Mon 10 Mar 2008
So what are the implications for deep blue San Francisco? We know that on Super Tuesday, San Franciscans bucked California’s trend and gave an 8-point advantage to the then-insurgent Barack Obama. Not surprisingly, turnout was up 57% over the previous, already decided primary.
With much of San Francisco’s Democratic establishment with Hillary Clinton (including Senator Feinstein and Mayor Newsom), the energy in February’s contest came almost entirely from the grassroots and from Progressive circles. Early this year we witnessed hundreds of newcomers to electoral politics join up with 7 Supervisors and the Bay Guardian set. The excitement was palpable. But, unfortunately, the Presidential campaign rushed out of San Francisco as quickly as it stormed in.
The question now is much bigger than how to increase Democratic turnout in November to help ensure an Obama victory in California. We need to figure out how to keep this people-powered politics going past any single election cycle.
I believe the Democratic Party is the most appropriate vehicle to keep this people-powered, democratic politics going.
That is why I am running on the HOPE Slate for Democratic County Central Committee. The Slate is a powerful combination of progressive reformers and grassroots activists that aims to turn the San Francisco Democratic Party into the City’s most significant progressive change agent. In many places, local Democratic Party plays this role.
But in our deep blue City, the Democratic Party plays a more minor role– making endorsements, passing resolutions, and doing the occasional voter registration drive. In tougher times, the Party has been used as an extension of downtown, pushing bad candidates on an unsuspecting electorate while apologizing for Democratic leaders’ lack of resolve on important issues. If there ever was a time to reinvigorate our Party, to make it the force for good that most in our City believe it can be, it is now.
All the candidates on the HOPE Slate have already won the support of Supervisors Tom Ammiano, Ross Mirkarimi, Aaron Peskin and Public Defender Jeff Adachi. Now we have to take our mission to the grassroots and elect the HOPE Slate on June 3rd.
DCCC, 12th Assembly District
Michael Bornstein, Emily Drennen, Hene Kelly, Eric Mar, Jake McGoldrick, Jane Morrision, Melanie Nutter, Connie O’Connor, Giselle Quesada, Arlo Hale Smith
DCCC, 13th Assembly District
Bill Barnes, David Campos, David Chiu, Chris Daly, Michael Goldstein, Robert Haaland, Joe Juilian, Rafael Mandelman, Aaron Peskin, Eric Quezada, Laura Spanjian, Debra Walker
March 10th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
It’s still unclear to me what exactly the DCCC does other than make endorsements. What is the vision of the HOPE slate? What are they going to do to the DCCC?
March 10th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Good question, expat. My vision is that the Democratic Party could takeover the role that the progressive Board of Supervisors has been playing the last 7 years. Shouldn’t progressive policy be developed at the Party level and then worked through the legislative process?
Also, I could see a Democratic Party that is much more aggressive on the ground, engaging people in the electoral process and increasing voter registration AND turnout.
If you put these these things together, you have a significant political program and a powerful vehicle for change.
March 11th, 2008 at 8:15 am
Chris,
I look forward to seeing you and Aaron Peskin manning the voter reg table in front of Safeway and the immigration ceremonies.
The DCCC should be a breeding ground for grassroots leaders, rather than a place for people to stay in the news. I must say that I’m inclined to vote for people whom I’ve seen do the work as members of the DCCC, but perhaps you have bigger plans. I’m hopeful that you don’t see the DCCC as a platform to grandstand and that you’ll really do the work that is necessary for members of the DCCC.
And as for Obama, for whom I am a very active supporter, let’s not make this about him. The people on the DCCC are just as people powered as you.
March 11th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Dear SFDem,
I don’t know if you know me very well (or at all). If you ask around, you will find out that I am a pretty hard worker and not above the grunt work either.
For example, in 10 rainy days last month, I collected over 600 signatures to qualify the Bayview Affordable Housing Initiative for June’s ballot. I helped organize an effort that brought in several thousand more.
I believe that this is the type of thing that the Democratic Party should be doing.
I can say for sure that some, but certainly not all, of the people on the DCCC believe in people-powered politics the way I do. If we elect the HOPE Slate, nearly all will…
March 20th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
How does the DCCC help people? The DCCC only pops out around election time. I would like to seem some real outreach to increase new faces to become involved. Everyone on your slate is a political person. And in my opinion a very insular group.
Best of luck
June 2nd, 2008 at 5:52 am
[...] forgot to tell you I am on the ballot. But more important than me is the slate. If we don’t win a progressive majority on the DCCC, then none of this is worth it. So vote [...]