Party Hacks / Organizng within the Party

[Kevin Spidel]

As some of you may, or may not, know... Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) is using the state party system in a way to promote progressive activists. We have established over 34 state caucuses in under 4 months, and out of this put together a good pool of party hacks who know how to move within the state party structure and eventually help transform the party and begin nominating progressive DNC members.

We have started a google group to beign throwing around ideas. However with the summit coming up next week, we haven't used the google group much, and really just conference calls. We have built some nive manuals on how to grow yoru precint with a progressive message, to how to promote yourself within the party to have influence with your progressive agenda.

I am writing in hope to get some "fresh blood" to revive the yahoo group. If there are any party hacks with a progressive edge (health car for all, pro-peace/anti-war, pro-fair trade versus NAFTA/WTO, pro-election reform, etc) then please consider joining this group.

Here is the url: http://groups-beta.google.com/group/PDA-Organizing-Think-Tank/

if you have problems joining, please email me here at the DU email system.

Thank you!

[Kevin Spidel]

1. a bit of background and a sample of our work

A bit of background. PDA started as Progressive Vote. Progressive Vote
started as a ranting session at the national level in the Kucinich
campaign and some brainstorming that followed. During this time we
drafted a detailed document that was put out into the field in the
Kucinich campaign. But was never followed through and actually put into
implementation. It was simply a valuable resource that was buried. I
wanted to post a section of that document that was writen by a friend,
and fellow contributor to this group.


Here is some material out of the document that founded Progressive
Vote:


How to use the Progressive Vision to Influence the Democratic Party


YOU as a Kucitizen, can use Dennis' platform to become an elected
official.


The most powerful office in the world is NOT the President of the
United States! It's Precinct Committeeman. Why? It's (the PCs) who
choose whose names will appear on the ballot for elective office and
what will be the policies of the political parties that provide the
major support for candidates. -- From a Republican Website


What is a PC (Precinct Committee person) and why is it important? The
rules and responsibilities of a PC are:
1. ELECT District, County and State Party leaders who will best
represent and implement the philosophies and goals of the precinct
constituents.


2. EXPAND your political knowledge and activities.


3. ACTIVELY SUPPORT Party activities at the District and County Levels.


4. DEMONSTRATE a willingness to work toward Party unity and
accomplishing Republican Party long range goals.


5. ELECT a precinct Captain who is willing to donate time, energy and
leadership in the precinct.


6. CANVASS precinct periodically and keep track of changes in the
neighborhood, making sure all Democrats are registered to vote.


7. RECRUIT precinct volunteers. Assign specific blocks to them for
door-to-door and telephone work.


8. ATTEND precinct, district and county meeting.


9. CARRY nominating petitions; distribute election information and
candidate literature in your precinct.


10. PARTICIPATE in Get-Out-The-Vote and Election Day activities.


BIRTH OF A PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATIC ACTIVIST
Author: Ron Henry


Okay, so you are Mad as Hell and you don't want to take it anymore!
You are mad at everyone, even the Democratic Party because you believe
that your voice is not being heard. Well, one question! Why?


The Democratic Party is not just a large band of registered voters that
merely punch a ballot every election (or stay home, for that matter),
although that is the large picture.


The core of the Democratic Party is made up of a large group of
activists who are all, or have all begun as Precinct Committee Persons.
The National Democratic Party is broken down by State, County, and
District organizations. At each of these levels, there may be
subgroups, but all of them are fueled and organized by Precinct
Committee Persons (or Captains) a.k.a. "PC."


There are several ways that you can be heard within the Democratic
Party. One is by contributing vast, obscene amounts of money and
buying the respect and admiration of your peers. That can be a
wonderful thing in terms of having your voice heard (at least while you
are in fat city), but that only accounts for a very small percentage of
the US population.


Another way is to become an elected Democrat.


The easiest way is by becoming involved in the Party, which begins at
the local level, through the contribution of your time and volunteer
efforts. You can be heard, by becoming an active member of the
Democratic Party.


The goal of this chapter is to describe how to get involved, where to
start, how to behave, and to describe in general the inner workings of
the Democratic Party, which will help you to become more than just a
'registered Democrat', but the HEART AND SOUL of the Democratic
Party!


FROM ONLINE ACTIVIST TO GETTING ON THE STREETS


Blogs, Forums and Chat rooms can be a lot of fun and provide you with a
sense of being heard, but are you sure anyone is listening? So far,
the media at large has reported a great deal about the popularity of
these forums as a method for people to express themselves and their
opinions on issues, candidates, and more, but so far the reports have
been focused on the processes and the people sitting at home frustrated
with the world at large who have been crying out into the wilderness
hoping that someone might be listening, but being heard, truly takes
action beyond the keyboard. The beginning is your decision to become a
Precinct Committee Person.


So what the heck is a PC, and how do you become one?


A PC is either appointed or elected, within a local voting precinct.
This person assumes a leadership role within the voting precinct in
which they reside. There are several things that a PC does within
these voting precincts, and that will be explained later.


The first step is to be a REGISTERED DEMOCRAT! You cannot become a
Democratic Precinct Committee Person in your neighborhood if you are a
Green, Independent, PND (Party Not Declared) or a Republican, and I
must tell you people have tried.


Secondly, determine your voting precinct. You can usually find this on
your voter registration card, or you can find out by calling your
County Democratic Party to find out. (If your County does not have an
active Party Organization, you can call your State Party office, all 50
States have a State Organization).


Ask your County or State Party to tell you what District your voting
Precinct is in, and if there is an active District Party in your area
(this means regular Monthly meetings) and where, when and what time
these are being held. Also, ask them for the name of the District
Chair and a means to contact this person. The State Party may also
have a website that has a calendar with democratic events listed in
your area.


Mark your calendar and attend your first District meeting. Depending
on the level of activism in your area, these may be large meetings or a
very small group of individuals.
In some cases, there may not be an active District Democratic Party, in
which case, you may have some more work to do, but more on that later.


It will help you to feel comfortable attending your first meeting if
you have introduced yourself to the District Chair beforehand, and you
can have the District Chair introduce you. (Don't be shy here you
are among friends!) You may be asked to tell the group a little bit
about yourself (Take about 5 minutes or less, do not go on a political
rant, although in general you can say that you are there because Bush
sucks). Give them a brief rundown of who you are and let them know
which voting Precinct you live in, chances are there may be PCs at the
meeting from your precinct, who knows, it could be someone who lives
next door to you.


One thing to remember about District Democratic Meetings is that there
is generally a great deal of business that has to be attended to,
including appointing new PCs. It is important to respect that process
and to support it, it will be your friend. Democratic Meetings are run
using parliamentary procedures. The meeting Secretary will be taking
public minutes and recording motions, seconds and votes. These
meetings can be a bit dry at first, but the business is very important
to the local success of the Party. Once the District Chair concludes
the business of the meeting, there can be a bit of social fun and group
discussion, this just depends upon the dynamics of the District.


The population of each voting precinct determines the number of PCs
that can be appointed and elected. Sometimes, the number of PCs has
already been reached within a voting precinct and you may not be able
to be appointed. What can happen is that you are appointed an
"associate" PC; this would give you no status within the Party
except as an activist, and place you in the wings of becoming a PC.
This relates to PC appointments only. Regardless, attend your District
meetings. Behave. Be active.


Every two years, during the primary election cycle, PCs are elected.
To become more active within the Party on all levels, it is important
to become an elected PC. Your District Chair will notify and encourage
all PCs to become elected and will discuss the procedures to do so with
you well before the Primary election. This generally involves getting
a very small amount of petition signatures and filing with the
Secretary of State's office. Your name may be placed on the ballot
in your voting precinct, and people will actually vote for you. (This
feels really good, by the way). You may have a contest if more PCs are
running for this office than PC positions available, and if this is the
case, you may want to campaign a little among your neighbors over the
picket fence. In most cases, if your name appears on the ballot, you
will be elected a PC, as long as you remember to vote for yourself!


THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY PRECINCT PERSON


Okay, you are out there. Your name is in a book as a Democrat and an
Elected PC. Now what?


First of all, your mailbox will begin to fill up with a lot of requests
for money. If you can give money great! If you can give a ton of
money, go back and read the third paragraph. If you don't have a
great deal of money remember your passions, your family and yourself
and give what you can, but remember your TIME is a whole lot more
valuable than the dollar.


So what does the PC do? A PC is entitled to possess the voter file for
your voting Precinct. You are given this information to use as a tool
to organize politically, but you should know that there can be extreme
consequences to you should you misuse this file.
It is illegal to use the voter file to solicit business or to turn over
the voter file to someone who is not entitled to it and this may
include candidates. Be sure and discuss the legal responsibilities of
possessing the voter file with your District Chair.


A PC uses the voter file to identify and register voters. It will tell
you who in your neighborhood is a registered Republican, Democrat,
Socialist, etc.... It will also tell you who is not a registered
voter. The voter file will also let you know which voters have voted
in the last 4 elections. Take a moment to look at the Republicans in
your neighborhood and look at the diligence in which they go to the
polls. Now look at the Democrats and notice how often many stay home.
This is your ultimate mission, to get more Democrats to the polls than
Republicans.


A PC can work the precinct in many ways. Going door-to-door and
introducing yourself to your neighbors, by phone, host small coffees
(please be globally responsible in your choice of coffee), getting
involved at the school, a small letter, and by being a good neighbor.
Your neighbors will greatly appreciate you giving them a heads up about
an action that may affect them via your School Board, City Council,
County or State government. In some cases, you may lead an action to
prevent a toxic waste dump or even a Wal-Mart from locating within your
neighborhood by organizing locally.


Be sure and attend your District Meetings. Many times PCs will band
together to host precinct picnics or other events to draw out and
engage Democrats. (Always invite Democratic elected officials to these
functions, all the way up to your Governor, Senator and Congressman,
but only if they are Democrats!) Showing your neighborhood that the
Democratic Party is alive and well and in some cases even exists will
encourage registered Democrats to come out to the polls and even get
involved.


If you have ever wondered where candidates for office come from, you
will get to know these folks at your District Meetings. A PC will
often work to help elect Democrats during election cycles by helping
them collect petition signatures to qualify for the ballot, distribute
literature, phone bank, host meetings, etc... Support candidates that
you can get behind, and do what you feel comfortable doing (phone
banking really can be fun.... no, really....). As an elected PC, you
may even be recruited to run for office; after all, you have shown
already that you can win an election!


PCs, in short recruit Democrats and other PCs, and help to grow the
Party. Without PCs, the Party may not grow and Republicans will get
elected to office, the Country may actually go to hell...hmmm...


PCs are leaders within their communities. PCs will help with the local
food bank, PTAs, shelters, co-ops, whatever. Community leaders get
elected. Community leaders letters to the editor are read. Community
leaders are heard! (Beats the Blog).


SALES AND PERSUASION


A short word here about political persuasion. It is about being
yourself, but keeping in mind that your job is to persuade people. If
you ever "got clean for Gene", you know already that politics
equals persuasion. Always know your audience. Never sellout! Present
yourself in a manner that will make certain that the person you are
trying to communicate to will not write you off, or even refuse to take
you seriously. The first rule of salesmanship is not to speak, but to
listen. When you are attempting to persuade someone to join you, you
absolutely must find out what someone truly cares about. This comes
down to knowing your neighborhood and hearing what your neighbor has to
say. Is crime an issue? Education? Environment? Jobs? And the
second rule is once you close the deal (register them Democrat, etc.),
say thank you, welcome to the Party and then SHUT UP!


When you drop labels, and speak with folks one on one, most of the time
you will find a great deal of common ground, particularly on
progressive social issues. One can find common ground anywhere, in
fact, during the 2004 democratic Primary election, Pat Buchanan
actually said that Dennis Kucinich was the only Democrat that had
things right on trade issues! How many of you reading are now appalled
that you actually agreed with Pat Buchanan on a political issue!


In fact, talk to any Democrat, even moderates ones on the ten key
issues that make up the "Progressive Vision" and you will find them
in agreement with the majority of these statements. If you call this
platform a "Democratic Vision" you will find these beliefs are the
core of the Democratic Party.


THE DISTRICT


The District is an organization made up of a group of PCs and
registered Democrats that may attend meetings. All registered
Democrats have a voice and a vote at the District level. The District
is a Political Organization that must file campaign finance reports on
schedule with the Secretary of States Office and is a legal entity.
There is a District Chair, who runs the meetings and coordinates the
efforts of the District who will also attend County and State functions
and report back and/or communicate from the District to the State and
County Party. There are Vice Chairs, the numbers of which are
determined by the size of the District who are there to assist the
District Chair. The District has a Treasurer who files finance
reports, reports to the District and is involved with all fundraising
activities. There is also a Secretary who is charged with recording
the District Meeting Minutes. These folks will run the District
meetings and hopefully keep the District running smoothly. These
positions are elected via appointed and elected PCs that make up each
District.


THE STATE COMMITTEE PERSON


The amount of PCs that a District has determines the number of State
Committee People that can be appointed within the District. Becoming a
State Committee Person is an honor, and carries with it a
responsibility to be involved within the Party at the State level,
preferably in person at State Committee Meetings (which will require
travel on some weekends within your State), or at least by assigning
your proxy to a State Committee Person who will attend the State
Meetings.


If you want your voice heard, work to become a State Committee Person!
But beware, this is an important commitment to your State Party and
indeed, State action can only take place with a quorum at the State
Committee meeting. The quickest way to not remain a State Committee
person is to fail to sign over a proxy, or attend the meetings.
By rule, in order to address the State Party, make a Motion, or comment
at the State Meetings, you must be a recognized State Committee Person.


Traditionally, but not always, the District board members are State
Committee people, along with those who have demonstrated a commitment
to the Party and a level of activism that garners respect from your
peers. Remember that your District membership trusts you to represent
them well at the State level, but that your voice is your own.


STATE COMMITTEES


Within every State Party, you will find many working committees, all of
which are very important, but there is one that drives the heart and
soul of the Party at the State and National level. This committee is
the platform committee, which will meet during State Committee meetings
for comments from committee members. They will also meet privately to
hammer out the State platform based upon comment. Each State takes
their Party platform to the National Convention, which will take each
States platform and weave it into a National Democratic Party Platform
based upon the votes of delegates to the convention.


Another quick note here, if you have contacted your State Party and you
have found that there is no active District Party in your area...wow do
you have an opportunity! Start it! Hopefully, you have a few friends
who are registered Democrats that may join with you to help start the
organization. If not, the State Party will help you find folks who are
Democrats in your area, who may be involved with other Democratic
organizations. Once you get off the ground, become an elected PC at
your first opportunity and then you will surely be able to represent
your new district at the State and County level.


THE COUNTY PARTY


The County Party operates as an entity within the State Party that
oversees the activities of all Districts within that County. It is
also a formal organization that is set up and operates in much the same
way as the Districts. All Democratic entities are formed with the goal
to elect Democrats to office. A part of this responsibility involves
fielding and recruiting candidates, registering voters, and working
coordinated campaigns. Counties may also assist Districts in the
training and recruitment of PCs, fundraising, speakers' bureaus,
access to elected officials, etc...


GREATER WORKS


Respect within the Party comes by winning elections for Democrats.
Growing the Progressive voice within the Party comes by winning
elections for Democrats. Winning elections for Progressive Democratic
Candidates begins at the local level through Party activism within the
Districts, especially by fielding and recruiting Progressive Democratic
candidates in the first place.


During election cycles, the trend among State Democratic Parties is to
focus on competitive districts and commit party resources (money and
volunteers) to win these battleground races. Democratic candidates who
have been successful in defeating Republicans in these races have
tended to be more moderate, and there has certainly been resentment
among the heart and soul of the Democratic Party that these resources
have focused upon these races.


While it is very important, on the grand scale to affect Democratic
State Senate majorities via this strategy, the funding and volunteer
efforts of the party have largely been absent from those Districts that
are either Republican or Democratic dominated.


The opportunity for progressive victories within State Democratic
Parties is certainly in the heavy Democratic districts. There are also
opportunities for progressive victories within the competitive
Democratic districts, especially if candidates have a record of service
to their communities and the Democratic Party. Of course, a Democrat
can also win in a dominant Republican district if the Republican
candidate drops dead, but not easily.


State, County and District Democratic Parties are ultimately judged on
their abilities to elect Democratic candidates. The foundation for
Democratic victories depends upon local Democratic activists to get out
the vote, organize, register Democratic voters, field candidates,
influence the Party, fundraise, collect signatures and be active and
involved community citizens.


More American Patriots are born from action, not words.


About the author: Ron Henry is an elected PC, Garden Lakes Precinct in
Avondale, AZ. He is also a State Committee member in the Arizona
Democratic Party, Treasurer of the District 12 Democrats, and a
volunteer for many political campaigns, some successful, some not so
successful (including his own) for Arizona State House in 2002.