MoveOn & Dean For America: The New Democratic Leadership

[rucky]

Every day we express our frustration: Democrats walking in the wildnerness, without leadership and without a unified message. But right before our eyes, we have two steam-driven organizations that have emerged to the forefront. They welcome our involvement and have the potential to unify our party, get our message to the masses, and become a serious force in American politics. These are real movements that could bring us real change...if WE hop on board:

I propose we all get involved with MoveOn, and we all somehow tap into Dean For America for the strong forces that they are and could be. Let me make one thing perfectly clear: I am not selling an endorsement of Dean the candidate, nor is this an invitation for another belaboring debate about the candidates. I'm asking people to accept the MOVEMENT for what it is and recognize it's potential. Here's why these two organizations are the ones that could give us party power, unity and change.

The criteria is what I call "4 M's": Masses, Message, Media & Money.

MASSES
MoveOn has over 2 million members. Most of them recieve routine weekly emails and special action emails at any given time.
Dean For America has nearly a half-million supporters on their email list, and continues to grow. Other organizations may do the same types of things - or even better things - than these two, but they don't have these kinds of numbers behind them.

MESSAGE
You will not agree with everything any organization has to say. Other organizations & candidates may have better messages. What's more important is that the organization is designed so YOU have a voice in shaping their message. MoveOn and the Howard Dean Campaign are both grassroots-driven in their organizational structure. MoveOn members play a huge role in setting their agenda:

http://www.moveon.org/about/#s3
How does MY voice count?
At MoveOn, every member has a voice in choosing our shared direction. Using our ActionForum software, you can propose issue priorities and strategies. Others will see and respond to your suggestions, and the most strongly supported ideas will rise to the top. We adopt the issues that rise to the top as our campaign priorities, on a cyclical basis.
(end snip)

Dean's localized campaigns have great autonomy: Through meetups and the various state-organizing sites, all members have a platform to speak on issues that are important to them, and they have a receptive audience and easily accessible campaign organizers. When I go to Dean Meetups, I always mention something about Black Box Voting, and successfully raise awareness. I find the Dean supporters very receptive, and I credit what the Dean campaign has done that got these people in the room in the first place. The same way Dean uses the movement he created to get his message across, the campaign is designed in a way for it's members to take an active role in participation, and through the network, get their message across. Vote for whoever you want in the primary: Even if you don't like Dean, at least recognize the value of the "4 M's" in this movement.

MEDIA
The mainstream media has essentially put a blockade around the huge groundswell of opposing voices that are very active on the internet and on the streets. But there are some stories they can't ignore. We all know that Dean has successfully broken through the media barrier, Not even Clark has been able to do this, and Dean continues to get more attention than any other candidate. MoveOn has also received media attention for its straw poll, FCC Action, etc... And when the news media doesn't carry their message, they Advertise! which leads me to...

MONEY
More money means more media. More media means more message. More message means more members. More members mean more money...and the cycle grows exponentially.

And in the end, we may have a Democratic President and an informed public to show for it.

[trogdor]

1. Awesome article!

Sounds like some stuff I write. You might check out my website sometime.

[OKNancy]

2. MoveOn does wonderful work

and I am happy to give them what little money I have for such things.
They were truly inspiring during the Mondale run.
MoveOn is for all Democrats, greens ,progessives, and liberals of all stripes. Heck, even for fed-up Republicans.

[rucky]

3. And they seem to be supporting my 3 favorite candidates

Kucinich, Dean & Clark.

Once we get our nominee, I think MoveOn will make a huge impact in the general election.

[shance]

4. I agree - True Majority is terrific too

What you propose is a great idea.

In addition, if more of these great organizations work in unison, we'd be even that much more effective. Planned Parenthood, NRDC, Sierra Club, Common Cause. We essentially all have the same goals, and the key is bringing everyone together.

[ShimokitaJer]

5. I think multiple organizations are a good thing

Even though there are probably more Democrats than Republicans in these organizations, it's difficult to lump together organizations with goals as disparate as Planned Parenthood and the Sierra Club. Their goals are not necessarily contradictory, but they are certainly not the same, and I'm sure there are some people out there who believe in protecting the environment but not in keeping abortion legal. Most in the Democratic party are proud of the plurality of opinions of its members, and I see no reason to merge organizations to form one uber-liberal organization.

MoveOn, True Majority, etc. are the same way. They welcome not just Democrats, but Greens, Independents, and even Republicans... anyone who cares about the issues they act on. I think making it into a "new DLC" could only harm their effectiveness by making them appear truly partisan. I doubt they would be as effective at mobilizing people to action if they were seen as a part of the Democratic party.

[rucky]

6. Not a DLC...they are elites

This is people driven, and call it what you will, it is the essence of the Democratic party's vision: a big tent that looks out for everybody. If it means fine-tuning the message to eschew any types of partisan labels, then that's an even better thing.

The top brass at the DLC and the DNC are trying to court the big tent, and end up causing more division in the party. But, as you pointed out, MoveOn and True Majority are successful in achieving unity between Greens and Republicans - Wow! And the fact that they are generally associated with the left, still attract other ideologies, and still aren't demonized by the media (and their own) would translate into a big boost for the Party & a blow to the elitists.

I'm calling upon Democrats to look to these orgs for leadership precisely because of their inclusiveness. The DNC will still be the DNC & the DLC will exist as long as they have corporate cash. But they are not necessarily OUR leadership, however much they claim to be.

[Flying_Pig]

7. Exactly..

I joined MoveOn shortly after they organized. I met several of the founding members in Berkeley, and was thrilled to hear of their plans. If not for MoveOn, I may have, after over 35 years of loyalty, have left the Party, but they gave me hope that we could effect change, not just within our government, but also within the party itself.

Thus far, they've done fantastic work, and I fully agree, that once a nominee is chosen, MoveOn will be a very formidable force.

What I'm really looking forward to though, is what can be done AFTER the election, with a Dem president. I am working on a petition to MoveOn, asking them to get behind an effort to call on the new president to re-institute the "Fairness Doctrine" by executive order, soon after being sworn in. The re-institution of this law is essential to our democracy, and to insure we never again have another fascist purge.

And though it would not be wise to push BEFORE the election, I would also like to see MoveOn work for breaking up large media corporations (RICO anyone?), work for public financing of all elections, and meaningful reform of the campaign finance reform laws.

Anyway, good bunch. They help, during these negative times, give me hope for our democracy. I urge all to join and donate what they can to this organization.

[ShimokitaJer]

8. But can MoveOn, etc. survive as part of the Democratic party

Much of their appeal and the key to their success lies in the fact that they can avoid the partisan label. That will simply not be possible if it has closer ties to the Democratic party.

Are you advocating that MoveOn and the Dean movement actually replace the Democratic party? That's what it would take, I think. Otherwise, the distinction between party leadership and "our leadership" is meaningless.

I'd like MoveOn to stay right where it is, outside the reach of Democratic party politics.

[rucky]

15. It's Not An Either/Or Decision

I'm suggesting that WE as frustrated members of the Democratic Party (or whoever else) should be getting behind these movements because they're doing something that the party can't do. I say Democrats only because I am writing to Democrats. I'm not saying they should take over the party, and I don't think that would be wise or necessary.

I'm just saying that - as individuals - our collective energies are better spent hopping on a machine that works, rather than trying to fix a broken one. If you have a few bucks or a few hours of time to give to one organization, make it MoveOn. And everybody should go to a Dean Meetup, just to see how they WORK.

Democrats still need the DNC to handle delegates and other behind-the-scenes organizational stuff, but that doesn't mean we as party members can count on them to make any real change as the FACE of the opposition and continuing progressive causes. Leave the partisan politics to the party insiders, I'm sick of it, and I think most of us are. Moveon - as it is now - is the type of politics citizens want to be a part of. And if the DNC is smart, they'll echo these messages and they'll emulate the structure & strategies of these organizations to become their model. I'm not holding my breath for that, tho.

[rucky]

17. The Special Interest/Single-Issue Groups

Would greatly broaden their impact if they utilized MoveOn to push key issues. The system is already set up, we just have to use it to its potential.

[Bombtrack]

9. Dean's "movement" is largely intangable and anonymous

Same thing with the Meetup numbers. Thousands of unsubstantiated signups that are casual and or duplicates.

Basically they are overblown, particularly considering how many e-republicans probably decide to support them as well

The same thing can be said about Moveon and there "polls".

[ShimokitaJer]

10. I'm sure their money is all counterfeit too.

I can see why you'd choose to denigrate the accomplishments of these grassroots efforts. It requires so much more effort than simply letting those with money make the decisions.

Mock them if you like, but you can't argue with the results. If Edwards thinks like you do, it's no wonder he's not further ahead.

[Bombtrack]

11. right and republicans have money too

alot of it. It's undeniable that many republicans who want Bush reelected have sent Dean money, its just a question of how much.

[ShimokitaJer]

12. Are you honestly suggesting...

that Dean's fundraising success is the result of Republicans attempting to get a weak candidate chosen as the Democratic candidate?

[Bombtrack]

18. not exclusively

but partially, I believe alot of it is. I'll never know how much. But the GOP/corporate network is clearly getting better and better at what they do, and I don't doubt for a second that they are using every weapon in there arsonal to get Dean nominated.

I also know that enterprising republicans are sending him money at there own accord, acting independantly.

[Arugula Latte]

13. Dean's people vet for duplicates

Software these days can easily detect duplicates. I don't believe that repeats make up more than a blip on his list.

[Arugula Latte]

14. One other thing

Frankly, I think you've got some nerve denigrating Meet-up. You can't deny that friggin' TENS OF THOUSANDS of people get together every month to discuss concrete ways to take back the country (not just elect Dean). This is what we've been waiting for, a large movement of people who actually get off their asses and work to change the disastrous direction of this country. I think it is highly condescending to look down upon such an effort.

[rucky]

16. Just go to a meetup as an observer

the sentiment is real. I'm not saying you'll become a born-again Deaniac, but as a casual observer, you will be able to gague the level of sincerity much better than by just reading flameposts on DU. One hour. Drink beer. Meet people. Relatively painless.

[Ardee]

19. Move On and pass on

I have been a fan of Move On and do get their emails. I do take action on many of them. I must confess that their forum is atrocious however, riddled with freepers and white supremicists who distract from the posts of some pretty good folks.The software is antedeluvial in nature and it is a pity that such a good group maintains such a godawful forum.

As far as the Deanistas are concerned I believe them to be a good group, motivated by change for the better, good of heart and seriously misguided as to their opinion of Howard Dean.

[JohnGideon]

20. Agree Wirh Ardee

"At MoveOn, every member has a voice in choosing our shared direction. Using our ActionForum software, you can propose issue priorities and strategies. Others will see and respond to your suggestions, and the most strongly supported ideas will rise to the top. We adopt the issues that rise to the top as our campaign priorities, on a cyclical basis."

This statement is not true. Having been a regular poster on ActionForum for the past 4 months, I have never seen any of the issues discussed there taken up by MoveOn. Posters there complain about the software and nothing is done. It is hard to follow any discussion because they move to the back so quickly and there is no search capability.

MoveOn claims that they use those comments that get the highest votes as parts of their campaigns. Untrue! Voting Reform has 3 of the top 5 comments, 2 of them with over 200 votes; and it is being ignored by MoveOn.

MoveOn does an excellent job on their issues. The problem is that the issues are theirs and not of their membership. There is no contact information for them and if you use their [e-mail] email you only get an email back telling you to post to ActionForum.

I fully support MoveOn and what they do; but I do wish they were more responsive to the membership.