to the campaigns of GOP political candidates.
Entrepreneurs are busy delivering products and services. They believe if they do their jobs properly customers will patronize them. Most entrepreneurs don’t hope Republicans will help their businesses. They just want the GOP to see to it that government doesn’t impede their efforts.

Here is a news flash for the entrepreneur community. Government isn’t going to leave you alone. Entrepreneurs should take note of the trends. They are subjected to an ever increasing laundry list of mandated waste. And unless they are in some sort of business that radical environmentalists or unions want subsidized, they will be under constant pressure from anti-business policies promoted by well-financed progressive Democrats.

On Monday morning the politically inactive business community will head off to work once again overwhelmed by the demands of survival mode. This is the great paradox of political fundraising. The independent and self-reliant mindset of entrepreneurs causes them to be reluctant to embrace the “collective” mentality necessary to make campaign contributions to pro-entrepreneur candidates. And their collective inattention to this critical detail has led to more and more elected officials financed by radical environmentalists and unions being in a position to destroy the economic foundations necessary for entrepreneurial success.

The Fundraising Paradox