Democracy for America, Activists in the Service of Obama

They are not overly impressed by Barack Obama’s victory in the democratic primaries. They are charmed, greeting the extraordinary historic moment happily. “That can repair the deaths caused by slavery and the wrongs done in Iraq,” hopes Charles Chamberlain, of the movement Democracy for America. But they have already passed the amazement stage before “Obama’s Idea.”

Prior to the famous speech that made him known to the political class in 2004, Barack Obama was one of their first foals. To win the Democratic primaries in Illinois and present himself to the Senate, he needed activist connections. Democracy for America helped him. His photo stands in the hall of the association, among those of 550 other candidates they have supported since 2004. “Of course, we’re glad to be connected with Barack Obama. But he is not unique. We know others like him,” assures Daniel Medress, their man in charge of communication.

Beyond the Presidential campaign, members of Democracy for America work to revive the activism of the Democratic base, encouraging “a culture of activists more than incumbents.” They are not found in Washington, but in Vermont, between the lakes and the fir trees.

They are in the vanguard of the reform movement in the Democratic Party, and they weren’t for nothing in the fall of the Clinton. Their pet peeves: the centrists, who they call the “Bush Democrats,” the “triangulation” (like Bill Clinton), and elected officials who don’t keep their promises. “For some Democrats, it’s like nothing happened in the elections of 2006,” said Arshad Hasan, the executive director. “They continue to give Bush anything he wants.”

Some take to them poorly. Harry Reid, the leader of the Democrats in the Senate, was under assault a few weeks ago until he buried the bill on phone-tapings presented by George Bush. The last Democracy for America campaign took aim at Joe Lieberman, ex-Democrat and now assistant to the Republican candidate, John McCain. If necessary, Democracy for America doesn’t hesitate to cause alternate candidatures when the candidate designated by the party is too soft towards, or close to the lobbies, like “the one in New-Mexico who was half-financed by the petroleum industry.”

Democracy for America was connected to the Howard Dean Movement, the unhappy campaign that lost the Democratic candidacy in 2004. Governor of Vermont, resolutely hostile to the war in Iraq, Mr. Dean was the first to use the Internet to collect funds on a large scale. (In the last trimester of 2003, he collected 15 million dollars, and the press spoke of “revolution”)

700,000 Members in 50 States

After the failure in November, Howard Dean succeeded in installing himself at the head of the party, thanks to the support of his young guard. It’s his brother, Jim Dean, who restarted Democracy for America. Both aim to seat the party in all 50 States, instead of considering heavily Republican areas as lost causes with no reason to invest in them. After the primaries, Barack Obama also adopted this strategy. “Obama continues the work which was started by Howard Dean, in particular, in bringing new voters into the electoral process,” said Arshad Hasan. Democracy for America counts 700,000 members and 850 groups throughout the 50 States.

In four years, the movement has trained 16,000 future-elected officials and campaign directors over “candidature turn-key” weekends. For 60 dollars, those interested benefit from councils of national consultants that are usually very expensive for campaigns. “One often talks about the fact that the Barack Obama campaign is very well organized, but he found also that the activists are often even more clever and experienced,” explains Jim Dean.

“In 2003, I remember half-hour discussions to find out if we had to form a political action committee to make 100 photocopies!”

Jim Dean and his friends already thought about the after-election. They know that elected officials in Washington are easy prey for lobbyists. “All the new ones tell it: on one of their first days they meet a lobbyist who hands them a card saying, ‘I want to organize a rally to collect funds for you!’” Democracy for America wants to put in place a “system of support” which shows elected officials that they “don’t need to listen” to the lobbyists. Jim Dean expects that the battle will be difficult. “Medical coverage for all, that will not go easily. One can’t be content to send e-mails to Congress. One has to show oneself over there.” On the war in Iraq, he expects that he’ll have to “push the officials to take the risks and to say: that’s enough. We’re getting out of here. Lets send the troops home.” At five months until the elections, the citizen-lobbyists are already preparing to invade Washington.