Carl Pope says "Of course our strategies will evolve in the next four years ... but it was the most sophisticated, well-funded, and determined effort by this community to sway a presidential election to date"



Carl Pope says "Of course our strategies will evolve in the next four years ... but it was the most sophisticated, well-funded, and determined effort by this community to sway a presidential election to date"

It Takes a Value Village

Election serves as whack upside the head for environmental community

By Amanda Griscom Little

11 Nov 2004

The Bush victory dealt a devastating wallop to the environmental community, but some members say it also delivered a much-needed reality check to a movement struggling to find its soul.

Understandably, many environmental leaders who jumped into the election fray insist their crusade to mobilize the green vote could not have been harder fought: Beltway groups raised record funds -- in total more than $12 million -- to help oust Bush, and deployed bigger volunteer armies than ever before to pound the pavement in swing states.

Some go so far as to say their efforts were a success: "Of course our strategies will evolve in the next four years ... but it was the most sophisticated, well-funded, and determined effort by this community to sway a presidential election to date," Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope told Muckraker. "Not only that, it worked."

Um, really?

Pope cited statistics that showed considerably higher numbers for voter turnout in many of the neighborhoods in Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan, New Hampshire, and other swing states where the Sierra Club focused its door-to-door campaign. "In the precincts of all the states we worked in except for Florida, John Kerry did better than Gore did four years ago, and we helped grow that support."

Admirable data to be sure, but the Bush campaign, too, was able to improve on its 2000 performance in those states -- essentially canceling out whatever progress Kerry supporters managed to make.

When this story was posted in November 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:

The Birth of the Peace Corps UMBC's Shriver Center and the Maryland Returned Volunteers hosted Scott Stossel, biographer of Sargent Shriver, who spoke on the Birth of the Peace Corps. This is the second annual Peace Corps History series - last year's speaker was Peace Corps Director Jack Vaughn.

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Vote "Yes" on NPCA's bylaw changes Take our new poll. NPCA members begin voting this week on bylaw changes to streamline NPCA's Board of Directors. NPCA Chair Ken Hill, the President's Forum and other RPCVs endorse the changes. Mail in your ballot or vote online (after Dec 1), then see on how RPCVs are voting.

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November 27, 2004: This Week's Top Stories RPCV reaches out after Soccer attack 27 Nov Tony Hall serves cold rice to embassy guests 27 Nov Hope calms injured volunteer's family 26 Nov Journalist Russell Carollo plans book on Peace Corps 25 Nov Moyers says next 4 years will be golden age for reporters 24 Nov RPCV is new president of the Hawaii bar association 23 Nov Mark Gearan confirmed by Senate for CNS Board 23 Nov Chris Shays fits in the other Republican Party 22 Nov DC job a possibility for McPherson 22 Nov Sentence reduced for man who raped PCV in Vanuatu 21 Nov Frist criticizes provision in Omnibus Spending Bill 21 Nov Peace Corps to be funded at $320 million 19 Nov more top stories...

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Charges possible in 1976 PCV slaying Congressman Norm Dicks has asked the U.S. attorney in Seattle to consider pursuing charges against Dennis Priven, the man accused of killing Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner on the South Pacific island of Tonga 28 years ago. Background on this story here and here.

Your vote makes a difference Make a difference on November 2 - Vote. Then take our RPCV exit poll. See how RPCV's are voting and take a look at the RPCV voter demographic. Finally leave a message on why you voted for John Kerry or for George Bush. Previous poll results here.

Kerry reaches out to Returned Volunteers The Kerry campaign wants the RPCV vote. Read our interview with Dave Magnani, Massachusetts State Senator and Founder of "RPCVs for Kerry," and his answers to our questions about Kerry's plan to triple the size of the Peace Corps, should the next PC Director be an RPCV, and Safety and Security issues. Then read the "RPCVs for Kerry" statement of support and statements by Dr. Robert Pastor, Ambassador Parker Borg, and Paul Oostburg Sanz made at the "RPCVs for Kerry" Press Conference. RPCV Carl Pope says the key to winning this election is not swaying undecided voters, but persuading those already willing to vote for your candidate to actually go to the polls. Take our poll and tell us what you are doing to support your candidate. Finally read our wrap-up of the eight RPCVs in Senate and House races around the country and where the candidates are in their races.

Director Gaddi Vasquez: The PCOL Interview PCOL sits down for an extended interview with Peace Corps Director Gaddi Vasquez. Read the entire interview from start to finish and we promise you will learn something about the Peace Corps you didn't know before. Plus the debate continues over Safety and Security.

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