Welcome back, Saturday Campaign D.I.Y.ers! For those who tune in, welcome to the Nuts & Bolts of a Democratic campaign. Each week we discuss issues that help drive successful campaigns. If you’ve missed prior diaries, please visit our group or follow Nuts & Bolts Guide.
This series has been focused on how to build and develop campaigns and successful activism efforts. A few times a year, though, I break from that to talk about the inner workings of the party, and to help people understand how things work. A more informed Democratic base is good for all of us; and in an era where outside forces love to manufacture over the top drama and rancor, sometimes cutting through all the noise can be helpful.
This week we’re in Las Vegas, as the DNC holds our Fall meeting. With a lot to be discussed—and a lot already discussed online, let’s get into it and discuss what happens at these meetings!
DNC meetings are, like many state and local functions, divided into groups, caucus, council as well as ancillary organizations. No organization has a larger impact on ASDC than the state parties, and as a result of this, every DNC meeting features a second meeting that normally starts earlier hosted and held by ASDC—the Association of State Democratic Chairs. These meetings are aimed at discussing how to better improve practices by our state parties, local outreach efforts, and a free exchange of information between state organizations about best practices.
Ken Martin, current chair of ASDC and chair of the Minnesota Democratic Party, has called each meeting hosted by ASDC this year thus far with a similar tone: we cannot take for granted Democratic wins in 2018; we cannot assume that Trump’s bad behavior nets us wins, we must work as hard as we have ever worked in order to guarantee good results. “Don't get ahead of overconfident in the slightest” he tells his first audience.
Martin, who took over for New Hampshire chair Ray Buckley, kicks off what many see as the DNC main event on the Wednesday, with DNC member functions beginning on Thursday.
DNC member functions will always begin with councils, caucus, and informational programming. Members are free to attend or participate in the functions they find worthwhile. Each council or caucus provides regional opportunities at leadership as well as national opportunities for leadership should someone decide to take those tasks on.
What many probably do not realize is that there is no obligation to be a DNC member to run for a position on a DNC caucus. As an example, in the disabilities caucus, the vast majority of those running for advocacy seats are not sitting DNC members.
This is to allow voices from the larger Democratic community have a say in policy that impacts them.
To form a caucus or council, DNC members must be involved and certify the creation and enrollment status. At this meeting, petitions are circulating to form a DNC caucus for Native American peoples.
Let’s talk controversy
Every DNC meeting also features controversy. There is a reason for this—because frankly, if there was no controversy, press would have nothing to write about. In the fall meeting, Chair Tom Perez presented his slate of at-large candidates. If you’ve read some of the more explosive charges on line, you might believe that DNC members here in Las Vegas are prepared to attack one another openly over this list or that anger rules the day. Articles by left-leaning news sites as well as mainstream media like that story.
The truth is there is a lot of exaggeration in the telling. Some of the online presentations are simply bunk. Perez, who appointed 75 members did not “gut” Bernie Sander’s position, nor did he “appoint all lobbyists.” In fact, among the 75, we have more union representation before, and for those who advocate for Bernie Sanders positions, his advocates and leaders on the Unity Reform Commission, at-large members like Larry Cohen, retain their at-large appointment.
Much of the controversy has been around changes to the executive committee and alterations of the officers makeup. This discussion has been productive and thoughtful. While there are some concerns I and others have with the slate as presented, none of it is so drastic as has been portrayed online. By the time you read this, our voting will (hopefully) be over on Saturday and I will be on a flight home. I expect to vote against the slate, though mostly out of principle for the way in which it is structured rather than animosity toward the membership.
We have to remember: reasonable people can disagree and be friends, disagreement doesn’t mean outright hatred or anger. I’m pleased to say here, even of advocates in both sides, it is largely peaceful with great discussions not about inner workings but about the need for accomplishment.
Resolutions
One of the other gatherings for the Democratic Party at these events is the passage of rules changes and resolutions. There are several rules related proposals which the party considered in Rules & Bylaws, especially related to gender balance. David McDonald, of Washington, addressed to the body the need to develop a working group to address gender balance and effectively provide for non-binary and other gendered individuals. I expect that to be an ongoing discussion.
Resolutions provide all members an opportunity to propose to the body a statement of values or policy positions which we advocate the party undertake. Any member of the DNC can propose a resolution, and resolutions are presented to the Resolution committee to be discussed, advanced or disposed, and then voted on in the Saturday meeting.
Individuals may also sign-on (co-sponsor) proposals during the resolution process. There will be several resolutions, from a commitment to work on behalf of those harmed by Hurricanes to policy related to DACA and immigrant bans.
Unlike rules, resolutions are value positions and a statement of the general sense of the body. They may also leave great discretion to officers in regards to implementation; or in cases where no implementation is needed, they are simply gestures.
Offices are what you make of them
One of the most important lessons I hope to get across through Nuts & Bolts every week is that an office is exactly as important or powerful as you want it to be. Being a DNC member, committee member, council representative or even your local precinct person has no inherent authority. These party positions entitle you to say you have a party position. Great past DNC members, committee members, or even precinct persons, make those positions important or meaningful through the work they do in those posts to try and help the party or establish new benchmarks for what it means to hold that office.
No matter what position in your party you take, we should always strive, all of us, to continue to raise expectations of what these positions can provide. By doing so, we better serve our community and party. A hardworking, dedicated precinct committee person in your community has drastic impact on your party, and certainly more impact then someone who works minimally at a higher party office.
With that in mind, I open the floor to any questions. I may be on a flight but should have WiFi Saturday evening, and if you want to know, I’ll gladly answer.
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Nuts & Bolts: Building Democratic Campaigns
Contact the Daily Kos group Nuts and Bolts by kosmail (members of Daily Kos only). You can also follow me on twitter: @tmservo433
Every Saturday this group will chronicle the ins and outs of campaigns, small and large. Issues to be covered: Campaign Staffing, Fundraising, Canvass, Field Work, Data Services, Earned Media, Spending and Budget Practices, How to Keep Your Mental Health, and on the last Saturday of the month: “Don’t Do This!” a diary on how you can learn from the mistakes of campaigns in the past.
You can follow prior installments in this series HERE.