April 13th, 2006
There’s some talk around the liberal, Democratic leaning blogsphere about what it is that the Democratic party can do to energize and motivate the base, given the apparent grassroots passivity that some observe. The apparent grassroots passivity seems counter intuitive, given how poll after poll shows that Democrats are preferred over republicans to take control of Congress after the November elections; and, yet, Democratic voters do not appear to have turned out in large numbers in the recent CA-50 special election for. Understandably, one wonders, What can the Democratic party do to motivate the grassroots and the general public?
Here are my suggestions:
1. For better or worse, all movements need a leader… a central voice that crystallizes the aspirations and motivations of the countless of faceless, and voiceless masses. Elected Dems have not provided that single voice/leader that crystallizes our hopes and frustrations. The 2006 elections, even though they are “just” a midterm election, should be approached by the Democratic party as if the elections were a presidential election — even going so far as to hold a national convention to present a New Democratic Deal for America (think of it as a New Deal 2.0) to the country.
Dems must capitalize on the “perfect political storm” that exists at the moment. But to do so, the Democratic party must designate one person to be the voice of the party, and then the party must make sure not to undermine that voice by keeping saboteurs from running to FauxNews and/or the Hannity radio program. For my money, I’d love to see either Dean and/or Feingold as the voice of the party that crystallizes my aspirations and motivations. Unfortunately, the inner circle of the Democratic party establishment would never allow Dean nor Feingold to be the voice and face of the party; nonetheless, although I will not get my ideal Democratic representative to speak for me, Dems should consider designating one person to be the voice and face of the party because it’ll facilitate communication with the public. (Please note that, even though I’ve suggest the designation of a single voice, I understand that this is unworkable; accordingly, the next best thing is to designate a handful of representatives (2-3) to be the voices of the party — that is, select 2-3 voices that can speak to different audiences (clearly, centrist/corporatist Dems would think it intolerable if they don’t have a seat at the table)).
2. Though some elected Dems have moved closer towards a draw down/pull back position on Iraq, more Democratic representatives must come out in favor of a pull back from Iraq; moreover, elected Dems need to speak with one voice on this issue. We, the American public, are disillusioned with Bush’s Iraq invasion and are actively looking for alternatives to simply “staying the course” and other such lame slogans as “A Plan for Victory.” It’s clear that elected Dems are split on this issue on policy grounds, and not merely on the politics of the situation — that is, some elected Dems do fear that a precipitous pull back down of troops from Iraq would create even worse repercussions over the long term; however, the Democrat hawks are not presenting an alternative to the current course, which simply unacceptable, because the public craves something different, period. I, along with the vast majority of the Democratic grassroots, and an ever increasing number of the John Q public support immediate pull back from Iraq. The bottom line is that Americans want to be presented with an alternative plan on Iraq, because we know that simply staying the course is, in fact, a plan for failure; unfortunately, Democrats have not coordinated the formulation of an alternative plan, even though they have at their disposal an imminently credibly, digestible and workable Democratic response to the quagmire in Iraq. That plan, of course, is the Murtha Plan — which: Every. Single. Democrat. Should. Support. It’s good politics and good policy.
3. Follow the Ross Perot model. Perot spent millions of dollars on long-form infomercials during his ’92 bid for the presidency; an act that, to my mind, was the biggest single factor to propel his insurgent candidacy in that election. Dems need to do the same thing. Create half-hour or hour-long infomercials wherein the designated voice(s) of the party intimately walk the American public through a narrative presenting, in stark contrast, what the Democratic Party stands for and, too, how the New Democratic Deal for America will touch and improve our lives. The key of these long-form infomercials is that Dems would control the message and presentation, with no moderator to interrupt with some pretension at objectivity. Moreover, the long-form infomercial would allow for an adult conversation, on a myriad of issues, with the American public.
March 24th, 2006
Here’s precisely the reason why many of us in the grassroots supported and continue to support Howard Dean:
I, for one, appreciate his bluntness, forcefulness and unapologetic advocacy of Democratic values. Of course, now that Howard Dean is the chair of the DNC, that’s his role and mission, to advocate for the Democratic party. However, he was a strong advocate for Democratic principles and for progressive values long before he was was the chair of the DNC. In fact, one the things that attracted me to Dean was when he claimed, as Paul Wellstone had done once before, that he stood for the "Democratic wing of the Democratic party."
Our country, not to mention the Democratic party, needs more voices like Howard Dean and like Senator Feingold.
January 2nd, 2006
Forget all this cutesy talk about re-branding and coming up with a slogan with catchy alliteration. To define the Republican party for what they are all one has to do is have the BALLS to go out there and do that, that is: Talk of Republicans for what they are and as they are — then repeat what you said, defend your statement and do it all over again. Of course, it helps if one has supporters and party members with a spine to back one up, and then magnify the message; and, pretty soon, that meme gets out there in the mouths of pundits and the public.
Here’s Howard Dean on Republicans:
“You can’t trust them with your money,” Dean said. “You can’t trust them to tell the truth. You can’t trust them to manage the war. You can’t trust them if you have a natural disaster. Now tell me why people are going to vote for Republicans?” (link)
That same MSNBC article gets to the heart of the issue facing the Democratic party, that is: there simply aren’t that many prominent Democrats willing to be aggressive against Republicans and, too, equally willing to hand them an anvil as the corrupt Republican party drowns. Here’s the heart of the issue for Democrats:
Whether Democratic candidates will embrace Dean’s proposal for a single national strategy isn’t clear yet. And Republicans will try to use Dean’s tendency to put his foot in his mouth as a reason for voters to shy away. (Emphasis added.)
In the above quote we see the media’s narrative on Dean at work, “Dean’s tendency to put his foot in his mouth as a reason for voters to shy away.” This narrative could be changed by prominent Democrats coming out and repeating Dean’s attacks, er, truth about Republicans, when he makes them. However, the ever timorous, finger-in-the-wind Democratic party insiders and establishment bitches only vacillate and try to distance themselves from anything smacking of truth, aggressiveness and common sense regarding Republicans.
You want to accurately brand Republicans, or, re-brand, as it were? It’s simple, all it takes is for a spokesperson to voice the message and repeat it, and to do it all over again, till it catches on. I’m with Dean when it comes to Republicans:
“You can’t trust them with your money,” Dean said. “You can’t trust them to tell the truth. You can’t trust them to manage the war. You can’t trust them if you have a natural disaster. Now tell me why people are going to vote for Republicans?”
Ultimately, is the pundit class that needs to be targeted… that’s the real audience… because they repeat the messages that come into our homes and our heads. But to reach them, as pundits often like to remind their critics from the left, there need to be prominent Democratic representatives providing the pundits with a narrative… a story for them to parrot.
December 9th, 2005
Over at MyDD.com Michael in Chicago sounded a little disheartened after being confronted with strong opposition from the Democratic establishment in Chicago. Michael writes:
I owe my political awareness to Howard Dean. Because of him I started blogging, volunteering and donating to Democrats. Dean’s rallying cry in the 2004 campaign was “You have the power.” The more I learned about the Republicans in control of our government, the more I wanted to use this power to help elect Democrats.
This is why I started supporting a local candidate running for Congress in my own district. Henry Hyde’s district. With Christine Cegelis’ campaign as a rallying point, I saw more Democrats active in my district than I’ve seen in my lifetime.
But now, as the Democratic primary approaches, I read of the DCCC again passing over a candidate who newly energized Democrats in my district overwhelmingly support. I read of the DCCC’s backing of a candidate with no political experience and few ties to my district. I read of the advantages of military credentials and “wounds” – not issues that matter to the district. I read of the finest political consultants money can buy working for a candidate who hasn’t even done any fundraising in the district yet.
As I watch this unfold, I wonder what power I really have.
[...]
The real power for Democratic fundraising in Illinois is Emanuel, not small donors like me.
[...]
It is Emanuel, not me, who has the power to shut down a campaign by choking off it’s sources of high dollar donors. Donors in Chicago. Donors in his district. It is Emanuel, not me, that has the power to provide a network of top dollar consultants…
[...]
Gov. Dean told us “You have the power.” In 2004 I believed him. As I watch what’s happening to the Cegelis campaign, I’m not so sure anymore.
After reading his post I was compelled to respond:
You do have the power. Dean, however, should’ve completed that thought more frequently, I’m afraid to say. Because, while you, I, and every one of us have the power to challenge the status quo and bring about change, it ain’t gonna be easy.
I saw Dean at UCLA when he was out in LA during the 2004 primaries and he, of course, ended the small rally with that infectious yell, You have the power, You have the power, You have the power! As the crowd dwindled and my girlfriend and I walked away from the small outdoor stage, I remembered what Dean had said as he opened his remarks that evening, It’s not going to be easy… but YOU have the power.
It’s never easy. Every activist has known that… and needs to be reminded of it now and then; because we’re going against entrenched interests for whom the status quo works just fine, so why fuck with it. Therefore, entrenched interest count on that fact alone, that it’s never easy to dislodge them, to remain securely in power; that’s why incumbents and entrenched interests gerrymander, hoard political contributors and, thereby, make it nearly impossible for third parties and challengers to arise.
Accordingly, the only thing that’s left for us, the grassroots, to do is to organize and mobilize — and, again, it’s not easy and I don’t know that an easy formula exists. However, out here in CA, the nurses, teachers and firefighters have shown us that, indeed, it can be done. Man, the nurses, teachers and firefighters brought down Arnold — I mean, remember, not that long ago Sen. Hatch was talking about amending the Constitution so that Arnold could one day run for president; and, well, now that this mighty Goliath has been brought down, I don’t think there’ll be any talk of an Arnold amendment to the Constitution.
Perhaps the entrenched Democratic establishment in Chicago, especially Rep. Emanuel, need to start hearing from Cegelis’s supporters every where they go — and don’t forget their friends, too.
April 24th, 2005
I like how Washington Whispers describes our Democratic Chair:
New Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean is no Terry McAuliffe . Where the flashy former Clinton fundraiser was a gregarious ringmaster accustomed to the bling-bling of the highest non-publicly elected Democratic job around, Dean is almost a seminarian in his approach to the post. And, oddly, his style seems to fit with the party’s bid to build its blue-collar base–just as McAuliffe’s meshed with the DNC’s need to raise gobs of money and go high tech.
I particularly like the contrast that’s drawn in the last sentence above. Of course, I wish that the contrast were drawn in terms of substance, rather than merely in terms of style. However, I imagine that that would’ve required too much of a leap of faith for a working journalist in DC, where — it appears — the general prevalent outlook is of cynicism and jadedness. But, no matter, the piece is very positive, it continues:
What’s so different? McAuliffe would limo around town, dropping in at the Palm to huddle with Washington big shots. The 2004 presidential hopeful, by contrast, takes the bus or subway, buying his own $1.35 ticket. Sometimes he bums rides from staffers or walks the four blocks to the Capitol for meetings. “Please Call Me Howard” never flies first class and always carries his own bags.
I’d like to see a major news magazine (hint, hint.. TIME) do a cover story on t the first 100 days of Howard Dean as the chair of the Democratic party, so that the contrasts that are drawn above merely in terms of style, can be expanded on and discussed in terms of substance. Anyone in charge of PR at the DNC should be pitching the major news magazines the “First 100 Days of Howard” as a cover story. This would give Howard Dean an opportunity to re-cast himself and give the media-types something other than the Iowa episode to discuss. Moreover, such a cover story would be an opportunity to present the Democratic party in a new light, as the Washington Whisper suggests:
[Howard Dean's] style seems to fit with the party’s bid to build its blue-collar base.
And, as the Whisper concludes, I’m sure our fellow American’s in Kansas and elsewhere will like what they see, too:
So far, Washington likes what it sees, surprised he’s not the oddball that newsies pegged him as last year. Says an aide, smiling: “They’re giving him a shot.”
Maybe the PR person at the DNC could get John Cloud to do the cover story on Howard Dean.
UPDATE: Cover inspired by your comments. (Yeah, it’s clickable.)
