Danny (0-1pool136-62.nas12.somerville1.ma.us.da.qwest.net - 63.159.136.62)
| | Posted on Sunday, December 21, 2003 - 9:57 pm: | |
Tonight, I just left one of Dean's campaign offices in New Hampshire. In leaving the office, I am awed as a former Peace Corps volunteer, a person who has volunteered for many campaigns through the last 16 years, and for volunteer organizations. What inspires me to work for his causes are the issues he raises.
But there is something else which many of the pundits in Washington aren't experiencing and noticing. Its the people he is attracting to his campaign, who aren't the insiders in the political circles. These people aren't the DLC (Democratic Leadership Council) crowd that is running in an obscure way four candidates in this race against Dean. These people are the folks in the Democratic party who have been watching and acting from the sidelines for
years. Couple this with the young people on his campaign who have unrelenting energy, organizing skills, computer saavy and strong idealism. The mix is a powerful force, who are making a mark in the way democracy should be from the grassroots.
People want real change in the economy, health care, the environment and education at the national level, not ill fated plans and lip service. The old way of campainging, to fire the opponent is not what people are looking for now. The people want the economy to bounce back through confidence in leadership. Are we getting it now? I think Dean's campaign is showing the entrenced power both Bush circles and the DLC run Democratic committee is that we want respected leadership. A Doer is what they are looking for, not someone who can't deliver or hurts other democrats while he serves.
People understand it very clearly and are giving Dean time. The combination of giving time for a candidate in a grassroots effort has a McCarthy like quality and the money he has raised has brought the Dean Democrats to your door. Unlike other candidates, he doesn't really brag on his credentials. People know he has the credentials. What is important is his staff and volunteers are asking the people what they want on an individual level.
Volunteerism comes from the Heart. By working on this campaign, it has re-energized my spirits that heart, empathy and the right issues can work in America.
To all the volunteers and staff who blog for Dean, do door to door, make phone calls, talk to their friends at work and have house parties on behalf of the candidate, know that you have changed America already in your volunteerism.
The best is yet to come.
Danny |