Join Iowa Dean Rapid Response

Dean Rapid Response is a growing nationwide email network of Dean supporters (currently 36 Iowa members) who use people-power to push for fair and accurate media coverage of Governor Dean and Democrats.

At its heart, Dean Rapid Response is a vehicle for engaging people in their democracy. The "action alerts," from state to national, are the product of ongoing streams of discussion on our 52 yahoo groups - state coordinators talking to the members in their states, in turn talking to other state coordinators. We are reading newspapers, identifying issues, researching information and sharing resources. The report we send out is a phenomenal collaboration - like the blog, it's a continuous American conversation.

It's clear what the members of our network expect of America's leaders and the mainstream media. They want a debate in this country based on substance rather than form, based on truth rather than misquotes, misrepresentations and outright lies. WE now know what most Americans don't: A free press as a check on power in our democracy isn't quite working. That gives us a responsibility. We are in the unique position to - one letter at a time - push the truth into the view of the general public. The Rapid Response structure provides the muscle of national resources and organization with the effectiveness that can only be achieved by acting at a local level. Rapid Response members, 1,500 of us now, are the consumers of publications across the country, so ultimately, working together, we have power we have yet to exercise fully. And we want you and every other open-minded American to continue the fight with us. 

Unwilling to surrender a single state, even the red ones, RR is still looking for volunteers even if you only write one letter. Please, accept our invitation to join the effort at Dean Rapid Response. Ten minutes of your time, multiplied by all of us = the power to take our country back.  Sign up for the Iowa & national reports at Rapid Response - Iowa.  If you have questions about the Iowa members group, please contact Ellen or questions about the national group, contact Liz.

Rapid Response will not go away after the Democratic Convention in Boston or the Republican Convention in New York. We will not go away after November's election or January's swearing in. We will not go away in 2004 or 2008. We're here until the Fourth Estate re-learns how to do its job.

Ellen Ballas and Trish Nelson

Iowa Co-Coordinators, Dean Rapid Response