"Summoning the Spirit" of 2008, OFA Brings Out the Big Gun
BY Micah L. Sifry | Wednesday, March 18 2009
Organizing for America brings out the big gun: the President, who is featured in this morning's email blast to his campaign list and via YouTube video. "Passing this budget won't be easy," he says, as the video closes with a big ask. "That's where you come in. That's why I'm asking you to head outside this Saturday to knock on some doors. Talk to some neighbors and let people know how important this budget is to our future. And that's why I'm asking you to stay involved in the days ahead. By writing letters and making phone calls and summoning the spirit that first gave us this chance for change. Now is our moment to seize that chance."
Plus, Jeremy Bird, OFA Deputy Director, gives the troops a pep talk and some useful organizing tips: "The pledge canvass will be the first step in growing our movement and building a nationwide network to support our agenda for change. This is just the beginning for us. Throughout this year we will be organizing to bring an end to this economic crisis. and to build a solid foundation for America's economy. We will be mobilizing people everywhere and holding our elected officials accountable, until we see bold change." Later on, he adds, "We are building local power, and that will come from these pledges....Imagine what we will do, across the country, together."
Al Giordano explains why this is such a big deal:
It’s also significant that the canvassers will go door-to-door to every house, rather than relying only on voter lists or targeting members of any party or demographic. That indicates that it’s also the beginning of the 2010 voter registration drive; an effort to politically engage significant numbers of people who are not yet registered to vote (and you can be certain there will be follow up to register them before November 2010).
It goes without saying that no incumbent president or political party in power in the United States has ever attempted to bypass the media and old guard party machines to construct a grassroots people-to-people outreach and organization even close to this magnitude. Not that this is unexpected. But now it’s beginning, for real, step-by-step, one door at a time. And as each doorbell is rung, the canvasser will know that thousands just like him and her are doing the same job simultaneously.
What remains to be seen: whether the base is in love with Obama's budget priorities. Are they paying attention to the details? Can they sell their neighbors and friends?