Young Democrats: It is time to put up or shut up!

By: Dan
Published On: 5/24/2006 10:19:32 AM

Often times we read blogs without realizing how important they are to the Democratic movement in this country.  This Saturday, I attended a get together with Markos and Jerome Armstrong, authors of +óGé¼+ôCrashing the Gate+óGé¼-¥ and creators of Daily Kos and MYDD.  One quality to be admired in Markos and Jerome is that they work 365 days a year on supporting Democratic campaigns.  Over the past 5 years, their blogs have gained readership; their blogs have gained attention; and their blogs have gained influence.  Their blogs have separated the passionate from the pusillanimous and the dedicated from the diluted. 

For years the Democratic Party machine has been broken.  They have been sending uninformed volunteers relying on parental indoctrination and saturated television as a guide to their opinions on political issues.

The result has been lost elections.

Clearly, the only way to win is to bring the passionate and dedicated together in force to surge this movement forward.  Markos and Jerome began this movement, and they have spawned thousands of successful copycats: Raising Kaine being one of them.

When I show up to campaign events, I often see people in their 40+óGé¼Gäós and up.  People with families and long-time community advocates who spend their time talking with younger volunteers, helping them get organized and educated.
The most surprising revelation is that the young people showing up at these events to learn from the older crowd are less often young Democrats committed to the party and more often bloggers, committed to their futures and to holding government accountable.

Bloggers are NOT trying to convert the converted, rather they are showing up at events, helping disseminate information, and keeping the passionate and dedicated informed.  They are enabling an alternative media that brings Democracy back to the people.  They are going out and encouraging recruits for Democratic campaigns all across the country, including those without access to computers.

In Northern Virginia, we have been attempting to guide young Democrats into the campaigns.  Campaigns need our help RIGHT NOW.  Unfortunately, a bureaucracy exists in the young Democratic community: One that does not commit its troops until late in the campaign season.

Fortunately, boiling just under the surface in these groups are committed volunteers lacking direction.  They are the best resource we have to tap into.

I wish to tell every one of them, the answer is clear:  Go to the campaigns.  After all, who do you think is the Democratic Party anyway? The local party apparatus, or the Democrats who represent us in Congress and State government?

If you believe the former, than you should wake up and realize that Congressmen and state representatives are increasing turning over to the Netroots for help.

I believe that we have an opportunity for victory in 2006, but the emphasis must be to rebuild the Democratic Party to keep it strong for years to come.  This takes action, not just bland mission statements or disorganized happy hours.  The campaigns are waiting for us to help them.  We can shape the structure and focus of campaigns for years to come.  We can elect the type of candidates WE believe in.  It takes joining the game rather than sitting on the sidelines.  It won't be easy.  It won't be cheap.  It won't be something you can do in between the gym and American Idol.

Tell Young Democrats across America to put up or shut up.  Tell them to join up with Congressional campaigns, and if they can, join up with blogs/PACs like Raising Kaine that are helping lead the effort to turn Virginia Blue.  Blogs throughout the country have the resources and the tools to get them active right now, and keep them informed.  Apathy has been the crime for too many young Democrats, Eight years of President Bush has been our punishment.  We can't wait any longer.  Recruit Young Democrats out of the bars and into the campaigns, or send them home with a bottle of SoCo and a Clay Aiken record while the non-pusillanimaniacs do the job that has to be done!


Comments



Agreed (Nichole - 5/24/2006 10:40:34 AM)
I have seen the same thing happening within not just the YD but also certain organizations across the state.

Without action, passion means nothing. Just the opposite is the same, without passion action means nothing.

We can not go into any race, half-heartly, we must go all in. We must up the ante.



clapclapclapclapclapclapclapclap!!!! (phriendlyjaime - 5/24/2006 10:56:50 AM)
A standing ovation from my desk for you, Dan!!!!

It is funny that you wrote this today.  I was thinking, you know those people that bitch and complain, complain and bitch, but then admit they have no idea what a primary election is?  Or those that "hate _____" and rail into them when discussing politics and plaster their cars with bumper stickers with catchy phrases, yet they admit they don't vote bc "what's the point?"

We are given the freedom to vote in this country, and while it seems like a tiny step on the long road to democracy, the answer to the current conundrum is simple; if you choose to ignore your right to vote, then imo, you really have very little room to complain.

Period dot com.  Enough is enough people.  As Dan said, put up, or shut up.



Right on! (Nichole - 5/24/2006 11:05:13 AM)
I am glad someone has stood up and said it.
I know plenty of people who complain about laws, roads, taxes, etc but they do not vote. They don't even know where to vote!

I heard a statistic someone that people think it is more important to vote in American Idol than to vote in an election,



edit (Nichole - 5/24/2006 11:05:25 AM)
er somewhere.


You know, here is the thing (phriendlyjaime - 5/24/2006 1:31:34 PM)
Today is the last day to donate $$ to the campaign for primary usage.  We all don't have extra $$ to give to politicians or politician hopefuls, but by God, giving your time is FREE.  I really have not seen the amount of people that have time to bitch and moan actually getting off their ass and showing up to a volunteer opportunity.  And frankly, I am quite disgusted with a lot of "politics hacks."  If you want to bitch, then you should want to make a difference.  If you don't want to help, then sit down and let the big dogs handle everything, since apparently, we already are.  I am no longer going to bitch about Miller and his paid staff, and if anyone wants to complain about ads on TV, falsities being spread around by liars for Miller, or the fact that "I haven't rec'd a call yet from Webb, or a mailer," well, take a look at your date planner, and count how many times you have written an LTE, made some phone calls, knocked on doors, talked about Webb at an outing or a bar, tapped your friends and family, etc. etc.  Enough is enough is enough; this is a grassroots effort, and we can win, but people need to PUT UP OR SHUT UP.


I totally agree. Is everyone booked solid 24/7? (Lowell - 5/24/2006 2:19:35 PM)
I doubt it, especially given that the average American watches over 4 hours of TV per day!!!  OK, guys, if you care about the future of our country, turn off the TV (or only watch it 2 hours per day), get out there and help!  The next person who tells me they have nothing to do and are "bored," I'm going to kick their butts right down to Webb campaign HQ to help people like Mary Detweiler.  "Put up or shut up" is right.


If you can't get to a phone bank... (Loudoun County Dem - 5/24/2006 3:07:52 PM)
Take some time to compile (for yourself) a list of all of your liberal/progressive/left leaning (you know, intelligent) friends (or even right leaning friends who are fed up) that are eligible to vote in Virginia.

Call them and make sure they are registered to vote (it is too late to register for the primary but get them registered for the general election), you can find info on registering here.

Show/explain to them how enthusiastic you are about Jim Webb, you would be surprised at how much of an influence you have.

Arm them with the facts (introduce them to raisingkaine.com).

Encourage them to volunteer/donate at http://www.webbforsenate.com

Encourage them to compile a list of their friends...

Lather, rinse, repeat...



Nice, thanks! n/t (phriendlyjaime - 5/24/2006 3:23:25 PM)


I whole-heartedly agree! (thaddaeus toad - 5/24/2006 4:20:35 PM)
With you Dan, and with the comments that follow.  Action speaks louder than words, and the painful tasks of GOTV and visibility cannot be accomplished in front of a computer.  By all means, get informed and inform others via the internet, read local media and hold them accountable, but don't forget the grunt work.  These tasks are annoying, but vital to giving people a sense that "People" are behind this movement.  Robo-calls, and diaries are cold ways to announce the coming of a new era.  Shout it aloud to your friends and neighbors IN PERSON by going to Phone-bank or canvassing.
And Dan, incidentally, when do we get the mailers, I'm chomping at the bit to hand them out.


Tidewater Young Democrats (Pat - 5/24/2006 4:50:52 PM)
We are very fortunate here in Tidewater to have a great group of committed young people who give tirelessly of their time.  They worked very hard on my campaign for School Board and I couldn't have done it without them.  Young Dems all over could take a lesson from Sean, Katie, Dominic, Brent, Larissa, and all the others. Our TYD's showed up when it counted and they are helping that BIG BLUE WAVE wash across Virginia Beach!


Another huge round of applause from me, as well! (phriendlyjaime - 5/24/2006 5:18:47 PM)
Thanks Tidewater Young Democrats!  Your work really does help us fight the fight, and win!  :)

-Jaime



Well... (doctormatt06 - 5/24/2006 10:19:58 PM)
I'm working on building a coalition of high school Dem's in Fairfax who will work together to have a strong Democratic presence throughout the region, and not just for campaigns.  I think its foolish to just focus on campaigns, I think we need to build forums, and conferences, and get speakers to keep these younger people interested.  Its not right just to go at them every two years and say...hey..wanna help on a campaign???


YES!!! (Loudoun County Dem - 5/24/2006 11:20:05 PM)
I F'n LOVE hearing this from young Dems!!!

We have been going non stop here for over 2 years (Clark, Kerry, Poisson, Herring, Webb & Feder) and when we have a break between elections/campaigns we are organizing.

"You get three ants together, they can't do dick. You get 300 million of them, they can build a cathedral." - Annie Savoy (Bull Durham)



Good (Dan - 5/25/2006 10:54:38 AM)
Keep at it, but make sure that you do things.  The issue I have is the choice NOW between helping campaigns or doing nothing.  There is a lot of talk, and little action.  Whatever it is, forums, conferences, speakers, etc., all that matters is that something is being done.