Rahm Emanuel is again whining that Howard Dean won't give him enough money play. What doesn't Rahm get here?
This seems to coming to a head -- mikepridmore did a great analysis diary on the media's coverage of Rahm's whining yesterday (complete with a CA-50 breakdown -- though the fact of the matter is CA-50 was gerrymandered to such a degree there may simply not have been enough Dem votes available for a majority... number crunchers can answer that).
Today's version comes from Rahm's hometown paper:
Democrats fear rifts risk midterm victory
Dean, Emanuel at odds on strategy for party
Chicago Tribune
From the
Tribune:
"Will we have the resources to run an effective ground campaign for this election?" Emanuel asked. "This is not a contest between the 50-state strategy and the midterm election. It's a question of whether we are going to have the money for the midterm election."
For the first time since 1994, Democrats can smell the real prospect of winning back the House. Emanuel said he doesn't want to squander the chance and intends to craft his own get-out-the-vote plan.
"I can't sit and wait," Emanuel said. "In individual states where we have races, we are working with the governors to put out a field plan. It has to get done. We don't have a choice."
Relations between Dean and other party leaders have reached hostile levels, according to interviews with more than two dozen well-placed Democrats. [Diarist's Note: Who? Why are these "sources" allowed to always remain anonymous?] And some fear the tensions could give Republicans an advantage in on-the-ground mechanics and money for the midterm elections. [Diarist's Other Note: The Repubs already have on-the-ground advantage; they started building it 30+ years ago.]
"We've got to get this nailed down," said J.B. Poersch, executive director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. "We're hopeful that more resources will be committed."
Rep. Emanuel is in charge of electing Congressmen -- whether to focus on all, several or a single Congressional District is up to him.
Sen. Schumer is similarly in charge of electing Senators -- ditto on his geographic choices.
Chairman Dean is in charge of electing Democrats at every level in every state (and territory apparently) -- his duties run the gammut from helping elect mayors, county boards and state legislators to governors, Congressmen and Senators, and, yes, even Presidential candidates. Chairman Dean doesn't have the luxury of being able to pick and choose geographic regions or districts -- he is the National chairman and ought to cover all states equally.
The Republicans realized all this a long time ago, and the results show.
Why doesn't Rahm get it? Instead he complains, loudly and publicly, that he isn't getting his way.
This whole tussle seems more like puppies and fire hydrants: Rahm seems to want everyone to directly help do his job while Howard has his own job to do. If Rahm thinks he needs more money or a better ground game, then he ought to go out and organize such things. But until Howard's 50 State Strategy is up and running across the board, the Dems' ground game remains weak and dependent on allies like Labor, etc.
Both need to happen -- Rahm needs to get a majority elected (as does Sen. Schumer) and Howard needs to ramp up the 50 State Strategy. But one is short term and can be laser targeted (November is fast approaching and we know exactly how many seats we need for majorities) while the other is long-term and all-encompassing.
We can't put the one on hold for the other -- that is precisely what has happened for too long and America is suffering for it (due to lack of a true opposition party, let a lone a check on our President's power). If we say now that we'll put the 50 State Strategy on hold til '08, the same will happen and we'll put it on hold til 2010...
Enough Procrastination: Let the Democratic National Committee be a National committee! Keep the DCCC and DSCC hand out of the 50 State cookie jar.
ACTION PLAN
Let's let the DCCC, DSCC and DNC know how the progressives that are providing those dollars and those boots on the ground feel about their bickering....
Chicago Tribune letters to editor:
ctc-tribletter@tribune.com
Find other media contacts and letter to editor emails at this media site.
And, of course, here is Rahm's contact info:
- DCCC Contact Page
- DCCC blog: Stakeholder
Sen. Schumer's Democratic Senate Campaign Committee contact info:
- DSCC Contact Page
- DSCC blog: From the Roots (hey, that's us -- we're the grassroots)
Howard Dean and the Democratic National Committee:
- DNC Contact Page
- DNC blog: Kicking Ass