"One Voice Change The Room" Meeting @whitehouse officials. I pushed. They listened."

[Clio the Leo]

One Voice Can Change A Room....Courage Campaign Activists Meet With White House Officials

Whether you're a supporter of President Obama, or his harshest critic, I'm going to ask you to hang in there and read what I promise you is going to be a very long post.

Why?

Because for one day last week this community organizer - with no professional interest in politics, and who couldn't lobby her way out of a paper bag - brought the hopes, fears, and messages of 1,300 others just like me (and you) directly to key White House officials, staffers and cabinet members in a way I never hoped or thought possible.

And they listened.

(read more)
http://veniceforchange.blogspot.com/2011/09/one-voice-can-change-roomcourage.html?spref=tw

[MannyGoldstein]

1. Obama is simultaneously pushing a "Jobs" bill that can't pass, and

three George Bush "free" trade bills that will almost certainly pass and obliterate more than 150,000 jobs.

The "listening" appears to be theater.

[babylonsister]

3. Links pls, and thanks. And please also explain why the

jobs bill won't pass, instead of leading so many people to believe it's all Obama's fault. Thanks again.
:fistbump:

[MannyGoldstein]

5. Link on the Bush-Obama "Free" Trade Bills:

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/09/republicans-support-obamas-trade-agenda-do-democrats/245248/">Republicans Support Obama's Trade Agenda. Do Democrats?

Three "free" trade bills that Bush introduced, backed mightily by Obama. Here's what Richard Trumka has to say: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=367&topic_id=33459&mesg_id=33459

As to the "jobs' bill not passing... I'll leave that as an exercise for the reader.

[intaglio]

8. I think Manny might prefer a "non-Democratic" President

After all he seems not to want people to vote for Obama. What Manny forgets is that encouraging folks to abandon Obama is exactly what the MSM/Wall Street wants, because the fewer people voting for the sitting President means more chance for a Republican puppet to become President

[MannyGoldstein]

10. Are you in favor of the Bush-Obama "free" trade deals?

Sounds like you are? If so, why do you want to destroy American jobs?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

16. I suspect the Obama staff "heard," not listened.

[intaglio]

20. I am in favour of a Democratic President heading the executive

You seem to be in favour of anyone but President Obama. I do not know your reasons but if you believe that a Republican President, House and Senate would automatically force a revolution by the Left Wing then there is a bridge I would like to sell you.

By the way you do realise that your posting name is that of the ultimate stalking horse of a totalitarian regime?

[MannyGoldstein]

24. I believe that Democrats need to be held to account for their actions

We're in our current mess precisely because for 18 years Democrats run for office espousing Democratic principles, then they move hard right once elected and scream "Who the @#% else ya gonna vote for, chumps?".

This has to stop or we are done for.

[SidDithers]

9. I hear he also cut Social Security by 22%...

at least that's what I read on the internet.

Sid

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

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

[SidDithers]

12. LOL...

Keep trying, Manny. :rofl:

Sid

[Arkana]

28. Everything is "theater" with you.

Here's a wakeup call: EVERYONE YOU CAN EVER ENVISION IN THE OVAL OFFICE WOULD BE DEEMED A SELLOUT BY YOU WITHIN MINUTES OF TAKING OFFICE. BEING PRESIDENT REQUIRES COMPROMISE.

[Tarheel_Dem]

2. K & R

[gateley]

4. This is WELL worth the read -- whether you're impressed like

I was or view it suspiciously as you-know-who-rhymes-with-Manny does. :7 I just think it's fascinating to 'experience' this through the writer -- who was, IMO, very candid and didn't seem to be dazzled by the the experience.

RECOMMEND!

[MannyGoldstein]

6. I'm curious: how do you reconcile Obama's pushing hard for

Bush's "free" trade bills while claiming to be in favor of job creation?

You seem to be level-headed, I'm guessing that you have a good reason.

[gateley]

21. We can debate everything Manny, because we disagree on

a lot, but that's not the reason for my post on this. It's not supporting anything Obama has done, nor is it disparaging everything Obama has done. I enjoyed this piece simply to hear a first-hand, pretty damn objective (don't you agree?) report of the meeting in DC, that's all. :shrug: Nothing beyond that, really!

And who said I reconcile the Free Trade Bill w/job creation? I think it sucks. You really have to stop assuming that just because people aren't as vocal or thorough as you in their opposition to Obama, that you know what they feel about any given subject.

[MannyGoldstein]

25. I was responding specifically to your statement that I misunderstood

"whether you're impressed like I was or view it suspiciously as you-know-who-rhymes-with-Manny does"

I thought you were knocking my suspicions of the "free" trade policies, rather than stating that I was generally suspicious of the blog piece.

[gateley]

26. Oops. Nope, just giving you a jab. I can't help myself sometimes. :-) nt

[MartaEvry]

7. Thanks

I was the author of the piece and would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

You're correct that I wasn't dazzled by the experience. I came there with an agenda and had no problem expressing it. The administration has to fight to get the Jobs bill passed and they have to stop moving towards Social Security and Medicare cuts. If they don't, we'll lose the White House, the Senate and probably won't get back the House. It's as simple as that.

[babylonsister]

13. Welcome to DU, Marta! nt

[MannyGoldstein]

15. Thank you for your work and your piece

Unfortunately, I have a really difficult time trusting the White House. When one considers their actions along with their words, they seem to be fixated on helping the wealthiest.

That being said, I hope that your words, and those of others, turn their hearts and minds.

[MartaEvry]

18. You're welcome

My attitude is "trust but verify".

I don't know how much good we did, but it was an opportunity to talk to some very high-level people directly, and without filters. In that regard, I do think it was helpful.

[ClarkUSA]

27. "they seem to be fixated on helping the wealthiest"?? The Koch Bros. disagree with you.

[gateley]

23. Welcome to DU, MartaEvry!

:hi:

I so appreciated your reporting of this, and especially enjoyed it because you express a lot of the same opinions, attitudes and frustrations that many of us can identify with.

I look forward to your posts. :)

[Swede]

29. Welcome

:hi:

[ChairmanAgnostic]

14. I don't see how it changed the room.

Ploufle was given marching orders. Take a day, defang the professional left. Make them feel good, then come back, and let's say one thing and do another, just like before.

If anything, the next three weeks will be telling. The upcoming continuing resolution will be fish or cut bait time. If the white house caves, even a little, "because we cannot afford shutting the government down" then all is lost.

I do not suggest that there is no good that they accomplished, just that Obama's natural inclination is to avoid fights. When you are locked in a road warrior arena, with a deadly enemy coming at you, looking for middle ground is probably not the best use of your time or resources.

[MartaEvry]

17. I don't disagree

If those were his marching orders, he bungled them. Of everyone we met with, he was the least successful. In fact, when we were debriefed at the end of the day, I came right out and said it would be a waste of time to talk with him again. It would not be an exaggeration to say the room erupted in applause.

I agree with you that Obama can't afford to cave anymore. One of the things most of us kept telling them over and over again was that what Obama was doing now wasn't enough to win back his base. It's what he does over the next couple of months that would tell the tale.

They have to be consistent about this. People are burned out, they feel used. They're not ready to hop back on the Hope train just yet.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

19. B R A V A !

And great job being prepared as you were.

Whether you got his long term attention, remains to be seen.

[gateley]

22. What's great is that she and her fellow attendees actually were able

to voice their opinions directly to people in the Inner Circle. Who knows where it goes from there, but I think it's an amazing opportunity to get beyond kvetching on Message Boards which is what most of us are primarily doing.

And, I have to say kudos to the WH for even DOING this, political/campaign pap or not.