So, we're running into a brick wall locally

[Le Taz Hot]

trying to get the local Democratic Party Headquarters to feature anything Bernie. Last time I was there there were TONS of stuff for Hillary and absolutely nothing for any of the other candidates.

So, right after our July 6, Fresno for Bernie Steering committee meeting several people, including myself, submitted the dates for the upcoming Fresno for Bernie Steering Committee meetings as well as the Fresno For Bernie meetings (all are invited) to be added to the calendar. We're still waiting. There seems to be some sandbagging going on at the Democratic Party Headquarters when it comes to anything other than Hillary.

I mean, we're going full-steam-ahead regardless but I was just wondering if anyone else is running into this problem with their local Democratic Party organization? I'm just curious.

[marym625]

1. Someone else posted a similar problem

I think someone in Texas. Looks like the party is being ridiculous. IMHO

[TBF]

16. Yup - have been busy with summer

(kids are off) but that was me. Pissed off south of Houston with local party people who are organizing for Hillary and using little disclaimers like "but this is separate from the party". Separate my ass when you're using your party letterhead to do it. But I guess we should expect this. We know who the DNC wants.

But someone posted that http://www.peopleforbernie.com/ is organizing everywhere. I don't know who these folks are but the more of them the better!!

[marym625]

17. Great link!

There's another Occupy site that is helping every one organize locally. As soon as I find it, I will post it.

Yeah, total bullshit for them to use the party letterhead for something they're not supposed to.

[elleng]

2. Doesn't surprise me one bit.

I have no experience in these matters, but have not doubted that the 'professional' Democrats would play such games re: Bernie. I'll be interested to know whether the same is true for O'Malley efforts, and wouldn't be surprised if that's the case for him too. Some might call it 'sharp elbows.'

[OffWithTheirHeads]

3. Just the opposite in Tucson

Attended a strategy session at Dem headquarters Sunday. Lots of enthusiasm for the Bern. I of course wore my Bernie t-shirt and got lots of complements.

[Le Taz Hot]

5. Well, I'm VERY glad to hear that.

Sounds like there are some pockets doing this but it's not a universal thing. I'm glad for that.

[djean111]

4. The Democratic Party only wants to use Bernie for fund-raising purposes, IMO.

They will only embrace him if he does better than Hillary in the debates and/or the polls, and I feel that this is why the debates are not scheduled yet, and why there will be so few of them. I think they think we Bernie supporters will just scuttle over to supporting Hillary, if they refuse to support Bernie. (Nope.) I asked them to remove me from their mailing list, and I am certainly not going to give them any money.

On a brighter note, I live in the Tampa Bay area and have been invited to five or six Bernie parties in the past week. No help from the DNC needed.

[Doctor_J]

6. Yes, and to paint the party as populist. HRC is a banker- and establishment-friendly insider.

the party big shots have given her some of Sanders' populist sound bites to recite and like having Bernie on view to throw a bone to liberals who are less than thrilled with Clinton.

[HooptieWagon]

13. Yes, that's my observation in Fl and TB region.

Official party is going to be all in for Third Way candidates, and block progressive candidates. As far as activists, you're welcome to join as long as you support the party elite and their pet candidates.
OTOH, there is an active Progressive Democrats group in the area. I would suggest Bernie activists work through them rather than waste time battling an unreceptive party apparatus. I have gotten word that there's already been some Sanders meetup events held in S St Pete at open houses. If I hear of more, I'll post the announcement in the Bernie Group and X-post in Florida Group.

[jtuck004]

7. Set up your own table on the sidewalk outside. It's city property, yes? n/t

[Le Taz Hot]

8. Actually, it's a strip mall.

They're letting the Fresno for Bernie group have their meeting at the headquarters but Progressives Democrats of America have been banned -- part of the internecine squabbles that I don't EVEN want to get into.

It's not really an area that gets a lot of foot traffic so I don't know how effective setting up a table would be. It's just odd to me that given that there is a good amount of local support for Sanders that there is, like, NOTHING in the office or on the website.

It's not going to deter us, mind you, we're an activist group and we'll find plenty of tabling opportunities (that's actually my assignment for the next Steering Committee meeting).

[jwirr]

12. That is what I was going to suggest. If this continues try to set up a Democratic Headquarters for

Bernie in sight of their building with a nice big sign. We need to go around anyone who will not allow access to our resources and do it our way.

I also think that these things need to be reported to Bernie's campaign. The DNC should have to help with financing if they are allowing Hillary to set up her campaign in their building without giving us the same access.

I wonder how many Bernie donations the DNC has received?

[fed-up]

9. Up here in Northern CA we have two Democratic Clubs

There was a split a few years back.

One is more progressive than the other, of course I am in the more progressive club, where most support Bernie as individuals. They will not back a candidate until the primaries are done.

Ours does not have an office yet, don't know about the other one.

So you could think about splitting off from your main club.

[Le Taz Hot]

10. I think the PDA (supporting Bernie) already did that.

Either that or they were asked to leave. Not sure of the history there and don't want to know. LOL! I was just curious if anyone else has been experiencing the same thing with the locals. From what I can gather, it looks like there might be pockets of this occurring but I don't think it's a national thing.

[calikid]

15. I'm in Northern CA too.

I just signed up for a Bernie meet up on the 29th, and didn't even consider the local Democratic (cough cough) group, some ones panties are going to be in a wad

[spinbaby]

11. We had the same problem in 2007

The local committee was all about "How are we going to support Hillary?"

[sabrina 1]

14. If this is a strategy nation wide, it is a bad one, especially for people who

still undecided. A majority of people even if they have already decided on a candidate, want a vigorous primary.

Blocking other candidates isn't the way to provide that.

[MineralMan]

18. I think those local headquarters depend on candidates

and their organizations to supply stuff to them. They aren't creating it themselves. So, there's a job for local Sanders supporters. Get materials and take them to the local headquarters. Or contact the Sanders campaign organization and request that they send materials.

I know my local organization doesn't create any campaign materials until after the caucus/convention cycle, when endorsements have been made. It relies on candidates to supply materials for distribution.

[Le Taz Hot]

19. Well, all of us being experienced campaigners, of course,

are in the process of obtaining materials. Money is being raised and material has been ordered from the Sanders campaign but they have, and continue to be, backlogged.

But until those goals are achieved Sanders Events that have been submitted for the last month by several people have yet to be added on to the local Democratic Party website calendar.

I have my suspicions as to the reason that is happening but this is an upbeat group and I try to respect that. My OP was to find out if other areas were experiencing the same obstacles. As per the responses, I think it's just isolated incidents.

[MineralMan]

20. Hmm...are you active in the local Democratic Party organization?

If so, make it your business to insist that that calendar show those events. If not active, why not?

Here's what I think: If the local organization doesn't do its job, kick your concern up, all the way to the state organization, if necessary. Insist. Make it clear that you're upset by this and press the issue until they comply with what they should be doing. Make noise and be annoying until they do it.

[Le Taz Hot]

21. No, I'm not.

But the people organizing one of the local Bernie Sanders groups are involved with the local Democratic Party organization and the meetings are at their headquarters.

That being said, I think our time is better focused furthering the local campaign. There will be too many other opportunities to spread the word and add people and resources to our local efforts. If one avenue is closed there are a hundred other avenues out there.

Besides, I've worked with the local organization. Trust me, getting involved with their internecine squabbles is something for which I have absolutely no time or patience. I, like everyone else, have a finite amount of time and it has to be laser focused on getting Bernie elected.

[Admiral Loinpresser]

22. You might get better turn around

from We Want Bernie national HQ. Of course, that might not be very practical if you already have orders in with the official campaign.

As to local Party establishment resistance, when your numbers get big enough, you might consider a coup. If you have local party elections coming up in the next half year or so, you could simply vote out the establishment and replace them with Bernie people. May not be practical in your area, but I'm sure that will happen in more than one place in the country in the next 6-12 months!