“I Have to Wash My Hair, Mr. President”

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THE FIRST $500,000

This is a big one: the first time we’re asking for the donations Mother Jones relies on since joining forces with the Center for Investigative Reporting. So in “Less Dreading, More Doing,” we lay it all out for you—why we merged, how we’re stronger together, and why we’re more optimistic than normal about the work ahead. It still won’t be easy. Please help us raise the First $500,000 we need by June 22.

This is big. Mother Jones just merged with the Center for Investigative Reporting, and this is the first time we’re asking for the donations we rely on. So we lay it all out for you in “Less Dreading, More Doing,” and we need to raise the First $500,000 in online donations by June 22. It won’t be easy. Please help if you can.

Illustration by: Steve Wacksman

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[See a PDF of this chart from the magazine]

There’s no bigger boon to a political campaign than a fundraising visit from the president—except when that president has an approval rating in the mid-30s. Then it takes footwork worthy of Dancing With the Stars to avoid sharing the stage with him. Not all Republicans have been as candid as Illinois gubernatorial candidate Judy Baar Topinka, who stood by
as an aide explained why they did not want President Bush to campaign with Topinka: “We just want him to raise money. Late at night. In an undisclosed location.”

CANDIDATE	EVENT	EXCUSE
REP. THELMA DRAKE (R-Va.)	Bush-headlined $500,000 fundraiser for Drake in Virginia Beach on May 19	Had to be in Washington to vote on an appropriations bill—which passed 395-0
SENATOR MIKE DEWINE (R-Ohio)	Bush speech to Cleveland’s City Club on March 20	Had to accompany his dad to watch spring training in Florida
Maryland LT. GOVERNOR MICHAEL STEELE, running for Senate	Bush-headlined Maryland GOP fundraiser on May 31	Had another fundraiser, 2,400 miles away in Las Vegas
MIKE MCGAVICK, running for Senate in Washington	Bush speech at Seattle fundraiser on June 16	Attending his son’s high school graduation in Pennsylvania—the previous day
THOMAS KEAN JR., running for Senate in New Jersey	Cheney speech praising Kean at a $400,000 fundraiser in Newark on March 20	Stuck in traffic (Kean took perennially clogged Route 1 instead of the faster New Jersey Turnpike)