The GOP’s donation team at WinRed, a campaign donation website, have become increasingly aggressive in pleading for donations from Republican voters. On the donation page for the National Republican Congressional Committee, a pre-checked box opting donors into automatic monthly payments says, “We need to know we haven’t lost you to the Radical Left. If you UNCHECK this box, we will have to tell Trump you’re a DEFECTOR & sided with the Dems.”
A subsequent pre-checked box then asks for an additional one-time donation on April 15 saying, “If you want Trump to run for President this is your LAST chance to FLIP the House,” donors are told above another pre-checked box. “Change your Trump Victory Fund Status to ACTIVE now! Remain inactive = Republicans lose.”
WinRed and the National Republican Congressional Committee have refunded more than $120 million in disputed campaign donations due to their use of deceptive automatic donations.
“The NRCC employs the same standards that are accepted and utilized by Democrats and Republicans across the digital fundraising ecosystem,” NRCC spokesman Michael McAdams said in a statement Tuesday after growing allegations of predatory practices.
ActBlue, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s donation coordination website, also allows donors to make automatic monthly contributions, but unlike the NRCC’s pleadings, ActBlue opt-in boxes read, “Yes, count me in!” for monthly donations, and “No, donate once” to opt out.
