Day 4 at the convention

Today is the big day! I’m so happy as my wife has flown into Denver to share this historic day with me. We got our credentials and grabbed a quick lunch and rode the DNC shuttle over to Invesco field. Luckily, we were in the delegate line and security only took about a half hour to go through, and finally we were inside. The atmosphere was festive and on our entrance will.i.am was singing his famous “Yes We Can” song that swept the internet. I had just seen him yesterday at a forum sponsored by one of our Board Members, Victoria Hopper, at the Starz Green Room on viral videos and the impact they are having on electoral politics.

We settled in and saw many great speakers like Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia, Mark Udall – running for US Senate in Colorado, and Gov. Bill Richardson. Most interesting were the citizens who were not famous but who spoke eloquently about what happened to them – losing their health care or job being shipped overseas. One guy was Barney Smith, a displaced manufacturing worker from Indiana who brought the crowd to their feet when he said "We need a president who puts Barney Smith before Smith Barney!" It was brilliant.

Finally, the historic moment arrived. A great video about Barack Obama played which let us learn more about his background. The photos of him as a kid, teenager, and young adult allowed us to get to know him better. A wedding picture of him and Michelle brought a collective “awwww” from the crowd. And then Obama came out on the stage and brought the 84,000 people in the stadium to their feet. You could feel the rafters shake as people stamped their feet.

Obama started out talking about what has gone wrong since George W. Bush took office and reminded us “America, we are better than these last eight years. We are a better country than this.” He declared “Enough!” I think this kind righteous indignation is a stark call to America to act now. We can’t afford 4 more years of neglecting working men and women and failing to solve the problems that plague our economy like health care and an unsustainable energy policy. He went on to say “Now is not the time for small plans” and went into detail on his agenda for education, energy, health care, equal pay, and the economy. I thought one of his most inspiring moments was when he said “Change happens because the American people demand it, because they rise up and insist on new ideas and new leadership, a new politics for a new time.” Finally he recalled the 45 year anniversary of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech and the promise of that day: “Let us keep that promise, that American promise, and in the words of Scripture, hold firmly, without wavering, to the hope that we confess.” Obama underscored how this election was not about him – it’s about us. And he couldn’t be more right. Change in this country will not come from the top down, it will come from the bottom up. This has been the principle that has guided me – and guides 21st Century Democrats – to work harder than ever this year.

We can change America, yes we can!

Photos from Invesco Field

We got seats inside Invesco after hours in line. We are here live so I feel so lucky and grateful!

Here are some photos from my phone:


Al Gore speaking


The crowd reach capacity even before Gore's speech. 82,000 people in one place to hear Democrats speak about progressive ideals and our hopes for America.


The entire family on stage. People were just going wild!


The fireworks at the end of Obama's speech. The whole evening was so inspiring!

So out of touch...

John McCain's health care policy advisor, John Goodman, told a newspaper reporter that nobody in the United States is technically uninsured, because everyone has access to hospital emergency rooms.

"So I have a solution [to the health care crisis]. And it will cost not one thin dime," said John Goodman, president of the National Center for Policy Analysis, "The next president of the United States should sign an executive order requiring the Census Bureau to cease and desist from describing any American – even illegal aliens – as uninsured. Instead, the bureau should categorize people according to the likely source of payment should they need care. So, there you have it. Voila! Problem solved."

So there you have it...just go to the emergency room and you have health care. How out of touch are McCain and his advisers that they think a trip to the emergency room has health care?

No Way! No How! No McCain!

Day 3 at the convention

I began my 3rd day in Denver by attending the Ohio Democratic Party’s delegation breakfast. As I’ve done a lot of work in Ohio over the years, this gave me a chance to renew friendships and make new contacts.

The highlight of the breakfast was the speech given by my old boss, Gov. Ted Strickland. And Ted hit the nail on the head for me when he said “the people of Ohio and this country want a fair deal and level playing field.” This is exactly the populist viewpoint of 21st Century Democrats and why we endorsed Ted in 2006. Ted went on to say how we as Democrats take care of the most vulnerable in our society and that is why he was so proud to be a Democrat. Then Ted went on to say why Barack Obama will win Ohio – that Barack will have an army of the grassroots – something John McCain will never match. Ted said that “diversity is our strength in Ohio” and he went on to say “when they ask me if Barack Obama will win Ohio, we say YES WE CAN!” The crowd rose to its feet and cheered. It was a terrific moment of enthusiasm by Ohio Democrats.

By the time the evening arrived, everyone I met was in great anticipation to hear Joe Biden and Bill Clinton. Clinton spoke first and made a remarkable speech about why Barack Obama was the right candidate for this time in our history. I don’t think Clinton has been better since leaving office in a public speech. He powerfully called on all Democrats – including Hillary’s die hard supporters to rally to elect Obama. I thought his speech was tight and logical – he made a terrific case for Obama and why it is so important to support the ticket so we can move the country forward on solving the problems neglected by George W. Bush for the last eight years.

A few speakers later, Joe Biden took the stage. I didn’t know that much about his life history but was struck by his life story. He was lovingly introduced by his son Beau Biden, the Delaware Attorney General. You could see the emotion between them when they hugged, it reminded me of my father who I lost a few years ago and brought a tear to my eye. Joe Biden’s commitment to his family following the horrific tragedy of losing his wife and daughter in a car accident right after he was elected to the Senate is a lesson for all of us how we need to keep our priorities straight. His upbringing in a blue collar family and the values instilled in him by his mother who he acknowledged showed the kind of man he is and who he will stand up for as Vice-President. Everyone talks about his foreign policy experience – which is great – but it was his values that struck me as the window into his soul.

One more night until the big speech by Obama!

On Diplomacy, Biden Knows Who and How

21st Century Democrats board member, Jim Rosapepe, wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal explaining why, based on watching him in action in Romania, he thinks Biden is a terrific running mate for Barack Obama.

Day 2 at the convention

By the end of my 2nd day of the Democratic convention, I was exhausted, but excited about the possibilities of the future for America. From running into a good friend at a local lunch stop to seeing former Congressman Richard Gephardt at a reception sponsored by business and labor to promote health care initiatives in states across the country, I was energized about the what we might accomplish in the next year when we are finally rid of the worst President in the history of our nation.

We waited in line to get through security at the Pepsi center forever, but we finally got in and managed to get into the AFL-CIO’s box to watch the proceedings. We arrived just in time to see former Virginia Governor Mark Warner deliver his keynote address. Here was a guy who understood how to increase prosperity – he invested early in a little known technology where people could carry telephones in bags in their cars. Ten years later he was one of the most successful new entrepreneurs who built the cell phone network which has radically changed how we communicate with each other. He criticized Republican policies which have left kids who have the grades to get into college but not the means, an energy policy that borrows from China to buy oil from the Saudis, and ignored the threat of global warming to the very survival of our planet. Warner was terrific and is very likely to win the open U.S. Senate seat in Virginia and lead the ticket for Barack Obama to be the first Democrat to win Virginia since LBJ in 1964.

Following Warner was my former boss, Governor Ted Strickland of Ohio. I met Ted in 1995 when I worked at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and was helping him devise a plan to win back his seat in Congress which he lost in 1994 when Democrats got swept out of Congress. Ted is man of persistence as he came back from defeat to win in 1996 and spend 10 more years in Congress until he ran for Governor in 2006 and ended the long drought for Democrats in Ohio. Ted went straight to the heart of the failed economic policies of the Republicans and John McCain for supporting tax policies that mean one of the richest people in America, Warren Buffett, will pay a lower taxes than his secretary or unfair “trade deals that mean a father has to give up his high-skill job manufacturing refrigeration equipment, for a low-wage job stocking the freezer aisle at a grocery store.” Ted has never failed to be an economic populist – and it reminded me of his 100% lifetime rating from the AFL-CIO for his support of working families.

As I talked to the President of the United Steelworkers, Leo Gerard, it reminded me of how close Strickland was to the Steelworkers Union. Gerard reiterated how their union members are crazy about Strickland for all he has done for them over the years. At same time, I sat with the President of the AFL-CIO, John Sweeney, and got to tell him about our placing organizers on the field in key battleground states like Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania. I also thanked him personally for the tremendous support we at 21st Century Democrats have received from the AFL-CIO over the years. I said I hoped we could support the critical efforts next year to pass the Employee Free Choice Act so President Obama can sign it! This law would be the first in decades to expand the rights of workers to organize and is critical to restoring fairness in the workplace where workers have been under attack so many years by Republicans and big multi-national corporations.

Then came the moment everyone had waited for – Hillary Clinton’s speech to the delegates. And she was fantastic! While all the news media had tried to play up the division of the Democratic Party, Hillary wasted no time by telling the crowd unequivocally: “Whether you voted for me, or voted for Barack, the time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose. We are on the same team, and none of us can sit on the sidelines…Barack Obama is my candidate. And he must be our president.” The sea of white Hillary signs changed to a see of blue Obama Unity signs. I was moved by Hillary’s grace and poise as she made the case about why this election was too important to stand by as Obama goes on to the tough final weeks of a neck and neck race. She talked eloquently about the mom with cancer and no health care and the veteran who asked for her to take care of his buddies in Iraq, and the boy who’s mom worked for minimum wage and had her hours cut. Hillary was at her greatest laying out the stakes in the election – our fight for equality for all, for health care for all, for a sustainable energy policy that can create millions of green collar jobs. For how we restore the American dream, and restore faith in our country around the world to stand up for freedom and democracy and to fight global poverty and genocide.

Very simply, she said this is why I ran for President. And this was why she was supporting Barack Obama. She asked her supporters were they in it just for her, or for the progressive values we all stand for? Because if they were in it for the woman with cancer, the young marine, and the minimum wage mom, they needed to do everything they could to elect Barack Obama. And she used a line similar to a quote I love by abolitionist Frederick Douglas “This won't be easy. Progress never is.” And it will be impossible without electing Barack Obama as President. The crowd just roared their approval and there seemed genuine unity among the Democrats to go forward and work as hard as they can for the next 10 weeks. I know I will be one of those millions of Americans saying “Yes We Can!”

Day 1 at the convention

Walking down the street, it is easy to be inspired - What a difference 40 years makes - I saw civil rights leader John Lewis - now inside the police barriers not being beaten by police - and inspiring a new generation of young people. Later I saw Lewis again in the video tribute to Ted Kennedy talking about TK's values and never giving up to deliver health care and justice.

I attended a session with the leaders of 40 leading progressive organizations including 21st CD, where we presented our plan to persuade and turn out the vote to major donors who could provide the resources to pay for the organizers and materials we need to execute our plans. I was encouraged by many leaders from the National Education Association, Emily's List, SEIU, America Votes and Sierra Club and others who talked about how important our work was to elect Barack Obama in 2008. I spoke to some leading donors after the presentation about contributing to 21st Century Democrats' field organizing programs in Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

I left this event and attended a reception sponsored by the Indian American Leadership Institute. I met State Representative Raj Goyle from Kansas who 21st CD had helped elect in 2006. Raj had with him the two field organizers we had sent to his campaign and we got a great picture of us all together. I also got to say hello and give a warm hug to my former boss - Governor Ted Strickland - who 21st CD also helped to elect two years ago. Later, Ohio State Treasurer Richard Cordray who we have helped elect first as Franklin Count Treasurer and then in 2006 to State Treasurer, came and we spoke about his campaign for Attorney General this year. He thanked me again for our support for him this year and in the past.

By the time I got to the convention center, I was exhausted but beginning to feel the excitement as tens of thousands of people with signs and buttons and most important, smiles, were taking their seats. When I entered the arena, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. was speaking about Barack Obama and hope for the future. I was inspired by his ability to cast an eye toward history and toward the future at the same time when he said, "Forty-five years to the day after a young preacher called out, “Let freedom ring,” let history show in this fourth week of August in this Mile-High City, freedom in America has never rung from a higher mountaintop than it does here today" I thought about how we had just held a training in partnership with Jackson just 2 weeks ago in Chicago.

Shortly after, Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg spoke about her uncle, Sen. Ted Kennedy and introduced the video tribute to Ted Kennedy. Most moving was the idea of the torch being passed to the new generation - to Barack Obama - as the Kennedy's had endorsed Obama at a critical time in the Democratic Primaries. There was a real emotional moment when Ted Kennedy came up to speak. The entire arena stood and cheered, and the Kennedy signs waved, you had a feeling this might be the last of the many great speeches Ted Kennedy has given at the Democratic conventions over the years. I felt my own heart tighten up and a tear well up in my eye as I thought about what Kennedy said as he reminded us that we must dream of what is possible and not accept that we can only achieve a small portion of what we desire. He said his brother John, "called of going to the moon, he didn't say it's too far to get there. We shouldn't even try. Our people answered his call and rose to the challenge, and today an American flag still marks the surface of the moon." and we should not accept anything less than guaranteed health care for all. As the entire Kennedy family gathered, you could feel the emotion of the entire arena who truly loves what the Kennedy family represents and has done for America.

Finally, Michelle Obama took the stage. She was smart, funny, engaging, loving. I was most impressed when she talked about the values her father instilled in her - to treat all people with dignity and respect - even if they disagree with you. And that these values and others where what she and Barack were instilling in their children. She referred back to the introduction video that was shown and talked about her brother playing basketball with Barack to size him up. She talked about giving up work at a big law firm to work in public service with Public Allies. She called on the country to listen 'to our hopes instead of our fears,' and 'to stop doubting and to start dreaming' This made me feel so proud to be a Democrat. We do not try to win elections by fear and division. What I saw the entire day was a melting pot of who America is today - black, white, Latino, Indian American, Asian American - all people who believe we can make this country better for our children and better for all people in the world. It was a day of having my faith in humanity restored.

Our candidates don't have Batmobiles, but they do have heart

This post was written by 21st Century Fellow Deborah Block

My job is pretty freakin’ cool if you ask me. Thrown into a progressive political action committee months, days, and hours before a nail-biting presidential election, things are—how should I put it—busy. This election cycle, 21st Century Democrats has endorsed over 60 progressive candidates across all levels of public service. From County Treasurer to U.S. Senate, we have thrown our full support behind men and women all over the country who we truly believe can make a difference and spread progressive values in their communities. So for me, one of the coolest parts of my fellowship is the opportunity I get to read endorsement applications and write drafts of candidate biographies, which after revision and edits, eventually see the light of day on our website.

If I’m smart, in order to write a good first draft for a candidate we’re endorsing, I’ll do my research. This means that with highlighter in hand, I read applications, official websites, and spend some nice quality time with Google. Reading extensively about our candidates’ mission running for office illuminates major issues that structure who we are as progressives and what we need to make this country better—issues like universal healthcare, environmental rights, better education for underserved communities, and a final end to the devastating war in Iraq.

Going through applications, what’s been most helpful for me to remember is that politicians, regardless of who they are, are not superheroes who can change the world overnight. They do not have Batmobiles and alter egos when they slip into their spandex. Instead, they are human just like you and just like me. And the life experiences that many of our candidates have lived through are sobering and make any skeptic realize that the individuals we support do not look at the country through rose-colored glasses. Like you and I, the candidates we endorse have struggled and worked to overcome the hardships that life presents:

Darcy Burner, who won her primary this past week in Washington in her race for U.S. House of Representatives, is a candidate committed to ensuring human rights, ending the war in Iraq, as well as making sure that Washingtonians are healthy and live in a clean environment. With the energy and motivation to get the job done, Darcy’s leadership is an inspiration to all.

Darcy’s house burned down in July. Although no one was harmed, her family lost everything. But suffering from her own unpredictable misfortune, Darcy did not give up and remained steadfast in her determination to improve this country and help people in Washington.

Diane Benson, running for U.S. Congress from Alaska, knows firsthand how poor leadership can change a person’s life. A few years ago, her son was terribly injured in Iraq and lost both of his legs and suffered from serious wounds. As a result, Diane put her life on hold and spent close to four months with her son at Walter Reid Army Medical Center to help her son emotionally and physically. Through these trying experiences, today Diane stands stronger as she has worked to overcome obstacles by her unyielding determination to improve Alaska and this country.

Likewise, Dennis Shulman, who won his primary running for U.S. Congress from the 5th district of New Jersey, has not had an easy life. He grew up in a working class family, lost his sight when he was young and many thought he would never even graduate high school. But pushing through the challenges he faced during his youth, today Dennis is a rabbi, clinical psychologist, educator, and author. He is a fighter and is running for Congress because with his perspective, he truly believes that Washington needs to make fundamental changes and have better leadership, which he can provide.

So when I surf the net and read applications from the candidates we endorse, I believe when they say that they want to improve this country—and better yet, I believe that they really can. At the end of the day, many of their inspirational stories overcoming obstacles and difficult situations that life has thrown their way makes candidates like Burner, Benson, and Shulman relatable. Like yours and mine, their lives are not perfect. After all, politicians are real people too. But we can have faith in their mission to run for office because they know what it’s like to struggle. And equipped with life perspective and determined to overcome their own difficulties, it is still more important to our progressive candidates that they improve the lives of others. Regardless of their own obstacles, they put Americans first and are determined to change this country. And I believe that they really can.

Oakland County, Michigan is a key battleground (again)

It’s impossible to go through an election cycle and ignore Oakland County, Michigan. 2008 is no exception and in this county with an ever changing political climate, 21st Century Democrats has seized the opportunity to put organizers on the ground running to knock on doors and get progressive Democrats into office—starting from the ground up.

Oakland County, which is located right outside of Detroit, is considered one of eight vitally important counties that historically dictate results of Presidential elections. Here, you often find voters who lean Republican and as a result, Michigan is certainly not a state that Democrats can take for granted. Yes, it’s true that the district has become more and more Democratic over the years and the DCCC has targeted both the 9th and 7th Congressional Districts in Michigan as two of 26 seats nationwide where they believe that Democrats can realistically beat their Republican incumbents.

Dan Lucas, our Vice President of Political Affairs here at 21st Century Democrats, believes that Democrats must take a bottom up approach to win Oakland County this election cycle. That’s why 21st Century Democrats is determined to put our firepower in this county and have placed two field organizers on the ground working for one of our endorsed candidates, Andy Meisner, who is running for Oakland County Treasurer. So far our efforts in Michigan have been a huge success and our organizers have knocked on 3800 doors and gotten 486 yes votes from constituents. During this election, we care most about the bottom line and about getting people to fully commit their votes to progressive candidates like Andy Meisner.

As the Detroit Free Press points out, the changing political landscape in Oakland County threatens the comfort of Republicans like Joe Knollenberg, vying for reelection to Congress. In hopes of beating Knollenberg, strong Democratic challenger Gary Peters has been working tirelessly to raise $1.3 million and draw eyes to his campaign. Understanding the great importance of getting Democrats from Oakland County elected, 21st Century Democrats has also sent people to Michigan to help Peters beat his competition. And as we believe in the power of grassroots field organization and talking to voters face to face, Peters’ campaign workers have knocked on 50,000 doors and aim to reach 75,000 by Election Day in November. Ultimately, there is no question that Oakland County is a battlefield for Democratic votes and as the competition heats up, 21st Century Democrats has people in the field working day and night to turn this country around.

21st Century Democrats' own Anton Gunn profiled in Time Magazine

21st Century Democrats' endorsed candidate and training alum, Anton Gunn, is profiled in this week's Time Magazine. Deeming him "A Leader of Obama's Grassroots Army, it profiles the man and how we came to work for Obama in South Carolina.

At a time when half the Democratic world seemed to be trying to get onto Obama's not-yet-official campaign, Gunn found that his calls to the Senator's offices went unreturned. Finally, he placed one more call to Chicago and laid it on the line. "I may not know a whole lot about politics, but I know a lot about South Carolina," he remembers saying in his message. "If you want to run for President and South Carolina's going to be an early-primary state, you need to have me involved."

Certainly worth your time to read it and understand that 21st Century Democrats is backing candidates just like this all around the US.

4th Round Candidate Endorsements

21st Century Democrats Board of Directors endorsed its final round of progressive leaders for the 2008 cycle. This fourth set includes 24 candidates from all across the United States. We have candidates from upstate New York to southern California. We are supporting candidates in Florida and the Mountain West. Progressive ideals know no boundaries and we are confident that these candidates will succeed in creating an America of increasing fairness, justice and equality for all of its citizens.

See our Fourth Round Endorsements
OR
Support our Endorsed Candidates by Contributing to 21st Century Democrats Today

August 2008 - Kansas City training

Reclamation in Kansas City!



This election cycle represents an exciting opportunity to claim our stake in a better future by reclaiming the bedrock values of our past. Nationally, this excitement is represented by our nomination of an African- American to run for the Presidency of the United States. This is historic and reflects the essential ideals that lay at the heart of - what has been referred to as- the” American Experiment”. It speaks well for how near our country has come to the true equality embedded in our essential democratic principles. However, while these values have always been declared in principle, they haven’t always been reflected in practice. Remarkably, this year’s election represents the equal opportunity for all of us that always existed for some of us. This has been accomplished, in my humble opinion, through a real reclamation of the values on which our great country was built.

This is a beautiful thing.

Here at 21st Century Democrats, we are trying to do our part to reclaim those same values through our “Urban Youth Initiative” wherein we reach out to urban activists and help them claim and – in all too many cases- reclaim their place at “the table” by increasing their understanding of the many elements that go into running an election campaign.

After the Civil Rights efforts of the Sixties, significant political gains were realized for urban areas and remarkable numbers of urban residents were empowered to have considerable input at the negotiating table. As such, many people in outlying areas felt that everything was okay. However, the intervening Reagan Years brought together forces which served to reduce, if not eliminate, that newfound power. As a result, our inner cities lost much of their leveraging ability to get things done, and it now seems in many cities there has never been a Civil Rights Movement at all.

21st Century Democrats “Urban Youth Initiative” seeks to redress this fact by empowering citizens to reclaim their political power. In Kansas City this weekend, we were able to continue that process.

Led by US Representative Emanuel Cleaver, we guided 40 activists in a spirited and interactive training session which inspired and reassured many in attendance that their involvement in civic affairs is important. Through the engaging and thorough instruction of our Vice-President for Political Affairs Dan Lucas, our National Field and Training Director Wendy Davis, and yours truly, we were able to help our attendees better understand the campaign process prerequisite to that involvement.

I would be remiss, however, if I did not thank Mr. Michael Bersin of the Missouri State News Blog “Show Me Progress”, who presented an entire hour-long section on blogging and the Internet which proved both stimulating and informative. I would also like to thank Mr. Phil Scaglia, of Congressman Cleaver’s political staff, who put our event together in Kansas City; Phil, it was a pleasure to work with you, you were both resourceful and professional. Thanks!

Quite a number of people approached us afterward offering their thanks for our visit, and shared how instructive our presentation and materials were. As well, Congressman Cleaver took me aside and shared how during an outside event (which he had to attend before returning to our training) he was contacted via cell phone by a couple of attendees who excitedly informed him about how helpful our training was to them. You should go to our website and check out some of the pictures we took during the event.

As I said, it’s a beautiful thing.

This is our country’s time, and 21st Century Democrats intends to do our share through our “Urban Youth Initiative” to help.

It’s now on to Detroit, Michigan, with US House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers, Jr. I look forward to reporting to you on our training initiative there and our eight (8) nationwide trainings thereafter. Talk to you soon!

You can keep up with everything we're doing and find out more about our trainings by visiting the training page on our website.

More photos from the training:

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Olympic Spirit

We often use sporting analogies when talking about politics, and if you are like me, your heart quickens a little bit and swells with patriotic pride when that Olympic theme music plays. Here's my surprising connection to this year's Olympics.



Mike Lumpkin's field director, Jessica Hayes, opened her home to Olympic rowers who where training in San Diego. As you'll see from the picture, these world class athletes are big fans and supporters of Mike's campaign.

Olympians Wyatt Allen and Dan Walsh are members of the US Men's 8 crew, Patrick Todd rows on the Lightweight Men's 4 crew, and Rachel Jeffers is an alternate to the Olympic team and three-time senior national women's team member. This is Patrick's second visit to the Olympics, and he is a six time national team member. Wyatt Allen is the 2007 USRowing's Male Athlete of the Year and a 7-time senior national team member. His team set a world record in 2007 at the Olympics on their way to winning the gold medal. You might catch Dan on a commercial as this first-time Olympian and 8-time senior national team member is a part of Home Depot's Olympic Job Opportunity Program. Watch on Sunday as Wyatt and Dan row in the finals!

Although Mike and Jessica will be cheering loudly for the rowing team, there is a local team that will be the key to the election in November. The San Diego County Democratic Party has been working for 18 months to put together their Grassroots Organizing Team for this cycle. Called the "GO Team" these dedicated Party members are working on the precinct level to engage voters and deliver the message that we need their votes for Democrats all the way down the ticket. These local heroes will be the heart and soul of the get-out-the-vote effort.

Mike's race is the local race that leads the ticket, and turning out voters for Mike will be the key to success in the competitive state legislative and local races in the county. Countywide there are currently 700 GO Team members, and the Lumpkin campaign is reaching out to these leaders to recruit more precinct captains for targeted precincts in the 52nd Congressional District.

Should have gone right to sleep after my day of travel back from San Diego (two times through the special security screening and missed flight made for quite an exciting day), but I just couldn't resist watching the Women's All Around gymnastics competition last night. You may be too young to remember Olga Korbett who was my idol in 1972, but I bet you smile a little when you think of Mary Lou Retton winning in 1984. Well, last night's gold and silver victories for the USA by Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson will be the tear-in-the-corner-of-the-eye memory for a new generation of young women.

About to head back to the airport to travel to Kansas City for our next training; hopefully my flights on Sunday will allow me a few minutes to watch some rowing. Keep an eye out as these athletes go for the gold. Mike Lumpkin shares their determination, work ethic and patriotism. Let's keep working to achieve victory for Mike and more importantly for the people of the 52nd CD.

Andrew Rice: Standing Up Against Insurance Companies

A powerful new ad from US Senate Candidate Andrew Rice:

Help send Andrew Rice to Washington by making a donation to his campaign today.

Surprise in CA!

No Time for Jet Lag:

The good news is that my body clock may be naturally set on pacific time – always the night owl. California is as sunny as advertised, and my lack of exposure to any significant amount of sunshine in my usual daily routine left me vulnerable to sunburn on my 30 minute stroll around the San Diego pier on Monday.

This whirlwind trip to the coast provides me with a delightful fringe benefit. My youngest brother, Dave, and his family live in San Diego and are welcoming hosts to my visit. Dave was kind enough to take a few days off work to be my driver and tour guide around the area. Unlike me, Dave is usually on the far right hand of the political spectrum. We’ve had many direct conversations over the years about what he wants me to tell “those Democrats in Washington” about what they are doing wrong.

Lately his tune has changed. Don’t get me wrong – Dave will never think of considering himself a Democrat. But like thousands of voters across the country, he has switched his voter registration from GOP to Independent. He continues to be skeptical about whether any politicians can be trusted to “do what’s right.”

Here’s the best part of the story. Dave did some research on Mike Lumpkin (our endorsed candidate in California CD-52) before I got here. As an Army veteran, Dave was interested in Mike due to his military career. To my surprise, he wanted to wait at the campaign HQ so that he could meet Mike even though he lives outside the district (by less than 1 mile).

Impressed with Mike’s leadership as a naval commander and knowing that being a Navy SEAL means that one has courage and determination, Dave’s shield of skepticism started to weaken. He chatted with Mike’s campaign field director, Jessica, and volunteer coordinator, Pat, while waiting to meet Mike. Dave was talking about how he wished politicians would stop partisan positioning and fight for what’s best for all Americans; after all, on the field of battle soldiers don’t look at their platoon mates as Republicans or Democrats. At that moment, Jessica walked over the shelf and handed my brother one of Mike’s lit pieces. The photos were of soldiers in position for battle, and the caption was “in a foxhole, we’re not Democrats or Republicans, we’re Americans.”

To my delight, he left sporting an “I like Mike” sticker on his red Mustang. I thought he had gone back to his side of town, but he stopped in to visit an old friend in Santee. He called a couple of hours later to see if Mike was available and came back by to meet him. His conversation with Mike verified his instincts that his man wasn’t a “typical politician.” This time, Dave left with an envelope so he could send Mike a check when he gets his next paycheck.

I have to admit that I am usually skeptical that even the best candidates can truly move strong GOP voters. My brother may think he’s a swing voter, but I know that he will always lean to the right. He was moved by Mike’s gravitas, experience and common sense approach to Washington. I’m even more passionate about helping Mike’s team craft a top notch field plan because when voters of all stripes here his story and message they are inspired to action! Let’s work to get his message out.

Stay tuned for news about the San Diego “GO Team” and some unique constituencies that Mike plans to engage.

Primary Results: August 12, 2008

US Congress – Colorado’s 2nd District

Candidate	Votes	Percent
Jared Polis	19,942	41.7%
Joan Fitz-Gerald	18,181	38.0%
Will Shafroth	9,708	20.3%

99% of the Precincts Reporting

Urban Youth Initiative - video introduction

During the last six months of our work around the country, it became evident to us that potential activists who lived in cities did not have the opportunity to receive state-of-the-art political training. At 21st Century Democrats we believe that an essential component to Get-Out-the-Vote activities in urban areas is a trained force of people in precincts and Wards who know how to speak to voters in their neighborhoods. We have been fortunate to work in partnership with several Representatives all around the country in launching our Urban Youth Initiative. This weekend, we have a free training in Kansas City, open to anyone who is interested.

Our plans call for training 500 urban activists in field skills such as targeting, door-to-door communications, canvassing, data collection and analysis, message development and other important elements for winning elections. We’re excited about the political potential of all the people who have signed-up for these trainings. We strongly believe that these efforts will make our cities a better place to live in with equality for all.



If you'd like to know more details and specifics, sign up here.

As you can imagine, these training's aren't free. If you'd like to kick in $10 to buy us a round in appreciation, we'd be very grateful.

Bush Administration Picks on Endangered Species

Apparently, George “the environmental President” Bush is at it again. This time he’s cherishing America’s natural beauty by gutting the Endangered Species Act. The Bush Administration seems to think that the “protection” part of EPA means that their job is to protect corporate profits from nasty mother nature. The Republicans already tried to do this when they had control of Congress, but since they couldn’t get the votes then they’ll try to do it through back-door deregulation. This is not a surprising strategy for the Bush, who has already demonstrated a historic love for secret executive orders and signing statements.

From the AP:

New regulations, which don’t require the approval of Congress, would reduce the mandatory, independent reviews government scientists have been performing for 35 years, according to a draft obtained by The Associated Press.

The draft rules also would bar federal agencies from assessing the emissions from projects that contribute to global warming and its effect on species and habitats.

If approved, the changes would represent the biggest overhaul of the Endangered Species Act since 1988. They would accomplish through regulations what conservative Republicans have been unable to achieve in Congress: ending some environmental reviews that developers and other federal agencies blame for delays and cost increases on many projects.

Senator Barbara Boxer (CA) said that these kinds of changes would be illegal, not that a little thing like the law is going to stop Bush and his crew:

“This proposed regulation is another in a continuing stream of proposals to repeal our landmark environmental laws through the back door,” [Sen. Boxer] said. “If this proposed regulation had been in place, it would have undermined our ability to protect the bald eagle, the grizzly bear and the gray whale.”

Did you hear that? Bush wants to kill the bald eagle – symbol of American freedom! We simply can’t let this kind of anti-American environmental degradation stand. Call your Congressman or sign this National Wildlife Federation message and demand that the Bush Administration stop attacking our planet’s most endangered animals.

August Flurry!

As we say in our training program, campaigns are a marathon, not a sprint. Crossing the 90 day mark, we enter the next phase of the race, and the pace quickens.

If you are reading this blog, you likely know about our training programs. Our trademark 4-day training in DC has been followed by our taking the show on the road. In the rear view mirror are Newark, Delaware (pronounced like new ark - Noah's latest), Brooklyn, NY and Chicago (isn't that place nicknamed after me? Wendy City?). Looks like folks there enjoyed our traveling show so much that we may have return engagements!0

You also know that our preferred method of campaign support is sending fabulous young organizers into campaigns to do the critical work of voter outreach. You may not know about my new favorite part of my job. Our political team serves as consultants to our endorsed campaigns. Dan and I have done extensive consultation so far this cycle.

Today I am on the way to sunny California to help our new endorsee, Mike Lumpkin, put together a field plan that will make the difference as he tries to take on Duncan Hunter's son. As Mike likes to say, "Here in America, we are a democracy. You don't get to pass your title on to your child."

This quick trip is followed by our training next weekend in Kansas City. My plans to attend the DNC convention have changed; now Dan and I will be crisscrossing Montana putting together our program there in support of Steve Bullock (Attorney General), Linda McCulloch (Secretary of State), Denise Juneau (Superintendent of Public Instruction) and several teachers who are legislative candidates.

I guess my new nickname will be "Frequent Flier Gal"! I am loving it and will keep you posted.

Urban Youth Initiative in the Nation's Capital

Deborah Block is the author and a Summer Fellow at 21st Century Democrats

As a new resident of DC, I came down here this summer aware of a “rumor” that the city’s heat is unbearable during the month of August. But coming from freezing winters in Boston for four years, I told myself that if I can handle bitter cold, I can handle scorching hot. I mean really, how bad could it be?

Not bad at all. This past Saturday fell less in line with DC’s summer reputation and felt more like the beginning of fall—no humidity, a nice breeze, and cooler temperatures. But on one of the most beautiful days of the season, a crowd of progressive democrats decided to spend their day in doors. After all, with less than 100 days until the Presidential election, learning skills needed to be successful field organizers are just more important than taking leisurely stroll through Dupont Circle.

The SEIU generously offered to host our one-day field organizer training, a diverse group of individuals of all ages arrived ready to soak up information about canvassing, internet organizing, creating a field plan, and how to effectively deliver their message. Dan Lucas, our Vice President for Political Affairs, infused his lessons with anecdotes from the road. With experience as a political adviser to presidential candidates, members of Congress, as well as the upstate field director for Hillary Clinton for Senate, he knows the ins and outs of political field work.

As someone who started working on campaigns without technology like cell phones, the internet, or email, Dan sees our generation’s technology boom as a mixed blessing. Although the internet and cell phones expedite communication, today’s technology also has its drawbacks—it takes away from people’s willingness to make personal connections. Now, when it is so easy to send an email, a text message, or make a phone call, people—especially young adults—can too often hide behind technology and shy away from the power of person to person contact.

And in politics, although the internet and email makes our lives easier, on Saturday, Dan strongly emphasized how important these personal connections are to really making a difference on a campaign. When reaching out to constituents, people forget emails and snail mail, but they don’t forget faces and people who show up at their door. After all, democracy in its essence is all about giving people a voice. So when reaching out to the public and campaigning on behalf of candidates, we can’t forget how important it is to be proactive. Clicking a mouse may be convenient, but is it really more effective than shaking someone’s hand?

At our training on Saturday, I hope that Dan’s message resonated with the younger people in the room. Facebook, MySpace, and Gmail may be changing the way our generation connects to each other, but we must remember that the ability to elect progressive candidates and leaving a positive lasting impression is best done in person, face to face.

Check out some photos from our one-day Urban Youth Initiative and SpeakerSeries' training in Washington, DC.

The importance of a ground game - down-ballot drop off

21st Century Democrats is excited about the extraordinary amount of enthusiasm Barack Obama’s nomination has generated. The Pew Research Center is suggesting increased voter turnout in the general election bodes well for Democrats. However, some stats from the primary season show that increased turnout for the presidential election doesn't always help down-ballot races.

In fact, assuming a strong Presidential ticket will pull Democratic candidates in the House, the Senate, and local offices to victory is dangerous. This assumption is not in line with electoral empirics or America’s personality. Splitting tickets will always occur in our nation which prides itself on having a “maverick spirit” and values competence over loyalty. More importantly, many Americans will rightfully not vote for candidates they are unfamiliar with. Why would anyone put someone they know nothing about in a tremendous position of power? In the midst of all the excitement generated by the Obama campaign, we cannot forget that voters need to have face to face contact with canvassers for all our candidates, not just our candidate for President.

Looking at this year’s primaries, there is a substantial discrepancy between the number of people who voted for Democratic Presidential Candidates and the number of people who voted for other Democrats. Across the board, significantly less people voted for other Democratic candidates than voted for Democratic Presidential Candidates.

In Pennsylvania there was a stark disparity between votes accumulated by Democratic Presidential Candidates and Democrats running for other state-wide offices. There were only two contested statewide primaries in Pennsylvania this cycle. Below are two charts comparing the number of votes for Democratic Presidential candidates in April’s Primary with votes for Democrats running for State Treasurer in PA.

Candidate	Votes	Percent
CLINTON, HILLARY	1,275,039	54.6%
OBAMA, BARACK	1,061,441	45.4%

Total votes for Obama and Clinton in Pennsylvania = 2,336,480
*Obama and Clinton were the only Democrats on the ballot in PA

Candidate	Votes	Percent
MCCORD, ROBERT	783,675	43.2%
CORDISCO, JOHN F.	472,027	26.0%
MANN, JENNIFER L.	441,745	24.3%
MORRISON-WESLEY, DENNIS	118,696	6.5%

Total Votes for Democrats running for PA State Treasurer 1,661,549
There was a 674,931 vote or 29% disparity between Democrats who voted for our party’s candidates for State Treasurer and our parties candidates for President in Pennsylvania. That means nearly 3 out of every 10 people who voted in the presidential primary, gave the State Treasurer a pass.

In Ohio, two 21st Century Democrats' endorsed candidates also were victims of down-ballot drop off. In the 1st Congressional District, there were a total of 115, 387 votes for Obama , Edwards and Clinton. Steve Dreihaus ran an uncontested and only got 60,454 votes, a 57,840 vote difference. Nearly 1 out of every two voters who cast a vote for the Democratic nominee decided to not cast a vote for their Congressman.

In the 15th CD, Mary Jo Kilroy was also uncontested and received 85,840 votes. All the Presidential Candidates received 91,233 votes in total. That's a 5, 393 vote drop off. Given Mary Jo's 2006 election results, she can't afford to have that sort of drop off.

Out in Oregon, remember those Obama crowds? All that excitement generated 641, 499 total votes in the Democratic Presidential Primary. One would think that the heated primary for the Democratic Senatorial nominee would have little drop off. In spite of intense competition between two well funded campaigns less people voted for our Senatorial candidates than voted for our Presidential Candidates. In fact there was an almost 14% or 91,523 vote difference between total votes for Democratic Presidential Nominees and total votes for Democratic Senatorial Candidates in Oregon. How will Merkley beat Smith if he has to get 115% of Obama's take in Oregon?

Why am I telling you this? Because at 21st Century Democrats, we believe that in order to have a true progressive revolution in America we'll need a bottom up, not a top down, approach to elections and campaigns. We have been training and placing field organizers for two decades now. We know that many down-ballot races cannot depend on Obama's team. They have a big enough task ahead.

21st Century Democrats is endorsing over fifty down-ballot candidates all over the country. For example Jim Roth is running for Corporate Commissioner in Oklahoma, and Andy Meisner is running for Oakland County Treasurer in Michigan. These candidates need resources to get field organizers hitting the doors, and cannot rely on Barack Obama’s field team to do it for them. The nation will not be changed without your help. We already have organizers in critical races across the country, but we need you to partner with us to get down-ballot candidates like Darcy Burner (WA-08), Dan Maffei (NY-25), Jim Himes (CT-4), Judy Baker (MO -9) and other progressives near you elected.

-------
Big thanks to Corey Goldiner, 21st Century Fellow, for doing most of the legwork and tracking down all these statistics.

Primary Results: August 5, 2008

US Senate – Georgia

Candidate	Votes	Percent
Jim Martin	190,438	59.9%
Vernon Jones	127,240	40.0%

99% of the Precincts Reporting

Missouri State Treasurer

Candidate	Votes	Percent
Clint Zweifel	103,146	31.8%
Mark Powell	92,805	28.6%
Andria Simickes	70,413	21.7%
Charles Wheeler	58,462	28.0%

100% of the Precincts Reporting

US Congress – Misouri’s 6th District

Candidate	Votes	Percent
Kay Barnes	36,627	84.5%
Ali Sherkat	6,694	15.5%

100% of the Precincts Reporting

US Congress – Misouri’s 9th District

Candidate	Votes	Percent
Judy Baker	22,495	44.1%
Steve Gaw	15,863	31.1%
Lydon Bode	6,563	12.9%
Ken Jacob	6,057	11.9%

100% of the Precincts Reporting

Misouri State House – 94th District

Candidate	Votes	Percent
Deb Lavender	2,599	100%

100% of the Precincts Reporting

Urban Youth Initiative - Next Stop Chicago

We just came back from another Urban Youth Initiative training which took place on the south side of Chicago. The two day training was held in Jessie Jackson Jr.’s congressional district (IL-2) on East 95th Street.



The training was in concert with both Congressman Jackson and Alderman Sandi Jackson. The Jackson’s have a commitment towards educating community members in the nuts and bolts of politics for one simple reason: they both believe that real change can come from winning local elections. The purpose of the training was to begin a several-step process of sharing information about how campaigns work. We covered topics such as targeting, voter contact strategies, canvassing and Get-Out-The-Vote programs.

Our aim as trainers is to bring these somewhat esoteric subjects to interested people who are engaged in their communities and want to make social change through politics. In short, we use plain language to describe what are basically, sequential, common sense steps everyone can take to their place in the political world. We have put together a 129 page campaign booklet (edited by Wendy Davis, our National Training Director) that is quite good. If you are interested in getting a copy let me know, and we will mail one to you.



I want to thank both Congressman Jackson and his wife Alderman Jackson for the hospitality they showed to us this weekend. We also have a special thanks for Ben Lenet who organized the event and encouraged the community to attend. Finally, we want to thank the 70 some people that gave us either all or some of their weekend to learn about practical politics. You are the future and we’re privileged to have spent time with you. Enjoy the pictures!


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Bullock in Montana is blogging

A 21st Century Democrats alum is now blogging for Steve Bullock. Steve is running for Attorney General of Montana and is a very progressive guy.

Our Vice President for Political Affairs was up in Montana helping out less than a month ago.

I encourage you to check out the blog and see if you can help out in any way.

Big Wins in Georgia and Missouri

Tuesday was a great day for 21st Century Democrats' endorsed candidates. We went 5 for 5 in a series of critical primaries. In Georgia, Jim Martin handily defeated Vernon Jones in their US Senate primary run-off. In Missouri, Judy Baker, Kay Barnes, Deb Lavender and Clint Zweifel all won their races and will be on the ballot in November.

See full election results here

New Darcy Burner Bio Ad

Check out this new bio ad from Darcy Burner:

Matt Stoller has a great post over at OpenLeft comparing Darcy’s 2008 bio spot with her first TV ad in 2006. For me, the 2008 version is more personal and does a much better job projecting who Darcy Burner really is. I especially liked how she connected the problems she wants to solve as a Member of Congress with her own life. My favorite lines: “I worked with other moms to offer free toy testing to protect our kids” and “With my brother serving in Iraq, I searched for solutions. Working with generals and experts across America I helped write a responsible plan to bring our troops and dollars home.”

Benson Gets Some Love From The Nation

Alaska Democrat Diane Benson received some nice attention from Katrina vanden Heuvel, editor of The Nation. In a post entitled “Make Way for the Trucker” vanden Heuvel discusses the Democratic primary contest between Benson and Ethan Berkowitz for the opportunity to take on corrupt Republican congressman Don Young. She rightly points out that Benson is the more progressive candidate in the race and was the only Democrat willing to challenge Rep. Young before his most recent bout of ethics troubles.

You can help Diane win by donating to the Benson Campaign today!

Vote For Judy Baker Tomorrow!

Judy Baker is one of several 21st Century Democrats’ endorsed candidates with a primary election tomorrow. Kay Barnes (US Congress), Deb Lavender (State House) and Clint Zweifel (State Treasurer) will all on the ballot in Missouri so if you live in the Show-Me State, make sure to get out and vote!

Congressman John Sarbanes Live on WaPo

If you weren’t able to catch former 21st Century Democrats’ endorsed candidate John Sarbanes at our 2008 Youth Leadership Speaker Series last week, the Maryland Congressman will be taking question live on a washingtonpost.com discussion board at 10am.

Congressman Sarbanes’ “Why I’m a Democrat” video from YouTube

Speaker Series Session 2

Corey Goldiner is the author and a Summer Fellow at 21st Century Democrats.

Senator Barbara Boxer

Starting off our series second installment was Senator Barbara Boxer. Describing just how costly the War in Iraq is, Senator Boxer noted that the war costs tax payers 5,000 dollars per-second. Adding this hefty price tag for an un-winnable war to an already historically woeful multi-trillion dollar deficit spells economic ruin.

Telling young people just how important they are to the progressive movement Senator Boxer pointed out her 28 year old Press Secretary, Natalie Ravitz. Ravitz, started working on Boxer’s press staff at the age of 23, and quickly moved up her staff’s ladder because of her talent and hard work.

Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Focusing on the strong correlation between grass roots organizing and political success, Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz discussed her experience running for the Florida State Legislature. Knocking on doors for eight hours a day seven days a week by herself; a 25 year old Wasserman Schultz was able to easily win a competitive Democratic primary for State Rep. in Florida’s 20th District. Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz only had $18,000 dollars cash on hand, and was heavily outspent by her opponents, but she knocked on over 25,000 doors and overcame what she lacked in funds with shoe leather. Reflecting on the significance of canvassing, Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz said, “I knocked on doors. Grassroots works people want confidence restored in government. They told me no one had knocked on their doors in 20 years”

Congressman John Sarbanes

Following up on the field organizing themes Congresswoman Wasserman-Schultz discussed, John Sarbanes started his speech by describing the development of grassroots Democratic politics since 2004. Discussing the important lessons learned from a disappointing 2004 campaign, Sarbanes also highlighted some of the positive gains the party made in 2004. Among the more positive aspects Sarbanes described were the important gains the party made in fundraising and organizing. Groundbreaking online fundraising and organizing techniques began with Howard Dean’s campaign, but also moved over to the Kerry campaign once the general election began. Sarbanes noted that, after 2004 he had an already built base of hungry Kerry and Dean supporters willing to volunteer for his campaign and this made winning a lot easier.

Majority Whip Jim Clyburn

Closing out Thursday’s event was Majority Whip Jim Clyburn. Expressing his anger with the G.O.P’s opposition to yesterday’s Paycheck Fairness Act vote a bill he strongly supports, Clyburn said, “The Republicans will vote no on this (the Paycheck fairness act) and wonder why people think they are against fairness”.

Facing a wife and three daughters when he returns to South Carolina for the summer recess without fighting hard for this bill is something Clyburn said he simply could not do. Amending the Equal Pay Act to bar retaliation against employees who share or inquire about pay information is the first step towards closing the 0.77 to 1.00 wage disparity between women and men in America. Clyburn recalled that in Ledbetter v. Goodyear (2007) the threat of being fired prevented Lilly Ledbetter from finding out she was being discriminated against until her right to legal redress expired. Concluding his remarks on the bill Majority Whip Clyburn said that the PCFA is a necessary step towards ensuring women are not discriminated against in the work place.

See the pictures of this July, 31st event.

Political Report: July

Special Endorsement Announcement: Clint Zweifel

21st Century Democrats is pleased to endorse Missouri State Representative Clint Zweifel for State Treasurer. Zweifel was selected for endorsement because of his strong record of accomplishment in the State House and his ability to provide practical policy solutions to complex challenges.

“Clint Zweifel understands the problems facing Missouri’s working families and he has the knowledge and skills to make a real difference in people’s lives” said 21st Century Democrats’ Executive Director Mark Lotwis. “We were very impressed by his commitment to expanding access to affordable health care and high-quality education. Clint will be a tremendous advocate for the people of Missouri, clamp down on mortgage fraud and help provide foreclosure relief for struggling homeowners. We are excited to support such an exceptional Democrat.”

See why Clint is running for Missouri State Treasurer: