Do we, the Democrats, have any say in the DNC chair?

[blondeatlast]

I've looked at the known candidates pretty closely but will keep my opinions to myself for now.

I just want to know if I, as a lifelong Dem, have a say?

Thanks.

Edited: First post sounded too confrontational, which was not my intent.

[ibegurpard]

1. Find out the people in your area who are designated

Hassle THEM. If you don't like the way they're voting then you'll have to organize people and organizations to replace them.
Other than that, no, you have no say.

[genius]

16. The votes will be open and those who vote "wrong" will be punished

Those who elect DNC members are afraid of retaliation unless they vote the "right" way. The DNC members are afraid of the same thing. They have to sign their votes and anyone can later look at how they voted. I've heard of people losing business because of how they voted.

[Mabus]

2. As I understand it

your precinct committee people talk to your County Chair, who in turn, talks to the district people, who in turn to the state people who are supposed to talk to the DNC (directly on some level).

I would prefer to copy my voter registration card and write my preference and mail it to the DNC. You know, a direct election by the party members.

on edit: Oh yeah, at some point you're supposed to be talking to your precinct committee people. Good luck with that.

[scarletwoman]

5. Your state's DNC members were elected by the delegates to your state's

Democratic convention, who were themselves elected at the precinct and county levels -- at least this is how it works in my own state.

sw

[Mabus]

15. Nah.

I was a delegate. I was elected at the precinct level than again at the congressional district level.

The DNC members were choosen by vote by the County officers at the State Democratic meeting earlier this year. I went but I didn't get to vote.

[scarletwoman]

17. Oh dear... I guess we're really lucky in Minnesota.

The DFL (Democratic-Farmer-Labor party) is set up in a way that really encourages and facilitates grassroots participation.

I'm sorry to hear that it's different in your state. :-(

sw

[Mabus]

21. Yeah, great thing about democracy

it seems to vary from state to state.

[scarletwoman]

3. Here's a good source of information:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/11/11/203150/32

There are 440 DNC members who are the ones who do the actual voting for a chair. Most of these were elected at their respective states' Democratic conventions.

For example, I was a delegate to Minnesota's state DFL (Democratic-Farmer-Labor party, the MN Democratic party) convention in May, and that is where the DNC members from Minnesota were elected. The Minnesota group also includes the state DFL chair, who is automatically a DNC member and was not subject to the state convention election.

My advice to those who would like to have a say in who is elected the DNC chair is to start writing to the DNC members from your own state (the list is at the link I posted). The more people you can recruit from your state to write to your state's DNC members, the better, obviously.

If you were a delegate to your state's Democratic convention, be sure to mention that fact -- since it was due to YOUR vote that these people were sent to represent your state in the DNC. In any case, the more intensive the lobbying from the grassroots Democrats, the more chance there might be of influencing how they vote.

The vote will take place at a national DNC meeting sometime in February, so there's time yet to make our voices heard.

sw

[saracat]

4. Exactly right.

[scarletwoman]

6. Thanks!

:-)

[MaineDem]

9. That list is outdated

It's a great start, though.

I suggest checking out a state's party web site. They usually list the DNC members. The Chair and Vice Chair are also members, even though they probably won't be listed as such.

Thanks for the Kos link.

[scarletwoman]

11. Thanks for the heads up.

I only know the names from my own state, of course, and they appear to be the ones that I remember being elected at our state convention -- 3 of whom I have gotten to know personally over the last couple years of being active in my state party. They WILL be hearing from me!

sw

[blondeatlast]

10. Thank you, excellent info.

I haven't been visiting Kos as much as I should lately.

[scarletwoman]

12. You're welcome! I hope it's helpful to you.

Thank goodness for Kos! :loveya:

sw

[KoKo]

7. No....unless you are a "Lobbyist" or could afford to give over a thousand

and even if you could afford $1,500...you aren't worth it to them. You need to be a Drug or Insurance Lobbyist to get their ear.

How else would Vilsak and Harry Reid still be out there? How else?

I really try hard to defend our Party as it is today. I'm down to no reason...I wish I could find something.

[lessthanjake]

8. I say Dennis Kucinich!

!

[catbert836]

13. AS far as I know, no.

The f*cking DLC is going to have their say yet again.

[scarletwoman]

14. Doesn't mean we shouldn't at least TRY to make a difference, does it?

Just my humble opinion -- but I hate to declare a war lost without at least showing up for a battle...

sw

[blondeatlast]

18. I'm up for the battle, indeed.

The DLC is a relic and the sooner the DNC realizes this, the better off we will all be.

[ken-in-seattle]

19. It varies from state to state, but...

The key to having a say in the DNc chair starts at the local level.
GO to your local meeting at the district level. Some states have precincts so large their are precinct meetings...

Here in WA you go to a LD meeting. google the name of your district and see if ther is a web page or an online newsletter. It should have info on where the local meeting is. DEC is the date for reorganization at the district level. All officers terms end (it is a two year twrm) and new ones run for election. Depending on your bylaws, the offices are voted on by PCO's or party members.
YOu can be appointed to an acting PCO of the district you live in if there is no elected or acting one in it already. Dues for members are basicly set by each district. My district has several levels at different dues levels but each only has one vote. (well heeled pay 100 to 500 to be listed as sponsors in the newsletter in fine print. Seniors and low income pay 3.00 in dues and if you don't have that some one will pull it out of their pocket change for ya.)

Get involved if you wnat to have a voice in the whole chain. Most districts, even in major blue states have open slots on committees and boards and hundreds of precincts with no PCO.

[zulchzulu]

20. I think the chair should be comfortable and USA made

[Orangepeel]

22. directly, no. indirectly, yes

Ironically, the official Democratic party is run like a republic.

Members of the DNC vote for the chair. Members of the DNC are elected. How they are elected varies from state to state.

In Florida, members of the DNC include certain automatic members (e.g., federally elected Democrats, the State Party Chair) and people elected to represent Florida by State Committeemen and State Committeewomen.

State Committeemen and women are also elected. There is one of each representing each county in the state. At the state level, they have weighted votes depending on a complex formula determined by population of the county and the percentage of the population voting Democratic in the last presidential election.

State Committeemen and women are elected by precinct men and women in each county. New ones need to be elected in early December. The precinct men and women (one from each precinct, unless there are more than 1000 registered dems in the precinct and then there are two of each) were elected during the Democratic primary on Sept. 30.

So, you had a chance to pick your precinct man and woman in the primary. You even could have run to be one yourself. They have a chance to pick their state committeeman and woman in December. These people then have a chance to pick the DNC members who will pick the DNC chair.