"In Major Shakeup" - Obama Takes Over DNC

[kpete]

Obama Takes Over DNC
"In a major shakeup at the Democratic National Committee -- and a departure from tradition -- large parts of the committee's operations are relocating to Chicago to be fully integrated with the Obama campaign," according to Politico.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0608/Obama_moves_DNC_operations_to_Chicago.html

"The DNC's political department, housed in Washington, D.C., will be dramatically rebuilt, with staffers offered a choice of moving to Chicago, joining state operations, or staying in Washington... But with the power will clearly be shifting to a centralized Chicago hub."

"The move reflects Obama's desire to maintain an unusually streamlined campaign, as well as his swift and complete takeover of a Democratic Party that isn't always known for its unity."

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2008/06/12/obama_takes_over_dnc.html

[Triana]

1. WOW! As long as he keeps Dean around. n/t

[knixphan]

2. !!!

:yourock:

[redqueen]

3. I thought the DNC was hurting for cash.

[democrattotheend]

25. It is. I'm going to give to the DNC this month instead of Obama.

And I think we should all consider doing that, especially since the DNC is giving up PAC and lobbyist money.

[SwampG8r]

77. agreed

the party is being weaned from the corporatists and WE have to continue to make the difference up

[kaygore]

4. Gotta love the way this campaign works!

If Obama and his team run the country as he has and is running his campaign, then there may be hope for the U.S. and for the world!

Very impressive!!!!!

[PoliticalAmazon]

7. I think we can all celebrate saying good-bye to the choke-hold the DLC has had on our Party....

I think we also can be pretty positive that the Clintons will no longer be a large influence with the DNC.

Finally, I think that Obama and Howard Dean will work REALLY well together. I expect great things from Dean, now that he isn't cobbled by the DLC toadies in the DNC.

[roguevalley]

17. They are both mavericks and independent and focused on the good

of the party. GO, DEAN AND OBAMA!

[Recursion]

28. DING DING DING DING

Bingo.

Moving them out from DC removes them from

A) the entrenched DLC types
B) the entrenched politico-class who have managed to fuck up the past two elections so royally

[Eurobabe]

50. Wow if they keep this up

I might actually HAVE to join the DNC??

:rofl:

For now I remain Independent. Let's see what's up...

[PoliticalAmazon]

5. Obama has the fund-raising and organization experts--it makes more....

sense to combine the two for the GE.

[last1standing]

6. This is big news because the DNC isn't just there to get presidents elected.

There there to see that Democrats get elected all over the country. If the organization can be streamlined and focused on that task using Dean's 50 state strategy and Obama's iron discipline we could be talking about a revolution in Democratic politics not seen since the 1930s.

[wyldwolf]

10. I'm not that optimistic

Though I believe Obama wins in November, it isn't a sure thing. And if he doesn't, this (in my opinion extreme) restructuring of the DNC will be for nothing. The current organization Dean has put in place will be disorganized and sitting in Chicago.

By the way - Democrats lost 81 seats in the House, 8 seats in the Senate, and 13 governorships in 1938.

[high density]

21. 2008 is now 1938?

Thanks for the optimism. :crazy:

Why would the restructuring be for nothing?

"Well, the change might not have any effect, so let's just do it the old and busted way we're used to."

Maybe you should get some anti-anxiety drugs or something. You're acting really down.

[wyldwolf]

24. no, why would you say that?

Maybe you should get some anti-anxiety drugs or something. You're acting really down.

Perhaps you should take some reading comprehension courses? Or maybe something for ADD?

[lojasmo]

27. Of course you aren't.

Your heroes at the DLC are being shown the door.

[Cha]

31. Tou-Freakin' che!

Thanks.

[wyldwolf]

53. oh, is that why...

..the three almost sure thing senate seat pickups are DLC?

The DLC picked up over half the new house seats in 2006 and look to repeat this year? (same kind of Dems, same kind of districts)

The DLC is likely to have the VP slot?

Some door!

[hokies4ever]

41. But how did they do in 1940?

:rofl:

[wyldwolf]

52. the poster's reference was the 1930s

:rofl:

But in 1940 we gained 5 House seats but lost 4 more senate seats.

[leveymg]

58. This election is far more akin to 1932 than 1938

Your historical metaphor is skewed. Or is that screwed?

1932: FDR enjoyed a landslide victory over Hoover, who was widely blamed for the onset of the Depression. Dems also picked up 12 Senate seats, and 100 seats in the House to the Dems and the smaller Farmer-Labor Party.

Reasons to be cheerful. Why aren't you?

[LSK]

65. they should have used the internet more effectively in 1938

[Overseas]

66. That's what I'm hoping ! /nt

[Name removed]

8. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Fleshdancer]

9. Very interesting...seems like a good way to pump new blood into the org

I assume many people won't be willing to relocate. What happens after the election though? The DNC just remains in Chicago indefinitely?

[blondeatlast]

11. Out of DC, into the real America! EXCELLENT. nt

[WorseBeforeBetter]

35. Oh for God's sake, REAL Americans live and work in DC. (n/t)

[Lilith Velkor]

62. No, we are a colony with no representation in Congress

It never seems to occur to these shitwits that THEY are the ones who keep sending ASSHOLES here to represent them.

We should fucking secede.

[JVS]

12. Good way to drop the careerist cronies.

[JaneQPublic]

13. Many of them probably figured Hillary would be showing them the door.

After all, weren't we all expecting Hillary to clean out Dean and all his people from the DNC, back when she was thought to be the nominee?

[JVS]

14. I think it's more likely that they were leftovers from before Dean.

I don't recall Dean performing a major purge of functionaries when he took over. Maybe Obama has completed the changeover.

[Indenturedebtor]

15. I like it. Clean house, save money, streamline efforts

It's a good move imo. And frankly it makes more sense in terms of the workday as well. Being in a more central timezone will increase productivity.

[chill_wind]

16. The comments on the blog- what a read. The RW kookfarts and McCain democrats

are going blotto. They think they should have been consulted.

[LittleBlue]

18. Moving the DNC out of DC is a good thing

Stay as far away from the cesspit as possible.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

36. How original.

Another DC basher.

[LittleBlue]

49. You're right... can't believe I didn't recognize it's apparent purity.

Proximity to lobbyists is also irrelevant. :crazy:

Nothing to bash here folks... look away
:rofl:

[Lilith Velkor]

63. Lobbyists who buy the politicians YOU send here with your votes

WE get no say in this. Just taxation without representation.

Shame on you.

[TexasObserver]

19. The DNC has never seen a candidate who could organize so well!

No candidate we have had in the past 40 years has been so organized as Obama. The guy knows how to organize and is so far ahead of everyone else it's not funny.

[paulk]

20. that's great!

Chicago is the only town with a more corrupt political reputation than DC.

The ghost of Richard Daley is laughing his ass off.

[hendo]

37. Richard Daley is still alive!

Oh, you mean his dad? Either way, both are/were corrupt.

Meigs Field, anyone?

[Lucinda]

70. Yup.

I'm not though...

[K Gardner]

22. Wow.. this actually gives me CHILL bumps.. we are certainly in for an overhaul ! From the top down !

[Erin Elizabeth]

23. I continue to be impressed.

And lemme tell ya, I'm not easily impressed at all.

[cliffordu]

26. Now they REALLY get to screen who from K street is sniffin' around.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

29. K&R. Sounds like a great Start for Change. DNC ~Chicago Hub, has a nice ring to it.

[dorktv]

30. I must say this is not good news. The DNC is about building the entire party

NOT about just the one candidate.

[Dinger]

32. That's For Sure. Doesn't Anyone Here See That?

"Takeover" is not a comforting word.

[dorktv]

39. indeed.

[LisaM]

68. I know!

There was an article a few weeks ago about how the Obama campaign wanted all money donated to be funnelled through THEM - not through 527s or any other groups - and it barely raised a ripple. I don't like this move. "Takeover" indeed.

[madfloridian]

34. I think down ticket races will get great attention.

Several major bloggers have not even covered this yet. They are considering implications. Might be cleaning house.

That said...both Obama and Dean are very concerned about down ticket races. In that way this will be good. Obama will be using the DNC staffers on the ground as Dean intended when he first envisioned the 50 state plan.

[dorktv]

38. I hope so Mad but I doubt it.

[Cha]

42. That's because you don't know that much

about Obama and therefore have no optimism..Dean and Obama know what they're doing and your concern is noted.

[dorktv]

43. What more should I know outside of what is publically availible?

I know a President can shape a party (not that supid) but the reason I liked Chairman Dean (as chairman) so much was he understood that it is not just about ONE candidate at any given time and worked to lift everyone up.

From the dog catcher to the Presidency.

[madfloridian]

44. Dean emphasized down ticket during the Dem press ccnference...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3431077

Video.

It was his goal from the start to have the nominee use the staffers on the ground already. And they are working on down ticket races already.

[dorktv]

76. As I said Mad, I have my doubts.

[Cha]

45. And, that's what they will do..this isn't about just Obama so

again, your concern is noted.

[dorktv]

73. Then why are they moving over to Chicago as if it is all about one candidate?

Also what is with the vaguely threatening "your concern is noted?"

Are you keeping records on me?

[madfloridian]

46. Kerry put his people at the DNC...just kept it in DC

It is usually done.

[eridani]

47. A DUer from the Carbondale area of Illinois--

--remarked on a post a couple of weeks ago that when Obama first ran for Senate in 2004, he opened an office in Southern Illinois where Dems haven't had any presence for years. After the campaign, he left staff in place to become a permanent presence there.

I honestly don't think he'll be blowing off down-ticket races.

[dorktv]

75. That would be normal for any Senator-they usually have field offices.

The issue I have here is his taking over the party and moving it.

Putting one's people in to positions of power is generally expected...yanking the regular apparatus out of the traditional spot is not.

[OzarkDem]

74. Machine politics is never good

Rots any party structure from the inside out.

There are many other candidates on the ballot.

I'm happy to see the new Obama campaign office that just opened in our area is in its own location, not at Dem Hdqtrs. We have a lot of races to work on.

[Colobo]

33. Obama is taking care of every single detail. We have to admire

the way he's running this thing.

[Dharmacrat]

40. Sounds like a great move...

[Cha]

48. Is this Uncle

Obama?

[FrenchieCat]

51. Uncle "O"!

[Cha]

61. Uncle Barack!

:)

[Name removed]

54. Deleted message

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

[cali]

55. please stop insinuating that Obama isn't really a dem.

it's just bullshit. And it's bullshit that isn't permitted.

[indimuse]

57. that is NOT what I'm saying..

I just DON'T understand , why he would NOT attack the Oil industry in the interview I posted yesterday.. I didn't understand that at all! I posted a very good poll! Even die hard Obama supporters , said great poll! The clip was about 1 min or so long...interview... He made that statement, and I about fell over! Cali , I drive well over 7y00 miles a week most weeks! I am 2 car payments behind... all my accounts are suffering due to the high prices and over all economy... He is our Pre Nom... I'm supposed to love what he said??? Hello! He should have defended the working class!Q He chose to NOT say a thing about record profits! He chose NOT to SLAM those scam bags and make it clear what he intends to do about it! NO ...NO He said... He had NO PROBLEM with the high $4.00 + a gal...only that he wished it were a more gradual climb!!!" TELL me? Does that sound like a Dem statement???

[Catherina]

64. The man should be horse-whipped for not addressing the inconveniences to your life

while millions of people are suffering because so many Americans are addicted to cheap oil and living in an UNSUSTAINABLE and artifial manner.

$4 a gallon ain't shit to pay.

The old way of life is over. I hope you adapt in time because the 90s are NEVER coming back and thank God for that.

[indimuse]

78. YOU!!!

can go F*ck yourself! Thge 90's...I don't LIVE in the 90's! YOu are NO dem!! Obviously! There is NO Dem party anymore...it is the US of Obama!

[depakid]

56. "according to Politico"

I wish that the admins would require posters to use CREDIBLE SOURCES on DU and not spam us with the likes of politico.

[Dinger]

60. Yeah, politico is spammed everywhere

And how long have they been around? Not long, and the way they are referenced/spammed, you'd think they were multiple Pulitzer winners!

[LSK]

67. the motive for making this up is????

[genna]

59. DNC's political department does not = THE ENTIRE OPERATION

I think it makes more sense to get an organizational flow chart to find out how many there are and what their function is.

I think some of the comments are an overstatement.

[Ysabel]

69. hey let's shake everything up and move the capitol of the u.s. to chicago too... :D

[Stinky The Clown]

71. Self delete

[TBF]

72. Outstanding work, Barack. The man does not mess around.

He promised us change, and he's not even in the White House yet. :)

[PretzelWarrior]

79. DING DONG THE WITCH IS DEAD!!

No. this isn't about any former candidates in the running. This is about the malevolent forces of the DLC, the insider old school politics....all holding sway and keeping the grass roots from feeling truly empowered.

THis is AWESOME NEWS!!! Each week I am newly amazed about Obama's team.