Dean: DFA Commits Funds to Building Progressive Infrastructureby Linda Thieman
Big news out of Democracy for America this week
During these last six months, those of us with an eye on Howard Dean have been present for a remarkable transformation. We watched the birth of Democracy for America on March 18. We watched as what has come to be known as DFA 2.0 learned how to walk. We watched as the related state groups, such as our own Democracy for Iowa, were given free rein to find a system that would work for us. And, after four months of struggle and only rudimentary connection between Democracy for America and Democracy for Iowa, we watched as DFA 2.0 passed the “survival goal” and became a real force, offering up some real assistance to those of us on the ground.
Once that “survival goal” was passed, DFA 2.0 suddenly blossomed. New staffers were brought on and contact between DFA and the state groups increased dramatically. In Iowa, Democracy for Iowa is DFA’s eyes and ears, trained on the political scene. DFIA has vetted and endorsed a slate of exceptional candidates (see right sidebar), and DFA 2.0 uses our slate of candidates to determine which candidates they will help in Iowa.
Last week, DFA announced that they would be opening up Gov. Dean’s email lists to help our candidates. Whereas Gov. Dean promised he would never give away or sell these hefty lists, he is having his staff send emails from DFA on behalf of our candidates and their events and targeting specific local areas.
Second, DFA has opened up their blog to the state groups. Last week, over the course of 8 days, Democracy for Iowa was featured on the Dean blog three times, with one statewide email sent out on our behalf. This was a feature the state groups had long been fighting for, and indeed, it did help us reach some of our people who did not realize we were still here. We made some good new contacts, and got a boost in traffic at Blog for Iowa.
This week, Gov. Dean has announced that he will be taking the slate of candidates endorsed by the state groups and distributing a quarter of a million dollars to help fund their races. This is big news that will affect the Iowa races in a positive way.
It is Gov. Dean’s intention to build a progressive infrastructure, one not unlike what the ultra-conservatives have been building for the last 35 years. And supporting our state and local candidates is one way he’s going to do it.
I have long admired Gov. Dean, not only because he has high ideals and, as Jane Austen would say, “correct opinions,” but also because he is a pragmatic man. He knows that our goals can be accomplished if we are well organized and systematic, consistent and persistent – and, of course, well funded. Democracy for Iowa strongly believes that we have selected a slate of Iowa candidates who are that appealing combination of high ideals, correct opinions, and pragmatism.
To contribute to Gov. Dean’s cause, click here.
