Obama's Movement
Home | Articles | Proposals

Obama's Movement

Proposals for Post-election Activities

Recommendations to the National Office

As the intensive planning session concerning the future of the Obama grassroots movement continues in the Chicago national office (conference calls with Field Organizers conclude tomorrow), representing myself, I've been continuing to send some recommendations to the national office via this listserv for their consideration.

Without encouragement from Mike Moffo, a member of the Obama for America National Field Staff, I would not have continued to post my recommendations. However, in response to my second post, "The Importance of Structure," Mike [gave me considerable semi-private private encouragement].

Given that encouragement, I have proceeded. This matter seems urgent to me. I trust that some of those who have not offered feedback so far will find my reflections interesting and valuable. My essays might even assist folks in evaluating the actions that emerge from the Chicago planning session. So I hope to post at least two more items, "Strategy and Tactics" and "What Might It Mean to 'Transform this Nation'?"

The planning process being undertaken by the national office, which includes an extensive questionnaire circulated widely and five days of four simultaneous one-hour conference calls with groups of ten Field Organizers, is very impressive. I very much look forward to the report on their deliberations and trust that it will be a thoughtful, feasible proposal.

With regard to my recommendations, I welcome your input and feedback, whether to me individually or to the list. If you email me personally, please let me know if it's ok for me to quote you and identify you as the author if you want me to do so. Otherwise, I'll quote you anonymously unless you direct me not to do so.

I've also been circulating my comments to two other email lists and as a Note on Facebook (FB) and to members of the FB Strategy Workshop (which you're welcome to join).

A report on the extensive feedback on my recommendations, most all of which has been very positive, that I've received follows. I identify the authors only when they posted to the list.

In addition, in reaction to my "Feedback from Chicago" post, I've had a very interesting exchange with a New Mexico activist. Our discussion in part has addressed the difference between canvassing/GOTV and organizing. One of her suggestions is:

--Wade Hudson

The extensive feedback to this, my first post, is at: http://progressiveresourcecatalog.org/index.php/Obama/ArticleB

Susan Pfeiffer:
I do have a personal problem with your suggestion that we stay within our Congressional Districts. I live in San Francisco and have been politically active here for the past 5 years . . . but, technically, I live in what is now Jackie Speier's district which is mostly San Mateo country. I prefer to continue my political activities in San Francisco where I live. I know many others who live in the Sunset and West Side who feel the same way. [NOTE: In response to her comment, I modified my recommendations.]

Respectfully, Susan Pfeifer

+++++

Anonymous:
[Concerning social networking tools] I believe a three prong approach would be best: Facebook(myspace/twitter/blogger rings) for general information, social gatherings and event planning, informal exchange, gauging on social issues (including keeping an eye on places like petition.org over uninformed polls & pundits who don't speak for the masses anymore . Votebuilder/mycampaign to target and find people interested in volunteering (which the Obama campaign worked from almost exclusively in new mexico) and use myBO to gather essential tools to be effective, but also starting with the fresh start getting everybody to be on thesame page, everybody to be on facebook and myBO and making sure that CD's are overseeing activity on all three.

+++++

Anonymous:
The discussion was not to roll MyBO into the DNC. All of us that did phone work in the general, populated the DNC Voter DB's.

And the intel I remember is that O4P/B4VP integrated data even before the Convention. These are not the point.

MyBO will not become "rolled into" the DNC, as to do that would kill it.

The choices, now secret to all of us, involve how to bring MyBO under a "foundation", where participant groups can share communications and raise money, as well as where MyBO could accept money independantly.

This discussion was what I was waiting for, to get guidance on suggested legal entities open for group adoption.

Some groups will take NGO status.

Some groups will take Co-op status. (FDR was into Co-op's)

Some will take PAC form.

Others will take Community Organization form.

The IRS has a list of the possibilities open for groups to elect under charter.

I hoped to get a legal team - committee to study, report back, and educate everyone.

PAC entities are out, as CAN would never become a PAC.

MoveOn is a PAC - right?

You did not discuss the Foundation options already in the News for weeks.

And at no point would any group need any "list" other than the list made up from it's own members.

Cross group communications comes with registration on MyBO. The "list" is already ours.

????

My interest, is the movement is supposed to be bottoms up - not top down.

Of course there will be DCCC local entities, but most on MyBO are Net focused, not DCCC/DNC old school patrisans. It's a post partisan world.

And the No on 8 flash issue demonstrations clearly show it's a Net future.

The CAN entities - hopefully - will build on, with, and off the Net!

I see HB Teams as more DP focused, as I don't see most people into the structure of the Party - any Party.

CAN has to provide breathing room for all, and geographical committments to make sure local, regional, State & National Actions are efficient and effective.

On structure - we are not there yet. And we all need some skilled legal input. I hope lawyers show up and team up into a committee on 11/29.

(smile)

+++++

Anonymous:
Hey Wade. Regarding how to best utilize the Obama email list, my initial thoughts are that the integrity of the list should be preserved first and foremost. I wouldn’t want it to be proprietary to Obama efforts, but care should be taken that it not be overused to the point where people get turned off to what they might perceive as political spam. I’d suggest that it stay in the Obama team’s hands until some kind of apparatus for using and maintaining it is created. Eventually it should be turned over to the DNC.

+++++ Anonymous:
The lateral structure, and local groups such as during the phone banks for Obama, are critical.

Anonymous:
I have a question: I didn't see how you would address rural areas not in the San Francisco Bay Area Group, but are in the Northern California Area. Can you address this please. [NOTE: I replied, " Good point. I should have said more along that line. I'd be interested in your thoughts. I did say "Most people identify primarily with their city (or nearest town)." Would it be sufficient to say that folks in rural areas would likely form a team with others who live near the same town and select one or two reps to an intra-state regional team.? Or do you have some other concerns or suggestions?"

Anonymous:
That's beautifully written and so well spoken. Thank you for your insight.That's beautifully written and so well spoken. Thank you for your insight.

++++

was at your meeting in SF.. I talked about Obama and the importance of empathy. have you seem my collection of his speeches where he talks about empathy? over 30 speeches. see

http://progressivespirit.com/Projects/Obama-Empathy-Video/index.htm

Stephen C. Rose:
I put this up today [on his blog], Cheers, Stephen C. Rose http://stephencrosehome.blogspot.com

Anonymous:
I appreciate all your work. Re Mission Statements: Our Constitution is one of the best in the world, written by one of the best writers and thinkers of the time, Thomas Jefferson. We all need to remember what it stands for, especially after these last 8 years.

Anonymous:
Nice!

Eric Foster:
Nice try. Mission statements are hard. I think everyone doing their best to come up with one runs out of time and ideas. In the Post-Election Workshop I was dissatisfied with your mission statement suggestion there and came away determined to come up with something to help. I was sure I could do it because I had two books by George Lakoff who covers the subject of language for progressives very well. On spending one night on it I realized I still couldn't do it.

Anyway, Lakoff draws a framework of ideas that someone else might be able to make a great mission statement from. I thought I'd give them here briefly.

All these words come with lots of associated ideas and nuances that explain their connections to each other and to actions and policies. Standing bare here doesn't do them justice. To fully appreciate their meaning in our context, please see the source, Lakoff's "Thinking Points, Communicating Our American Values and Vision," ch. 4, section "The Progressive Vision."

The moral bases are Empathy and Responsibility.

From these flow core Values:

• Protection
• Fulfillment in Life
• Freedom
• Opportunity
• Fairness
• Equality
• Prosperity
• Community

And from those flow core Principles:

• Advancing the Common Good
• Expansion of Freedoms
• Upholding Human Dignity
• Protecting and Promoting Diversity

I think these connect well to the highlights of the Platform and Barack's speeches you list. One basic challenge in making a mission statement is that our goals are broad and have many facets. Nothing short comes even close to being accurate. And long ones wear out the attention of anyone expecting a "statement." I like much of what you've offered and have some problems with it but I don't want to start a thread about it on this group.

Whatever we and the Obama campaign leaders make of our organization, I agree a good mission statement deserves attention. Maybe there will be a process for input and collaborative development of one. Or it may fall behind other priorities. In any case I strongly believe thinking about these things is good for us, as we need to know well what we believe in common and why. I highly recommend Lakoff's books for help in this.

+++++

Anonymous:
I like this....alot. I would like to change one word..instead of "battle" can we use another word. Don't exactly know what it could be but next objective, next common struggle or simply "I want to win to establish justice and opportunity"......or, or

+++++

Anonymous:
A mission statement is what the entity is chartered to do. A purpose statement is lofty and noble, it is the articulation of the vision in powerful language. It is the purpose statement that moves people. The mission statement keeps people on track.

What you have hear are a combination of values and objectives. Goals are concrete and measurable with a time dimension. Do you have a copy of my book with you?

My folks just arrived - I will take a crack at this over the next week. Have a great Thanksgiving.

+++++

Anonymous:
Fantastic stuff!

+++++

Anonymous:
think you

I don\'t know if you are connected with Tom Atlee. Here is a proposal from him in case you haven\'t seen it.

++++

This is great, Wade. I am very hopeful that at least some level of the Obama team will relate to this and support it. I will definitely bring the ideas to my network.

++++

coming

Mike Arrajj:
Wade and everyone,

I think that your work is wonderful and exactly what is needed to 1) keep Obama's nose to the grindstone, 2) link the personal with the political. I'm afraid my email is tangential at best, but I feel nervous and want to see if others are also nervous. So, I'm not suggesting a diversion from your primary process, just a necessary parallel process. Same situation as during the first term of FDR. To implement real progressive change, Obama and our other elected officials need to hear from all of us often. Otherwise Obama will not be able to withstand the intense pressure he will receive from the forces for the status quo.

For example Wall Street, et. al. This pressure is the only way to explain why Obama is bringing in so may Clintonites. As Naomi Wolf points out, there are so many myths told about the Clinton years. The de-regulation that took place during those years is what laid the groundwork for the disasters of the Bush years. We ought not to bail out the bankers with blank checks given that they are the ones responsible in large part for the crisis we are in. We ought not to bail the the "Big Three" automakers without insisting that they revamp their management teams and get rid of their CEOs. There is no reason to postpone a roll back of the Bush tax breaks to the super wealthy, but that is exactly what Rahm Emmanuel is suggesting will happen. The list goes on.

My point is that in addition to the proposal for developing local activist groups that are focused on the political as well as supporting each other and enhancing personal growth, we must keep pressure on all our elected representatives or Obama's lofty ideas for change will remain nothing more than ideas.

Comments: To give feedback or make a suggestion concerning this page, click here.