Unity '09: Dem groups quietly align

[Adelante]

A broad coalition of left-leaning groups is quietly closing ranks into a new coalition, "Unity '09," aimed at helping President Barack Obama push his agenda through Congress.

Conceived at a New York meeting before the November election, two Democrats familiar with the planning said, Unity '09 will draw together money and grassroots organizations to pressure lawmakers in their home states to back White House legislation and other progressive causes.

-snip

People familiar with the planning said that the White House is not directly involved in the group's formation, though Unity '09's main day-to-day staffer, Aaron Pickrell, was a senior aide on Obama's presidential campaign. Aides to Obama and to Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel didn't respond to inquiries about whether they were familiar with the group.

Unity '09 comes at a time of increasing coordination on the left, including an effort this week by the Democratic National Committee, Obama's grassroots network and other groups to defend Obama's budget and attack the GOP as obstructionists.

But Unity '09 is setting a broader, and longer-term agenda, aiming to exert grassroots pressure on lawmakers in their home states over the next several years on the entire spectrum of political issues.

-snip

The new organization is likely to stir fears among conservatives already feeling organizationally outgunned and flatly alarmed by the new progressive infrastructure.

"This, ladies and gentlemen is, a threat to America," Fox News's Bill O'Reilly said, responding Saturday night to POLITICO's report on the birth of Progressive Media and its morning conference call. "The Obama administration would be wise to avoid this crew. If the new administration gets involved in this, it would be like the Nixon dirty tricks squad."

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0309/20008.html

[Exilednight]

1. I would almost bet that this is a shoot off of Unity '08 - which means that it might .........

have Democratic members, but is not a truly Democratic group. Could this be the emergence of a new style DLC?

[Adelante]

2. I don't think it's anything like Unity '08

Or the DLC. I see no reason, so far, to think so, anyway.

[Exilednight]

3. You don't use a word like "unity" unless you are trying to draw from both sides of the aisle.......

And I don't think it's a coincidence that the names are so similar.

[Adelante]

4. "Unity" among Democratic groups works, too

I think you're stretching it, really. But we'll see.

[jonestonesusa]

5. DLC and Move On.org are not bedfellows.

Neither is the ACLU. Other than the name, is there anything else about this organization that makes you mistrust it, such as the stands of the organizations named in the article?

Plus, O'Really and the rest of the False News Network hacks don't even bother with the DLC these days. The Democratic party base is flexing its muscle like no time in recent history. Hurray!

[Exilednight]

7. Well ............

I don't trust any group that keeps their existence a secret. A google search only produces the same article that has been cut and pasted over and over again. The organization doesn't even have a website that I can find.

I trust no organization that works in secrecy.

As for the DLC:

Other than senior positions, the DLC has removed their list of membership.

I believed the DLC to have been put on life support, but over the past week I've heard more and more talk about them from the talking heads of all the cable networks. Tweety has mentioned them, as has O'rally, Sean Insanity, Joe Scarborough and some talking head on CNN - Blitzer I believe.

Let's also not forget that Obama has filled his cabinet with several DLCers. It's one of the few disappointing things that Obama has done, in my opinion.

[jonestonesusa]

8. I agree fully that Pres. Obama still needs to be pushed from the left.

President Obama's recent description of himself as a "New Democrat" may be fanning the dying embers of the DLC, at least among the punditry. But I agree with you that his economics team in particular needs more diverse and progressive voices. I know that Ralph Nader is generally a persona non grata around here, but his article on Common Dreams today really points out where the Obama team needs to step up.

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/03/14

I think that the Unity group will soon have a public presence, and if they're effective at supporting progressive legislation, that's what counts for me.

[jwirr]

9. Nader's article sounded like the old Nader. I liked it.

[FrenchieCat]

6. Good thing to hear!

[Adelante]

10. It may fit in with Plouffe's email to the grassroots this week

The next few weeks will be some of the most important our movement for change has encountered yet.

Mitch wrote to you earlier this week about Organizing for America's Pledge Project -- an effort to identify and mobilize support across the country for the economic vision President Obama has outlined in his budget.

If you haven't yet done so, pledge your support now and ask your friends, family, and neighbors to do the same.

The budget that passes Congress has the potential to take our country in a truly new direction -- the kind of change we all worked so hard for. We didn't fight to shy away from the tough long-term decisions Washington has ducked for far too long.

President Obama knows, as you do, that our future strength and prosperity depends on Washington finally taking the hard and smart steps in energy, health care, and education that will make sure America and its families are strong for decades to come.

And while his budget reflects those important values and priorities, the President also understands the government has to cut spending like so many families and businesses are being forced to do now. He invests where we need to and cuts where we must.

In the next few weeks we'll be asking you to do some of the same things we asked of you during the campaign -- talking directly to people in your communities about the President's ideas for long-term prosperity. But first, start with your own pledge of support, and the support of your friends, family, and neighbors: Pledge your support now.

We know this fight won't be easy. But important battles never are. Together, we have the opportunity to shape our country's future. We believed in the power of people to win an improbable election victory. And we believe in the power of people to drown out the cynics and entrenched interests in Washington to bring lasting, meaningful change we can all be proud we played a role in.

Thanks,

David Plouffe

[FrenchieCat]

11. I am positive that it does....

which is why the GOP opposition and their news media are attacking not the individual policies being proposed in particular, but instead the entire concept of Change and how it is being brought about in general.

Note that the "Is he doing too much?" approach heard everywhere in the media says nothing about the policies themselves, but rather points to the process instead. The fact that Barack Obama says he wants to hear all that's on the table complicates things further....because the opposition cannot fight what they themselves have been invited to participate in regarding policies not yet firmed up.

The budget is the closest thing the opposition has to work with, as there is an actual written proposal for them to fight against.....which is why this budget will be fought via tooth and nail....and so Pres. Obama is calling in his support for the right fight, and needs as many of us on his side as he can find.

[Adelante]

12. Organizing for America email

The current debate in Washington over President Obama's budget has made one thing clear -- ensuring our long-term prosperity won't come without a fight.

Partisan voices and special interests are showing real resistance to President Obama's call for making the necessary reforms and investments in energy, health care, and education. That's why we need to bring the conversation back into homes and communities across America.

Last week, thousands of you pledged your support for the President's economic plan and encouraged your friends and family to join you in a national display of support. Now I need you to take the next step.

This weekend, supporters like you are organizing Pledge Project Canvasses to talk to people in their communities about this plan and mobilize support in neighborhoods across the country.

Host or attend a Pledge Project Canvass in your neighborhood this weekend.

It's absolutely crucial that Americans hear from you about this plan -- we can't leave this important debate up to a Washington establishment that doesn't welcome change.

It's up to you to show Washington that Americans are demanding this new direction and won't stand on the sidelines while our country's future is at stake.

On these canvasses, you'll join fellow supporters in your community to:
Talk with people about the President's plan
Ask them to sign their names to the pledge
Provide information on how to contact and urge their elected representatives to support the plan
Host or attend a canvass this weekend:

http://my.barackobama.com/pledgecanvass

Nothing is more powerful than having people hear from ordinary Americans about the vision President Obama has laid out for our country. Join us this weekend.

Thanks,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America