Minnesota DNC Representatives at Grassroots Listening Session

[Lydia Leftcoast]

The Progressive Caucus of the Minnesota DFL sponsored a grassroots listening session this evening (Dec. 3) in Saint Paul for Minnesota's members of the Democratic National Committee as well as our state chair. The main topic was the upcoming election of a new DNC Chair.

Over a hundred (maybe as many as two hundred?) people showed up for the open mike session. Most were from either Minneapolis or Saint Paul, but there were a few from far-flung suburbs. Included in the crowd were myself and several DUers: dpbrown, no name no slogan, goodhue, and EricJ in Minnesota. (Apologies if I overlooked anyone). I also saw many people I knew from the Kucinich campaign, and it was evident that a lot of veterans of the Dean campaign were there, too.

Anyone who wanted to express an opinion was given one minute to make a statement, and I estimate that perhaps fifty people did. While they covered a variety of concerns, several consistent themes emerged:

1. The Dems have to offer a consistent, clear, easily stated vision that will give voters a reason to vote for them instead of just against the Republican. "I know better what the Republicans stand for than I know what the Democrats stand for," one participant said.

2. The party needs to develop its grassroots movements and keep them alive between election years. A lot could be accomplished in terms of person-to-person persuasion and visibility during the "off" years. One participant suggested showing thought-provoking ads ("Which do you prefer: Social Security or tax cuts for the wealthy?") in the red states NOW.

3. Participants were angry at the national party for depending too much on corporate contributions, disrespecting grassroots activists with local knowledge in favor of Beltway consultants, and paying attention to the base only when it wants money.

4. Participants were very aware of the need to reform the media and the voting system. One man told of driving through the red states recently and hearing nothing but right wing hate programs on the radio.

5. The types of candidates the participants wanted to see were those who were bold at expressing a positive vision and who had integrity.

The evening ended with a straw poll about the people currently under consideration for DNC Chair. Howard Dean was the overwhelming favorite, followed by Sidney Rosenberg and Max Cleland. "Don't know" got more votes than any of the other candidates.

The DNC members present reacted quite favorably to what they heard. We learned that one way in which the Minnesota party is different from many other states is that DNC reps are elected by the rank and file, not appointed. Perhaps this is why they were so willing to come to this meeting. I suspect that appointed reps might dismiss the attendees at such a meeting and tell us that "we don't really understand."

Our DNC reps will be holding three other listening sessions in other parts of the state.

I hope that activists in other states are able to organize similar sessions with their DNC reps. From what I hear from around the country, some state parties really need their asses kicked.

[DFLforever]

1. I was there too, Lydia, and this is a damn good summary of the meeting.

I was impressed with the questions asked and points made by the participants. They really covered a cross-section of concerns.

I am also impressed they are holding these meetings. Kudos to the Progressive Caucus.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

2. Uff da!

Guess I have to :kick: my own thread.

[no name no slogan]

3. What an amazing event!!!

However, I would have to at least double Lydia's estimate. The arranged seating was for around 230 people, and those were basically full. Also, there were probably another 40-50 people standing at any given time, too. So an estimate of 300 people would not be out of line.

The MN DFL Progressive Caucus is moving forward, to keep up the momentum that progressives have in our state. We were one of the few Democratic success stories in 2004-- not only did our 10 electoral votes go for Kerry, we narrowed our gap in the state house from 13 to 1, and gave the state GOP a rude wake-up call.

The road to 2006 lays ahead of us, and there's a big election at the end: governor, all state legislative seats, and US Senator. We're laying the groundwork for a bright, progressive future for our state-- one that can be emulated by the nation!

Be sure to visit www.progressivecaucus.net, too. It's still in development, but it's a good resource (that, and I'm the webmaster, so I have to say that!) :)

[Robbien]

4. Your DNC reps

were they DLC types or progressives types? Did they seem open to taking the party in a new direction?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

5. Since they're elected rather than appointed, they were more grassroots

themselves. They told us, however, that in some states, the state party just nominates its biggest contributors without any input from the rank-and-file. These might be more likely to be DLC types.

[Robbien]

6. Thanks, my DFA meetup meeting is this coming Monday

Seems I need to do some background research on the DNC Illinois reps situation and hopefully the DFA Illinois will be doing something similiar to what you have done in Minnesota.

[MaineDem]

8. Our DNC members are elected as well

I thought they all were. Guess I'm wrong.

I'm glad they were listening to the rank and file.

Thanks for the report.

[sarahlee]

7. Thanks so much for sharing

Loved reading your reports. Get folks on school boards and city councils as well. We have to all be preparing for the 2006 elections right now.

Thank you all!

[merbex]

9. I just copied and pasted your post onto Word to bring to

my local Democratic Town Committee meeting.

I live in MA and even though we are "blue" I have found that there is a divide between business as usual and acceptance of grassroots.

It is not enough for me that we win locally!!!

We need a full examination of why we lost nationally; I get the sense that my chairman does not agree with me on this.

Your post will help show what is happening beyond the South Shore of MA

Thanks

[goodhue]

10. Great report.

I really hope party activists in other states are having similar events. The DNC chair is an elected position. The DNC members should be accountable to party members and reflect their will. If that is not the case in your state, then please do something about it. Just as your elected officals may have town hall meetings and listening tours, so too should your DNC members. This is the moment to provide such input before they elect the DNC chair in February.

[scarletwoman]

11. I really hope more Dems from other states will see this...

Organize your grassroots and make yourselves heard!

:kick:

sw

[janx]

12. This is the way democracy is *suppposed* to work!

Good for the Dems in Minnesota!

[buddhamama]

13. thanks for the report

Maine's Progressive Caucus will be meeting our DNC reps on Thursday. Focus of the meeting: What Does It Mean to Be a Democrat and Where Do We Go From Here?. Basically, we'll being doing some serious brainstorming.


I am looking forward to attending and, I sincerely hope we get the attendance number/s your meeting did.

thanks again :thumbsup:

[no name no slogan]

14. Great to hear!

I think this year WILL be the great re-awakening of the Democratic Party's roots. We played "put up or shut up" this year to the beltway consultants who "knew how to win elections", and look what happened-- even though we ran an exceptional candidate.

We need to take the grassroots momentum we have and keep it going between elections. We need to focus our efforts at the state and local level if we want to win back this country-- NOT just the presidency every four years.

We're on our way....

[goodhue]

15. kick for the grassroots

What's happening in your state with your DNC reps?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

16. Another shameless

:kick: for my own thread.

[CBHagman]

17. Here. Allow me.

BUMP.

[crispini]

18. Wow.

:kick: for love.