Wait, what really is the DNC?

This is the question I get asked the most. Many people make the assumption that the DNC really means people like me (a committee person), federally elected officials, state chairs, etc. And, in one sense that’s kinda true; but the reality is that the heart of the DNC is truly about the people who do the day to day work, every day.

This is the same in almost any organization; it is the people who work the jobs every day in an enterprise that makes sure whether it succeeds or fails. Whether it is a union autoworker or someone doing data entry and tracking for a national party, those individuals provide the work that make their organization better.

Keeping that in mind, I want to move on to how we make those hard working people most effective.

Fixing Our State Parties

For years, one of the problems, (IMHO) with the national and state parties is that we had numerous people who were very committed to the Democratic goals, but were not necessarily the right people to do the job. One of the biggest reasons is because we staggered around without anyone really training individuals in how to actually be successful.

This is something that in almost every state, under the new 50 state strategy, that will be changing. Dispatching individuals who are trained into the states was Howard Dean’s solution. And in states that accepted and worked with that, the party had some real success. More elected at the state and local level in many states, including red states, state houses in Democratic control, and a rise in governors and state wide office holders.

Since abandoning that approach, we’ve seen a lot of atrophy. In a call to states and others, the Clinton campaign and the DNC have signaled that this atrophy must change. In order to fix that, we are already seeing outreach into states that need hands on resources and purpose.

During the primaries, and even to today, many were upset that the Clinton campaign was funneling money to the national party through state parties, or using other organizations to build up a national warchest. Bernie Sanders supporters, several of whom are now candidates for state and local offices, are receiving the direct benefit of that financing plan now, though in ways it is most useful.

Should the plan continue — a 20 year plan, as some have been told — the goal will be to make sure candidates have more than just a straight check, they get actual, on the ground resources of people who can help them do things the right way.

This is an invaluable improvement; many candidates chose to run or not run based on perceived support from the party. That support goes beyond money, it is also about the “how and why” to run a campaign, what to expect, and how to do so successfully.

Changing this understanding with these candidates helps all of us.

What Happens On The National Level? Since the California primary, there has been a noticeable shift in the direction of content I receive about the outlook for states where I have worked with candidates. Hearing from candidates in more than 7 states, the common message is that there is a new plan afoot to make candidates feel as though they have an important role within the party.

One candidate let me know, that this is the second time they had run for federal office and they had never received anything from the national party that just said “thank you for running”, which was all he wanted. One call, and the national party had no problem sending out content.

In comparison to 2014, 2012, 2010, where candidates were often “blown off” in very unlikely races, a new look at how we treat candidates is definitely something that we’re starting to see, which I find very encouraging.

People want to work hard when they feel as though others care about them.

So what about the DNC, State Party, County Party, what are they doing, really?

Well, here’s my question I always ask back when I get this: what, exactly, are YOU doing. Is there something you could be doing? Donating money, talking to candidates, running for office, becoming a precinct leader? There are lots of opportunities out there.

In any organization where there are a lot of human beings, you’re going to have some humans who aren’t likable. You’ll have a few people who on an interpersonal level you just don’t like. I get that, there are certainly people who don’t like me at times (or all the time!).

But the view from the inside? There is an active effort to unwind some mistakes, some people who are working hard to help all states, and resources being correctly sent in the right way to states that need it.

The method that often gets criticized, of using states to push to the national has turned into one of the most effective programs to provide resources that the states just aren’t prepared to handle on their own, even if they had the money. Dispatching individuals, data, training, purpose, and message to the states gives them tools that they couldn’t get another way.

Finally, what are people like me doing?

As you may have noticed, in recent weeks my story output is down. Sorry about that. At the moment, I’m busy helping with multiple Federal, state and local races. I’ve managed to burn through another vehicle (damnit 160k miles goes fast), and of races I’m not involved in, I’m connecting people with resources that they didn’t have before. It’s rewarding, entertaining, fun, and, frankly, the most incredibly expensive hobby I’ve ever had in my damn life.

The reality is, for people who are on the committee, state officers, etc. these are, in almost all cases “unpaid positions”. I think about this sometimes when I get rather mean email about the realities of “the system” and how terrible “the system” is for the national or state. It’s something we need to keep in mind when we talk about those who are helping run and organizing your state. Unlike high paid CEOs, they, in general, receive $0. Most do not receive travel compensation. Many do not receive food stipends or reimbursements on cost. It is an out of pocket gig for state chairs, vice chairs, county party chairs, and others. They do this because they believe there is a purpose to doing the right thing.

I get it, and you know, there are real problems with “the system” that some are working very hard to fix. We do still have a lot of lazy leadership in several areas, state, county, local and national. It’s a bit like chasing weeds at times. Good democratic party members who have risen up the ranks who, well, don’t work very hard. Good democrats, great people, but not necessarily in the right job for them.

We see it too in bad ideas that get recycled. But the only way to fix it is with hard work and dedication to do it.

It’s something some of us knew at the very beginning. The reality is, it is easy to point at a spilled jug of milk and say “boy, that’s a spilled jug of milk”. It is more work to go get a towel, clean it up, and fix things back to being right. (BTW, just as I typed this I knocked over my bottle of G2 gatorade, dangit).

But someone has to work to do exactly that. I have, over the last 20 years, in many states, met party officials that may not be my cup of tea. I’ve also met with party officials who work their hearts out for the right cause; and I've met truly brilliant people who labor to get things done.

But for the first time since 2004, we’re seeing a real sea change in the way in which people want to do business. Real, honest resources into states.

We are also seeing more individuals in state party offices who are willing to put out the effort to do it.

I’m saying this to put a clear point on something: before you ball up your fist and shake it at the sky, realize you can, in fact, change things if you want. Vote for new party office holders, vote for change in your state, or do the work yourself. It is all possible. If you are unhappy, make your voice heard. But understand this: the people doing these jobs aren’t doing it for the fame or the money, as there is no money and the fame is the slightly better than being an umpire in a little league baseball game. They do it because they want to change, and they are willing to sacrifice for it.

There is work ahead. Candidates running for state and local offices, candidates for the US Senate and House.

So, there is hope. And that says something.

As always, I’ll monitor this diary today, and I will answer any question I can.