DNC Chair

by Jerome Armstrong, Mon Jan 17, 2005 at 10:25:37 AM EST

BlogPac is going to have a conference call with Donnie Fowler today at 4 pm, I need a question, if anyone has one to offer. Also, there's Frost's strong support for President Bush, by Markos; and CNN's Tim "Republicans have a big tent; why can't we?" Roemer, & Tim "don't litmus-test me" Roemer. But, who was the last RNC Chair that supported a woman rights to make decisions regarding her pregnancy; or that hasn't supported governmental control and intrusion of women?

Tags: Democrats (all tags)

Comments

24 Comments

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GHW Bush
IIRC, GHW Bush was RNC chair back in the 1970s before he drank the anti-choice Kool-Aid.
by aretino 2005-01-17 10:39AM | 0 recs
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Roemer
Any DNC candidate stupid enough to say that Republicans are a "big tent" party, is too stupid to be the DNC chair.
by Andy Katz 2005-01-17 10:47AM | 0 recs
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Not sure stupid is correct.
Blind maybe? Naive? Really wanting to get elected maybe....
by michael in chicago 2005-01-17 10:49AM | 0 recs
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Re: Roemer
Amen,

Another question is which candidate best represents the DNC rank and file views on these issues?

The DNC leadership continues to drift rightward, in my view, drifting further and further from the views of DEMOCRATS, GOP already have leadership in place.

Stop trying to be GOP-lite, its a losing stratagy, if you haven't noticed.

by leschwartz 2005-01-17 10:51AM | 0 recs
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Re: Roemer
Totally.

His use of the Governator and Giuliani is also incorrect.  They were good for putting on a show and moderating their image at the RNC, but they dont have any real power in the party.  If they did Christine Whitman wouldn't have written that book, "It's My Party Too."  

The Republican Party is a party of war, corporatism, greed, hatred and division.  Their platform reads as such, in plain black and white.  

I agree with Mr. Roemer that we should not have someone who is "pro-life" (note* TRULY pro-life not pro-delivery anti-choice like the Repugs) be ostracized in our party.  However, the issue with Roemer is that his faults go far beyond just a matter of a woman's control over her body.  He called for privatizing social security, a bedrock Democratic policy, and hails from a Right-wing think tank.  

Screw this republican in Dem's clothing.  Pelosi and Reid should grow some balls and just say they want a real republican to be our chair.  I think they should just admit that they want Alan Keyes...  

by dayspring 2005-01-17 03:07PM | 0 recs
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frost video forthcoming
i found a couple of snippets online, but no commercials in their entirety.

working on calling some friends in the local media who might be able to provide copies...

by annatopia 2005-01-17 10:49AM | 0 recs
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speaking of...
...can anyone get the videos on this page to play?
by annatopia 2005-01-17 10:50AM | 0 recs
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There was NO support of Bush
How many of you attacking Martin Frost have actually seen the ad?  

Not many, I presume.

I have, and it in so way suggests that Martin Frost supports George Bush.

So here are the facts (I live in Dallas, saw the ad plenty of times, and read more than just some anti-Frost bloggers post about it):

1) There was a bill before the House (and Senate) that would put more air marshals on planes, reinforce cockpit doors, and create a workforce of professional baggage screeners.

INTERLUDE: Raise your hands if you like safer airplanes?  Exactly.

  1. 409 members of the House and 100 members of the Senate voted for this bill.  Frost's opponent, Pete Sessions, did not.  I know, Pete is pathetic.  What's new?

  2. Martin Frost was running in a district with a DPI of 35%.

So what's happens when you ad these things together?

You soon realize that Frost wasn't voicing support for Bush (or at least not any less so than the 200 Dems who voted for the bill (and none voted against it)), but rather he was arguing (and I think rightly so) that Pete Sessions was too extreme even for this very Republican-leaning district.

Look--Martin Frost is NO friend of George Bush.  He is NO friend of Karl Rove.  And lastly, he is NO friend of Tom DeLay.  After all, DeLay went after Martin Frost precisely because Martin Frost is such a strong Democrat.

by DemDog 2005-01-17 11:05AM | 0 recs
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BULLSHIT
you know what?  i have been a frost constituent for twelve years.  how dare you insinuate that i (or anyone else bashing those ads) have no idea who the guy is, what he stands for, or what the core message of those SHAMEFUL, DISGUSTING ads was!  

i have been nice about this in the past but that time is over.  you can nitpick that ad to death and claim that martin was explaining session's abominable vote against strengthening cockpit doors.  but you know what?  the commercial did not say that!  the commercial hit sessions for voting against the "airline security" bill BUT DID NOT SAY WHAT WAS IN THE BILL, then concluded by saying martin frost "supports president bush".

anyone with half a fucking brain who saw ANY frost ads know that his overarching theme - which was hit on in every single ad - was this:

  • frost supports president bush
  • the democrats are out of the mainstream
  • liberal is a dirty word
  • frost REALLY supports president bush
  • sessions is a loon, and martin is a conservative who shares the values of texans who support the president

i'm sorry, but you are defending the indefensible.

and if you want to know who martin frost is, why don't you check out this very thorough and impartial diary i wrote about his voting record.  i am well fucking aware of who martin is and i highly resent your assumption that those of us who OPPOSE him must not have a clue who he is.

plus, you've been all over these boards claiming that martin should get a load of credit for those house pickups in 96 and 98.  let me remind you that after 94, first of all, there was nowhere to go but up.  and second the impeachment backlash had a LOT to do with our pickups in 98.  the only thing martin ever did as DCCC head was figure out how to raise CORPORATE money in the nineties.  and guess what?  the party doesn't raise money like that any more.  most of the money martin raised came long before mccain fiengold shut out all those corporate donors martin like to court.  and martin & his staff are CLUELESS regarding the technology that's now used to fund the party (if you question that, check out his website).

brother, i understand if you support martin.  that's fine.  but you are spreading disinformation when you claim that martin's ads did not have the overarching theme of supporting bush. that's bull and i've got to call you on it.

by annatopia 2005-01-17 12:29PM | 0 recs
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Re: BULLSHIT
Did Martin run over your dog or something?  You are very angry...it is quite upsetting.

I could refute all your arguments, but quite frankly it's not worth my effort--you're stubborn, and perhaps so am I.

Nonetheless, I do have have a few things to point out (and look forward to your response):

  1. EVEN if Martin did do what you claim in his ad(and I DON'T think he ran to the right of Sessions or claim to support Bush on anything other than one vote), do you really suppose putting a big picture of John Kerry on the screen with a voiceover that said "Martin Frost Loves John Kerry" would have won him any more votes?  Again, here is where you have a fundamental lack of understanding when it comes to political strategy--which is DISTINCTLY different from political ideology.

  2. Your argument about post-1994 inevitability is easy to make in hindsight.  Had we won seats in 2004, my guess is you would have said (assuming you were trying to discredit the DCCC Chair) "they had no where to go but up."  Clearly not the case.  It takes talent to win; Martin Frost has it.  That is not to say other candidates don't as well; I just happen to know a lot about and like Frost, and it angers me when people in his own party try to discredit him for their own political ambitions.

  3. Are you really claiming that if elected, Frost won't use the internet effectively?  This race is targeting 440 voting members of the DNC...wouldn't it be a waste of resources, then, to focus on a fancy website.  

As an aside, I think the "netroots" take far too much credit for what has happened.  Has a lot of money come through the internet?  Yes, but that is far different from saying that "the internet has raised tons of money."  People will always do what is easiest, and it is far easier to give online than by phone or mail.  I only give online, but the internet and the "netroots" didn't inspire me to do so.
by DemDog 2005-01-17 05:12PM | 0 recs
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actually no
"  After all, DeLay went after Martin Frost precisely because Martin Frost is such a strong Democrat. "

no, delay went after frost because frost was the architect of the 1990 redistricting plan which marginalised the GOP when they were emerging as a majority here.  martin did in 1990 what delay did in 2002.  the fact that martin was a powerful dem was just a bonus.  with delay, redistricting was personal.

by annatopia 2005-01-17 12:46PM | 0 recs
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Donnie
It makes you wonder how anyone can say that they've: "...worked in states in every corner of this country -- Wyoming, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, Ohio, and Michigan" and expect anyone to take them seriously!  Ah Mr. Fowler I see you have extensive experience dealing with Hispanics in the Southwest and West.

 I for one just do not see this guy cutting it!  We'd be better off with Henry Cisneros!  And I think Hank sucks!  My real question is: "WTF are you going to do about Hispanics and the democratic party?"

by NYPocho 2005-01-17 10:53AM | 0 recs
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Any way we can listen in?
Questions for me would revolve around what has he done - outside of the Kerry campaign and his work in Silicoln Valley - to raise funds for Democratic candidates.

Second question would be his foundness for field organization is so evident, why then does he want to move up to management and out of the field. Does he think his skills will transfer and how? Where does he think his level of incompetence lies?

Another question might ask what his experience in front of the national media is and what he has done to prepare for a role that is so public. Media training? Speaking skills?

Finally, what areas does he see as his weakness, and what has he done about it.

by michael in chicago 2005-01-17 10:54AM | 0 recs
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Re: Any way we can listen in?
I think the concerns about fundraising and about moving from field to management may be valid. Although having someone more well versed in field work (and working with state parties) may well be crucial to healing the rift between states and DNC. As for experience in front of media and speaking skills--I have seen a lot of politicians come and go  in the last 30 plus years. And many didn't come close to the speaking skills I saw in Fowler at the St Louis regional caucus. In fact, that is one thing that impressed me very much--communication skills combined with a real passion. Is he to Dean's level with this? Of course not. But I thought he was head and shoulders above the other candidates on this particular skill. Which is one reason why I think he would be a good choice, since I think he combines the field experience and passion for reform with at least a potentially strong public presence. Again, I am also find Dean and Rosenberg very strong, each in their own way. But we could do a LOT worse than Fowler, in my opinion.
by radiobob 2005-01-17 06:55PM | 0 recs
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A question for Donny...
Hey Don (can I call you Don?)?  As you've heard from Zephyr, I'm an unethical bastard for sale to the highest bidder... For a small price, I can take that pro-Dean sign off of my website.  He ain't paying me shit.  So what say you?  You wanna give me 10 grand under the table?  I got a new baby to feed, and this Jerry Springer gig pays a whore's-wage.
by NCDem 2005-01-17 11:30AM | 0 recs
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Here is what I got so far....
I am going to give it to you raw, just like the Ol' Dirty Bastard, R.I.P.

Update 1: I am in the conference call room right now.  There is some terrible music playing, and its loud.  Who prefers this music to silence anyway?

You can check out Donnie's first "firewire chat," podcasted message.

Update 2: I must be on the watch-list.  Someone just came on to verify what "company" I was with.  Call should start any second now.

Update 3: Donnie's opening remarks (paraphrased unless in quotes).

Thanks us for "hopping on" especially since its Dr. Kings birthday, "an important day."  Dr. King represents values of progressive/liberal movement.

Founding fathers who might be considered conservative today; were radicals back then because they believed government should be representative.

"We are not a group of issues."  "Cannot be run by an artistocracy of consultants who forget to talk about what is in our soul."

"I was grassroots before grassroots was cool."

"I enjoy grassroots, that's the pleasure, the benefit I get out of doing campaigns."

"National message talking about our heart, talking about our soul."  Tearing down national barriers.  Access.  Access to health care, jobs, decent education.  The heart of the Democratic Party is about getting a fair shake.  We have to talk about core values first.

Ask the strong state parties, what works?

DNC should be asking the netroots, how do we get to reach new voters?  How do we understand and embrace the potential of this new movement?

He is talking a lot.  An awful lot.  Gonna wait for the questions for another update.

Jerome Armstrong from MyDD: Sumarize what he thinks the actual state of the field operation in the DNC is:

Donnie: "An easy question."  DNC is a superb org. for electing a president that lasts six months every four years.

The DNC should not just be for the top of the ticket or a part-time presidential campaign committee.  The DNC has been oriented at president.  

The DNC has regional political organizing staff and press secretaries should not live in Washington as they always have.  The DNC needs to be a full-time political message delivering organization.

DNC needs to strengthn parties and grassroots leaders in all 50 states.  Alot of DNC candidates think we are going to run a presidential campaign as if there are 50 battleground states, there aren't.  We cant have a 50 state strategy.  

Activists need to say, "how can we help you get there?"

My question: You talked about the fact that we are on even footing with Reps in fundraising because of the netroots.  How much of netroots fundraising was because of real DNC outreach and do you really believe that if the DNC continues as is, that funding will always be there?  

Donnie: When he went to the clark campaign in fall of 2003 - netroots got senior staff seat.  When Clark raised a lot of money from the netroots, conventionalists began to jump on the bandwagon and wheels broke.

Response was that they are just a bunch of kids and cooks, why do they have a seat at the table.    Netroots started because people outside of the traditional means of organizing got involved.

To keep the netroots engaged... Financially, ideas, and boots on the ground.

  1. Give them something to believe in.  A message they can understand.
  2. Provide them strength at the national level.  "we will stand up with you.
  3. Give the netroots the respect it deserves.  Don't ever say the only thing they are good for is raising money.  Democratic national party will include the netroots in the movement.
  4. If Democratic party fails to understand the power of the new movement, we will never win elections again.

Eric from ? There is a problem getting the message from the top down.  Noticed Donnie wants to broaden the DNC, but letting local people lead because they know better.  What do you mean by that and how can you ensure the locals get national message across?

Donnie: Its not an easy task.  Its a tough exercise to take a national strategy and themes and apply them locally.

In Michigan, they couldn't look to Washington for a national message.  The issue of trash in the water forced Michigan to look toward the national party.

"Local people know better."  Local people know accents, dialect, and style to use.
 

by Tim Tagaris 2005-01-17 11:32AM | 0 recs
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Re: Here is what I got so far....
I am kind of lost right now.  I feel like Fowler is fillibustering the phone call.  We have been on for 33 minutes and he has answered 2 and a 1/4 questions.

He is talking about Dean and Clark right now.  "The river that was the Dean movement, was wild and raging."  Wild and raging river flooded Dean in Iowa.

The Draft Clark Movement: Created a candidate but when the conventionalists came on, there answer was the damn up the river.

The moral:  A Fowler DNC doesn't want to dam up the river, but wants us to take lead from DNC.  "Its not easy daming a river.

Question from Bob:  Why did you go and work for technet?  Something to do with a firm run by a Republican Congressman.

There is an exchange that I wish I was doing a better job of following between Bob and Donnie.  Bob talked about Donnie helping take away Dem. advantage in silicon valley.

Donnie:  His job in Silicon Valley.  TechNet founded in 1997 and 1998 by a bi-partisan group of Democrats and Republicans.  Founded by a moderate Republican named John Chambers.

Technet was never intended to be a partisan organization.  It is explicitly in its chater, non-partisan.  Donnie was hired because of his political background.   His title was vice-president for Democratic outreach.  There was only a Republican CEO at TechNet because Republicans control power in Washington.  

"If you want to call some of those Republicans, they'll tell you how partisan I was."  Raised several million dollars for Democrats only.  Still has alot of good friends back there.  Going back home again this week.  He would not have gone there if he had to work for Republicans.

Bob follow-up: Why did you choose to focus on leveling the playing field.

Donnie: It wasn't.  He got in trouble for fighting back.  There was no leveling of the playing field.  I didn't do anything for Republicans.  TechNet, in some ways, would have been a completely partisan company had I not been there.

DNC does not stand for do not concede.  Actually, it should stand for do not concede, it cannot stand for do not change.

I missed the questioner:  We all admire your field work.  Another job of the chair is communicating the message.  What experience do you have in communicating on TV and proposals for message delivery system

Donnie: (pause)

First campaign he manged was 1995.  One of his mentors is a media producer named Bill Kerik out of LA.  His media comm. experience includes appearances over the years on national TV and talk radio.  Includes work on the sort of state versions of these national sunday morning programs.  Whether its a cable political forum, or the equivalent of meet the press in Michigan.

I am not a talking head national pundit, and I have better things to do than that.  "I am not concerned at all about my ability."  We need a face that can speak to the new movement.  Ken Mehlman the new RNC chair is my age.

 

by Tim Tagaris 2005-01-17 11:47AM | 0 recs
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Re: Here is what I got so far....
If you live in Washington long enough, you think the only thing that matters is whats in the washington post and what Tim Russert says.  The DNC needs to get its head out of Washington.  It needs to get its head out of the web of conventional wisdom it is stuck in.

DNC needs to hold forums and meetings, and take cues from people who live in states.  DNC needs to dramatically improve its technological prowess.

If you go to DNC website, you cant even click on the link to Florida, its broken.

Question from Stirling Newberry:  Alot of interal fights within Dem. party, how can you solve that?

Donnie:  Rahm Emmanuel is an operative, he is a take no prisoners, kick your ass congressman.  The DSCCC chair has worked in Washington, but also been out in the field which is a plus.

If you get a true agent of change into the DNC we can eliminate some of the historical question.  There also needs to be better communication.

Alot of the fighting has to do with money and sharing lists.

The worst tension is between the Dem. National Party and the folks that made their careers in Washington.  The state party doesn't trust the DNC, and the DNC doesn't trust the state parties.

Many of the state parties first reaction is "screw you" "go away and leave us alone."  That antagonstic relationship exists because the folks in Washington think they know better than the voters, netroots activists, and state parties about how to get votes.

Because I have been in the states, with alot of the chairs, I have already had to be an arbitor between the DNC and the state parties.  That is the kind of DNC Chair that we need.  That's how we are going to eliminate alot of this tension.

Question for Jerilyn from Talk Left: She has seen Donnie say, "Im a Democrat because Im a Christian not inspite," Are you going to craft a religous message as a DNC Chair.  How much will you emphasize religion.

Donnie Answer:Need to emphasize values and that doesnt always meen in a religious sense.  We need to talk about our heart and soul, whether that is religious or not.

We need to go straight to the issues.

The reason Bush won is because people would be more comfortable inviting Bush to dinner rather than Kerry.  The budweiser test? I'd love to see Bush with a beer in his hand.

We cannot concede.  We do not have to change who we are as progressives.  Talk to voters first about our core principles.  Everyone should have an equal opportunity to do their best.  Education is an opportunity issue, jobs are opportunity issues, college is as well.

When I talk about not giving up the values fight, when I say we cant concede religious voters.  Not everyone thats religious supports Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell.  Most of the worlds religions teach tolerance, fairness, and taking care of the least among us.

Republicans using religion as a weapon.  Patriotism as a weapon.  The flag does not belong to the Republican party, and we just let it go.  How dare you use religion and patriotism as weaponse.  In the grassroots, among the netroots, there is a real hue and cry for Democrats that will fight back.

I am taking one question off, sorry.  It's a question about MSNBC trying to beat Fox News by being more Republican.  What is the strategy to deal with cable networks.

(Looks like Im not taking one off)

Donnie Answer:  

 

by Tim Tagaris 2005-01-17 12:06PM | 0 recs
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Re: Here is what I got so far....
Donnie Answer:  We cannot choose between talking to base Democrats or swing voters.  It comes down to creating a circular firing squad when we do that.  It is a tired old argument.  It is a false choice.  If you have been in the states on the ground where you have to collect votes you have to appeal to all kinds of voters to end up with a majority.

Another problem with left/right, is fighting over values and issues that we dont believe in.  Democrats believe in 80% of core principles and issues.  But we fight over free trade, abortion, and quibble over medicare benefits.  Democratic Party cannot afford to have this debate.

Now to the question, media and cable.

Networks are driven by the bottom line and profit.  We need to develop the kind of punditry/spokespeople that can make these companies money.  Ed Schultz for example.  FCC has now been taken over by Colin Powell's son.  They have relaxed ownership rules so much that we are getting media concentration.  We end up with Rupert Murdoch and Clear Channel choking off communication.

De-regulation is a good thing because it created jobs, but it chokes us off with communication in mainstream media.

I am lost again.  Bob is IMing me and I have no idea where he is with this question.  Something about MoveOn stopping CBS.  I need a cigarette so bad.

Donnie's closing remarks:

DNC has to change.  Among the 7 candidates who are the candidates who know how to bring the change we need right now.  We lost the election, because we are not learning the lessons of the past.

Aristocracy of consultants, again.  National party needs someone that understands state parties.  I have worked on ground for 20 years, it's what I love to do.

State parties need to embrace the new electorate, like the netroots.  And someone ready to do it on day one.

He's done.

by Tim Tagaris 2005-01-17 12:19PM | 0 recs
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liveblog is online
and posted here.

tim, thanks for getting the notes - you got a lot of stuff i missed.

by annatopia 2005-01-17 12:32PM | 0 recs
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Went well
I didn't ask any questions but I thought it went well
by kydem 2005-01-17 12:24PM | 0 recs
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I must have been
on the same "watch list" as Tim Tagaris.  After a couple of minutes on hold someone asked to verify my company as well.  :)

I had a question which I did not get to ask either due to time, or more likely because I did not enter the correct sequence of keys. (I'm pretty sure I screwed up.)

Overall, I had a similar impression of Donnie here as I did when I saw him last week in NYC.  I have a few quibbles, and with any luck I will compile them in another entry.

by up2date 2005-01-17 12:37PM | 0 recs
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Re: I must have been
they asked me what company i worked for as well.  i'm like, I'm a college student who operates a blog.
by kydem 2005-01-17 01:13PM | 0 recs
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My question
I want to know if the DNC is going to set up some type of clearance system for talking heads that represent the democratic party. We need to get the old guard off the air and give the new blood a chance.
by kvining 2005-01-17 03:53PM | 0 recs

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