Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead
President Obama sent out a clear and decisive message yesterday in Madison.
"We need you to commit to vote. We need you to pledge to vote. We need you to knock on doors," he said, his voice going cracking at times as he shouted from the podium. "We need you to talk to neighbors. We need you to make phone calls. We need you to bring energy and passion and commitment."
Get involved in your community. Support your local Democratic candidate. Here in Illinois, for example, I am supporting Alexi Giannoulias for United States Senate, Patrick Quinn for Governor, and the rest of the statewide ticket. But it starts at the top of the ticket.
But it also starts from the bottom-up. The is the only way it works and we need all of you to get involved, as the President called out. And I am calling out from the Grassroots.
"I'm the Grassroots." And so are you and all of your like-minded friends. Help me help Democrats get elected.
I cordially invite all of you to join the "I'm the Grassroots" movement. But because of you, we have changed the "name."That is for simplicity's sake and branding of what we are trying to do. It is about mobilizing the grassroots behind the Democrats this year.
I can just here all the cheers.
"I'm the Grassroots"
"I'm the Grassroots"
"I'm the Grassroots"
We need thousands to join to make a bold statement. It is not enough to say you are getting involved. We will need buttons, campaign style, and they must include the union label. Any ideas or donors willing to pay the expense of the buttons would be appreciated. I am working on my end. Maybe Markos can get involved with this too.
It is now time to start a new movement. It is urgent we start today because time is of the essence. A grassroots movement from the bottom-up. That is the only way to win campaigns: from the bottom-up. And with all the Tea Part talk, we have to recapture the message from them. They are stepping on our grass now and we must chase them off. They are not used to this real grass, after all, they are used to Astro turf.
We must win. Saul Alinsky often said, pick the fight you can win. It energizes people. I pick this fight because we will win. We are on a roll right now and must keep it going. The 2008 victory caught them by surprise.
So let's plan another surprise and work our way to victory in the fall 2010 election. The defeat of the Republicans will just crush them. This is their one and only chance in a very long time.Let us deprive them of that one chance by outworking them. Put this Tea Party stuff to rest.
When the economy improves, and it will sooner rather than later, the Republicans won't have a chance.
Actually, the movement is just a new name but with all the exact same principals of "grassroots organizing." I have started a facebook fan page where we will list all the campaign events from around the country.
We'll start here in Chicago where the movement began back in early 2000 when an obscure state senator, Barack Obama, ran for Congress and lost.
But Obama learned so much about that defeat. We all did. Those of us involved back then.
Planting a seed here and a seed there and pretty soon grass started growing everywhere from that election in 2000 to the 2004 election when Barack Obama shocked the political world by defeating a large, well-known field of candidates.
And he did it with the help of hundreds of volunteers that volunteered because they wanted to and not because of some job they will receive in exchange for political favors. It was a pure movement.
In 2006, Barack Obama continued his journeyed, touring the country, meeting people, building alliances, and building an unprecedented organization. He backed a political novice, Alexi Giannoulias, and helped Alexi do the impossible: taking on Illinois powerhouse and speaker of the Illinois, Michael Madigan. Obama supported Giannoulias for Illinois State Treasurer and he did it with the same group that helped him in 2004..
And of course in 2008, Obama took on the Clintons and defeated them in the Democratic primary and then breezed past Senator McCain to become the 44th President of the United States. With the same group of people again, who migrated to Iowa, knocking on doors, calling voters, getting them to the caucuses.
And Obama took the "grassroots" to a new level. "Grassroots and Netroots Organizing on Steroids."
Admittedly, President Obama has stumbled since then and the effectiveness of the OFA (Organizing for America) has been limited for a variety of reasons which I would like to explore at a later date. Right now we have an election to win. We cannot let the Republicans take the House or the Senate. And do not underestimate any of our opponents. Christine O'Donnell is no laughing matter. Take it seriously. We can and will defeat them on the ground where we are the strongest.
Us grassroots people fly under the radar, like stealth fighters. They will never see it coming, but we will know.
So all of us "grassroots" people should come together and reform and recommit ourselves to the principals we believe in. The President needs our help, but even more importantly, the movement needs our help.
So what am I asking you to do besides joining my facebook fan page, "I'm the Grassroots." I am asking you to get involved in your community by starting a small group. No group is too small. No task too great. Three people is a great start. You will see it grow day by day. The main thing is to get started.
Recruit all of your like-minded friends. Get together on a regular basis on the same day each week leading up to the election. Have yard signs available. Have campaign buttons. Invite the candidate to fire up the base. Sometimes they will attend, but if they can't attend (the candidates), they will send staff. Blog on behalf of your favorite progressive candidate when possible. Spread the word. Donate and get others to donate. Act Blue is a good place. The campaign website of your candidate is another good place to donate.
For my part here in Illinois, I will be supporting Alexi Giannoulias for United States Senate. Patrick Quinn for Governor. Robin Kelly for Illinois State Treasurer. I have linked all of them to Act Blue in case you want to donate to these great candidates.
And surely, you will have your favorites too.
John is the author of a book published by The Elevator Group Mr. and Mrs. Grassroots: How Barack Obama, two Bookstore Owners, and 300 Volunteers did it. Also available an eBook on Amazon. John is also a member of the Society of Midland Authors and is a book reviewer of political books for the New York Journal of Books.