Obama Taps Email List for Stimulus

President Barack Obama tapped his massive email list to organize support for the economic stimulus on Friday, the first attempt by Obama's aides to formally rally his campaign supporters behind the new President's legislative agenda.

"The President's plan passed the House of Representatives on Wednesday," writes Mitch Stewart, who was recently appointed director of Organizing for America, in the new email to Obama supporters. "To avoid the usual partisan games" and actually pass the bill, he argues, citizens need to get active, host "economic recovery house meetings" and show "neighbors and friends" what the plan "means for their community."

OFA's house meeting portal includes a talking points PDF -- "paid for by OFA, a project of the Democratic National Committee" -- and an interactive map projecting the economic impact of the plan on every state, based on an analysis by Moody's chief economist Mark Zandi, who has previously advised Sen. John McCain. The plan would save or create about four million jobs across the country, according to that projection, by the end of 2010.

To see the biggest impact of this effort, however, you have to read between the lines of Stewart's email. There is no direct reference to pressuring members of Congress or criticizing opponents of the plan. Operatives are signaling that "the goal is not to get these supporters to lobby their elected officials." This week, in fact, former Obama campaign manager David Plouffe took to the New York Times to declare that OFA "is not a 'call or e-mail your member of Congress' organization."

OFA is not formally lobbing or publicly bullying Congress, and for a range of political and legal reasons, that will probably be the framework through 2012. But let's be real. Obama's aides are unleashing a grassroots organizing operation, targeting citizens with localized advocacy to pass a single piece of legislation on a tight schedule. That is pressure on Congress to pass a law, sparked by the Chief Executive but executed by the people. If Obama supporters respond, it should help shore up support for the stimulus in regions that Obama dominated in November.

UPDATE: Zephyr Teachout, the former Dean Internet aide, web analyst and law professor, has an excellent piece predicting that these kind of OFA efforts will fail -- and arguing that's good for Obama supporters and citizens alike.

From The Nation.

Comments

[SeanGardner]

"Obama Taps Email List for Stimulus"

That sounds right!!!! I love it!!!

[KillBillV2]

"Obama Taps Email list for Stimulus"

That doesn't sound right...

[Mugzi]

We've had 8 years of Repug-style stimulus package, massive tax cuts mainly for the wealthy, no regulation on money institutions, wars at billions per month...an­d it hasn't improved a thing! No to Repug-style stimulus..­.the only thing it stimulates is their off-shore accounts!

Floridians­....contac­t your state reps to end the other bush's massive tax cuts! With King jeb's massive tax cuts, our illustrious Repug legislature keeps cutting our schools budget to the point the state will not qualify for a part of the federal stimulus packet. jeb's tax cuts (guess...t­o the wealthy! Surprise!!) have caused serious detriment to the lives of citizens of Florida. The state legislature will be meeting in May for the 09-10 fiscal year and our voices must be heard to end these massive tax cuts!

[wonketteRAWKS]

How much of the stimulus will actually help the economy? Seems like there's some pork in them thar pages!

[Subversive]

Excellent article, Mr. Melber, now you're catching on!!! President Obama's use of email and phone text is revolutionizing politics in America. Who needs the Fairness Doctrine when you can email or text people directly? Encouraging local activism allows people to feel that they have a voice in government. The Republicans used talk radio to dispense their message and encouraged feedback to pressure legislators as their form of "activism.­" While that was effective to a certain degree, the message only went in one direction. President Obama's form of activism is more inclusive and encourages a two-way dialogue. Welcome to the "revolutio­n."

[vinny]

sounds like communitarism to me...

[Subversive]

No, vinny, it's called DEMOCRACY!­!!!!!!!!!!­!

[Kartoffel]

President Obama's form of activism is more inclusive and encourages a two-way dialogue. Welcome to the "revolutio­n."

=============

Can't you figure out that what's acceptable for someone outside of government might be a little disturbing from a sitting president? Way too many Obama followers want his huge political apparatus to continue as if he didn't win the election. That's going to creep out more Americans than you might think.

[Subversive]

What do you think Republicans have been doing for the last 8 years? It's time to get into the 21st century, Kartoffel.

[Camarosc35]

Zephyr Teachout’s contention that the Organization for America (OFA) will and should fail is not very encouraging and hopeful. His argument is that there is an existing democratic structure that should be used to pursue the president’s agenda; and, indeed, that OFA should share its e-mail lists with it to make it more effective. That is a fair point, but as one person has pointed out, many who worked for the Obama campaign do not have a particularly keen attraction for the existing Democratic Party so this organization is more suitable to them. Mr. Teachout also comments that there will be no real power here; let me see, no real power to an organization that propelled a relatively obscure politician into the White House? If handled correctly; however, there is no reason that you cannot create an effective new “democratic” entity that can help improve public discourse and promote public policy. My only concern is that those who had leadership roles in the campaign keep those in the OFA and those who excelled in their roles get recognized and rewarded as well. That is, grassroots leaders who performed beyond expectations should be offered a staffer position if they desire it. This way, there will be genuine democratic discussion, opportunity, power, and growth in this movement that will allow the successful grassroots promulgation and support of the president’s legislative agenda.

[drock973]

Guess they finally figured that while they've been bashing Limbaugh non-stop, support for stimulus is evaporating like water in the desert.

[Ugonna]

no one has spoken about him more than once.

[AnnfromCA]

Here is what shocks me. A mass e-mail is not sophisticated stuff.

It just means, our politicians have joined spam.

This is change?

This is progress?

I honestly am very sorry I ever contibuted on-line. I'm innundated now with emails from groups I'm actually opposed to supporting.

I'll never do it again. Stupid thinking here.

[Subversive]

Have you heard of the "delete" key?

[MegWe]

AnnefromCA - troll from way back

[drjunk]

Mr. President this is a smart move on your part, with all the negative media that the opposition party is puttig up on tv,radio, and newspapers it is really sad. We have been waiting on you to tell us when to start the presser on these wingnuts. Ready to go, an fire it up!

[Riekang]

Everyone is so quick to jump on someone's take on things without the proof. So, show me the proof that Obama did this and I'll pass judgment on him. He turned over the email to the DNC and last I can recall, they are not clones of Obama. He is responsible for his own actions and not of anyone else. Until you show me the letter, memo, email or I hear the telephone conversation from Obama to OFA telling them to do this, I'll remain skeptical. Could he have done it? Yes, but I think he has a little more integrity and moral compass to do as you said he did.

[-0013]

So when Obama allegedly does something it's "show me the proof time" but if something similar was written about the Republicans proof wouldn't really need to be considered fo most here.

[Riekang]

I'm the type of person who likes to see the proof before I pass judgment. Doesn't matter if they're white, black, red, christian, jews, democrats, republicans, whatever. If you say something and don't have anything to back it up, then I question if it's a fact; especially if it has anything to do with politics.

[Kartoffel]

I'm fine with a candidate or somebody outside of government leading a big organization that agitates the public to advance an issue or an agenda. When a HEAD OF STATE does it then we're talking about propaganda. I am NOT fine with that. We don't have a tradition of that sort of thing in America, and I don't want one. Barack Obama is not an outsider or an underdog anymore. He's the most powerful man in the world. He doesn't need a private political army to propagandize for him.

[-0013]

"He doesn't need a private political army to propagandize for him."

Absolutely right. It's just his community organizing instincts coming out.

Perhaps if he could effectively explain how this stimulus plan is actually going to create jobs he wouldn't need to get his legions out to spread the word.

Although, if this plan does pass I now understand why ACORN needs to get a few million.

[ckfan]

"We don't have a tradition of that sort of thing in America"

Uh, I think that's the point.

[Kartoffel]

"We don't have a tradition of that sort of thing in America"

Uh, I think that's the point.
=================
An agitprop organization that takes its orders from the sitting president? That's essentially a state-sponsored propaganda network. You want that to become a new American tradition?

[vinny]

your liberal democratic instincts are correct...

this is textbook communitarian political activism, aka a socialist tactic...

a propaganda network essentiall­y...

[Ugonna]

what the hell?? Did you not hear him the several hundred times he said basically that the type of communication he held during the election will continue in his government??? You were cheering and smiling, and you signed on for it. Deal with it! I think this is fabulous, he's making sure the people are aware of what's going on, and approve of the plan. Plus, its a good way to get things done, to say to your opposition, "the people support this".

[VikingQuest]

It's about time, the poll numbers are really not very high on his Stim package and the numbers are going down the more people hear about it.

Can someone tell me why Democrats aren't celebrating the fact that ZERO Republicans voted yes on this bill?

If you honestly believe in this bill and believe that it will guarentee success for our economy then all of those Democrats will have jobs and will dominate the next electon.

Make no mistake about it, this is a make or break bill and this is all on the Democrat's plate now which is what everyone here wanted right?

They can't blame the Republicans for anything if it goes bad or has no effect and can take all the success.

[-0013]

Perhaps the reason the polls numbers are going down the more people hear about the Stim package is because it's not a very good Stim pacakge.

That's the reason why Obama wanted to ram this thing through Congress before anyone could read it.

[netsirk17]

Of course using this mass e-mail is pressure, albeit indirect, on legislators. This is borderline abuse of power, a centralized and government-(White House)-sanctioned effort to put forth Obama's agenda. There is a difference in merely clarifying the basic facts about the stimulus and inserting bias into those facts as mere "urging" to support the President. I support his stimulus plan but strongly disagree that such listserves should be used to mass distribute positive spin about it.