I'd been reading blogs and message boards and individual email for weeks; trying to make sense of it all. It's definitely easier to enter into this kind of scene with your mind made up. Then it's a matter of making a good showing for your candidate: calls, networking, letters, blogs, money, showing up. Being ready with the damning comment or faint praise about each of the other guys. And if your guy is supported by huge numbers in the room, definitely easier to go with the flow and get swept up into the enthusiasms of the crowd.
I came away impressed with the field and liking a number of the candidates, but without a clear conviction that one candidate was truly better for the party I hope we are building.
The day began with a $25 CDC breakfast. The CDC check-in counter took our money while the wait staff inside the room were clearing the plates and food from the buffet tables. Bad first impression. On so many levels. Additional note to event planners: programs on the tables would be useful.
After the introductory remarks, intros, etc., regular people had the opportunity to speak for 90 seconds. Someone had had a truly bright idea I hope to see generally employed. At each table, there was a stack of red and a stack of blue half (8.5"x5.5") sheets of paper to hold - well, wave - in the air in response to comments from the speaker. Blue for agree (or Pro), red for disagree (or Con). An welcome alternative to speech stopping or blocking applause. Consequently, we could hear almost all of what was said, we could see the level of support (or disagreement) for various ideas and observations, and more people had a turn to speak to all of us.
Once the session seemed to be winding down, we headed for the individual hospitality rooms. Some of which also served breakfast. No charge. Same food.
In the first suite we visited, we talked for perhaps ten minutes with Donnie Fowler. After 20 minutes, we headed to Simon Rosenberg's. Then, learning that Howard Dean was rallying the faithful in the CDC breakfast room, we headed back there. An unfounded rumour that there might not be room for everyone kept us packed in a narrowed section of hallway between the media desk and the supposedly main doors to the plenary room. Think controlled chaos. Think poor planning.
Sometime after 4pm, we piled back into our car and headed home. Not that the event was over. Clearly it was, for some, just mid-way through.
Some observations:
A lot of folks seemed to have short - and narrow - political vision. Al Sharpton made a good speech ("Condaleezza Rice is my race, Barbara Boxer is my kind!") and was very well received. So well received that I wondered if they (largely Dean partisans) hadn't followed Sharpton's political back story. As if they were unaware of his D'Amato endorsement, or the ads he bought in Iowa in challenge to Dean's candidacy. Read more at Village Voice.
The corridor was lined with literature tables for each of the candidates, prospective chairs and vice-chairs. The representatives of two V-chair candidates who hold congressional seats emphasized the part time nature of the V-Chair position. Evidently, it has been exactly that in times past. Leaves me wondering how substantive the execution of the job was; was meant to be. I wonder about the scope of work and if there were full time staff assigned to each V-Chair.
All the candidates speak to the need for a 50-state strategy and for 50 strong and funded state parties. I imagine Art Torres, for one, is very interested in the details. I hope those details include more than the $200k (do I have that right?) and two funded, per state, organizers mentioned by Howard Dean.
All the candidates seem to have some sense that the grass and netroots are more than an ATM (that's the phrase I hear), but again, the details are critical. Howard Dean, Donnie Fowler and Simon Rosenberg, clearly understand the range of possibilities; that we are more than extras in their movie. I'm not so sure about the other guys.
Howard Dean was in top form: articulate, funny and appreciative of the crowd. He talks about the party as a means to work a change in the country. A Dean partisan sitting next to me suggests that Howard (as DNC chair) would immediately reach out to Simon Rosenthal, which strikes me as a powerful combination.
Equally, perhaps more, impressive was the Dean organization. By keeping the DFA idea and his association with it alive, he's encouraged his supporters to stay together and to mobilize. They were there in diverse and enthusiastic force, as citizen-activists, but also as members of clubs and Assembly District Committee delegates and officers.
In the hospitality suite, Don Fowler, Sr. greets us. He is self-assured and at ease. Donnie Fowler presents himself as, along with Dean, one of the two true reform candidates, and the one with massive amounts of pracitcal field, as well as internet experience. Some of that has been disputed on these boards. Mark Gorenberg, who headed up the truly dazzling CA fundraising effort for Kerry, is a firm supporter. He knows Donnie well and believes he would remake the DNC in ways that will strengthen the state organizations and increase our abilities to win elections.
When I ask a general question about the field of candidates, Donnie says that Simon Rosenberg has intellectual comprehension, but no visceral grasp of the grassroots. Or the netroots. That Simon has no "dirt under his fingernails," implies he has no deep and true field experience. I don't think these statements serve Fowler well. They are too easy to contradict, at least on the surface, and they point to rather than away from Rosenberg.
In both the hospitality suite and the plenary, Donnie seems self-assured and ernest and, well, unpolished. Vulnerable, maybe. Not quite ready for this level of responsibility. Still, some very strong people think highly of him and he's announced the endorsements of five DNC members: Alicia Wang (CA), Marty Dunleavy (CT), Terry McBrayer (KY), Waring Howe, Jr. (SC) and Tom Lakin (IL). More at Change the Party.
Simon Rosenberg is young, experienced, polished. Seems very capable. Endorsements here
A colleague from the SF Bay Area swing state mobilization supports Dean but prefers Simon to Fowler. He writes:
I have been a member of Simon's New Democratic Network for quite some time, as a result of some rather fairly minor donations. Even before giving them a dollar, they invited me by phone to several breakfasts chaired by Simon and kept in constant touch with me by e-mail and post. I only made one of the breakfasts but was impressed by how organized they were and how they made me feel: that I was a valuable Democrat.
Simon's get together on Thursday had this same effect. He spoke only briefly and then spent the rest of the team trying to meet everyone he could. His event, like his speech was organized. The NDN, which he founded, is well funded and forward-looking. Some think his politics may be too centrist, but he at least customized his speech for us in the Bay Area by saying that the Democratic Party does not need to move to the right, or even to the center.
I wrote to Matt Stoller on Simon's blog, asking for an explanation of Simon's "centrist" positions.
He impresses me as visionary, with endless energy and ambition. It was his organization that formed the Hispanic Project, wisely spotting this subset as important to the success of the Democratic Party.
A few days earlier, at a San Francisco event, and then in the hospitality suite, Simon says:
- Democrats need to rethink and then reframing the issues that are important to us. He wants the DNC to create a series of think tanks to explore and create targeted messages about a range of critical issues. This sounds like more than a communications strategy.
- Create year round field offices for the DNC.
And, of this race, that it's a sprint. That his supporters need to pull for him by contacting DNC members in our state and friends in other states to contact their DNC members. His supporting materials are well organized and bound, with a supporting DVD.
Wellington Webb , the (first) African-American Mayor of Denver and a former DNC V-Chair, is a surprise. I knew next to nothing about him. Even in the inadequate lighting of the Raddison room, he is a commanding and articulate presence. He knows the DNC, he has specific ideas for making it more transparent to its members and more ... interactive. He sees the limits to the roles of the DNC members (they vote, they go home) and wants to see that change. Wants it to be real work. Should that happen - and I expect it will - I look for changes in the make-up of the delegates.
Surprisingly, he tells us that as a V-Chair, he wasn't given nearly enough information to fully understand the DNC budget process.
Art Torres announced that the entire forum would be available for viewing on CaDem.org. The link isn't there or isn't obvious, but hopefully it will be. Useful to listen to these guys.
Webb said something that sounded very old school. Facing the 600 of us who were there in rows just behind the 50 or 60 voting members of the DNC, he looked at the 50-60 and told them they were the DNC. In context, I understood him to be contasting the voting members to the handful of insider's insiders who build the budgets and do the day to day work and decision making of the DNC. But I wondered that he missed the opportunity to speak to the roles the rest of us play.
more to come
Update [2005-1-26 13:18:45 by CalifSherry]:
This measured message from Garry Shay, DNC member and former Chair of the Los Angeles County Democratic Central Committee, is making the email rounds. He writes with evident respect and appreciation for the candidates and, by implication, for their supporters in the DNC.
Over the past two years, I've come to value and trust Dr. Lucy Sells, the Regional Director for District 5 of the Contra Costa Democratic party. Lucy supports Howard Dean for DNC chair. She writes "I totally trust his instincts on how to enroll his colleagues on the DNC."
"Garry is a True-Blue Democrat. I've worked with him for several years on a variety of issues. His is a critically important endorsement. He has earned much respect among his DNC colleagues." So, with that
Dear Fellow Democrat:
I have now had an opportunity to personally speak with virtually every candidate for DNC Chair, listen to over 100 people testify in both the North and South of this great state, received nearly 100 letters from not only activist Democrats, but County Central Committees, and CDP Executive Board members, and finally, this last weekend, listen to the candidates themselves in a forum in Sacramento.
I have come to a decision as to who I am going to support for DNC Chair.
Although I supported Howard Dean for President of the United States, I have told many, early on, that being the leader of the free world is not the same as being the leader of the Democratic Party. My choice for Party chair, is not determined by my choice for President in the Primaries, and most certainly not by any threats that misguided supporters of any candidate might make.
But first, a recap on the presentations made last weekend:
Wellington Webb, in my opinion, made the second best presentation this last weekend in Sacramento. He spoke forcefully, and with conviction, that the base of this party should not be taken for granted. He spoke of giving DNC members a role, and of supporting a grant of $200,000.00 to each of the State Parties.
He seemed to understand how to frame the issues posed by "Guns, God, and Gays", and remain faithful to the party's principals. He was in the forefront in his local area in promoting non-discrimination against gays and lesbians and advancing the interests of the disabled.
Wellington acknowledges the need to work with the grassroots and harvest their energy. He reaffirmed his support of Roe vs. Wade, his opposition to privatization of Social Security, and his belief that we needed to fight for Liberty & Freedom at home. He stated that he felt the current administration is neither compassionate, nor conservative. He was aware that 60% of all DNC donors are female. He also promised that if he was visiting an area, he would inform DNC members in advance, something that has not always been the case in the past.
Donnie Fowler, the son of former DNC chair Don Fowler, also has merit. He is tired of conceding the debate to the crazy right wing, and promised that the Democratic Party would not concede on his watch. He noted the need to embrace the Latino vote, have a "Latino Desk" and let Latino DNC members set the message. He believes that Environmentalism is a core issue in the Party that needs to be framed as stewardship of the land and water. He sees a need to embrace new technologies and use them to our benefit.
Donnie was the National Field Director for the Gore 2000 campaign. He has worked on multiple campaigns on the ground level. he believes we should stand up for our agenda, and agenda of diversity, access, and values. He believes we must fight for what we believe in.
Simon Rosenberg, noted he was sick and tired of being sick and tired. He wants to speak to the core issues of youth and brought the College Democrats back into the Party in 1990 (they were banished by LBJ in the 60's for opposing the war).
He has never been on a central committee, but notes the need to unite all wings of the party stressing that "We are all Democrats". He likes to refer to us as "partners" and not "donors." He wants to end the monopoly of Iowa and New Hampshire in the nominating process. He supports Roe v. Wade. He recognizes that we fight for those that do not have a voice. He stresses that we need to concentrate on what unites, not what divides us.
Martin Frost, who helped pass the Japanese American Reparations bill and states he is committed to Human Rights and Women's Rights (an odd way of saying it?), [Frost may be at least passingly familiar with Women's Rights are Human Rights, the banner slogan of the International Women's Rights movement. -- SR] has organized Minority Voter Registration Campaigns and feels that one of the Party's big problems is the way we speak to rural voters and their concerns. He feels we need to make sure we talk about a safe America and our belief in God.
He wants to get DNC staff members into the real world and break the culture of the consultants. He believes our regional desk persons should travel more. He has concerns about taking away a part of the appointing power of the chair and giving it to the regions of the DNC as pertains to at-large appointments, as proposed by former DNC Chair Fowler. He would like a partnership with the states in raising money and would return a portion to the states based on the amount raised. He was elected to Congress 13 times in a "Red" state.
Tim Roemer, loves his Party. [which he said, repeatedly.-- SR] He wants to win elections. He believes that jobs equal hope and that we have to fight for jobs. He stated that his Chief of Staff was a member of the LGBT community, as are other members of his staff. He believes in Civil Unions. He believes the Party needs to be inclusive, tolerant, and willing to fight for what it believes in. He is proud to be in the vanguard. He wants to fight for people who cannot fight for themselves. He believes we cannot just be the anti-Bush Party. Tim believes we need to fight, each and every day for the core values of our Party. Tim is believes in equal pay for equal work, and does not support freedom of choice in reproductive rights. He is clearly passionate about what he believes. [Although he didn't address it directly until the end, to my ear, Roemer spoke like a man who considers himself misunderstood and at a disadvantage. -- SR]
David Leland, is a former chair of the Ohio Democratic Party. He lays claim to having helped register 1.1 million new Democrats. When he was Ohio State Chair, every big city mayor was a Democrat. He believes religion has a role in politics by helping shape the belief that we should help others less fortunate.
He believes we win when we talk about that which unites us.
He wants more caucuses to select Delegates to the National Convention and less primaries. He defers to the commission recently set up to study the primary process, choosing not to express an opinion on how it should be reformed, if at all. He was a ward committeeman for 29 years.
Which brings me to my choice for DNC Chair:
Howard Dean, appears to be the best of all of the above candidates rolled into one. He has run a large entity, the State of Vermont. He is passionate about what he believes in. He does believes we should not concede ground to the Republicans.
He will not back away from our central message. He wants to conduct four year, fifty state campaigns. He believes in providing for the salary of the Executive Directors and two staff people as well as their healthcare for each of the Democratic Parties of the States and Territories; providing 15 million dollars to the State and Territorial Parties. He does believes that California should no longer continue to be the ATM for the nation. He has sworn that he will not run for president if elected DNC Chair, and will continue to support the Party if he is not elected Chair. He understands the need to reach out
to all wings of the Party, and has acknowledged the need for his organization, Democracy for America, to become more diverse. He wants to empower local and
state parties and can raise money, get out votes, and excite the base in any state. He speaks forcefully with power, passion, and conviction.
Salon.com stated on 1/24/05:
"All of the news stories reporting Dean's decision to seek the DNC chairmanship repeated the standard rap against him: He's too liberal. But that charge doesn't reflect reality so much as it reflects the Washington establishment's version of reality. Dean was labeled a liberal by the media essentially because he opposed the Iraq war. Never mind that he was also a deficit hawk who opposed gun control, gay marriage and universal healthcare, or that many conservatives later embraced his criticism of the war. In the post-Sept. 11 mood of false patriotism, the media assumed that anyone who criticized an apparently successful war had to be a liberal, and that was that.
"This mischaracterization has led observers to miss the real source of Dean's appeal to a jaded electorate: He knows what he believes and he's not afraid to say it plainly enough for ordinary people to understand. His vision for Democrats is not about moving the party to the left; it's about Democrats standing for something that resonates with ordinary Americans -- a task that current party leaders have manifestly failed to achieve."
The New York Times had the following story on 1/18/05:
"The only knock against Howard Dean is that he's seen as too liberal," Mr. Maddox said. "I'm a gun-owning pickup-truck driver and I have a bulldog named Lockjaw. I am a Southern chairman of a Southern state, and I am perfectly comfortable with Howard Dean as D.N.C. chair."
"What our party needs right now is energy, enthusiasm and a willingness to do things differently," he said. "I think Howard Dean brings all three of those things to the party."
Over the course of the last several weeks I have seen the continued energy of the Dean Campaign. I have received many letters, spoken at several events,
and witnessed the existence of an organization that has much to offer the Democratic Party. I have had friends who did not support Dean in the primary
approach me and ask me to consider voting for Howard Dean because the party needed someone who was not afraid to lead and speak out against the Republicans. It was probably these people who really made me open myself back up to this possibility.[Emphasis mine.]
But most importantly, I have seen a man who has no fear in confronting our opponents and who speaks clearly with passion and integrity. A man who can
properly frame the debate in terms all can understand and identify with. A man who has made it possible for me, and others, to believe in him. I think back over
the thirty-four years of my involvement in politics, and there are so very few who can lay claim to having done that. Howard Dean is one of them.
For these reasons I will cast my vote for Howard Dean for DNC Chair and have asked that my fellow DNC members join with me.
Garry S. Shay
Member, Democratic National Committee (CA)
Representing 6.5 million registered Democrats
