DCCC vs. The Voters

[FightinNewDem]

I am now officially fed up.

Many of you know that I am a candidate for US Congress in New Hampshire's 1st congressional district (Jeb Bradley's seat). I have been out in the communities, listening to people, talking about the issues, and trying to set out a message grounded in hope, opportunity, and a spirit of reform. I have been talking about the need to invest in education and job skills training, about the need to spur research and development that creates jobs, about the need for a health care system that covers every American family, about the need for a foreign policy that not only keeps us secure but which reflects the basic decency of the American people.

Sounds good, right?

Not according to our friends at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

The DCCC has spent the last several months trying to coax a "more established" candidate into the race, namely Manchester Mayor Bob Baines.

Well, the DCCC plan went up in smoke when Baines, once a prohibitive favorite, lost his seat in yesterday's mnicipal election.

Now the DCCC and the local party hacks are frantic as they try to figure out what to do next.

Instead of working with the four-yes, four-genuine, dedicated Democrats already seeking the 1st District seat, they are bumbling around trying to find a new insider to annoint.

In other words, they are deathly afraid that the people of eastern New Hampshire will have some say in who represents them in Congress.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is unadulterated crap.

This isn't the age of Boss Tweed. Rank and file Democrats deserve the opportunity to hear from candidates, to ask them tough questions, to engage in a conversation about where we are going as a party. They don't deserve to have party-blessed insiders crammed down their throats.

I'll admit, I am venting, but this foolishness has to come to an end.

I am in this race to stay. If the DCCC wants to meddle, so be it, but I intend to win, and I intend to be true to my principles. Will it annoy the usual suspects? Probably. But I am going to try and show that the rest of us still have a voice that can, must and will be heard.

[SharonAnn]

1. Good for you! Run on your committments! Be sincere, be real!

[FightinNewDem]

3. Thank you!

That's what I intend to do.

I know that some people will disagree with me on some issues. I'm a little further to the center on some matters than most DUers, but ultimately, I think people want someone who will level with them. They want someone with some core convictions and enough guts to stand by them, even when it makes the political game difficult.

[mitchtv]

2. they abandoned the CA45 two times that

I've lived here; Not a nickel for a good, union, anti war candidate. She had to run a word of mouth campaign. I only donate directly now.

[welshTerrier2]

4. a few ideas

there's a group call 21st century Democrats that claims they will support progressive candidates ... might be worth a try ...

also, have you contacted PDA or DFA ... PDA in Massachusetts is considering running a candidate against one of the incumbent Congressmen ...

nice to see the DCCC is so willing to give fresh talent a chance ... man, i hate that elitist, insider crap ...

good luck in your race ... please keep us posted ...

[FightinNewDem]

5. Thank you

I have been in touch with some of the DFNH folks. I have some lobbying reform bills in the legislature this coming January, and the DFNH folks have been very supportive. Some of the other candidates have friends in the group too, so I don't anticipate them getting involved in a primary.

I'll admit, I am not a really good fit for the PDA folks. I like the local PDA coordinators, but I am closer to the Mark Warners of the world than the Dennis Kucinich types. Call me a light blue dog, a fiscally tight, moderately liberal Dem.

[welshTerrier2]

8. i support the PDA agenda

perhaps you're right about PDA, perhaps not ... it certainly doesn't hurt to have a conversation ... politics is about bridging gaps and building alliances ... maybe you share more common ground than you think ...

i consider myself very far to the left on economic policy ... you stated your are "fiscally tight" ... i would say the exact same thing about myself ... too many view the left as supportive of wild, out of control spending ... that sure doesn't apply to me ... anything but balanced budgets is just plain old bad economic policy ...

the one place that might be a problem for you is the war ... you really didn't provide your views there ... personally, supporting more war that averages two dead Americans everyday with bush in charge seems crazy ... i just can't see any road to success ... talking about positive objectives like stability or democracy or making the Middle East safe from terrorism sounds great; it just isn't going to happen ...

anyway, PDA is just a phone call away ... putting people into neat little boxes with labels on them may not serve your campaign ... give 'em a call ... just my two cents, of course ...

[FightinNewDem]

25. You're right

Lines of communication are crucial.

I know that my Iraq stance isn't the PDA approach. In a nutshell, I support the Wes Clark "we broke it, we bought it, now fix it and finish it" approach. That said, we all agree that staying the course sure as hell isn't a viable option when we have 2000 friends and neighbors dead and no clear plan for the future.

The local PDA coordinators are terrific people. We agree to disagree at times, but we can still maintain a solid relationship. Heck, one of the PDA guys, a big Kucinich backer, introduced me to half the town of Farmington at the old home day in September.

[saracat]

6. In Az they are at least honest. They tell us they don't want any candidate

in non targeted districts. They say that even if the race could be close they don't want to waste resources on candidates who might not win! I say the way to guarantee a loss is not to have anyone run! We have a fabulous candidate and as the party doesn't seem to notice the political climate has changed, we are going to win without them! And none of our money will go to the DCCC because they will not give it back to the Dem candidate who raised it.
You hang in there. You can win without them. They are going to have to wake up. We are going to leave them in the dust! And BTW, that goes for Dean too, who is dumping candidates over the side and playing the game. Shame on him.And he told the world he encouraged candidates! Not true. Try talking to the DCCC folks. They are supposed to exist for the candidates but they only exist for themselves and a select few!

[welshTerrier2]

10. please provide details

i keep reading about Dean's 50 state plan ...

when you said "And BTW, that goes for Dean too, who is dumping candidates over the side and playing the game.", that sure doesn't sound like a 50 state strategy ...

could you please provide some details on this ... thanks ...

[saracat]

14. He is following the traditional DLC campaign mindset which is incorporated

into the setup of the DCCC as well as the Senate version. A candidate must "buy" a seat at the table in order to be entitles to a "share of the pie". Different states have different financial requirements for a buy in. Here I was told(several years ago) by the party that it was a minimum of $750,000 contribution to the DCCC.I am told it is a million and up currently.That money will get you a minimum of support by the Party, provided you win the primary. The majority of the money you"brought to the table" will go toward "targeted " races, those races the powers that be have decided are "winnable" due to either district voter registration or the political connections of the "targeted candidate".
I had been foolishly hoping that it was indeed possible for grassroots candidates to be supported by the party and for candidates to be encouraged to run. I am also pragmatic and know some races and some candidates are more viable than others but the misapplication of our funding and the political games are going to hurt us if people don't wake up and utilize every effort to win.
Paul Hackett in Ohio is a prime example. The DSCCC tried to get rid of him to bring in their candidate. Originally they thought the race wasn't winnable and when the climAte changed they were going to dump Hackett over the side, not that they had really supported him to begin with.The silliness is evident by the fact that Hackett is leading their anointed candidate Brown.
What is truly disgusting about this is we end up losing wonderful candidates who aren't rich or politically connected enough to run.And that is NOT what Dean was supposed to be about.

[welshTerrier2]

15. OK, thanks ... i'm still not clear though ...

i'm trying to understand what you know about Dean's role in all this ...

you stated that you were told about the "buy in" requirements several years ago (i.e. before Dean became Chair) ... do we know whether Dean has endorsed this policy? does he have any control over "buy in" policies established by the DCCC and the DSCCC?

please understand that i'm not disagreeing with anything you're saying ... i'm just trying to understand the basis for it ...

i sure agree with your statement about the grassroots though ... they want our work and our money but not our ideas ...

[saracat]

38. Dean has "endorsed it" by not doing anything about it and encouraging

those preselected candidates and ignoring, particularly financially, those candidates who came from the very grassroots he appealed to to produce candidates! He must be okaying this at least in part as it has been DNC members who are voicing this mantra on his behalf. This is not new, but it is disappointing that we haven't learned anything and Dean has been proven to be not so very different as other ingrown politicos.

[dorktv]

17. Oooh you talking about the person I think you are?

Because I can think of two people who should get help and well...none from the DCCC.

The only good thing I heard was that the guy doing what I did last time had the amount lowered for party support. And it may be arrogant to say it was me who did it but hell why else?

[saracat]

39. I am working with one in my district.

[dorktv]

40. Someone is actually running against Shadegg? yay!

Tell him/her to look up Saipan and see if he ever went there.

Will I meet this person at the next state committee meeting?

[saracat]

41. Actually, there are two! But one has files and is more"organized."

in fact, the campaign manager, who is one of the best in the party, that I got for him, said he may be the best candidate to run for almost anything we have ever had! And the answer is yes!

[dorktv]

42. I have a volunteer for it if you give me the name so my

ex-treasurer can help out.

[FightinNewDem]

19. Hold on

Let's not turn this into a DLC vs Netroots thing. The DLC doesn't get involved in individual campaigns. They can't, due to their tax status. The extent of their involvement is the occassional $50 check from a staffer. Besides, the DLC is really not that concerned with things like targeting and fundraising, the "mechanics" of politics. They are basically a policy shop that turns out monographs and hosts panel discussions to advance the debate.

The problem you point out is a deep-seated DNC (not DLC) problem, one that predates Gov. Dean's tenure. There is far too much emphasis on listening to a handful of party insiders and far too much contempt for people of all ideological stripes from outside of the DNC social circle.

[saracat]

37. The DLC pholosophocally influence the manipulation of the party machinery.

They guide how the business is being done, and they continue to see us based as the Republican model of may the "richest man win". And so far nothing has changed. I though Dean might reject that thinking for the DNC, but it appears not.

[PittLib]

33. It is happening all over ...

here in Pa as well, and has been a major point of frustration for me. Dean was in for a fundraiser a few weeks ago - and outlined a dead on plan for the party. He talked about the importance of the female vote, and science and staying true to our ideals and values. All great stuff. Then he mentioned supporting Bob Casey, and contradicted most of had been said in the preceding 30 minutes. So my friend - a physician - decided to call him on it ... not on Casey's pro-life stance, but on his lack of support in funding SCR. Dean's only defense was that he had faith that Casey would put the party first, ahead of his personal beliefs. All well and good, if Casey were the only candidate - or if the others shared the same conservative views. But we have a candidate that Dean could be 100% behind ... who fits his outline to a tee. Alas ... I guess he couldn't buy his way in. I adore Dr. Dean, but I pity the fact that for a man who inspired a thousand everyday citizens and underdog candidates to run (and continues to do so) - that he has sold a part of his soul to the machine that crushes so many of these very people's aspirations.

I am watching race Ohio with mixed feelings. On one hand, I'm pissed that it is happening this way - on the other, I'm fascinated because Hackett has enough name recognition to fight it. The difference between OH and PA is that the DSCC got behind an established liberal candidate (we got conservative Casey) and that Hackett will be impossible to squash (unlike Pennacchio or Sandals) - meaning Ohio has a great opportunity for a challenging primary and may the best man win. You have two strong candidates - we have one that most are either unaware of, or refuse to acknowledge. This is a shitty state of affairs. We deserve to have choices and decide for ourselves who best represents us.

[LittleClarkie]

7. Is there anything particularly wrong with Baines?

Scandals or anything?

[FightinNewDem]

9. Well...

Well, aside from the fact that he got tossed out of office yesterday...

The election turned mainly on a steady stream of property tax increases, a rapidly rising crime rate, and Baines' often dictatorial management style.

[LittleClarkie]

11. I asked because I heard a couple of stories yesterday

One: Something about a strip joint in the NH forum here. That appeared to be a smear of some sort though.

Two: That Baines ran a lousy campaign. I heard that last night when I posted about Kerry's speech at the Baines rally on Kos. Someone there snarked at me that Kerry's visit didn't help, as Baines lost. I asked why they said that, and why if he lost by only 500 there wouldn't be a recount. The answer came back that actually Baines had no message, the Republicans got him on the tax increase thing, he's seen as arrogant by some, had been there for 6 years and perhaps folks wanted a change, and still he almost won.

[FightinNewDem]

20. Inept campaign

I am guessing that the "strip joint" thing refers to Sky Bar. Sky Bar is a club owned by a Baines cronie that ran into trouble for violating Manchester's adult entertainment ordinance when they offered pole dancing. Baines had cut the ribbon a week or two before the pole dancing story hit the papers.

Baines loss was due to several factors. The first was, as you mentioned, a perception of arrogance. Baines is a former high school principal who has never quite lost that tone.

Second, the Manchester Democratic machine has become stagnant. It has been so insular for so long that new views and new blood are almost non-existent. As a vote-winning city Democratic committtee spent so much time screwing around with side issues like trying to defeat a couple of local Dems who backed Guinta that they probably aided their own defeat.

[Don1]

12. Sir, I hear you loud and clear.

I suspect this has happened elsewhere, too, because I am aware of some races with no primaries. I think the DCCC had a hand in it, because the Dems left are blessed by the DCCC.

It's infuriating that my right to vote in primaries was taken away, but not everyone agrees with my ire. There is a rational point that the other side has, too, one in which we must prioritize in getting rid of the Republican majority in the House.

Anyway, "I feel your pain." It's an issue of not feeling or being in control or feeling or being free.

[kevinbgoode]

13. More power to you. . .

If there is one thing we learned watching the Hackett campaign in Ohio, success is about the public perceiving your passion and your sincerity and possessing the knowledge and leadership to back up your convictions.

And...listen up, DCCC. . .if you expect to reap money out of people to support the efforts of this party next year, you had better trying to live in the past - this country is in trouble and we need good, dedicated leadership. If there are good people standing up to run for office, then encourage them instead of looking for some b-level performer to stage some kind of phony campaign. People are fed up with that tactic with both parties.

One reason that the Democratic Party is not soaring higher in approval ratings is because we have some leaders who appear to be trapped in this idea that everything is business as usual. Well, it isn't. It hasn't been that way since at least 2000. The American people have been lied to, misled, subject to social reforms that we never imagined. We have watched the "sanctity" of marriage be questioned with arrogance and impunity by both Republican administrative and congressional officials but by members of so-called "religious" groups who want to dictate the conditions of our lives. We watched people dying of dehydration and neglect after Hurricane Katrina, while our federal government bickered over who was going to be "boss." We were lied to about war, lied to about casualities, had our national security compromised. . .

We need leadership. And we need people with a strong, solid message who have convictions, NOT connections. We no longer want people who perform better on the golf course than in the halls of Congress. If you want to reconnect with Americans, then stop acting like you are our bosses - WE are the engine that wins elections.

No viable candidate who steps up to the plate on their own should ever feel neglected - they want to serve their country, not have their country serve THEM. And until we undrestand and realize that this is what the American people see as lacking in our government, confidence in our institutions will continue to decline as the religious crazies assault every branch of our nation.

This party can't afford to turn away a candidate who embraces the deepest convictions of our foundation.

Good luck to you, FightinDem . . .
and by the way, DCCC. . .don't make us have to be the ones who lead you, again, like in the Hackett campaign.

[dorktv]

16. You on November Victory's listserv?

It is a group of congressional (past and present) candidates that trade ideas and things.

If not I can see about getting you the hook up.

[eridani]

18. Don't forget to post your website here

I no longer donate to DCCC or its Senate equivalent, just to individuals or organizations like Progressive Majority, PDA, DFA and the like.

[Punkingal]

21. It isn't just the DCCC...

Last year in Nevada District 3, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi supported a candidate that was a former law partner of Ken Starr and Ted Olson, had worked for Merv Griffin, and was a protege of the late William French Smith, Reagan's personal lawyer and Attorney General. He had his own money to spend, and that was what they cared about. It was disgusting. His opponent in the primary was a former environmental activist and union political director, who was literally mobbed after he gave a speech at the Clark County Democratic Convention. Immediately after that, the squeeze was put on, all the stops were pulled out to block everything he tried to do, and intense pressure was put on the unions to not support the union guy, and it worked.

It is a sad day in America when you have to be a millionaire with money to spend to get the party support, and it really doesn't matter that most of your friends are high-profile Republicans. As long as we allow this sort of thing, we the people have no power.

[mopinko]

22. this shit has got to STOP

now!!!
they are playing that crap out here with christine cegalis, who got 44% of the vote against henry hyde, even outspent 20 to 1, and forced the old walrus to retire. she never folded up her campaign, because she knew it would take 2 tries. she is an excellent, repeat, excellent candidate. now that she has shown it can be done, rahm is trying to push her out of the way, looking for a candidate with deep pockets. this fixation on money is causing this party to sell it's soul.
this party has to figure out how to have a fair and democratic primary process. these back room deals for who gets on the ticket is where our democracy is being sold out. all the vote fraud, vote suppression, and other dirty tricks are just icing on the cake. if good grass roots candidates are shoved out of the way by the party, we are not 'of the people'.
if the rich guys want to get in the race, fine, let them compete like anyone else. but this shoving people out of the way, and shitting on good candidates is just crap. this party must figure out how to support the PRIMARY PROCESS. let whoever wants to run get their volunteers and signatures. have camp wellstone type training programs for whoever wants them. invest in candidate forums, advertising and media time for the entire field, then get the hell out of the way. or just tell the truth, junk the primaries, and pick the candidates in the back room. stop this goddamn sham.

[apnu]

23. Wow! I'd totally vote for you (were I not in Chicago)

Keep that up and you'll do fine. Have you contacted DFA?

[FightinNewDem]

24. Yes, I have

I have received the DFA questionairre, and I have been in touch with Democracy for New Hampshire, the local DFA affiliate. The DFNH folks are terrific. We worked togehter on an effort to protect the NH hate crimes law last spring, and we are working on several pieces of public ethics reform legislation this coming session.

[apnu]

27. You kick ass!

keep it up, you're bringing new faith in a proper democratic party. These dino's and beltway lay-bouts gotta be tossed from the party. And you are one of the good ones who can do it!

Bravo!

[Larkspur]

26. Contact Jim Dean at DFA to help your campaign

DFA is there to help candidates like you. Also work with DailyKos and other progressive sites.

Good luck.

[bvar22]

28. DCCC also meddling in local elections in Minnesota.

They nixxed a run for Congress by a local true Progressive, and threw their support behind a candidate with insider ties.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=160&topic_id=14207


There are also some links between the DLC, the DCCC, and Corporate Funding.

The Chairman of the DCCC, Rahm Emanuel, IS a proud member of the DLC!
http://www.dlc.org/new_dem_dir_action.cfm

Mr. Emanuel is featured prominently on the NDOL (DLC)Website. He is a regular Featured Speaker on Economic Policy at DLC conventions and conferences. It is clear that he supports the Economic Policies pushed by the DLC and the Corporate Leadership in America.

"The DCCC is supported by the contributions of individuals and other groups from throughout the country who are committed to returning the People's House to the People of this country. We are not an affiliate of the Democratic National Committee and do not receive regular funding from the DNC." (neither is the DLC)
http://www2.dccc.org/about/overview /

I fear the influence of $Corporate Money$ in in local Democratic Primary Races.
National Organizations with Private Funding have NO BUSINESS choosing candidates in OUR local elections!!!!!




The Democratic Party is a BIG TENT, but there is NO ROOM for those who advance the agenda of THE RICH (Corporate Owners)
at the EXPENSE of LABOR and the POOR.

[FightinNewDem]

29. Again, this isn't the DLC's fault

First, the DCCC may be a separate entity on paper, but they are effectively part of the DNC. Same building on Capitol Hill, actually.

Second, the DLC isn't the problem here. The DCCC attitude problem predates Rahm Emmanuel. It was just as noxious when Patrick Kennedy, a non-DLC guy for sure, was in charge. It's not about ideology. It's about influence and arrogance. It's an institutional problem that is going to take years to repair.

[bvar22]

32. I understand your reservations.

Maybe these dots don't connect, but the common ground (and names) is enough for me to ask the questions.

When the grass roots Primary campaigns of local progressives are "snuffed out" by "Privately Funded" Organizations, I can't help but believe that ideology is involved.

"Influence and Arrogance" IS an ideology.
It is called Oligarchy.

[musiclawyer]

30. As they say in the "hood" ....be real

You just told a story here in your post.It's a good one. Everyone love s a good story. Tell it again in print, in letters to the editor, publish your perspective far and wide. People will then see that the your are a much more real, much better candidate than one selected by the establishment. All the other ideas posted here are good too. God bless.

[MH1]

31. Hmmm....

My own district has a situation where I found out about a new candidate in my district from dailykos, announcing the guy appearing on an Air America segment. There was already an announced candidate who is well known to the local community, but in the dailykos announcement and subsequent announcements, the new candidate made no mention that he is mounting a primary challenge; he just said he was running against the Republican.

Perhaps I am oversensitive, but I thought that was a bit arrogant - start your campaign from a national blog and national radio network, and don't even acknowledge the local candidate, who has done a hell of a lot of work over the years for the local party?

Said local party seems to be pissed. (I am only a ground-pounder in said party, no one important, at least apparently not to certain non-locals). We'll see what happens. I agree that all candidates should have the opportunity to be heard, and sometimes primaries are necessary. And I'll make up my own mind between the candidates, regardless what the established party says. But I'd like to think there's a better way to approach it than what I've seen with this guy in my district. Of course, I could just be wrong - it's been known to happen.

[PittLib]

34. I understand your frustration.

I fight for candidates like you and your right to be heard. I am doing so here in PA in the senate race, and it is an uphill battle. Unless the voters demand that the DCCC and the DSCC butt the hell out ... or seriously insist on tackling campaign finance reform - it will go on. We need to get people talking and thinking about this. Why are they afraid to let the people choose their representation? Why are they fighting against fellow Democrats? Well, we know the answer ... $$$ - but how much are we compromising the ideals of democracy by playing this game?

Fight the good fight ... be sincere and true, and people will be forced to pay attention, in spite of this extraneous bullshit. All the best to you. :applause:

[mrgorth]

35. I don't understand this "buy in" thing

Are you saying a candidate has to have a certain amount of money to be allowed to run?

[FightinNewDem]

36. Sadly, yes

The D-trip loves self-funders and people who hold offices with high arm-twisting potential.

One more sign that the entire system is suffering from severe rot and needs to be rebuilt from the bottom up.