Whether you're a supporter of President Obama, or his harshest critic, Obamabot, EmoProg, or Firebagger, no matter what side of the pie fight you find yourself on today, I'm going to ask you to hang in there and read what I promise you is going to be a very long diary.
Why?
Because for one day last week this kossak - a community organizer with no professional interest in politics, and who couldn't lobby her way out of a paper bag - brought the hopes, fears, and messages of 1,300 others just like me (and you) directly to key White House officials, staffers and cabinet members in a way I never hoped or thought possible.
And they listened.
FIRST, A LITTLE HISTORY
On the last week of August, I received one of "those" emails. You know the ones, sincere emails from OFA and the DCCC promising you dinner with the President if only you'd donate $3 by midnight tonight.
This one asked, "Would you like to join us at the White House?". Out of reflex, I almost deleted it, except I realized it was coming from someone I actually knew and had collaborated with, Rick Jacobs, founder of the California Courage Campaign.
Dear Marta,
The Courage Campaign would like to extend an invitation to you as a key California progressive supporter and leader for a "California Day" at the White House in Washington, D.C. on September 23, 2011. Organized by Courage Campaign and hosted by The White House Office of Public Engagement, the purpose of this day-long conference is to meet with key Administration, policy, and political experts to talk about issues and plans that affect California.
It must be a joke, I thought. No joke, Rick assured me. This was real.
Why me, I asked? I'm not a politician or a lobbyist. I don't head up a non-profit, and I have zero interest in ever running for office (I like my day job). And since 2008, when I volunteered as a Regional Field Organizer for the Obama campaign, I've become progressively (pun intended) more critical of the Obama administration and OFA, harsh even. This entry in my blog, www.venice4change.com, is not untypical:
In 2008, I took a six-month unpaid leave of absence to work on the Obama campaign. In fact, I was a Regional Field Organizer in Southern California. I also maxed out my campaign donations - the first time I've ever done that in my life.
Not in 2012. Next year, I'll be turning my focus on retaking the House, keeping the Senate, and electing good Democrats in local races.
I highly recommend many of you do the same.
If I went, I told Rick, I have no incentive to tone it down. In fact, the only way I'd agree to go is if I were allowed to speak my mind. I'd be respectful, but I would not hold back.
"We're counting on it.", Rick said.
And that's how, on September 23d, I came to be in the auditorium of the Old Executive Office Building with a hundred other California activists, DFA organizers, labor and union leaders, non-profit representatives, key White House officials, staffers and cabinet members......giving David Plouffe a piece of my mind.
(our fearless leader, Rick Jacobs with Labor Secretary, Hilda Solis)
Read More