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Keeping Obama's Campaign "Army" Mobilized as a Force for Change in Peacetime
Speaking to tens of thousands of his supporters in Chicago's Grant Park, President-elect Barack Obama said his smashing victory was not about him but about "you." In his effort to unify, he meant all of America, but he also was crediting a very special group of people -- his "peacetime army" of millions of volunteers and contributors who grew the electorate and upended the electoral map in the name of change.
The key question now for Obama and all who support the change he called for is, "What happens to this peacetime army?" This powerful force was galvanized by Obama and his campaign. His Web site allowed any supporter to act immediately, and it reached millions with a flood of targeted e-mails and text messages. The campaign organized tens of thousands of events through which Americans reached out to other Americans. Many thousands of paid and volunteer organizers worked for months to register voters, identify supporters and get them to the polls. They travelled to battleground states to knock on doors and make their case for change in person. In many states, Obama's on-the-ground presence dwarfed that not only of the McCain campaign, but of the Democratic Party and virtually every other contemporary political institution and social movement in American society.
Ordinarily when a presidential campaign ends, organizers disperse and some of them join the administration, if the campaign has been successful. The list of donors and volunteers is often treated as a precious, proprietary political resource to be sold or loaned to allies. Obama's was no ordinary campaign, and that business-as-usual approach would be a mistake in this extraordinary year when so many want change.
While Governor Sarah Palin taunted Obama for being a "community organizer, whatever that is," Obama understands better than anyone who has been elected to the presidency that true political power and progress depend not only on presidential leadership, but on an engaged citizenry, and that elections are a crucial but only passing moment in the life of our democracy. To govern effectively and promote his agenda on economic security, energy, expanded health coverage, education, the restoration of civil liberties and other matters, Obama will need to keep his army mobilized. Doing this is as important as drafting legislation and picking cabinet secretaries.
Obama and all those who want to seize the moment for progressive change need these talented and passionate organizers who helped deliver the presidency to stay in the field and work with state and local organizations to deliver the change that Obama promised and they labored for. They would offer a huge boost to local coalitions and organizations, many of which are far less powerful and sophisticated than the Obama campaign.
These organizers are essential to sustaining the passion and engagement of millions of donors and online activists, who can take action in support of the agenda they share with Obama.
Progressives understand that this army needs to be a force for keeping the new administration true to its promises - supporting Obama when it agrees with him, pushing him when he needs to be bolder, and opposing him when they disagree. They did that this summer when thousands of Obama supporters used the campaign Web site to convey their dismay with his support for a Congressional compromise on government surveillance of U.S. citizens under the Foreign Intelligence Services Act. In the tough challenges ahead, this peacetime army can press Obama to stay true to his promises and his supporters.
Obama understands better than any other politician that the success of his agenda depends on his supporters being mobilized and engaged. What we have seen in the last year is a rebirth of participatory democracy, infused by the energy of millions. Imagine what this energy can do if it channeled into ongoing action.
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We are not in "Peace time". Not yet. Once we get to peace time maybe but we are not there yet.
“We really need fundamental change to counterbalance corporate power and reverse the decline of the middle class,” said John J. Sweeney, the A.F.L.-C.I.O.’s president, “and that’s why we support the Employee Free Choice Act.”
Now let's see just supportive limo Dems. will be of THIS vital piece of legislation.
Blogger posted:"Obama understands better than any other politician that the success of his agenda depends on his supporters being mobilized and engaged."
How far would this "mobilization" and engagement" should go, in your opinion?
blogger posted:"knock on doors and make their case for change in person."
Did you actually think through the implications of this kind of thing?!
oh, its thought out. civilian security force, green czar, ...the only thing i would change in the title is to remove the quotes. neighbors will be watching eachother and turning eachother in.
There is another way that we, the 'hope-mongers', need to stay active. We need to stay informed politically. Write your senators and congressmen to vote for Obama's policies. Hassle anyone who is trying to stall a bill in congress, mount a filibuster to keep a bill from reaching the senate floor, etc. The days of obstructionist politics are over. If you don't know who your state senators and congressmen are, look them up. Keep tabs on them. Make sure they're doing the will of the people. If they're not, tell them you "will" vote them out of office. We already found out that we can bring about change if we work together. We need to keep it up.
Great post Gara: Your points are the essence of the Obama ethos; this is not the END of a very, very expensive and long Broadway run, this is the beginning of truer participatory democracy --- with the potential for us to recover our moral compass and our souls as a nation. Grassroots organizing for local civics, policy and elections portends a sea change in how we govern. Supporting an Obama presidency is also paramount because of the opposition he will encounter as he attempts to foster any programs that smack of justice.
Most importantly, when we don't agree with Obama, let us not become unwitting allies of the right-wing. When we disagree, let's do it with patience, compassion and love --- the kind that Obama has modeled for us for almost 2 years. Most disturbing to me during this campaign were the liberal-progressive-leftie bloggers who ripped Obama from stem to stern everytime he veered from "our agenda". What we must acknowledge is that Obama, literally, has the weight of the world on his shoulders now; he's going to have the triage and set priorities for countless issues. We can trust Obama to be, perhaps, the first U.S. president who is NOT mendacious: His goal is not to screw us and the world "and make us love it". At the same time, he will not always please us. Easy does with our expectations and easy does it with our critical judgements....this is for the long haul.
I'm going AWOL thanks
As a member of Obama's "army" for more than 18 months I'm done.
I have the HOPE sign in my front window; now faded from a year's worth of sun.
I dontated over $300 (not that much I know) I have 4 Tshirts, buttons, bracelets, bumper stickers.
I made phone calls & went to rallys (that Oprah one at UCLA was terrific!) I initially tried to persuade my gay brothers & sisters to leave Hillary for Barack. Then I tried in vain to persuade my racist family members in PA to support Obama. I did my best. And yes we had a good result with Obama's victory.
But on that historic Tuesday my fellow Californians told me loud & clear that I do not count. That I & thousands like me, are second class citizens, now & always will be.
And where was Obama? Oh, still against Marriage Equality sure ( but for "civill-seperate-but-equal-unions!"!!) and courageous enough (?) to make one WEAK ad against Prop 8 one WEEK before the election & then that was it. Racism may be on its way out, but the bigotry of homophobia was etched in stone this Election Day. Good Luck Barack! Thanks for nothing! I'm out.
thegaygardener:
Don't give up. Not everyone understands that being gay is not a disease or something bad. You deserve to marry, make a family, have legal protection and love who you love openly and honestly. I'm a white 54 year old grandma and if someone my age can "get it" so can others. Keep working towards your goal.It will be hard but it is worth it. Anything worth having is. Look what we just accomplished.
Obama/Biden 08 and beyond
Mr. LaMarche, you are so correct!! In order for his supporters to stay directed and organized for progressive actions, he, Mr. Obama, needs to remain focused on a peaceful and progressive agenda, and not stray from it by being overly influenced by those surrounding him with their own specific agendas. He needs to keep his "army" of influence directed to HIS agenda and not their own.
http://eye-on-washington.blogspot.com
his "army".... "to HIS agenda."
Ever heard of Democratic Party, Mr. Obama is ( supposedly ) representing?
We should summon some creativity to make suggestions on how the "army" can be sustained. I'd like to see how the grassroots enthusiasm can be channeled and organized using modern concepts around the internet, gov't sanctioned community organizations, funding mechanisms, enrollment and missions. Maybe Gara can write a follow-up from his vast experience in community and charity outlining suggested key elements of a post-election Obama-inspired grass roots organization (maybe based on similar principles of AmeriCorps but organized differently). From the suggestions and comments could be fashioned a proposal sent to the Obama administration.
I talk about something very similar in my blog:
http://www.sidewalklyrics.com/?p=625
Real "change" can only materialize if Obama is able to keep the presence of these volunteers.
"Progressives understand that this army needs to be a force for keeping the new administration true to its promises - supporting Obama when it agrees with him, pushing him when he needs to be bolder, and opposing him when they disagree. They did that this summer when thousands of Obama supporters used the campaign Web site to convey their dismay with his support for a Congressional compromise on government surveillance of U.S. citizens under the Foreign Intelligence Services Act. In the tough challenges ahead, this peacetime army can press Obama to stay true to his promises and his supporters."
Well...can we get the "opposing him when they disagree" aspect of this across to the mobilized army? This site has become a model of suppression of free speech due to these "soldiers". Nobody who expresses any disagreement with anything O does is allowed to survive. They attack, en masse, flag people and posts are scrubbed. Posters who have been here for years are attacked for voicing any disagreement whatsoever, called rethugs (these are Democratic voters) and ridiculed publicly by 2 or 3 of the O soldiers.
Their main tactic is the blatantly misquote and deliberately misinterpret the posters intent, the posters reply, trying to clarify is scrubbed. What a democratic way to do things eh?
Thanks Gara for your great article, and RnR for raising this point.
I was wondering if I would still be getting personalized emails from Obama as POTUS. Will each message end with a button that reads DONATE NOW? Or maybe VOLUNTEER NOW? Somehow I hope not.
Peace Corps America
I would suggest that President Obama make this community service offer of free?? tuition to current students also applicable to those who just graduated. This would get these "hot off the educational, all fired up press" students out on the street immediately helping the communities across America, and would help those struggling with paying back their tuition debts.
You've made a very important point here, Mr. Lamarche. You are now on my fan/email alert list to watch the evolution of your/this new "campaigne". We need to keep the Obama army on the move by making it the Peace Corps USA.
As Sarah Palin still does not, nor will she ever know what a vice president does, why
don't you email your article to Ms. Palin so that she might comprehend what a "community organizer" does, in particular one from the country of Africa?
Obama has BUILT an Institution for CHANGE of all types issues!
Barack Obama has built the most incredible campaign organization in history. So why not KEEP IT and Empower it for "CHANGE" that improves America and Americans' lives.
Perhaps rename it the "YES WE CAN" organization!
"YesWeCan" should become the best Community Service Implementation Program in History!
It will be a powerful tool in bringing about improvements in peoples lives by serving people in need and making sure no one slips through the cracks.
And it can even be used to bring about positive changes in "Business and Government."
Please keep your "YES We CAN" Organization and find ways to continue with "Not for Profit" funding!
The first thing everyone should do is to keep the media focused on-THIS IS WHAT WE WANTED.
The right-winger hate mongers are already stirring their base with talk of impeachment and statements "He's not MY president"
Guns are flying off the shelves.....
Sure, volunteer, work in politics...but, first and foremost, stay on message. Call Rush and lie to his screeners and challenge his statements about the president -elect-be sure to remind him he called people who opposed Bush terrorist sympathizers and what's different about that sentiment now. We need to keep these people's feet to the proverbial fire and show them to the general public the hypocrites they are
I agree. Those prophets of doom are trying to divide this country by spewing hate and fear.
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