The way to GOTV for '14 is to FIRE UP THE BASE.

[Ken Burch]

These days, the only voters out there are the ones who want progressive gains or the ones who want to take us back to 1928(or 1876).

The only votes OUR party can possibly get are the people in the first group. Those are the only voters WORTH appealing to.
And they are the majority.

We win if we fire them up...if we make it clear that THEY matter. We lose if we pretend anyone else is worth trying to appeal to...or trying to appease.

OK?

[Maedhros]

1. I think this articles sums up nicely why it's hard to fire up the Democratic base:

http://www.salon.com/2014/03/23/the_hope_diet_would_the_tea_party_fall_for_this/

The article is all about how the central message to modern Democratic platforms is "Hope", and then discusses how this lets Democratic politicians off the hook.

“Hope” also sets an extremely low standard for judging Democratic politicians. Hope is, by their definition, something they bring with them, or a place they come from, or a poster they are (literally!) the illustration for; ensuring that this fanciful substance flows our way doesn’t require them actually to, you know, enact anything we’re hoping for. On the contrary, they can do things (like Clinton’s deregulations or Obama’s spying program) that actually harm their constituents, and then tell us, as Barack Obama tweeted after the 2012 election, “The definition of hope is you still believe, even when it’s hard.”

This is the opposite of accountability. It means, just keep waiting, and just keep voting. If you think good thoughts long enough, maybe someday you’ll get that million bucks, or that single-payer healthcare system.

[polichick]

2. True. Our leaders have been peddling hope to the base and profits to...

their real constituents.

[Android3.14]

3. Bingo

Last edited Mon Mar 24, 2014, 10:13 PM - Edit history (1)

A strong stance on Right to Privacy and curbs on domestic surveillance, a progressive energy policy a.k.a the New Apollo, jobs, minimum wage and education reform (public college tuition anyone?), these are the issues that matter.

[daleanime]

4. +1

[ann---]

5. The progressive base

of the Democratic party is staying home. After Obama, why would we trust any Dem?

[Le Taz Hot]

6. 100% wrong.

Progressives are the activists. We never stay home. We may not work for the corporate shill that the Democrats seem to habitually offer up time after time, but we NEVER stay home.

[polichick]

7. Some do feel pretty burned by the Obama experience...

Some of those I worked with on the Obama campaign are really over both parties and will not vote this year.

Some who are disgusted will still vote to keep their healthcare plans, some to keep a woman's right to choose, some just against the crazies on the other side.

Long term though, the liberal base needs to figure out whether throwing in with the Dems is the best we can do.

[Bobbie Jo]

9. Uh uh....stay home again.

Worked like a charm in 2010.

And you really wonder how nothing gets done?

Yeah, stay home. Just don't keep popping up to complain about all the other "do-nothings."

Those who need to be hand-held to the polls, are NOT the base.

[HereSince1628]

10. IMO, the problem with midterm non-voters begins with issues, not progressives.

GOTV depends upon activist engagement by volunteers.

What democrats really need is to turn on an army of volunteers who are younger and not as white as traditional midterm voters. IOW GOTV volunteers who immediately relate to the type of democrat that, for various reasons, isn't motivated to prioritize voting in midterms.

[JoePhilly]

11. Sounds like wishful thinking.

The GOP won't be able to prevent all Dems from voting ... so they're trying to talk them into staying home.

The GOP loves this plan.

[MO_Moderate]

8. Just to be clear

You are saying that progressives make up the majority of the Democratic Party and we need progressive candidates to fire them up and vote?

[Ken Burch]

12. Yes...certainly on economic and social justice issues in particular.

The crash of '08 destroyed, even among many "pro-business Democrats&quot I.E., people who would have been Republicans in 1960)the notion that what the wealthy want should matter more than what the majority wants.