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Monday, January 31
Dean Wins Backing of State Dem Chairs
by
Linda Thieman
on Mon 31 Jan 2005 04:14 PM CST
 Dean Wins Backing of State Dem Chairs
Detroit Free Press
Howard Dean won the backing of state Democratic Party leaders Monday, putting him in a strong position to win the chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee.
"If
all of our members vote for him, that will be half of what he needs to
win the chairman's job," said Mark Brewer, chairman of the Association
of State Democratic Chairs.
The
party's presidential front-runner in 2003 won 56 votes from the state
chairs and Democratic activist Donnie Fowler -- who led Sen. John
Kerry's successful Michigan caucus campaign -- won 21 during a national
conference call. The state chairs ignored a recommendation made Sunday
by the executive committee to back Fowler. Other candidates' support
Monday was in single digits.
"We're
asking all of our state chairs and vice chairs to follow our
endorsements," Brewer said, noting that would bring 112 votes. "And we
think they will."
...Dean
already had about 50 endorsements of DNC members, including five
chairs. He needs a majority of the 447 members to win the post. The
election is scheduled Feb. 12.
Some in
the party have worried aloud about Dean, saying he may be too outspoken
and too blunt on occasion to provide effective leadership. But as
Dean's campaign gained ground, Democratic resistance has seemed to
fade....
(Click here to read the complete article.)
And this is just in . . .
Webb Drops Out of Race for DNC Chairmanship
DenverPost.com
Former Denver Mayor Backs Dean
Wellington
Webb dropped out of the race to chair the Democratic National Committee
today and endorsed former Vermont governor Howard Dean for the job.
Webb, a
former three-term Denver mayor, pulled out of contention immediately
after an influential group of state Democratic Party chairpeople
overwhelming supported Dean, a 2004 presidential candidate who promises
to rally the "Democratic wing of the Democratic Party."
Also today, Colorado Democratic Chairman Chris Gates backed Dean after stumping for Webb for more than a month.
(Click here to read the complete article.)
Sunday, January 30
DemocracyFest 2005!
by
Trish Nelson
on Sun 30 Jan 2005 07:43 AM CST
Welcome to DemocracyFest 2005!
DemocracyforTexas.Org
Democracy Fest, a gathering of
progressives from around the country hosted by DFT and co-sponsored by
My Vote is My Voice, will be held June 17-19 in Austin.
Down in
Texas, we know a bit about politics. We’re the home of Sam Rayburn,
LBJ, Barbara Jordan, Jim Hightower, Ann Richards—and those other guys.
You may have an image in your mind of us that has something to do with
horses, oil wells, and cactus. We have a different image of ourselves—a
lot of people working really hard to come out from under the aberration
that turned our blue state temporarily red. In other words, we’re
taking our state back for the people it really belongs to—us!
And
Austin? During the redistricting mess, Tom DeLay’s boys referred to us
as “The People’s Republic of Austin.” Perhaps that was payback for
voting for Al Gore in the 2000 election. Or it could have been our lack
of reverence for the biennial meeting of the legislature in our midst.
Or maybe it was because of our history of consistently electing the
most liberal leaders in the state. You might say we’re “a little
difficult.”
But
we’re not just all about politics. We not so modestly call ourselves
“The Live Music Capital of the World.” We’re the heart of the Texas
Hill Country; the location of Town Lake, Barton Springs, and the LBJ
Presidential Library; and home to the largest urban bat colony in the
world. And when we say “Keep Austin weird,” we mean it.
In
short, we’re the perfect place for DemocracyFest. We’re working hard on
the “Democracy” part. “Fest?” We’ve got that perfected. And we're
mighty pleased to have been chosen to co-sponsor DemocracyFest 2005
with My Vote is My Voice.
Read on... and register early!
When: The weekend of June 17–19
Where: Austin, Texas
Workshop sessions on the campus of historic Huston-Tillotson College;
Saturday evening dinner/entertainment at Stubb’s Bar-B-Q.
Workshop focus: Beyond Basic Training
We
guarantee you'll learn something new. We promise you won't hear about
the same old stuff. We even promise you'll learn something you didn't
know about databases, emailing, computers, the internet, and more. Some
ideas for workshop sessions include the following. And we want to hear
yours!
•
Changing the Party from the Inside: Democracy for Texas’ political
director, former State Rep. Glen Maxey, on turning red states blue (or
at least purple).
• Changing the Party from the Outside: Anything Charlie Grapski wants to talk about.
• Balancing Activism with Family/Professional Life: You know what we mean.
•
Growing the Grassroots: Exchange of ideas/strategies from participants,
with Grassroots for America invited to lead the session.
• Don't Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate: Inspired
by the book of the same title by famed UC Berkeley linguist and BFA
guest blogger George Lakoff, this session will address ways we as
progressives can use language more effectively to convey our positions
and vision to voters. A member of the Rockridge Institute, headed by
Dr. Lakoff, will lead the discussion.
• ¡Juntos, Sí Podemos! Learning from Latinos for America about successful outreach to minority communities.
• What Does It Mean to Be a Progressive? Historical perspectives plus open discussion.
•
Building a Community Website: Tips and tricks for making your website
all that it can be. Templates used in this session will be included on
the workshop CD.
Ticket price: $55/person. Includes:
• CD with materials from all workshop sessions
• DemocracyFest T-shirt
• Saturday morning breakfast (You’ll be craving “breakfast tacos” from now on!)
• Saturday night dinner at world-famous Stubb’s Bar-B-Q with major speakers
and musical guests. (Vegetarian dinner options available.)
(click here for more information)
(click here to register)
 Click here to sign up for action alerts
from RapidResponse - Iowa.
Friday, January 28
Update: Dean Bid for DNC Chair Picking Up Steam!
by
Linda Thieman
on Fri 28 Jan 2005 06:14 PM CST
Update: Dean Bid for DNC Chair Picking Up Steam!
From the Politicalwire:
The New York Post (ack!) reports
on rumors "about whether Bill and Hillary Clinton will join the
stop-Dean push" as Democrats gather in New York this weekend to jockey
for party chairman.
A
spokesman for Sen. Clinton says "she 'is neutral in this campaign. She
neither supports nor opposes any individual candidate' -- but several
Democrats say Clinton allies are trying to find a Dean alternative for
the Feb. 12 vote."
The AP confirms the race for Democratic chairman has come down to Howard Dean or the "anti-Dean" candidate.
From the Vermont Guardian
Dean is
picking up allies. He has won support from several black DNC members,
and he has gained the backing of some key players from the Kerry and
Clinton camps.
But
perhaps more telling: At a recent Sacramento event, an overflow crowd
defied expectations when they jammed the hotel suite where Dean and the
other candidates for the DNC leadership were speaking. “No one is as
yet clued in enough to the grassroots to anticipate an overflow and set
up a TV monitor,” commented one observer.
Down in
the trenches, Dean still resonates. Such support, from the ground up,
is proof that he can expand the party and attract and hold the diverse
constituency Democrats need to bring this country back from the brink.
(Click here to read the complete article.)
Thanks to David Loebsack and Ellen Ballas for contributing this information.
And from Trish, this late night update!
Ex-Clinton Aide Ickes Backs Dean for DNC
By WILL LESTER
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - Harold Ickes, a leading Democratic activist and
former aide to President Clinton, said Friday he is backing Howard Dean
to be chairman of the Democratic National Committee - giving a powerful
boost to the front-runner.
"I think all the candidates who are running have strong attributes, but
Dean has more of the attributes than the others," said Ickes, who
considered running for chairman himself before dropping out in early
January. "Many people say Howard Dean is a northeastern liberal, he is
progressive, but his tenure as governor of Vermont was that of a real
moderate."
Ickes, who heads the political action committee of Sen. Hillary Rodham
Clinton, D-N.Y., said the endorsement was his alone and "does not
reflect Sen. Clinton's opinion."
While Ickes would not comment on the Clintons' preferences, he is a
close ally and would not be endorsing Dean against their strong
objections. No one was immediately available in Sen. Clinton's office
to comment.
(Source)
Saturday, January 22
Howard Dean Wins Support of Latinos for America for DNC Chair
by
Trish Nelson
on Sat 22 Jan 2005 11:10 AM CST
Howard Dean Wins Support of Latinos for America for DNC Chair
Latinos for America.com
"To have someone with the integrity and conscience of Gov. Dean
at the helm of a major party, would be a coup not only for
progressives, but for every American wishing to restore integrity to
our political system. "
Since its founding almost one year ago, Latinos for America
has taken a stand for Latinos/Hispanics of all backgrounds. Our main
focus has been to provide trainings, materials, and educational
announcements to thousands of activists and first-time voters around
the country. Our message to Latinos and Friends of the Community is
simple: by speaking up and standing up for your values, and by
organizing with like-minded people, you can make a difference.
We
trained campaign managers, as well as new activists, in how to get
involved in their communities and their country. We created radio and
television public service announcements in Spanish and English to help
get out the vote. In the Tucson, Arizona area alone, two of our Latino
training graduates gained elected office.
Yet none
of these things would have been possible without the active support and
encouragement from Governor Howard Dean, and his grassroots
organization, Democracy for America. Democracy for America provided LFA
with valuable funds and support to make our acclaimed trainings
available to people around the country. Thanks to Dr. Dean, LFA
organized the first-ever high-level campaign management training
entirely in Spanish, tailored to active members of a janitor’s union.
Dr.
Howard Dean has been a strong supporter of Latino/Hispanic rights
throughout his life. As a young man, Gov. Dean learned to speak Spanish
by working in a Florida cattle ranch alongside immigrant farmers. As a
national candidate for president, he surprised his critics by gaining
the endorsement of the majority of members of the Congressional
Hispanic Caucus, along with that of Dolores Huerta, of the celebrated
United Farm Workers Union.
As the leader of Democracy for America,
which has sought to regenerate the farm-worker organizer model of the
1970’s and 80’s, Gov. Dean has proven that he can make the dream of
effective progressive grassroots organizing at the national level a
reality.
For
Latinos for America, an endorsement of Dr. Dean for the post of DNC
Chair is about more than progressive beliefs. A person like Governor
Dean has broad-based appeal. He appeals to moderates and progressives
of all the major parties, because he believes in the goals he lays out,
and he stands up for fundamental values, even when it is not popular to
do so.
To have someone with the integrity and conscience of Gov. Dean
at the helm of a major party, would be a coup not only for
progressives, but for every American wishing to restore integrity to
our political system.
With an
overwhelming vote of support among LFA’s officers, training graduates,
and other active members, Latinos for America proudly and
enthusiastically endorses Governor Howard Dean to lead the Democratic
National Committee. Because the future of our nation rests on the
validity of our electoral process and the integrity of our political
leaders, we encourage individuals and organizations around the country
to join us in taking this important step, and supporting Governor Dean
in this quest to reintroduce values to our political system, and
putting our nation back on track.
Sincerely,
The Board of Directors of Latinos for America
Click here to receive action alerts from RapidResponse - Iowa.
Wednesday, January 19
Howard Dean Adds Mississippi, Oklahoma and Utah to Growing List of Endorsements for Democratic National Committee Chair
by
Trish Nelson
on Wed 19 Jan 2005 06:46 AM CST
Howard Dean Adds Mississippi! Oklahoma! and Utah! to Growing List of Endorsements for DNC Chair
Blog for America
Following the news that the
Florida delegation to the Democratic National Committee voted
unanimously to endorse Howard Dean to be the party's next chairman,
three more states followed suit in endorsing Gov. Dean yesterday.
Governor
Howard Dean was endorsed today by several state Democratic Party chairs
and vice chairs, adding to his broad, diverse and growing list of
support both among the members of the Democratic National Committee
(DNC). The list of voting DNC state party chairs and vice-chairs
supporting Governor Dean include:
Florida: Chairman Scott Maddox, Vice-Chairwoman Diane Glasser
Mississippi: Chairman Wayne Dowdy
Oklahoma: Chairman Jay Parmley, Vice-Chairwoman Debbe Leftwich
Utah: Vice-Chairwoman Nancy Woodside
Washington: Chairman Paul Berendt
Vermont: Chairman Peter Mallary
This
list of supporters signifies that people in every region of the country
approve of Dean's vision and structure that he wants to bring to the
DNC.
"The
support of these influential chairs and vice chairs from all parts of
the country and across the political spectrum means a lot to me." Dean
said, "They are part of my overall strategy for Democrats to be
involved in every race in every town, city and precinct. I am looking
forward to working with them to ensure my election as the next Chairman
of the DNC."
Dean is
running for DNC Chair to build on the work his PAC, Democracy for
America, (DFA) has been doing to elect Democrats to local and national
offices. In addition to mobilizing grassroots support, DFA directly
donated over $1 million for candidates across the country.
Gov.
Dean continues to attend regional caucus meetings of the DNC membership
across the country and will be traveling to those meetings for the next
two weeks. This weekend (January 22), he will be in Sacramento to meet
with the Western Regional Caucus and the following weekend (January 29)
he will be in New York City to meet with the Northern Regional Caucus.
(click here to go to Blog for America)
 To express your support of Gov. Dean to Iowa DNC members who will be voting on February 15th, check out this easy to use tool.
Click here to join RapidResponse - Iowa.
Wednesday, January 12
Howard Dean to Run for DNC Chair
by
Linda Thieman
on Wed 12 Jan 2005 02:08 AM CST
Howard Dean to Run for DNC Chair
by Gov. Howard Dean, M.D.
As I
have traveled across our country, I have talked to thousands of people
who are working for change in their own communities about the power of
politics to make a difference in their own lives and in the lives of
others. Every group I have spoken to, I encouraged them to stand up for
what they believe and to get involved in the electoral process --
because the only sure way to make a difference is to step up and run
for office yourself.
Today, I'm announcing my candidacy for the Chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee.
The
Democratic Party needs a vibrant, forward-thinking, long-term presence
in every single state and we must be willing to contest every race at
every level. We will only win when we show up and fight for the issues
important to all of us.
Another
integral part of our strategy must be cultivating the party's
grassroots. Our long term success depends on all of us taking an active
role in our party and in the political process, by volunteering, going
door to door and taking the Democratic message into every community,
and by organizing at the local level. After all, new ideas and new
leaders don't come from consultants; they come from communities.
As
important as organization is, it alone can no longer win us elections.
Offering a new choice means making Democrats the party of reform --
reforming America's financial situation, reforming our electoral
process, reforming health care, reforming education and putting
morality back in our foreign policy. The Democratic Party will not win
elections or build a lasting majority solely by changing its rhetoric,
nor will we win by adopting the other side's positions. We must say
what we mean -- and mean real change when we say it.
But most
of all, together, we have to rebuild the American community. We will
never succeed by treating our nation as a collection of separate
regions or separate groups. There are no red states or blues states,
only American states. And we must talk to the people in all of these
states as members of one community.
That
word -- 'values' -- has lately become a codeword for appeasement of the
right-wing fringe. But when political calculations make us soften our
opposition to bigotry, or sign on to policies that add to the burden of
ordinary Americans, we have abandoned our true values.
We
cannot let that happen. And we cannot just mouth the words. Our party
must speak plainly and our agenda must clearly reflect the socially
progressive, fiscally responsible values that bring our party -- and
the vast majority of Americans -- together.
All of
this will require both national perspective and local experience. I
know what it's like to lead hands-on at the state level and I know what
it's like to run for national office.
With
your help, this past election season, Democracy for America, already
started creating the kind of organization the Democratic Party can be.
This past election cycle, we endorsed over 100 candidates at all levels
of government -- from school board to U.S. Senate. We contributed
almost a million dollars to nearly 750 candidates around the country
and raised millions of dollars for many more candidates.
Together,
we helped elect a Democratic governor in Montana, a Democratic mayor of
Salt Lake County, Utah and an African American woman to the bench in
Alabama. Fifteen of the candidates we endorsed had never run for office
before -- and won.
I also
have experience building and managing a local party organization. My
career started as Democratic Party chair in Chittenden County, Vermont.
I then ran successful campaigns: for state legislature, lieutenant
governor and then governor. In my 11-year tenure as governor, I
balanced the state's budget every year.
I served
as chair of both the National Governors' Association and the Democratic
Governors' Association (DGA). And as chair of the DGA, I helped recruit
nearly 20 governors that won -- even in states like Alabama, Georgia,
North Carolina, South Carolina and Mississippi.
All of
these experiences have only reaffirmed what I know to be true. There is
only one party that speaks to the hopes and dreams of all Americans. It
is the party you have already given so much to. It is the Democratic
Party.
We can win elections only by standing up for what we believe.
Thank you and I look forward to listening to your concerns in the weeks ahead.
Governor Howard Dean, M.D.
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