Tell the Democrats.

by: Rosi Efthim

Tue Nov 23, 2010 at 03:10:04 PM EST

I'm on record here as a non-fan of the deconstruction of 50-State Strategy, and its replacement Organizing for America, which looks grassroots but isn't, and seems to take a cookie-cutter approach, with a prime directive of protecting President Obama's position, no matter whether it's right or wrong. Problem is, I've learned to expect more of my Party. Don't get me wrong. People who come running when OFA calls an action are awesome; I'm sure state leaders are too. My issues are with whether OFA empowers people for change, or just uses their power for aims that don't reflect those folks. Nevertheless, this survey came via OFA. I was glad to get it.

It never asked where on the spectrum my politics lie. On the first page (takes less than 5 min. from soup to nuts) it wants you to self identify: Are you African-American? Native American or Alaskan? Entrepreneur? LGBT? Student? Educator? Labor? Vet? All well and good, but I'm a progressive. That's my prime directive, but thanks. Also asked: How you feel about OFA? Were your expectations of OFA high or low? Were they met?

Also - what resources you'd have liked to see OFA provide that you didn't already have, what new goals OFA should tackle, your comments how OFA should go about achieving the goals you suggest. All good questions. I said I hoped to see a return to better uses of the national voter file, that if local organizers no longer had access, they couldn't feed new info in, keeping it fresh, with more detail about what voters are concerned with.

Asked for an overall assessment, I said this:

DNC (via White House) made a poor decision dismantling 50-State Strategy and putting in its place the fake-grassroots, top-down organizational structure which has as its main goal protecting the President's position. The party should be doing much more than that.

Click SUBMIT and you land on a page asking for money. But I don't have a problem with that. It's what the national party should be doing, and I like the fact that an amount as low as $10 is suggested. The great power of the tubes makes requests like that possible without the investment of a direct mail or farmed-out dialing-for-dollars company that has to generate a certain level of raising just to stay afloat. Yay, internet.  

President Barack Obama rallies Democrats

by: Rosi Efthim

Tue Oct 12, 2010 at 07:02:56 PM EDT

OFA to open NJ HQ on Saturday

by: Jason Springer

Thu Dec 10, 2009 at 01:00:00 PM EST

"OFA is excited to establish its New Jersey headquarters in New Brunswick. New Brunswick is a fitting home to continue the grassroots effort to ensure the voices of New Jersey residents are heard in Washington on important issues like the need for health insurance reform," said Samantha Gordon, OFA state director. "OFA's headquarters will serve as the basis for OFA's statewide operation in New Jersey and as place for local phone banks, canvasses and community events."

Hey, Organizing for America - What the hell?

by: Rosi Efthim

Sat Nov 07, 2009 at 08:42:17 PM EST

Obama voters in 31 other districts got the same email, districts Obama won but have GOP congressmen. But it's a complete waste of time to call Republicans, and the DNC/OFA knows it. This is a muscle-flex for the GOP. They've spent all day, in some ridiculous, dramatic and even toddler-juggling vignettes, telling you they're voting no. So why is OFA trying to get you to waste your time on Lance & LoBiondo when you could be calling an actual Democrat who plans to vote no on Public Option?

As Scott pointed out today, with the GOP unanimous, if this is to pass, all the 218 votes have to come out of the Democratic caucus. And Rep. John Adler (NJ-3) is one Democrat threatening to vote no.

In fact, our friends at AFSCME have an easy tool for you Adler constituents to call him now. Just click the green flashing ad to the right of this diary.

OFA is making some very questionable decisions. This is the 2nd thing I've heard just today that makes me wonder what the hell they're thinking over there. The first is news that OFA contacted Maine voters and assigned them voters in NJ to call (read the email) apparently never mentioning the vote on the same day for marriage equality - in their own state!. That email supposedly benefitted NJ, but I don't care. We lost on marriage equality in Maine. I've emailed DNC on this, and if their answer adds to the discussion, I'll print it.

Public option on C-SPAN - right now.

They will try to Wellstone Ted Kennedy. Don't let them.

by: Rosi Efthim

Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 03:45:14 PM EDT

That struck me. I count two things as the engines behind everything I'm doing in politics right now. Howard Dean's What I want to know ... speech. And the massive arena celebration of the lives of Paul & Sheila Wellstone. Sen. Wellstone was not perfect; he was not angelic. But what he was, was brave. An ordinary, everyday guy with a Minnesota Senate seat.

Ted Kennedy was a very different guy. Tried most of his life to connect with the ordinary. And you bet there's going to be an effort to remind grieving congressional Democrats that health care was the cause of Kennedy's life. They'd better damn well pass it. And there's no way the right will not challenge that.

The answer to that question - How long? - is now. Today, Rush Limbaugh ridiculed Wellstone's memorial, that arena brimming with people who knew early that change was coming, and there was work to be done. Forward-thinkers, progressives, and fearless local organizers. There was more loss, and backlash, before there was winning. But that memorial - those people, those speeches - meant everything to me. And I can't just sit and listen to what was just said on the radio, without saying this:

Paul Wellstone didn't die. Not like they wanted him to.

He's now called Wellstone Action.
He's called Democracy for America.
You can call him the 2008 Senate, House & White House, if progressive.
He's called Barack Obama. Called Michelle Obama. Aim higher, he'd say.
He is called first-time voters, and change.
Canvasser. Phonebanker. Local organizer.
He's called Organizing for America. PDA.
Union.
They call him janitor, and educator, and factory worker. New immigrant.
He is called the Congressional Black Caucus, and Progressive Caucus.
He's the survivors of Hurricane Katrina, and those who didn't made it.
He's a first-time candidate, who thinks politics isn't about winning, it's about improving people's lives.
He's not going to let up on Marriage Equality.
He demands the public option.
He's called the Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party.
And he's called 50-State Strategy.
He is called Loretta Weinberg.
Paul Wellstone is called Senator Al Franken now.

And he's called Blue Jersey.

Take that, Rush Limbaugh. You disrespectful son of a bitch.

Health Care Organizing Kickoff

by: Hopeful

Sun May 24, 2009 at 01:13:51 PM EDT

On June 6th, thousands of people just like you are beginning to organize for health care reform by hosting or attending a Health Care Organizing Kickoff.

This moment is so critical that President Obama will join registered hosts and attendees on a live conference call next week.

No experience is required to host or attend--we'll give you everything you need to make it a success.

At these kickoffs, you'll watch a special message from the President, meet like-minded supporters in your neighborhood, make plans for reaching out in your community--and start to put those plans in action.

Together, we'll win health care reform the same way we won the election: Building support one block, one neighbor, one conversation at a time. Please sign up today.

Sign up to Host or Attend a house party here.

I'm sorry to say I'm unable to host one myself this time, but the campaign events were very valuable as I met neighbors and made new friends.  I see a number of New Jersey events, and there are more events in our neighboring states.

If you go to a meeting, why not tell us about it in a diary post afterwards?