DFA and local Dem party activities

[cally]

This post IS NOT ANTI-DEAN. I want DFA to succeed and support Dean in his efforts. I don't mean this as flamebait.


I've been asked to attend DFA meetings several times. Many folks I respect and care for are in the local DFA. I want to join in and participate because I think the DFA offers an opportunity to push the Dem party into more progressive positions and encourage grassroots organization. I didn't go yet because the meeting times didn't work out or to be more honest I was taking a break from politics.

This weekend local Dems met to choose our delegates to the State Party (CA). I got many emails from folks running asking me to attend. The DFA offered a slate and pushed voting only for DFA members. Yet I knew several others had attended DFA meetings after the primary. They were not included on the slate. Only Dean supporters in the primary were included on the slate. Basically, the local DFA only supported candidates that had backed Dean.

Most of us know the antagonism that occured during the primary. I'm ready for it to be gone and get together again. The local DFA's actions just seem to perpetuate a fight.

I was one of the folks who counted the votes. About half the folks voted for the slate. Another half picked various candidates. We ended up picking half slate candidates and half others. Interestingly, several just stood up and got support. Not for their local activities, but because of outside work.

So my question is.......Is the DFA only for Dean supporters? If not, what has your local DFA done to mend the bridges caused by the primary?

[janx]

1. DFA exists to support a certain kind of candidate:

From the DFA website:

http://www.democracyforamerica.com

Inspired by the presidential campaign of Howard Dean, Democracy for America (DFA) is a political action committee dedicated to supporting fiscally responsible, socially progressive candidates at all levels of government—from school board to the presidency. DFA fights against the influence of the far right-wing and their radical, divisive policies and the selfish special interests that for too long have dominated our politics.

DFA favors fiscally responsible, socially progressive (or what I often call SANE) candidates.

[cally]

2. Then why only candidates who supported Dean in the primary?

If a local DFA is selecting only Dean activists in the primary, is the national organization taking a stand?

If not, then I think the organization will die. The organization has lost a tremendous opportunity to be the voice for grassroots Dem activists.

[janx]

3. Because those candidates are probably very similar

in terms of ideology. Remember, DFA has only existed since last May.

But any candidate can apply for support from DFA, whether s/he supported Dean previously or not.

[cally]

4. I know you are wrong on my local level

This had nothing about idealogy but about continuiing the former Dean organization. I was hoping someone would tell me it was different in their local organization. In my area, others did apply but only Dean supporters were endorsed. If it's the same everywhere, then the DFA is not what I hoped it would be. I doubt Gov. Dean wanted this.

[NYCGirl]

5. It is somewhat different in my chapter, we'll hold a vote among

the membership to decide who gets the DFNY endorsement for Mayor.

[cally]

6. Will a non-Dean supporter in the primary

be considered?

[NYCGirl]

7. Absolutely. They're invited to speak to the membership next month. NT

[Eloriel]

8. Cally

You're asking the wrong people. None of us here have any answers to your questions.

I don't mind your bitchin' and moanin' and your observations and concerns MIGHT even be valid for all I know.

But IMO phrasing it as innocent questions in the way you have (to which no one has the answers and surely you know that) along with the EXCPECTATION that the national DFA should take a stand on something like this is offensive to me. It's illogical (DFA is not nor I hope ever will be that "organized," heirarchical and regimented), irrelevent therefore, and as I already said, the WRONG DAMN FORUM. Your "problem" is with your local DFA -- take the fight (or question or complaint) to them.

Edited to add: And while I'm at it, I might as well tell you how off-key I find this little bon mot: what has your local DFA done to mend the bridges caused by the primary? I personally don't think it's DFA's responsibility to go around mending bridges (to use your mixed metaphor) that DFA didn't break to start with. What, exactly, is it YOU think DFA is responsible for doing in this area, other than accepting and promoting YOUR candidates of course?

[greenohio]

9. Thats sad.

I wonder when the 2004 primary will end.

[madfloridian]

10. What you mention is not unusual for state parties, is it?

For groups to get together and try to get someone they like into the picture? The only difference is now it is DFA doing it, and if it was not wrong before, it should not be wrong now.

The DLC took over our party here stealthily, but we are being open about taking it back from them. Not ugly, just open. The guy who was quoted in the New Republic a few years ago from our city, was just ousted. He said if we did not like the DLC, he would stick it to us anyway....and no one really knew.

He even got the local leader kicked out because she did not realize what he was up to and went along thinking it was ok.

So what the DLC did to our party here, the DFA is taking away. No one said it would be fun.

On Edit, I just reread your post. I think I misunderstood part of it. We are still all Dean supporters, with just a few new folks coming in and lots of older supporters coming back now....so I had not experienced that problem.

[zulchzulu]

11. No, the DFA is not just for Dean supporters...but...

...there are some that I've talked to that I avoid like the plague due to what reminds me of people I knew in the past who only listened to the Dead and thought Jerry was God and refused to listen to my Thelonious Monk CDs..even if I tempted them with some groovy skunkweed.

DFA is still getting its legs to work. Give it time and give the effort your time.