Where Is That Online-Powered "Movement" Now?
If you paid any attention to the Obama campaign in the 2008 election, you heard a lot about building a movement. To the ears of the politically cynical, calling the campaign a "movement" was just a messaging maneuver to make it sound like Barack Obama had a broad base of support.
But for the politically hopeful -- and I'd say that term would encompass just about all of the campaign's staff and volunteers -- building a movement meant something more. We weren't just organizing for a particular candidate or a particular moment in time, but instead, we shared a set of values and a vision for what America could be.
Nothing could have embodied this approach to campaigning more than the technology that we built at the heart of the campaign. We chose to build and refine tools that helped everyday people tell their own stories, talk about their passions, and then take up the banner of the cause in their local community.
We had our own tools on My.BarackObama to help us. But fortunately for the campaign, the Internet in general was transforming into a network where the majority of content was created by individuals rather than institutions. Structurally, it was becoming easier and easier for individuals to talk about their passions and then to use technology to self-organize. Even though they were resolutely non-partisan, sites like Facebook and YouTube made it easier for passionate people to share and self-organize, which greatly benefited our campaign founded on these values.
But contrary to what a lot of people may think, it wasn't the technology that made the Obama movement possible. What went hand in hand with the technology was a resolute and unyielding focus on good-old-fashioned political organizing. As a movement, we measured our success by the number of doors knocked on, phone calls made, and dollars raised. The array of technology platforms that we used simply helped us extend our organizing capacity and refine our work.
So where is this movement now?
It's alive and well. The people who organized and fought so hard last year to elect Barack Obama as president still care just as much, if not more, about the issues that were central to the campaign. The values that we shared in common -- a commitment to rethinking politics, to transparency and openness, to personal responsibility, to a socially and economically just society -- are just as vibrant as they were a year ago.
What's missing is the organizing leadership.
To be clear, I don't believe it's up to Organizing for America -- the organization that emerged from the Obama campaign that continues to run barackobama.com -- to permanently employ thousands of organizers as the campaign did. An organization of that size inside the DNC would not be sustainable or desirable.
But I do believe progressive organizations of all stripes have a responsibility to understand what happened in the Obama campaign in 2008 and adopt a similar strategy. Regardless of the issue that a given progressive group is organizing for, there is much to be learned.
Some guidelines to start:
- People are your biggest asset. They are not to be treated as a loose network of piggy banks spread across the country. Each person has her own passions, her own story, her own reason for caring. Listen to these stories, help these individual tell them, and make it easier for others to listen to them as well.
- Give your supporters not just a cause, but a moment to rally around. Events are what galvanize people to action. Even for the causes that require long-term commitments, set a date and a goal to organize toward.
- Embrace networking technology. The Internet is not just a platform to help you blast your carefully crafted and rigorously tested message as widely as possible. Whether it's on your own site, on Facebook, or on any other network, think about how you can use technology to encourage your supporters to speak and to spread their passion. Setting up a page and calling it a day is not enough.
- Building support for a cause requires human contact. A slick online events platform will do you no good unless you have people on staff who know key people in key places who can get more people to host more events and turn out more attendees. State-of-the-art technology can only go so far. A good-old-fashioned conversation can take you the rest of the way.
- Invest in technology and organizing. Neither of these things comes cheap, but when they have the proper budget, they can yield enormous returns.
There are tens of millions of Americans who care about progressive issues that affect all of us. If progressive groups fail to take advantage of this energy and demonstrated capacity, they will waste a uniquely potent moment in American history.
Matt Lewis: From ACORN to Van Jones, the Online Rightroots Flexes Its Muscles
Online success has more to do with passion and intensity than with technological sophistication. And in politics, the outsiders -- not the establishment -- own passion.
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
After the election, I remained active.
What has slowed me down has been the President himself; he has capitulated at every turn. He has behaved as if the Rs won or at least hold very significant power.
The worst is when he waters down whatever action in order to appease the Rs - at least that's what he says he's doing - when in fact this appeasement is not in any way negotiation as he / we get _nothing_ for the appeasement. So, why ruin or lessen the effectiveness of your work? Don't you believe in what you were trying to do?
Apparently not.
I simply cannot imagine any president who says they care about the constitution embracing any idea about "indefinite detention" wherein the person held isn't even accused of anything and never gets a trial. Simply UnAmerican; upon hearing this was when my worst fears about Obama were realized - he's a flipping DINO. Try and refute it all you want but you cannot give me a single instance of where he was either liberal or progressive on _any_ subject.
.
Politicians lie...they blame it on the Republicans, but in reality, they like the Republican ideal -- better --then the liberal democratic ideal.
Want to take the step too start a movement for real change; vote... for liberal democrats or third party in 2010, and 2012.
But, it is only a start -- most of the damage has been done.
Our Democrats will pay a price in the coming elections if they fail to accomplish what the Democratic Base expects.
Most of the major problems we face were caused by the criminal malfeasance of the Bush Administration.
Not to prosecute those that violated so many Federal Laws and got so many killed and maimed in Iraq for WMD Lies would itself by an unpardonable crime. Especially the Federal Crime of TORTURE!
It is either time for Justice for Bush and Cheney or payback in 2010 and 2012. The voters are tired of being ignored.
Get out in the streets in front of your Congressional Representative's District Office and raise hell.
KEEP ASKING ALL POLITICIANS AT ALL PUBLIC EVENTS
"WHY DO YOU SUPPORT TORTURE?"
If they aren't actively calling for enforcement of our Federal Torture Laws, They DO Support Torture and a dual standard of Justice.
SIGN THE PETITION
Demanding prosecution
http://ANGRYVOTERS.ORG
What's missing, Chris, is the candidate. Boy, were we hosed.
We elected "Barack Obama," and we got Rahm Emanuel.
You sure got that right. How depressing.
.
I got emails from Democracy For America. Howard Dean seems to be invoved in it. They asked to support their efforts for the Public Option. They were doing great. Like last year with the Obama campaign. I credit them for the revival of the public option in the congress. They asked to call my reps. They also asked for some money but not very often. I suggest everyone join in to organize for a strong financial reform bill. It is already being watered down.
What is missing is a strong,gutsy President of the United States.
I have quit being active in Greensboro and no longer donate money.
If our President won't fight, neither will this Democrat.
Absolutely. I think a lot of people who never donated to a presidential candidate (or any candidate) have invested personally in this president and so feel even more disappointed than they might otherwise. I know I donated money that my family really didn't have because I thought we would see a new sherriff in town. So far, not so much...
Then sir, you were never passionate, you were never a beliver , you never wanted change and you did not believe in a better America . God built the Earth in 6 days but President Obama is just a man. A great man with a great vision who has only been on the job 9 months . It takes that long to created and grow a baby . Dust off your passion and bring it back into the light where you can see it again .Its still there but it needs your vision for a better country and your arms and legs to support Obama still . We are Dems and we have waited for a chance to be free and heard . The Repugs are shouting and screaming to defeat common decency and you are quiting ? The way I see it , we the dems need to come up with a way to be seen and or heard from our homes . Any body got any ideas ? It took US to get Obama there and it will take US to keep him there to change our country for the better .
God, but I wish I could agree with you.
Like many other Obama supporters, I have become increasingly disappointed. And it's not, as you suggest, because I don't have patience.
My is about policy. I did not vote for a president who would refuse to stand up for principle or fight the forces of darkness:
1) Have you read the DOMA brief, where the Obama Justice Department through the entire gay population under the bus?
2) Have you heard his intentions to craft a "Constitutional" way to detain prisoners against whom there isn't enough evidence to try them? Huh?
3) He has continued the legal defense of every ongoing suit against the Bush Administration even when the judge was astonished. He's still claiming "national security" in court.
4) He has refused to go after the traitors who created the US torture policy.
5) He refused to stand behind "cram down" in the bankruptcy bill.
6) He bailed out Wall Street and the banks, but did nothing to bail out Main Street, as he promised.
7) He is shaky (at best) on the Public Option. If he gets a Healthcare Reform Bill without it, it will be the biggest giveaway in history from your pocket to the insurance companies' .
This is not about patience, this is about broken promised.
If Obama came out swinging for Single Payer or a strong Public Option, we'd all be there.
Who's going to go to bother calling their congressman and say, "Please pass this gift to the drug and insurance companies?"
Unfortunately, I think you'd be in for a rude surprise. Some of the Conserva-drones (especially the Libertarian ones) think that business can do no wrong and anything that business does will bring untold wealth and riches to all if government would just get out of the way.
I think you didn't understand what Rudy was saying.
.
Americans did not vote for Reagan. They voted against Carter. Americans did not vote for W. They voted against Monica Lewinsky. Americans did not vote for W. the second time. They voted against Kerry. Americans did not vote for Barack Obama. They voted against W. Republicans do "negative" better than Democrats do. That is why they are already gearing up to get large segments of the population not to vote for their candidate (whoever it may be), but to vote against Obama.
So all the talk of a "movement" and rallying behind big issues makes me yawn. Americans are wary of the government undertaking big new activities. That is why it took 9/11 to get The Patriot Act and the two wars going.
In my opinion the Democratic party needs to court the silent intelligentsia (my new term for the day) of voters who are socially liberal (support drug liberalization, evolution, gay marriage), but fiscally conservative. I betcha David Axelrod knows that this, and not the knee-jerk progressive, is the core group Obama will need to carry if he hopes to be reelected in 2012. Make no mistake: A socially liberal Republican could make vast inroads into this group.
No, as much as I complain, I'd still vote "for" Obama regardless of who the Rethugs run. The top contenders so far are no one I'd want calling the shots-- Mitt "business, business uber alles" Romney; Sarh "Quitbull" Palin; Mike "Reverend" Huckabee; Bobby "Barberpole-tie speech" Jindal... yeah.
People have been busy lately dealing with all the 'CHANGE' that has hit them straight on in the face. If you really want CHANGE that means something, CHANGE your message. Move on to other issues that really matter such as getting rid of Corporate America in our governments ability to function without the weight of Corporate's heavy handed deals. Start by setting in motion a movement for TERM LIMITS and getting rid of NAFTA...Obama made many promises that I'm sure he wanted to keep, but like Bill said the other day, what a person promises while running for office is one thing but putting those promises into motion once office IS QUITE ANOTHER MATTER. CHANGE starts at the bottom and works up, if you don't CHANGE the base, the ROOT'S to the matter, CHANGE won't happen. There are 25 states with term limits, that's a start for CHANGE that matter. Get rid of lobbists and Corporate America and then you'll REAL CHANGE...Until then CHANGE that matters doesn't stand a chance in hell's kitchen.
Thanks for the moderation improvement. I thought it was something I had said.
Obama is morphing into the Democratic version of Herbert Hoover albeit one with a rhetorical flourish. There is more to governance and leadership than merely rhetoric.
Wow you lefties are having a real sense of crisis in your beliefs. It comes as a surprise to me. Where is that Lenin spirit? Great article, amazing how shallow your support really is.
I somewhat agree that there may be some problems with leadership. But the word momement should never be used. Yes, recently I went to an Organizing for America demostration for Health reform and very few showed up. Many might have gone to the park instead. But it was a Sunday with great weather, and people are absolutely fatigued by the stress brought on by the economy, not to mention, although the Democrats have a great deal of political capital-- much is being thrown around about what is not POSSIBLE.
One would think the Republicans won the election. Supporters of Obama are still in place, but many are just trying to see clearly where we are headed... given the power of the Blue Dogs, and the opposition, who apparently are shaping the message/response to us.
President Obama still has time to rally the troops, but gosh given all that was accomplished, less than a year ago -- some insist on a 'cooling off' period, others want something Big to celebrate. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_ASBQFJrSk
The left was crushed by the Nazis in Germany in the Twenties because the left was so totally wimpy. Isn't everyone on the American left completely embarrassed by how wimpy we are compared to the American right? Every since '68, with very rare exceptions, the right has simply steamrolled the left in this country because they are simply relentless. The left likes a good party and political fun, but the right likes old-fashioned, committed HARD WORK, ANGER, and sheer DETERMINATION. So--surprise, surprise--they tend to WIN. The American left has disgraced itself completely since Obama came to power. It has, yet again, snatched defeat from the jaws of a glorious victory, with its stupid Sixties fecklessness and drug-induced haze of ADD. Face it: Joe Plumber is simply much tougher than Joan Baez. Even Palin is. And victory goes to the tough. Will the left EVER get real in America and truly fight for what's right, instead of humming cute songs about it? In the immortal words of Bob Dole: Where's the outrage?
Jean Renoir, I think you have a very interesting take on the currente political situation in America. Bravo
P.S. I loved all your movies by the way.
Wow you lefties are having a real sense of crisis in your beliefs. It comes as a surprise to me. Where is that Lenin spirit? Great article, amazing how shallow your support really is.
Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-hughes/where-is-that-movement-no_b_290803.html
It is not as simple as that; a flood of crazies joined the left, and most of the liberals ran (an I don't mean ran for office).... but for their lives.
Most of us are not psychotherapists, but are pacifists, and like the Buddhists avoid conflicts.
Most of the rights victories are temporary in nature, because man is an animal of peace -- not war.
Sadly, you're right. When you say "angry leftist" in some countries, you conjure an image of a Molotov-throwing protester in the streets. In other countries, the image is more severe; one of a fatigues-clad revolutionary waving an AK-47.
But when you say "angry leftist" in the United States, what image crops up? Someone who'll write a vicious blog post about you, or MAYBE swat you with his faux-leather man-purse. It's laughable, and pathetic.
Did you know that there have been militant clashes over labor rights in the USA? That striking workers were willing to go toe-to-toe with National Guard and break even? That things were so severe at one point, the US Air Force was called out to bomb striking miners? Now, people get PO'd and write a check to Greenpeace or something and go watch "Dancing With the Stars".
Pathos.
Obama is morphing into the Democratic version of Herbert Hoover albeit one with a rhetorical flourish. There is more to governance and leadership than merely rhetoric.
Where is the movement for health care reform? I see very little grassroots organizing for marches, anything really.
I'm a bit stunned about it really. I thought a lot would be going on.
I volunteered throughout the campaign, primary and general, and while I still belong to the barackobama.com site, there isn't the energy and call to action mentality as we had before the election. I was very disappointed that there was no loud and clear rallying cry coming out of Org. For America regarding health care; large rallies, marches, etc., or even by Moveon or the DNC, the unions. It was infuriating to only see those org. against HCR getting their time in the media, they being hyped as the voice of the majority of Americans. I would have traveled just about anywhere on the east coast to participate in a demonstration of support. I'm not quite sure how this factors in, but I think the fact that we (pre-election) had a message board/forum at the Obama site which helped us to get amped up and energized, organize, was very helpful. All of the "tools" are still there, i.e. checking for events in ones area, help with creating an event; the ability to obtain a list of voters to call re: HCR, printing out flyers, etc. But there's a weird sense of disconnect and isolation from the other people, no "real time" connection. It's all rather "professional" and antispetic; no generic enthusiasm. We did used to get ourselves "fired up," and it was very energizing. Having said that, I'm off to print out some flyers to distribute tomorrow. Thanks for the excellent article!
What the lack of call to action reminds me of is the battle between the Texicans and the Mexicans in the battle of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto as set out in James Michner's "Texas":
The Mexicans whooped our butts in the battle of the Alamo. When the Texicans, led by General Sam Houston, were faced with 6000 troops led by General Santa Ana, and severely out numbered, Sam Houston busted his move when the Mexicans were taking a siesta. They were totally caught off guard and defeated.
Texas won its independence from Mexico by laying in the weeds and patiently and methodically waiting for the perfect opportunity and then took it and left the enemy literally with their pants down.
Moral of the story: Silence and the appearance of being out numbered and inactive is not always a bad strategy.
:o)
Thank you for the work you are doing!! I admire you (fanned)
i imagine his snark regarding the online audience and questions of marijuana reform didn't help his internet popularity, nor did his betrayal of the lgbt community. throw in all the disappointment about healthcare reform and bailed out banks, and we see a politician willing to make a new batch of promises that negate previous ones every time there's a new hurdle to his agenda.
I agree, but that's not the worst part.
The worst part is the way he kissed the b+tts of Republicans and Blue Dogs. It seems that the entire health care bill was aimed at Olympia Snowe! And what if it throws his own base under the bus? Doesn't matter, apparently.
Never in my life have I seen the losing party run the country.
That, to my eyes, is just a basic lack of leadership. Occupying the White House is not enough, a great President has to occupy the hearts and minds of the people.
Which he did during the campaign. And which he has not done since he was sworn into office.
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
