The "I Own My Vote" petition below is another effort to use Hillary Clinton's historic campaign for the White House as a means to accomplish permanent social and political changes. I have received a request to sign a petition calling for the Obama campaign and the DNC to recognize Clinton's contribution to the Democratic Party. I continue to be astonished at the extent of the political activity the Clinton campaign has inspired, especially among women. The petition seeks to formally recognize Clinton and her supporters. There is a concern that Clinton's supporters will be shut out to the convention process. I don't think this is just sour grapes or paranoia. I submitted an application to both the DNC and the local organzing committee in Denver in early March to volunteer at the convention as a Clinton supporter. My application was accepted, but, to date, I haven't received any confirmation that I will be given a volunteer assignment. Interesting.
On an alarming note, I also received a request today to contribute to a newspaper ad, "Hillary Supporters for McCain." YIKES. I will sign the "I Own My Vote" petition, but I will not support any effort to suggest that Hillary supporters vote for McCain.
Here is the "I Own My Vote" petition:
Bring us together by seating 100% of the Florida and Michigan delegations in Denver with 100% of their votes, allocated in accordance with the popular vote of each state.
Bring us together by adopting policies on the Platform Committee that Hillary Clinton has championed.
Bring us together through reform of the primary and caucus system to reflect the basic principle of one person/one vote.
Bring us together through outspoken denunciation of all gender bias, racism and other forms of discrimination.
Bring us together by fairly and respectfully including Hillary and her supporters at the Democratic National Convention in Denver by, among other things, placing her name in nomination for President, conducting a roll call vote, and providing her a prominent speaking role during prime time on August 26th, the 88th anniversary of women’s suffrage.
I own my vote. It does not belong to any party. It does not belong to any candidate. It does not belong to any mob that would impose its will on me. Only I can decide how to use my vote, and I can decide based on any criteria I choose. Therefore I pledge not to give my vote to anyone who does not earn it.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Why Obama Should Choose Ed Rendell VP
Even though I signed the "Vote Both" petition, I don't think Obama will choose Hillary Clinton as his running mate. He should choose one of her strongest supporters, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, instead. Rendell's support for John Kerry in 2004 was the key to Kerry's victory in Pennsylvania in the general election against George Bush. Obama has to winPennsylvania to beat McCain, but his loss to Clinton in the primary does not bode well. I can tell you from first-hand experience that Obama is going to have a difficult time winninig PA. Obama's campaign could use Rendell's populism among working-class voters to win over that group.
It is also significant that Rendell was General Chairman of the Democratic Committee during the 2000 election. His connections within the DNC and his loyalty to Clinton make him the ideal unity candidate.
I know that Rendell has already announced that he is not interested in the VP spot, but he has been at the forefront of Democratic presidential politics for almost a decade and would be sorely tempted to join Obama's ticket.
It is also significant that Rendell was General Chairman of the Democratic Committee during the 2000 election. His connections within the DNC and his loyalty to Clinton make him the ideal unity candidate.
I know that Rendell has already announced that he is not interested in the VP spot, but he has been at the forefront of Democratic presidential politics for almost a decade and would be sorely tempted to join Obama's ticket.
Did Media Bias Cost Clinton the Nomination?
My friends from the Clinton campaign in New England are still sharing their feelings about the campaign and remain bitter about the result. Their bitterness is understandable, but we should also critically evaluate Clinton's campaign strategy. Media bias aside, the Clinton campaign made several costly miscalculations. Most importantly, the campaign did not make adjustments after Obama won several caucus states. In a previous post, I reported on a "Conversations with Hillary" event in Boston, where Hillary unapoligetically and defiantly defended her strategy to focus on populus "blue" states. I reported at the time that I belived this attitude would cost her the nomination.
Why didn't Clinton change her blue state stategy after Obama won the Iowa caucuses? She had plenty of time then to compete in remaining caucus states. I'm not sure why the campaign didn't treat Obama's victory in Iowa as a wake-up call and make adjustments. The great irony of the primary campaign is that Clinton had the support of a significant number of state and local officials across the country but did not effectively organize this support to ensure that her surrogates represented her in caucus meetings. For example, Massachusetts State Representative Ruth Balser went to a Maine caucus site to represent Clinton (In Maine you don't have to be a resident to speak at a caucus). The caucus meeting Ruth attended supported Hillary, but the Clinton campaign did not have surrogates at each caucus site, which might have made a difference. Clinton's losses in caucus states, to be sure, cannot be attributed to her campaign alone. The caucus process, I believe, disenfranchises women for two reasons. Firstly, caucuses require a time commitment that many women cannot make because of work and family responsibilities. Secondly, the debate-style caucus deliberation process can be intimidating. I reported in March that young, white male Obama volunteers were fairly aggressive in Maine. Did the Obama campaign silence women? I believe so.
Even Howard Dean conceded when he meet with a group of female elected officials from Massachusetts in early May that the caucus system was undemocratic. Dean told the group that one of his goals as DNC chair was to try to encourage all states to adopt an open primary system. It is my guess that one outcome of this past primary season will be the end of the caucus. Good riddance.
Another miscalculation was the decision to keep too many paid staff in the Northeast. (She also spent too much time in the Northeast. I know that she needed to come through Boston and New York to raise money, but she should have spent far more time in the Midwest before Super Tuesday). The campaign had a well-organized volunteer group led by elected officials throughout the Northeast, and, in my opinion, could have relied on volunteers to do the organizing in certain areas. She did not need five staff in Rhode Island. Maybe the campaign did not have the money to send staff to crucial primary states a month or two before each election, but I think that would have made a difference. Campaign offices in crucual primary states weren't set up early enough. She did so well despite this because she could rely on the field staff of governors supporting her. This was especially crucial in Ohio and Pennsylvania where she could rely on Governor Strickland and Rendell's political networks.
It is understandable that Hillary supporters remain angry about the sexism in full display during the past year. However, let's keep in mind that Clinton missed opportunities to turn things around. She refused to change her strategy or her message. It is tempting to make Hillary a victim but to do so ignores the power she had to make changes.
Why didn't Clinton change her blue state stategy after Obama won the Iowa caucuses? She had plenty of time then to compete in remaining caucus states. I'm not sure why the campaign didn't treat Obama's victory in Iowa as a wake-up call and make adjustments. The great irony of the primary campaign is that Clinton had the support of a significant number of state and local officials across the country but did not effectively organize this support to ensure that her surrogates represented her in caucus meetings. For example, Massachusetts State Representative Ruth Balser went to a Maine caucus site to represent Clinton (In Maine you don't have to be a resident to speak at a caucus). The caucus meeting Ruth attended supported Hillary, but the Clinton campaign did not have surrogates at each caucus site, which might have made a difference. Clinton's losses in caucus states, to be sure, cannot be attributed to her campaign alone. The caucus process, I believe, disenfranchises women for two reasons. Firstly, caucuses require a time commitment that many women cannot make because of work and family responsibilities. Secondly, the debate-style caucus deliberation process can be intimidating. I reported in March that young, white male Obama volunteers were fairly aggressive in Maine. Did the Obama campaign silence women? I believe so.
Even Howard Dean conceded when he meet with a group of female elected officials from Massachusetts in early May that the caucus system was undemocratic. Dean told the group that one of his goals as DNC chair was to try to encourage all states to adopt an open primary system. It is my guess that one outcome of this past primary season will be the end of the caucus. Good riddance.
Another miscalculation was the decision to keep too many paid staff in the Northeast. (She also spent too much time in the Northeast. I know that she needed to come through Boston and New York to raise money, but she should have spent far more time in the Midwest before Super Tuesday). The campaign had a well-organized volunteer group led by elected officials throughout the Northeast, and, in my opinion, could have relied on volunteers to do the organizing in certain areas. She did not need five staff in Rhode Island. Maybe the campaign did not have the money to send staff to crucial primary states a month or two before each election, but I think that would have made a difference. Campaign offices in crucual primary states weren't set up early enough. She did so well despite this because she could rely on the field staff of governors supporting her. This was especially crucial in Ohio and Pennsylvania where she could rely on Governor Strickland and Rendell's political networks.
It is understandable that Hillary supporters remain angry about the sexism in full display during the past year. However, let's keep in mind that Clinton missed opportunities to turn things around. She refused to change her strategy or her message. It is tempting to make Hillary a victim but to do so ignores the power she had to make changes.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Vote Both
I just signed a letter to Barack Obama urging him to choose Hillary Clinton as his running mate. Lanny Davis, a former member of Bill Clinton's administration, is leading this effort.
It seems that some Hill'raisers are shifting their attention to advocating for a "dream ticket." I think it is highly unlikely that Obama will choose a woman, especially Clinton. However, he needs to know that Clinton and the issues she represents mean a great deal to many Democratic Party activists. For more information, go to voteboth.com.
It seems that some Hill'raisers are shifting their attention to advocating for a "dream ticket." I think it is highly unlikely that Obama will choose a woman, especially Clinton. However, he needs to know that Clinton and the issues she represents mean a great deal to many Democratic Party activists. For more information, go to voteboth.com.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
I Played One on TV
I thought you might be interested to know that my efforts on behalf of Hillary Clinton included appearing in an ad urging the Democratic National Committee to seat the delegates from Michigan and Florida. I played a committed Democrat, hardly a stretch. My friends from Team Hillary, John and Jenny Doggett and Kathy Hughes, created a PAC to raise money for an ad that ran on CNN and during ABC News in the Washington, D.C. market. They were able to get studio space at the local cable station in Newton, MA for the shoot. I showed up just to lend support but ended up in the commerical. They were looking for regional diversity with my Midwestern accent! I couldn't believe these intrepid campaigners created a PAC and produced a commerical. That is really the story to tell. So many people involved in the campaign extended themselves in ways they probably couldn't have imagined a few months ago. The dedication of the people I volunteered with was so inspiring. It was such a priviledge to meet and work with such passionate and committed people. I learned so much from them.
Al Franken
Al Franken received the Democratic Farmer Labor Party nomination for U.S. Senate at the state convention in Rochester yesterday. Franken comes to the nomination with a lot of baggage, primarily his work as a satirist and comedian. My congresswoman, Betty McCollum, suggested that Franken would not be the best nominee for the State of Minnesota because of his long history of offensive comments and jokes, especially a piece he wrote for Playboy some years ago, and did not appear with him as he accepted the nomination. Senator Amy Klobucher, who remained neutral, did embrace Franken at the convention. Franken apologized in his acceptance speech, but he will have to continue to be contrite during the campaign. It is notable that the chair of the DFL Feminist Caucus resigned in protest. There could be trouble ahead. The Party leadership, of course, is predicting a victory in November, but I believe it will be a very close race because Republican Norm Coleman, the incumbent, has been distancing himself from the Bush administration for months.
I am going to turn my attention away from presidential politics to work for Al Franken. I am hoping that Hillary Clinton will be the next majority leader of the Senate.
I am going to turn my attention away from presidential politics to work for Al Franken. I am hoping that Hillary Clinton will be the next majority leader of the Senate.
I'm Not There Yet
I received an invitation to Hillary Clinton's concession speech yesterday in Washington, DC. I wish I could have been there to experience some sort of closure. Instead, I watched the speech from a live feed from the Clinton campaign. Clinton's gracious and inclusive speech really explains why I worked so hard for her in six states during the past five months. She mentioned gay and lesbian rights and women's rights with conviction, and she has a record of service to back up her statements. It was both heartbreaking and empowering to watch her yesterday.
My friends from Team Hillary have been emailing like mad these days, sharing their feelings about the outcome, and a few have made pronouncements about what they intend to do in November. A couple of friends are so angry with the Democratic National Committee that they changed their voter registration from Democrat to Independent. Some have made it clear that they are not voting for Obama, while others are urging unity.
I'm not there yet. I have already been inundated with emails from Howard Dean, the Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Missouri Democrats, Sen. Sherrod Brown, (D-Ohio) and the Democratic Farmer Labor Party in Minnesota calling for unity and asking for contributions to Obama's campaign. I am using these opportunities to press the case for women's issues.
I want to see more discussion about the virulent sexism that Hillary Clinton had to endure during the past year. The Democratic Party should not take my vote for granted.
My friends from Team Hillary have been emailing like mad these days, sharing their feelings about the outcome, and a few have made pronouncements about what they intend to do in November. A couple of friends are so angry with the Democratic National Committee that they changed their voter registration from Democrat to Independent. Some have made it clear that they are not voting for Obama, while others are urging unity.
I'm not there yet. I have already been inundated with emails from Howard Dean, the Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Missouri Democrats, Sen. Sherrod Brown, (D-Ohio) and the Democratic Farmer Labor Party in Minnesota calling for unity and asking for contributions to Obama's campaign. I am using these opportunities to press the case for women's issues.
I want to see more discussion about the virulent sexism that Hillary Clinton had to endure during the past year. The Democratic Party should not take my vote for granted.
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