DNC half year report from Howard Dean

[paineinthearse]

By email from DNC. Pardon if already posted.

It has been one half year since Howard Dean was elected chair of the DNC. Here is his report

HOWARD DEAN: KEEPING HIS PROMISE TO BUILD THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY FROM THE GRASSROOTS UP

AUGUST 14, 2005

After Governor Howard Dean became chairman on February 12, 2005, he hit the road immediately traveling to red states and blue states, reaching out to the state parties, engaging the grassroots and reaching out to activists and community leaders in the effort to rebuild the Democratic Party. Dean has also been aggressive in speaking out about what Democrats stand for and the core values we hold dear and share as Americans. Democrats believe that politicians are elected to do the peoples' business, to help ensure that if you are willing to work hard and play by the rules, you should have access to the tools and opportunities to make a better life for yourself and your family.

TRAVEL TO RED AND BLUE STATES

Howard Dean's coast-to-coast travel highlights the Democratic Party's commitment to working hard for every vote, refusing to take any vote for granted and competing in every race up-and-down the ballot across America. He already has visited 33 states and territories to talk about Democratic values and raise money for state parties, including: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and Washington.

PARTNERING WITH STATE PARTIES

Dean has committed to investing 3.5 million dollars to strengthen 25 state Democratic Parties. Fifteen of those 25 parties have already used the DNC investments to add talented, experienced, diverse political professionals to their payroll. The investment is part of a broader effort to make the Democratic Party competitive in all 50 states and territories. Representatives from the DNC are traveling to each state and working with them in partnership with state party officials to determine what resources are needed. To date, these teams have met with 47 state parties. By the end of the year, all 50 state parties will have staff in place. This effort represents an unprecedented commitment by the DNC to our party's grassroots infrastructure in an off-year. Additionally, Dean is building on the commitment made to Virginia, New York and New Jersey to help Democrats in their 2005 campaigns. The DNC has already contributed $2.5 million to Virginia and will be delivering another $2.5 million this year. New York already has $250,000 from the DNC.

FUNDRAISING

Building upon the success and long-term investment of former DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe, the DNC raised $28.5 million in the first six months of 2005, a 50% increase over the first six months of 2003. There have been 600,000 contributions since the beginning of the year. In June, Chairman Dean kicked off the "Democracy Bonds" initiative, which is a commitment to make a monthly donation to the Democratic Party. Within the first 24 hours of announcing the Democracy Bond initiative, over 15,000 people have invested in the Democracy Bond program (2-3 people/minute are signing up). Building a community of small donors giving monthly is the key to funding the 50-state strategy. By attending fundraisers, Gov. Dean has helped raise almost $1 million ($955,000) for seven state parties.

DNC STAFF

When he ran for Chair, Dean said that he was committed to having a strong, diverse team at the DNC at every level. This was not a shallow campaign promise - as is evidenced by the people whom Dean has hired at the DNC. And it is not window dressing - but is, instead, grounded in Governor Dean's belief that we as a party and a country derive energy from our diversity, are stronger not weaker because of it and profit from the diverse voices and experiences that will help develop our party's polices and shape our party's goals. Dean has put together a strong, diverse team from various backgrounds to help carry out the party's mission. Members of the senior staff have worked in a variety of political environments - from local campaigns to presidential races. Within the first month, he established a Budget and Finance Committee made up of DNC members from around the country. He has also established The National Lawyers Council, a new addition to the DNC. The Council will provide an ongoing organization of volunteer lawyers and law students who will work with the party at the national, state and local levels on a broad range of issues, including protecting America's right to vote and have it properly counted.

OUTREACH

As Governor Dean travels, he is meeting with Democrats, activists and community leaders of all stripes - including elected officials, religious leaders, womens' groups, young people, minority groups, labor leaders and grassroots activists. The DNC is taking a new approach to working with our Democratic family - creating a new paradigm, suggesting a new partnership. Simply put, Dean believes it is the responsibility of every staff person at every level to be cognizant of issues ffecting particular communities, to be engaged in reaching out to those communities and to be part of the DNC's comprehensive approach to ensuring that every voter is treated like a swing voter: respected, heard and courted for his/her vote - starting now, not weeks before an election. The DNC's aggressive outreach strategy means that no voter or vote will be taken for granted. Groups formerly called "base voters" will be treated as swing voters -Democrats know we have to earn every vote. Governor Dean has a strong working relationship with the congressional leadership including Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Senate Chuck Schumer and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Rep. Rahm Emanuel. Governor Dean and the DNC staff are meeting regularly with members of Congress and the leadership of the House and Senate to ensure a uniform message - he has already met with several Congressional Democratic caucuses and will continue to do so until he has met with all of them.

[wli]

1. more Dean, less DLC! n/t

[Blue Dawg]

2. Agree, but...

...I think you miss the point, Dean's been rejecting the idea of the Democratic party as a narrow sect (as some on the left and right would like) and embracing the idea of it as a broad collation from Bob Casey and Evan Bayh to Barbra Boxer and Barack Obama all united behind a progressive consensus and a commitment to social justice.

Maybe I’m being premature, and I realise that some on the left and some DLC purist on the right will disagree, but I think the party feels far broader and more accepting than it once did and at the same time more at ease with itself.

In addition, the party is active across the country and the activist base is really growing, attracting Moderates, Liberals, Populist as well as folks who just wanta to work hard and do good for their local areas, states and their country.

Most of this is Dean and Schumer’s work IMHO.