Subject: Re: Host Committee Convention
From: Jordan Kaplan <[email-masked]>
To: "Graham M. Wilson" <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2015 10:53:11 -0500

Yeah, I will call tomorrow.  I just know we are going to have to do all the work - they will raise 20 mil or so and then call us for the next 26.  Seems silly that we just do not get out in front of this.

Jordan Kaplan
National Finance Director
Democratic National Committee
(202) 488-5002 (o) | (312) 339-0224 (c)
[email-masked]

On Feb 16, 2015, at 6:17 PM, Wilson, Graham M. (Perkins Coie) <[email-masked]> wrote:

What can I say? Happy to chat tomorrow to try to come up with some alternatives if you’d like.

Graham M. Wilson | Perkins Coie LLP

Direct. +1.202.434.1638

From: Kaplan, Jordan [mailto:[email-masked]]
Sent: Monday, February 16, 2015 6:08 PM
To: Wilson, Graham M. (Perkins Coie)
Subject: Fwd: Host Committee Convention

And there goes my plan to make more money. Come on!

Jordan Kaplan
National Finance Director
Democratic National Committee
(202) 488-5002 (o) | (312) 339-0224 (c)
[email-masked]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Lisa G <[email-masked]>
Date: February 16, 2015 at 5:47:37 PM EST
To: "Kaplan, Jordan" <[email-masked]>
Subject: Re: Host Committee Convention

Hi Jordan!

I absolutely agree with the sentiment of your four points.

I'm aware of a few of your names and would like to talk through abilities vs team player + ability.

Also, I bugged Graham again about our Plan A, see his counsel below.  Please rethink what you would recommend.
I know we can make it work!

Depending on the weather tomorrow, let's figure out a time to talk.
Thanks again  -LisaG

The issue here is that the DNC, including any agent of the DNC, can only solicit up to $5,000 from federally permissible sources for the Host Committee. See 68 Fed. Reg. 47404.  The DNC cannot solicit big checks or corporate checks for the Host Committee.

Accordingly, the Host Committee Finance Director and the DNC Finance Director cannot be the same person, and the Host Committee Finance Director should not be a DNC staffer.

There is theoretically a “two hats” argument that you could try to make here.  The “two hats” rule is that even if you are an agent of the DNC, you are not subject to the DNC’s fundraising rules when you’re not wearing your DNC hat.  For example, the DNC is not allowed to raise money for charitable organizations at all.  However, the Chair is permitted to raise money for her breast cancer charity as long as she doesn’t do so in her capacity as DNC Chair.  Her DNC fundraising and her charitable fundraising need to be completely separate. If someone were paid by both the DNC and the Host Committee, there is an argument that they would have two hats and could raise for both organizations, but I would strongly advise against it because it would be very difficult to separate the two fundraising activities.  At some point I know that Kerrigan did some fundraising for the Host Committee and justified it by having the Host Committee pay him a consulting fee, but they only did it because they were in such a bad place with the fundraising and absolutely needed it.

Happy to discuss further, but in short, whoever is doing full time fundraising for the Host Committee should be on Host Committee pay roll, and it would not be advisable for them to also be a DNC staffer.

On Mon, Feb 16, 2015 at 1:35 PM, Kaplan, Jordan <[email-masked]> wrote:

I am sorry - I hit send too fast; use this email.

Lisa -

Following up on our conversation about the Host Committee, here are some names and thoughts for you:

Michael Pratt

Michael O’Neil

Roz Skozen

James Dinneen

Mabel Arramble  (maybe)

Kathy Gasperine (wouldnt be a fan of the DNC though: currently FD at OFA)

Jon Adrabi

However, the more I was thinking about it, the more I think that we (the DNC) should double as the host committee finance team.  Here are three main reasons:

1) Now that we are mini super pac, the donations we are going to accept for the host committee are going to be in the same range as how much the DNC can now take.  Since we are not the Republicans, the donations are going to be a majority of the same people.  Our team has the relationships with these people. We should not hire people to troll our lists, call these people and introduce themselves.  We can do it.

2) It protects us from the eventual nominee and I mean that with all due respect.  In 2008, Chidlow was telling me that after Obama won the nomination, he had to protect his top 25 donors/raisers and insist that Smoot include them in the Convention.  2012 was easier since it was the same people.  However, if we are the host committee, we can protect everyone and make sure that we are sharing with the eventual nominee.  The host committee already reserves X amount of boxes; it will be easy to share with ourselves.

3) We are not putting a man on the moon.  We know how to do this and we can raise the 46 million that the convention needs.  I have only been part of two conventions, both times the campaign staff was asked to come in and help with the fundraising.  In 08 and 12, we were asked to help make introductions to the donors, provide support and encourage donors to return calls of the convention staff.  To me, it just makes sense not to create a separate team out there.  There are some logistical challenges we will need to work out but our team can do this.  I am sure the lawyers will shoot this plan down immediately in order to protect the DNC.

Finally, there are some people the committee should hire.  There will probably need to be a corporate person/pac person/labor person as well as a Pennsylvania/Philly finance director.  However, other than Alex Shapiro (our person) or Jason O Malley, I do not know who knows the region better. Governor Wolf’s finance director was not that good I am told.  I do not think there will be a groundswell of grassroots people so defer to you guys on low dollar/community engagement stuff.

I am happy to discuss anytime and will keep brainstorming names for you.

Thanks - Jordan

Jordan Kaplan
National Finance Director
Democratic National Committee
(202) 488-5002 (o) | (312) 339-0224 (c)
[email-masked]

Jordan Kaplan
National Finance Director
Democratic National Committee
(202) 488-5002 (o) | (312) 339-0224 (c)
[email-masked]

Begin forwarded message:

Lisa -

Following up on our conversation about the Host Committee, here are some names and thoughts for you:

Michael Pratt

Michael O’Neil

Roz Skozen

James Dinneen

Mabel Arramble  (maybe)

Kathy Gasperine (wouldnt be a fan of the DNC though: currently FD at OFA)

Jon Adrabi

However, the more I was thinking about it, the more I think that we (the DNC) should double as the host committee finance team.  Here are three main reasons:

1) Now that we are mini super pac, the donations we are going to accept for the host committee are going to be in the same range as how much the DNC can now take.  Since we are not the Republicans, the donations are going to be a majority of the same people.  Our team has the relationships with these people. We should not hire people to troll our lists, call these people and introduce themselves.  We can do it.

2) It protects us from the eventual nominee and I mean that with all due respect.  In 2008, Chidlow was telling me that after Obama won the nomination, he had to protect his top 25 donors/raisers and insist that Smoot include them in the Convention.  2012 was easier since it was the same people.  However, if we are the host committee, we can protect everyone and make sure that we are sharing with the eventual nominee.  The host committee already reserves X amount of boxes; it will be easy to share with ourselves.

3) We are not putting a man on the moon.  We know how to do this and we can raise the 46 million that the convention needs.  AThere are some logistical challenges we will need to work out but our team can do this.  I am sure the lawyers will shoot this plan down immediately in order to protect the DNC, but it is worth trying.

Finally, there are some people the committee should hire.  There will probably need to be a corporate person/pac person/labor person as well as a Pennsylvania/Philly finance director.  However, other than Alex Shapiro (our person) or Jason O Malley, I do not know who knows the region better. Governor Wolf’s finance director was not that good I am told.  I do not think there will be a groundswell of grassroots people so defer to you guys on low dollar/community engagement stuff.

I am happy to discuss anytime and will keep brainstorming names for you.

Thanks - Jordan

Jordan Kaplan
National Finance Director
Democratic National Committee
(202) 488-5002 (o) | (312) 339-0224 (c)
[email-masked]

NOTICE: This communication may contain privileged or other confidential information. If you have received it in error, please advise the sender by reply email and immediately delete the message and any attachments without copying or disclosing the contents. Thank you.