Barack Obama: "I want everyone to hear this..."

[polichick]

"I wouldn't have won without you. Your fifty-state strategy laid the groundwork for my campaign and I will always be grateful. I thank you from the bottom of my heart."

- Barack Obama to Howard Dean in front of celebrating Dems, election night, 2008 (HERDING DONKEYS, Ari Berman)


However, Howard Dean and his grassroots approach were shut out of the Obama White House. Instead, the new administration was packed with establishment and corporate insiders, some of whom actually delighted in trashing the base of the party.

Now that Dems are scrambling to hold seats in the upcoming election, President Obama is once again turning to the Democratic wing of the Democratic party for help - and the central question that was asked in 2003 when Dean coined that phrase is being asked again today. In HERDING DONKEYS: The Fight to Rebuild the Democratic Party and Reshape American Politics (http://www.amazon.com/Herding-Donkeys-Democratic-American-Politics/dp/0374169705), Ari Berman puts it this way:

"His (Dean's) DNC speech, more than any other single event, set the tone for the rest of the campaign and shifted the arc of the Democratic Party for years to come. What direction the party would take, however, was hardly a settled question. Could Democrats once again become a party of the people, motivated by core principles and powered by grassroots activists out in the states? Or would the party remain a Washington-centric institution, plagued by caution and calculation and dominated by a privileged group of megadonors and political operatives?"


As a lifelong Democrat, the answer to this question is still incredibly important to me.

What do you think? Has President Obama decided which way he wants it? What happens next?

[zeemike]

1. And that is the flaw in pragmatism.

If Obama wanted to be pragmatic he would have went with the establishment....and he did.
My hope is that he sees what a mistake that was and in the future tries to extract himself from it and become the populist that we want and need.

[polichick]

7. That's my hope too! nt

[gateley]

2. I wonder if Obama has been surprised by the depth and breadth of the progressive/

liberal sentiment out here. It seems as though for so many years we didn't make ourselves heard (or were shut up) and now he's realizing that if he DOES get back to the Democratic wing of the Democratic party, he WILL have the support he needs.

I think his appointments reflected his desire to come across as one of the players to the powers in Washington, but since that didn't work out so well (although I'm one of the ones who believe he's accomplished a LOT), maybe now he'll be more true to himself and more true to us.

I think he's really "one of us" but also realizes the game that needs to be played in DC. I hope he's got the strength to say fuck it, we're going to do it OUR way now.

What do you think?

[Me.]

4. Oh He's Heard

It's why we're being scolded so often

[polichick]

5. What keeps coming to my mind is that the Barack Obama who campaigns...

...seems like a completely different person than the one who chose that God-awful cabinet. I don't know if he's "one of us" or if he's a cynical politician who's all about the inside power game. Of course, I'm hoping it's the former.

[gateley]

11. I'm of the belief that he is one of us, and was trying to get the best people for

the jobs for whatever reasons made sense to him at the time. For the most part I don't agree with his choices, but Biden said he was told something that he -- and I -- will always remember: You can question a man's actions, but not his motives. (I think, though, the Republicans are exempt from that since their motive is so blatant :7). So I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that he felt what he was doing and who he chose was right. It's got to be daunting to step into that Office, especially with his comparative lack of time in DC, and he was probably trying to cover his butt. AND, trying to appease the Reps somewhat since we do in fact have to work with them.

My sense is that he's not a cynical politician and his motives are good. That's my sense anyway. I'm usually pretty good at 'reading' people for e.g. never trusted Edwards even when he was running with Kerry, and chose Biden for my number one choice for Prez. I think in those instances I was pretty right-on. :7

I don't think he's a completely different person, I think he, like all who become President are faced with 'what the fuck is all this mess?' so he's trying to deal. :shrug:

I don't want you to worry, I don't think he's going to sell us down the river. :hug:

[polichick]

12. Well, thanks! I do hope we see some changes after the midterms. nt

[polichick]

18. I think that when actions don't match words, motives are suspect...

...especially when you're talking about politicians.

[Chulanowa]

6. Calling him "Hopey McChangey" is "depth"?

Spending two weeks flaming him because of the dog he picked out is "depth?"
Demanding he use his magic genie powers at every turn, and threatening to "let the republicans win" if he doesn't is "depth?"
Blaming him for everything from Freddie Mac to TARP to flouridated water is "depth"?

[gateley]

10. I think the only thing that really caught his attention is that so many were

disillusioned and let the Dems become so fragile during this mid-term.

The dog, meh. I'm guessing that didn't even spike on his radar, and I don't think we've been blaming HIM for Freddie Mac, TARP or fluoride in the water.

I do think those who have been blaming him for not doing it the way "they" would is unjust, but the end result is the same regardless of fair or not, lack of support.

[zeemike]

28. Well I think that if I were going into the presidency

(and mind you I am a cynical person) I would assume that I was headed into a bubble because the system is so large and well organized that they will capture anyone that comes in.
You would need to be a sharp cookie to remain your own person and to not be manipulated by the system.....for instance they could convince anyone that the financial system is so complex and important that you need super smart and savvy people....like Tim here.
And then there is the not so clear but present danger that if you don't go along with the program some lone assassin may strike.
So the pragmatic person may well want to go along with the program and hope to change it...it could be the better choice.

Besides the only way out of this mess is if WE change it from the bottom up....but they are doing a good job of keeping us distracted and ignorant of our power.

[David Zephyr]

3. Howard Dean did more for the Democratic Party in eight years than anyone. And gets no credit.

That's really sad.

No good deed goes unpunished.

I am in Howard's corner.

Rahm, unfortunately, poisoned Dean to Obama (as is Rahm's nature).

I hope Rahm loses in Chicago. He hurt President Obama and the Democrats during Obama's first term. His "congressional experience" proved to be useless. Worthless.

[polichick]

8. I agree - Dean has been the change agent. nt

[girl_interrupted]

21. +1000

[jillan]

34. Agree agree agree agree!

[Hawkowl]

37. Rahm has NO chance

He has no organization in Chicago. He is essentially a carpet bagger and has zero chance of winning. He is not well liked at all by the people who turn out the votes in Chicago. I doubt he will even run for Mayor. I believe it was just a face saving move so he could get the hell out.

[polichick]

9. LOL - DU is really in a weird place when a post like this gets so many unrecs! nt

[OHdem10]

13. Absolutely but it would take time. Change the constituency

It would take grassroots work going out and rekindling
the interest of half the country who does not vote.
They will have to be convinced that one party does have
their interest at heart and will fairly represent them.
Mational Activists working with state activists might
be aroute. Just a thought.

The DlC Centrists and Blue Dogs could immediately
make changes. First they must realize that most of
them have been in Congress doing deals so long they
appear, I said appear, to have lost serious touch
with Middle America. Working the Deals, the Centrists
have moved to the Right so far we have not seen center
in years. They need to examine their consciences and
become Democrats again. They have a problem. They
try to get too many Republicans in their state, district
to vote for them rather than going a bit futher down the
income scale and bringing back fallen away Democrats.
In recent years they have become to much a slave to Business.

If they were willing to make these changes, reform would be
less complicated and less painful to all.

When I see Democratic House Member Ads that say I will not
vote for Nancy Pelosi, I say this party needs change.

Today, Fox showed a Democratic AD in which the member is
saying I voted with the Republicans 65% of the time.

These guys are not trying to get Democratic Votes. Do not
tell me they have to do this. Yes to get Republican Votes.

Reform is coming no matter what--I do not know how soon.
Real Democrats are not going to be ignored forever.

[polichick]

14. You're so right about the Blue Dogs and I was thrilled when real Dems...

...paid for ads to push them to cooperate during the healthcare negotiations. Unfortunately the Chief of Staff thought it was "retarded." Glad he's gone!

[Radical Activist]

15. OFA is more grass-roots and more sophisticated than anything Dean did.

They have been organizing non-stop. They didn't just suddenly decide to turn to the grass-roots.

[displacedvermoter]

17. But of course it would be, as anything Obama touches

immediately surpasses anything than anyone else could do.

Incredible that as good as he is at everything, that there are any problems left for him to deal with!

[polichick]

20. The whole Obama campaign was based on Dean's activist campaign...

It was an extension of it. "Yes we can" echoes "You have the power."

Perhaps you should read that Obama quote in the op again.

(btw, "We are the ones we've been waiting for" came from the Hopis a long, long time ago.)

[Radical Activist]

22. Not really. Obama was campaigning that way before 2004.

Obama ran the same kind of community organizing campaign he had always done in Illinois. "Yes we can" was taken from Cesar Chavez and was used for Obama's Senate campaign.

Joe Trippi was influenced by some of the same sources as Obama, but that doesn't mean Obama was copying Dean. Dean used slogans but Obama's organizing background meant he understood organizing philosophy and tactics in a way that Dean probably never did.

[polichick]

23. Sounds like you have a hero and that's fine, but I worked both campaigns...

...and, by Obama's own admission, much was taken from Dean - and much is owed him. Thus, Obama's statement of gratitude. I'm just sorry his actions haven't matched his words where Dean is concerned.

[displacedvermoter]

25. "Obama's Organizing Background

meant he understood organizing philosophy and tactics in a way that Dean probably never did".

WTF does that mean?

[Radical Activist]

27. It means Obama comes from a background of left wing movement activism.

His professional work as a community organizer and other organizing work in Chicago heavily influenced his campaign style. He was writing articles on community organizing over 10 years ago. They play at a whole other level in Chicago compared to Vermont. So what I mean is that Obama has a much deeper, personal and more developed philosophy about organizing than a doctor.

The 50 state strategy was good and Dean made good use of the internet. And then Obama took it to the next level.

[polichick]

36. Nice idea, but Obama would never describe his background as "left wing movement activism."

And we'd be in a lot better place right now if he would, and if he had appointed others from such a background.

[ClarkUSA]

30. True. Dean's manager, Joe Trippi, said the same thing using an amusing analogy.

"... Obama's going to do better. I mean, I wrote in the book that, you know, a lot of ways we were the Wright Brothers on the Dean campaign and this is Apollo 11. These guys, they've skipped Boeing and Mercury and Gemini in, like, three years and they're going to land a guy safely in the White House after we just proved you could sort of, you know, glide down a sand dune in Kitty Hawk. So it's pretty amazing."

http://www.nationaljournal.com/njonline/no_20081010_3649.php

That was in 2004. OFA is that much more sophisticated now. Granted, the midterms are not going to turn out Obama supporters in the same way as a general election but already early voting returns in some states (e.g., IA and OH) show that OFA's trademark GOTV strategy is paying dividends.

President Obama was being his usual gracious self. He also said something similar to Senator John Kerry re: allowing him to give that landmark 2004 convention speech.

[Radical Activist]

32. It was far beyond any campaign up to that point.

One problem for the Dean campaign is that they still had online and field organizing in two different departments, as though they were two different things. Obama's campaign did an amazing job of merging field and online into one well-coordinated effort. They set the standard for years to come.

[okieinpain]

16. well let me say this and I want everyone to hear it.

being a black male in a white males world makes you not want to be the one to screw up.

[polichick]

19. That could actually explain a lot, especially when it comes to military things...

But choosing industry people for positions that should be about overseeing industry might not be explained by that - or maybe it is. Do you think so?

[AtomicKitten]

24. Great quote:

"I wouldn't have won without you. Your fifty-state strategy laid the groundwork for my campaign and I will always be grateful. I thank you from the bottom of my heart."

I couldn't agree more and I'm glad the president said it out loud and for the record. :thumbsup:

[bvar22]

26. The question was answered in the first week.

"Or would the party remain a Washington-centric institution, plagued by caution and calculation and dominated by a privileged group of megadonors and political operatives?"



The DLC New Team

(Screen Capped from the DLC Website)

http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm?contentid=254886&kaid=86&subid=85



"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans."
---Paul Wellstone

[polichick]

29. For the most part, that team represents industry interests...

But I am wondering if the president is having second thoughts about that approach, and maybe we'll see some changes.

What do you think?

[MadMaddie]

31. Rahm Emanual is gone

Rahm is the reason why Dean has not been actively involved. We need to keep in mind that Rahm was behind some of our dissapointments and he is gone now.

[Buddyblazon]

33. Pardon my blue collar, stage hand language....

but Howard Dean is the fucking man.

And I'm giddy that Obama finally acknowledged Deans contributions that dredged the party back from the depths of political limbo.

Now if Obama would actually put Dr Dean to work....

[polichick]

35. It sure would be a good sign that "change" is finally coming if he put Dean to work! nt