Can local Dem. Committees Not Support the Nominee?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

Yesterday I was at a meeting of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents who had come together because they all want to stop Bush. The local Democratic Committee Chair was there. He told us that that Committee had only supported one Presidential nominee that he knew of, and that was Bill Clinton. The Committee did not support Al Gore in 2000-no money, no nothing. Why? Because of his stance on gun control. The fellow went on to say that there was no point in supporting any of the candidates unless they: 1. Were against gun control 2.Held the good "Christian" values of anti-abortion, anti-civil unions. He said they never called people to ask them to vote, because 'it made them mad'. They don't offer rides to polls 'because the local precinct committeeman knows who needs rides'. They never have poll watchers 'because it will make some people mad and they won't vote.' The man didn't even know the Democratic nominee for the House seat (though even the Independents in the group did)-when told, he made a face, like 'this woman will have no chance.'

My question is: Can Democratic committees really choose to do this? I mean, isn't there some kind of party rule that says once a nominee is selected, the local committees should at the very least have campaign signs and literature about the candidates?

[displacedtexan]

1. Is this your county dem party organization?

Or some fringe group?

If this is your county dem party org, they can do whatever their executive board votes to do. Ask for a copy of the bylaws. (They don't seem interested in promoting dem values or candidates.) Take a group of activists to the monthly board meetings, get on the board, and change the dynamic!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. It is the local county dem party organization

It's a bunch of good old boys. They've invited us to their meeting, but they're not sure when it will be. They seem to be more interested in the mechanics of the election, which is good; this county has a rep for people changing ballots, ballot boxes being unlocked, etc, etc. It will be interesting to find out if we even know about the next meeting-these folks are the entrenched power and want to keep it and not give it to a bunch of retirees and 'newcomers'.

BTW, the group decided to bypass the local Dems because it was obvious they weren't interested in doing anything. We're going to have our own meetings and plot our own strategy. Don't know how we can do anything else, since the group is composed of Independents and Republicans who aren't interested in getting involved with the Democratic party.

But if this is true-that the executive board of the local party decides what to do-no wonder Dems are losing the South. Personally, I think the Dems in power here in my part of AR are closet Republicans. They are doing nothing to expand the base or get information out.

[salin]

4. funny... just yesterday someone asked me if I thought that perhaps

in some places in the south the GOP had infiltrated (and taken over) some dem party apparati. I said I didn't think so, but that the more conservative areas had moved to the right - just as the entire country has (but they started further to the right) and that in some places the dems now were philosophically more like the old (25 years ago) moderate wing of the democratic party.

Reading your experience I would say - it could go either way (overtime takeover {intentional}... or having their positions framed for them {natural shift to the right}).

I would keep working with the Democrats as well as externally to the democrats.. why? Over time, if one has enough people coming into the party one of two things will happen: either the good-ole boys will start to "see" a new winning team (eg those who like power, like to play to what will win), or the "new blood" that comes into the party, over time starts taking leadership and reshapes it from the inside. But in the short term, it does sound like working/organizing to defeat Bush will have to happen externally to the current local party.

[Lexingtonian]

3. start up a Green Party chapter

Tell these good ol' boys that they're in denial about the present political situation and the need to demonstrate competence. Maybe not much could or should be said or done about the former, given the locale. But if they're not willing to demonstrate even the minimal competences, people like you will embarrass and shame them until the willingness arises. Ask them: what good is having a local Party if no leader of it actually wants responsibility, has competences, or knows how to wield power?

The Other Side is doing all it can to achieve maximal competence and domination in November. Probably in your area too.

http://www.prospect.org/print/V15/2/franke-ruta-g.html