REVISION PLEASE READ: Al Gore Support Center Group Endorses Donnie Fowler

[Jackson4Gore]

Fellow Democrats, yesterday I posted the same announcement on here telling you our group/website, the Al Gore Support Center, is endorsing Donnie Fowler for DNC. Although there was no intention of making people think Al Gore himself was somehow involved in the endorsement, a few people got that belief. That is why I am re-posting this to set the record straight via our disclaimer. I hope that this straightens things out because my true intentions were not to be coy or deceptive. Please accept my apologies.

Note: The Al Gore Support Center is a grassroots ran website that is dedicated to serving Al Gore by posting up to date news and info, providing interactive services, and having helpful material that is useful in defending Gore from the right wing and the media. The Al Gore Support Center's main goal is preserving and promoting the Gore vision for years to come in America. In an effort to do so, the Al Gore Support may endorse certain candidates for positions, draft petitions, as well use other methods as we see fit in order to try to preserve and promote Mr. Gore's vision for America. Let it be known that the Al Gore Support Center's endorsements, official releases, or any other idea or opinion expressed by our website, is not endorsed by Al Gore. Our group bears Mr. Gore's name because we are dedicated to him, believe in what he stands for and are proud of him. Let our name, "The Al Gore Support Center", have no bearing either way on the basis of Al Gore's opinion. The opinions expressed by our website are that of our staff and members, who also have no official endorsement or affiliation with Al Gore.

Again, please note:

The Al Gore Support Center is in no way endorsed or affiliated with the Honorable Al Gore.

The views and comments on this site are in no way reflective of that of the Honorable Al Gore.
==================================================================
Revised: The Al Gore Support Center Endorses Donnie Fowler For DNC Chair

December 26th, 2004 -- The Al Gore Support Center, a pro Gore organization established in 2002, officially announces its backing of Donnie Fowler for DNC Chair via this letter. Please note that this letter was initially sent to the members of the Al Gore Support Center and addresses their concerns as well.

Dear members,

I hope that each and every one of you had a very Merry Christmas! As you know, we are approaching the beginning of a new year. In the upcoming year we have a lot of work to do and we are going to need your help! Our first goal of the new year will be to take back our party and rebuild it without conceding anything to anyone. It is time we start to take charge our what is ours. It must start with us! As you have heard Al Gore say before, all political victories start at the grassroots level. Therefore, today the Al Gore Support Center officially endorses Donnie Fowler for DNC Chair.

Throughout his career, Donnie Fowler has achieved a leading role in political and high technology circles through his work in Silicon Valley and at the Federal Communications Commission, service in the Clinton White House, and work on six presidential campaigns. He has advised dozens of companies, policymakers, public advocacy groups, and political campaigns on how to manage their media, policy, business development, & technology agendas.

I have studied politics for a while now and I have yet to find anyone as young as Donnie with so much political experience. It is simply quite amazing! Only in his mid-thirties, he has been involved in the following campaigns:

Six Presidential Campaigns / Four Presidential Cycles
o Gephardt '87-'88, Jackson '88, Clinton/Gore '96, Gore/Lieberman '00 (National Field Director), Wesley Clark '03 (Campaign Manager), and Kerry/Edwards '04 (Michigan State Director)

Political and Campaign Work in Fourteen States on the Ground
o S.Carolina, Iowa, New Hampshire, Connecticut, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Wyoming, California, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Virginia

You might be wondering, what is Donnie’s view on Former Vice President Al Gore? Well, I personally asked Donnie that and I found out that he loves the big guy just about as much as we do. In 2001, 2002, and 2003 Donnie spent his summers teaching at Mr. Gore’s Summer Academy in Nashville, which is a political effort to get young people involved in grassroots politics, for no pay. Before that Donnie served as Gore’s National Field Director in the 2000 election. I can say without hesitation that Donnie Fowler would not only give Mr. Gore the respect he commands, but the admiration he deserves.

Aside from having a vast record of political involvement and a fondness of Al Gore, Donnie also is worthy of you support because he has a real plan and vision for our party. Like you and I, he does not want to concede anything to the Republicans. Like you and I, he is tired of our party being falsely labeled, and like you and I, he is tired of our party not standing firm on what our party was founded on. If Donnie is elected DNC Chair in February, you can rest assure our party will be stronger and more unified than ever!

I hope that you will join me in early 2005 to help make Donnie Fowler our new chair, thus putting our party back on track for victories for years to come!

=====================================================================

So, are you ready to help elect Donnie the new DNC Chair?

In order to spread the word about Donnie and his vision for our party, please do the following:

* Write a letter to several DNC members about his agenda for change
* Go to a political blogs and forums and say some good things about Donnie

www.dailyKos.com
www.bloggingofthepresident.com
www.MyDD.com
www.reachm.com/amstreet
www.democraticunderground.com
www.democrats.org

* Make a contribution to his effort (http://changetheparty.com)
* Vote for him online at http://standupdemocrats.org/ and at any other online poll
* Tell others to watch Donnie on television and listen to him on the radio
* Talk to any DNC members you know and try to persuade them to vote Donnie!

=====================================================================

We sincerely hope that you will help us on this very important endeavor. As you know, every election affects us and how we live. If we act now, we may just get what we have been wanting in 2008!

To visit Donnie's official website, please go to: http://www.changetheparty.com

Thank you and have a great new year!

Chris D. Jackson
Al Gore Support Center Administrator

[JNelson6563]

1. I'll give you another opportunity

to tell me why you support Fowler for DNC chair in light of the incredibly poor job he did with the Coordinated Campaign in MI.

He couldn't properly manage a major election in one state, what makes you think he is the man to lead a 50 state effort on the Dem's behalf?

Thanks in advance for your answer--

Julie

[Jackson4Gore]

2. Thanks

I would argue that Donnie didn't do a bad job in Michigan, we won there. Bush poured huge amounts of money and time there and we still won. I think it is worth pointing out that MI's Governor, Jennifer Granholm, who is very popular, also worked on Kerry's campaign there. If you can actually point out how Donnie somehow failed there, maybe I can reply. But, really, we won there, so I wouldn't call that a failure. Maybe you should turn your anger towards people in Florida or Ohio who ran Kerry's campaign. But simply, I honestly don't see winning as a failure.

[Jackson4Gore]

3. Also

Here is some insight from folks who worked with him in MI and some facts:

"I worked on the Kerry campaign in Michigan, and I can tell you that what you see and hear from Donnie Fowler now is what you heard and saw from him in Michigan.

The man is nobody's plant. He ran Michigan as a grass roots effort, held on to white blue collar voters and achieved the second highest increase in African American voters in the country.

Donnie Fowler is definitely for real."

Facts:

Fowler carried Michigan for Kerry with 300,000 more votes than Al Gore in 2000 and 900,000 more than Gov. Granholm in 2002. Under Donnie Fowler Fowler, Michigan had the second largest increase in African American voters in the country AND he convinced three-quarters of “Reagan Democrat” union members to vote Democratic!

[JNelson6563]

4. I can assure you MI didn't go blue cause of Fowler

and wouldn't it be grand if he could be judged only on that? ;-)

I was involved heavily and I can tell you that the improvements on the ground were not due to Coordinated Campaign, it was in spite of CC. They took it upon themselves to call the shots for local concerns to the local parties. That was irritating enough but there was also lots of promised monies that weren't delivered without much time elapsing and then many calls made. In fact, nothing was forthcoming unti threats were issued to go directly to the MDP chair. Then HOO-BOY did we see some action! Many of the folks we dealt with were pretty arrogant, many clueless. There was no organization and the staffing was really terrible! A large pecentage were very young, they had no idea.

If it had been a business it would have failed.

As for your triumphant claims that we "won" MI, for your information many of us worked long and hard before Fowler ever set foot in MI. Building memberhsip, raising money and all the other grunt work this most recent crop of transients known among us as "UNCoordinated" swooped in & exploited to the -inth degree. They pissed off and alienated volunteers, they sucked up major resources and were utterly useless at "helping" to coordinate events.

Here's an example for you. Elizabeth Edwards came to town. I met with the advance team cause my Co. Chair is out of town. I was at my second meeting with AT and our CC contact calls and is breathlessly telling me that E. Edwards is coming to town so expect a call. Yeah, thanks I'm with them now, for the second time. So I spend a whole week of my life, 12 or so hours a day, setting up this event. I am a volunteer BTW. Not a soul from CC shows up or does any heavy lifting. All the "local" CC person does is finagle his entire in-law family into the event, otherwise, MIA. So, all this work is done, my family is very upset they haven't seen me for days, the big event comes and who shows up? Why it's the CC people just in time for lights! Camera! Action!! Thanks for nothing.

But wait there's more. In case you were going to take the "sounds like the trouble was localized and you just had bad luck with CC" defense, I must warn you I am connected throughout the state. I can tell you of at least 3 County parties who kicked their CC person out. Right out of the Dem HQ!! That's how bad it was! We were tempted many times, even threatened to when having trouble collecting our promised monies.....they were lucky we didn't.

We didn't get any swag until a couple of days before election day and, at the state convention in Aug. we were granted 70 lawn signs by the state. Wow! Thanks! Of course fortunately we operate very independently and have healthy coffers. We went through 7,000 lawn signs. We paid for the bulk of them. 1,500 from UAW, 70 from CC and the rest we bought. We paid about $2 each and were giving them to neighboring counties who were depending (and disappointed) on the CC to help them. We'd give 'em signs for only $1 donation each. How come my little county party was able to be of more help to these others than the state org. designed to do it????

Yeah, Fowler really did a great job. Ugh. I never saw such a lack of organization and leadership in all my life and you would tell all these good people here at DU that Fowler is the man to lead our party on a national level???? Shame on you.

Julie

[Jackson4Gore]

5. You can't argue with these facts

Fowler carried Michigan for Kerry with 300,000 more votes than Al Gore in 2000 and 900,000 more than Gov. Granholm in 2002. Under Donnie Fowler Fowler, Michigan had the second largest increase in African American voters in the country AND he convinced three-quarters of “Reagan Democrat” union members to vote Democratic!

You can say you or someone else did it, but the fact is Donnie was the field director.

[Jackson4Gore]

6. Please watch this great interveiw

rtsp://video.c-span.org/project/c04/c04_wj121104_fowler.rm

Thanks!

Also, I respect each and every one of your opinions!

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Jackson4Gore]

11. Let me assure you that no one is demeaning your work

But your attitude towards Mr. Fowler is clearly out of line. He was the field director, hired by the Kerry camp, and won the state at that position. I think that deserves some acclaim, you don't. That is fine. However, I am quite sure that a majority people would differ with you.

[Capn Sunshine]

23. Good thing he stayed out of the way

It was the precinct captains that madeit happen in Michigan. I know, I spoke to many. They were all peeved at his abibility to disappear when it was time for the heavy lifting. His skill at not answering phone calls and ignoring state directives was only exceeded by his dismissal of anyone from the National Party Organization that he didn't feel could get him inside.

Why you are carrying his water is a mystery to everyone on the West Coast.

[Tinoire]

33. Ouch. This is all worse than I thought after my research!

Hearing these things from fellow DUers I know and trust is even worse than reading it on other activist blogs!

[unblock]

12. thank you for the clarification

[Jackson4Gore]

13. Your welcome

I didn't want to make this look like it came from Al, but some got that idea. I love the big guy and wouldn't want to do anything like that! We are just doing some grassroots work that we feel is the right thing to do. Our job is to help preserve the idea of America Al had and we think Donnie can help us do that.

Again, I appreciate your thanks!

[Zensea]

21. I'll take you at your word, however

If someone thought this was Al Gore endorsing Fowler at first, no one should be surprised if they had gotten a little confused.
It seems to me that there is some slight (or a little bit more than slight) dissembling occurring here.
I would really have to wonder if Al Gore would be pleased to know that the "Al Gore Support Center" is making an endorsement of a particular individual.
I work in the support staff at a law firm (proofreading). I would be willing to bet good money that if I started a website called the "**** LLP Support Staff" and endorsed any candidate, even for dogcatcher, I'd be in a lot of trouble really fast, even if every member of the staff wanted that person to be dogcatcher.
So I have a question for you. Does Al Gore know you are using his name this way? If he doesn't I think it is requisite that you personally let him know.
It would also be the honorable thing to do.
I hope you alredy have.

edit -- I think I'll add after reading this disclaimer a little more carefully, that I don't see anywhere in it that it says Al Gore knows about this. Just to be incredibly legalistic, the fact that Al Gore does not endorse it, does not in any way indicate that he knows about it. Does he?
Perhaps you have answered this elsewhere that I haven't seen. I'm not going to pretend that I've read the other threads on this.
If i'm just going off half-cocked, my apologies.

[Jackson4Gore]

24. Al Gore knows about our site and our support of him

He knows personally that I run the site and just last month he told me that it meant the world to him what we are doing in support of him.

However, just because of our title including his name, doesn't mean he endorses every move we make. He has not said either way on who he wants to be DNC chair. However, our group has said who we support and that it has no bearing on him in any way.

Just like the Democratic Underground doesn't speak for the democratic party on every issue.

[Zensea]

25. Thanks for your quick response

I just thought it was important to voice my concern.

[Jackson4Gore]

26. No problem

As I said, Mr. Gore does know of our site and appreciates our support very much. But as our disclaimer says, the views and opinions expressed by our group may not be the same as Al Gore's and are not endorsed by him.

[Zensea]

27. You know, I've been around a lot of lawyers

Your way of phrasing things is interesting.
It also reminds me of the way diplomats phrase things.

"may not be the same" which makes it sound like they may be the same when it is entirely possible that he flat out said to you that he does not agree with you.
& "Mr. Gore does know of our site and appreciates our support very much" which since you are talking about support of Fowler would lead the unwary reader to think that Mr. Gore supports Fowler, when all you are really saying is that Al Gore appreciates your support of Al Gore and actually you're not even saying that, you're not saying what he appreciates your support of at all actually.

I appreciate your support of the Democratic party.
Regarding more than that, I'm still going to go with my initial instinct on this one.

[Jackson4Gore]

28. LOL

Don't worry, I just crafted a letter to Mr. Gore telling him about our endorsement and our work all the while thanking him once again for his inspiration to me!

[Zensea]

29. If it's not a problem for Gore, it's not a problem for me

I was just about to add that into my previous post on edit when I saw your reply. So I'll put it here.
It's his name after all, not mine.

Gore is a good person to be inspired by also.

[Jackson4Gore]

30. Yea, I thought it would be the right thing to do to inform him of our work

[KoKo]

14. Thanks for that clarification, because there's no way I could see Al Gore

supporting Donnie Fowler. Anyone interested in Fowler should do a deep Google search. He's not anyone I would want as DNC Head. He's connected to "the old ways" and has had minor successes in his career.

I'm surprised a Gore Support Group would endorse Fowler. Remember Al Gore endorsed Dean's Candidacy...to run for President.

[Jackson4Gore]

15. Thanks also for your thanks

But we endorsed him because he has worked with Al extensivley and he is young, entergetic, and very bright. I don't not like Howard Dean, we just happen to think Donnie would be better as the head of the party.

I also doubt Al will make a decesion on who he would pick.

[Left coast liberal]

32. Good point! It's Dean all the way or we're lost!

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Jackson4Gore]

17. No sir

This is the second one I posted because I clarified this about my group. The other thread I asked who everyone else was supporting.

[John_H]

18. Donnie would be a typical Dem choice--Status quo tall the way to defeat

I have no doubt that Fowler is a pupular choice among a very many Dems--especiall long time DNC consultants, operatives, and members all of whom he's likely to keep firmly on the gravy train since he is one of them. Y'all will have to forgive me for not joining the RNC in jumping for joy at the prospect of team gore/kerry people running the fight against the chimp for the next for years.

[Jackson4Gore]

19. Wrong

Please watch this: rtsp://video.c-span.org/project/c04/c04_wj121104_fowler.rm

Donnie says we have to do away with the consultants running our party. Straight out of his mouth.

[KoKo]

20. I wouldn't trust him to do away with consultants....

[John_H]

22. LOL! He'll get rid of all the dim bulb consultants all right...

by giving them senior positions at DNC headquarters. Folwer's going to do away with the people actively working hard to get him the chairmanship? If that's true he's too disloyal to be DNC chair.

The bottom line is this: if you want the same people who ran 2000,2002,and 2004 calling the shots and spending your hard earned money in 2006 and 2008, Donnie's your guy. Otherwise, I'd maybe support somebody else.

[Jackson4Gore]

31. Folks, in order to do away with all confusion

I am changing the title and a few words of my release. Instead of continuing the confusion and sending a letter to Al, I think this is the best route. I have decided to change the wording. Instead of saying the Al Gore Support Center endorses Donnie, it just says I do as the admin of the site. I am again sorry for any confusion:

Chris D. Jackson Urges Everyone To Support Donnie Fowler

December 26th, 2004 -- Chris D. Jackson, the administrator of the Al Gore Support Center, officially announces he is backing of Donnie Fowler for DNC Chair via this letter. Please note that this letter was initially sent to the members of the Al Gore Support Center and addresses their concerns as well.

Dear members,

I hope that each and every one of you had a very Merry Christmas! As you know, we are approaching the beginning of a new year. In the upcoming year we have a lot of work to do and we are going to need your help! Our first goal of the new year will be to take back our party and rebuild it without conceding anything to anyone. It is time we start to take charge our what is ours. It must start with us! As you have heard Al Gore say before, all political victories start at the grassroots level. Therefore, today I announce that I, Chris D. Jackson, the administrator of the Al Gore Support Center, endorse Donnie Fowler for DNC Chair.

Throughout his career, Donnie Fowler has achieved a leading role in political and high technology circles through his work in Silicon Valley and at the Federal Communications Commission, service in the Clinton White House, and work on six presidential campaigns. He has advised dozens of companies, policymakers, public advocacy groups, and political campaigns on how to manage their media, policy, business development, & technology agendas.

I have studied politics for a while now and I have yet to find anyone as young as Donnie with so much political experience. It is simply quite amazing! Only in his mid-thirties, he has been involved in the following campaigns:

Six Presidential Campaigns / Four Presidential Cycles
o Gephardt '87-'88, Jackson '88, Clinton/Gore '96, Gore/Lieberman '00 (National Field Director), Wesley Clark '03 (Campaign Manager), and Kerry/Edwards '04 (Michigan State Director)

Political and Campaign Work in Fourteen States on the Ground
o S.Carolina, Iowa, New Hampshire, Connecticut, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Wyoming, California, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Virginia

You might be wondering, what is Donnie’s view on Former Vice President Al Gore? Well, I personally asked Donnie that and I found out that he loves the big guy just about as much as we do. In 2001, 2002, and 2003 Donnie spent his summers teaching at Mr. Gore’s Summer Academy in Nashville, which is a political effort to get young people involved in grassroots politics, for no pay. Before that Donnie served as Gore’s National Field Director in the 2000 election. I can say without hesitation that Donnie Fowler would not only give Mr. Gore the respect he commands, but the admiration he deserves.

Aside from having a vast record of political involvement and a fondness of Al Gore, Donnie also is worthy of you support because he has a real plan and vision for our party. Like you and I, he does not want to concede anything to the Republicans. Like you and I, he is tired of our party being falsely labeled, and like you and I, he is tired of our party not standing firm on what our party was founded on. If Donnie is elected DNC Chair in February, you can rest assure our party will be stronger and more unified than ever!

I hope that you will join me in early 2005 to help make Donnie Fowler our new chair, thus putting our party back on track for victories for years to come!

====================================================================================

So, are you ready to help elect Donnie the new DNC Chair?

In order to spread the word about Donnie and his vision for our party, please do the following:

* Write a letter to several DNC members about his agenda for change
* Go to a political blogs and forums and say some good things about Donnie

www.dailyKos.com
www.bloggingofthepresident.com
www.MyDD.com
www.reachm.com/amstreet
www.democraticunderground.com
www.democrats.org

* Make a contribution to his effort (http://changetheparty.com)
* Vote for him online at http://standupdemocrats.org/ and at any other online poll
* Tell others to watch Donnie on television and listen to him on the radio
* Talk to any DNC members you know and try to persuade them to vote Donnie!

====================================================================================

We sincerely hope that you will help us on this very important endeavor. As you know, every election affects us and how we live. If we act now, we may just get what we have been wanting in 2008!

To visit Donnie's official website, please go to: http://www.changetheparty.com

Thank you and have a great new year!

Chris D. Jackson
Al Gore Support Center Administrator

Note: The Al Gore Support Center is a grassroots ran website that is dedicated to serving Al Gore by posting up to date news and info, providing interactive services, and having helpful material that is useful in defending Gore from the right wing and the media. The Al Gore Support Center's main goal is preserving and promoting the Gore vision for years to come in America. In an effort to do so, the Al Gore Support staff may endorse certain candidates for positions, draft petitions, as well use other methods as we see fit in order to try to preserve and promote Mr. Gore's vision for America. Let it be known that the Al Gore Support Center's staff endorsements, official releases, or any other idea or opinion expressed by our website, is not endorsed by Al Gore. Our group bears Mr. Gore's name because we are dedicated to him, believe in what he stands for and are proud of him. Let our name, "The Al Gore Support Center", have no bearing either way on the basis of Al Gore's opinion. The opinions expressed by our website are that of our staff and members, who also have no official endorsement or affiliation with Al Gore.

Again, please note:

The Al Gore Support Center is in no way endorsed or affiliated with the Honorable Al Gore.

The views and comments on this site are in no way reflective of that of the Honorable Al Gore.

[Tinoire]

34. You seem like a very nice person Jackson

Nice manners. Very nice style. Level head. That's very admirable considering the pounding your position has taken here.

I don't like your choice of DNC candidates but I wish you well in your future endeavours.

[Jackson4Gore]

35. Thank you my friend

I just want to set the record straight. I care very much for Al Gore and Donnie and don't want to hurt them in anyway, that is why I am being very catious.

Again thanks for you kind words!

Chris D. Jackson

[Endangered Specie]

36. Locking...

Original Poster's Request, please continue here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1457216

-DU Moderator