Many of us have concluded that the election of a new DNC Chair is the most critical test facing our party. I've enjoyed researching and discussing the subject because I believe our current situation presents a great potential for us to evaluate what we have been doing and learn to do better.
In researching the DNC Chair, I was delighted to find the Chairman's Corner on the DNC website. In addition to a Terry McAuliffe video and bio, there is also:
Photo Gallery: A chronicle of the Chairman's trips around the country, spreading the Democratic message.
The photo gallery is Terry McAuliffe's status report for what he did in the last year. Since it was created by his spin-meisters, I'm going to assume that it includes the best of McAuliffe's actions in 2004.
The first thing I noticed was how he branded himself as, "the Chairman" (like the guy with the crazy outfits on Iron Chef). But before I could imagine McAuliffe announcing, "whose cuisine reigns supreme" the picture caught my eye. Seeing this as the best of the best pictures to represent McAuliffe's Democratic Party reminded me why we are in the minority.
When are we going to start doing better than this? A backdrop needs to convey a message, big letters are not enough. The caption reads, "The Chairman makes sure the Truth about Dick Cheney's real record is exposed in a early morning press conference." I'll bet Cheney has been telling the truth ever since, scared to death that "the Chairman" will call a press conference and throw down in front of the banner that says, "Bush Truth Squad" in TWELVE INCH LETTERS! If I could read the small text on the banner I would probably be surprised that Cheney didn't resign in shame.
Anyway, back to seeing what the DNC Chair does during the year considered to be the most important election of our lifetime. This is why I was concerned to see that McAuliffe's best spin is to show only 24 actions all year.
But if that is what the Chairman does, let's take a look. First, I'm not going to count the photo-op with Beyonce Knowles (4-8-2004) as an actual campaign event. And since Natalie Portman's body language suggests she's creeped out by the Chairman, I'm going to count her photo-op (6-14-2004) as a negative.
After that, the biggest thing I'm noticing is that he has only 22 events to account for an entire year. I understand the two month gap before the Democratic Convention because I realize the Chairman was busy making sure the balloon drop would work.
His weeklong hunting trip (9-18 to 9-25-2004) has a great picture of the McAuliffe shooting position (where the butt of your piece doesn't need to touch your shoulder).
If you think the backdrop above is pathetic, check out the Chairman's press conference with veterans (5-28-2004). Or look at the images from the Democrats Stand for Jobs Tour (2-26 to 2-17-2004).
March 25th was a big day for the Chairman with two events including a Young Democrat event at Dream where the photos show Democratic youth inclusion by going so far as to include a pic of the bartender. While most of the youth photos show the Chairman talking at young people, the September 13-14 College Tour photos show interaction with young people may cause them to make fun of you when you're eating a cheesesteak.
Next year, I'm going to repost this and I would like us to measure the first year of our new chair against the last year of McAuliffe.
In case this disappears from the DNC website, here is Terry McAuliffe's 2004 Year in Review:
September 28, 2004: The Chairman leads the Truth Squad against Dick "Mr. Halliburton" Cheney in Iowa
September 18-25 2004: Chairman McAuliffe: Sportsman
September 13-14 2004: Chairman's College Tour
August 30, 2004: The 2004 Democratic National Convention
June 28, 2004: Visit to Boston's Fleet Center
June 28, 2004: Chairman McAuliffe Appears on The Daily Show
June 14, 2004: Young Professionals event with President Clinton, the Chairman, and Natalie Portman
May 28, 2004: Chairman McAuliffe's Press Conference With Veterans
May 7, 2004: Chairman McAuliffe Visits Chicago for "Something New" event
April 16-17 2004: The Chairman Visits Tennessee, Arkansas, and Missouri
Apr 14, 2004: Meeting with Boston Convention Staff
April 8, 2004: Chairman McAuliffe meets with Beyonce Knowles
Mar 25, 2004: Young Democrats United at Dream
Mar 25, 2004: Building Opening
Mar 10, 2004: Senator Kerry Visits the DNC!
March 2, 2004: Super Tuesday Watch Party
Feb 28, 2004: Junior Statesmen Convention
Feb 27-28, 2004: DNC Black Caucus African American Activists Summit
Feb 20, 2004: Chairman McAuliffe speaks to the Georgetown University College Democrats
Feb 16-17, 2004: Democrats Stand for Jobs Tour
Jan 23, 2004: DNC Housewarming with the Women's Vote Center and Women's Leadership Forum.
Jan 21, 2004: "Something New Tour" Atlanta, GA
Jan 15-16, 2004: Chairman McAuliffe Visits New York and Ohio
Jan 5, 2004: Philadelphia Mayor John Street Inauguration
Hopefully, next year we will have a Chair who can effectively communicate with the base.