Re: Feedback Letter

From:john.podesta@gmail.com To: arenteria@hillaryclinton.com Date: 2015-10-12 23:12 Subject: Re: Feedback Letter

Meeting with Maura was really good. Next stop Mook. On Oct 12, 2015 3:37 PM, "Amanda Renteria" <arenteria@hillaryclinton.com> wrote: > tnx. John was my ride in Chicago. He's a good guy. Will connect with > Marlon. > How did your conversation go with Maura? I'm asking her to put together a > group of Chiefs for a meeting on Wednesday with Phil, etc. > > On Mon, Oct 12, 2015 at 6:22 PM, John Podesta <john.podesta@gmail.com> > wrote: > >> Our Chicago super-volunteer. He's a pretty smart guy and some of the >> suggestions here on lower $ fundraising are worth considering. Very >> negative on LGBTQ hire. I reported on my last Chicago visit that there is >> also a lot of ethnic agitation there. Probably a place Biden will try to >> play so we should pay some attention. >> >> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- >> From: *John West* <gardens@jwlandscapes.com> >> Date: Sunday, October 11, 2015 >> Subject: Feedback Letter >> To: John Podesta <john.podesta@gmail.com> >> >> >> Dear Chairman Podesta, >> >> First of all, I just want to thank you and the team for all you are doing >> everyday for our party and our Champion, Hillary :) It's assuring to >> see all the social media activity from the campaign staff from top to >> bottom, bottom to top, working so hard and sharing such a strong message of >> support and enthusiasm. >> >> The grassroots’ volunteers have been working really hard with Adam >> Parkhomenko. His responsiveness and attention to what we can only imagine >> -- an endless number of questions and inquiries/requests which has been >> just stellar. I wanted to express my gratitude upfront. The conference >> calls and letting us know what's in the works is appreciated and I know >> more tools to empower the grassroots are forthcoming. >> >> I'd like to begin with my concerns on the LGBTQ hire that was recently >> announced. This is my personal opinion and feeling; though these >> feelings/concerns are shared by a number of activist friends, who are also >> supporters of Hillary. >> >> As you know, this summer was a big deal for marriage equality and the >> LGBTQ community; and it seemed like so much opportunity was lost when no >> director or team of LGBTQ outreach/coordinators were hired. We were left >> waiting and wondering until the end of September when the hiring of Mr. >> Lowell was announced. No doubt he is wonderful person and looks to have >> some solid work experience, but at the same time his hire is confusing and >> underwhelming. Where was Hillary on this hire? It feels and looks like she >> had no part in this hire and that is extremely upsetting! >> >> · This is a hire we would expect for a Senate or Governor’s race, not >> for an important & #Herstoric candidate like Secretary of State Clinton. >> Coming on the heels of the most important ruling for LGBTQ civil rights in >> the history of our country, while the LGBTQ community is splintering into >> progressive equality movements of race, immigration, transgender, women's >> issues, and other forms of discrimination facing everyone else, except for >> the exclusive white and affluent gay male community that dominates the >> LGBTQ D.C based organizations. The optics of this hire are highly >> problematic within a rapidly changing political environment in the LGBTQ >> community. >> · The feedback from my friends, many of whom are highly involved in the >> discussions and debates that are currently happening along the lines of >> gender, race, immigration, homeless youth, HIV, Trans-persons, etc. view >> this hire with cynicism, reacting with “eye roll” and accompanied by >> significant disappointment over the lack of any boldness in this choice. >> · The feedback about this hire from my friends who are donors is deep >> disappointment because he appears to lacks requisite gravitas expected when >> soliciting political support and money from a highly sophisticated >> community. >> · Optics – of this hire evokes the exclusionary white male dominated >> Human Rights Campaign. Even at the HRC gala this past weekend in D.C >> people, were expressing their disappointment to outright anger with respect >> to the audience, which had very little diversity present. >> · Where are the 'movement' hires? Surely there were folks with >> credibility and breadth of experience who applied for this very important >> hire? I know from a grassroots perspective, many of us have experience >> working with Jeff Campagna. Even my contacts in Labor and Equality >> California seemed behind Mr. Campagna, so I'm confused as to why someone >> like Jeff would be overlooked. Was this an oversight? I'd think if Hillary >> was serious about the LGBTQ community she would have had a role in this >> very important hire, and it feels and looks like she had no part in this >> hire and that it was left to perhaps the talent director and that doesn't >> feel or look good. >> · Wouldn’t a campaign task force for the LGBTQ community with a strong >> director at the helm be more appropriate to aggressively court and tie in >> the various components to build and consolidate community support for >> Hillary? I see no evidence of this reality. It must happen. >> >> 3: Second concern: The figure of $1,700 is the AVERAGE campaign donation >> from Illinois, reported for last quarter. That is a PROBLEM! As a >> grassroots organizer and a max donor and someone who helps raise money and >> has also attended a number of the high dollar events, it's my observation >> that these events are missed opportunities and leave a considerable amount >> of money on the table. These events should be opened up to: >> · 10 $1,000 spaces (this would allow for greater diversity at these >> events); >> · 5 spots for local volunteers/ college leaders/organizers - the >> infusion of youth and the energy they bring really makes the event better >> and inspires Hillary's hardest and most important workers to carry on; >> · Small Business Host Events $500/small business owners - this is >> affordable by a number of small business owners/many bring women employers; >> 4. Low Dollar fundraising needs support - each state/finance team should >> have a staff person dedicated to supporting these events and help get the >> lower dollar surrogate events going for the $50 - $250 a head; >> · Create an incentive for Hill-Raisers/Blazers to recruit and help >> low dollar fundraisers that commit to raising $2,700 for these events (do >> $5,400, $10,800 levels as well); >> · Reinforce that incentive for those low dollar fundraisers that >> raise $2,700 by inviting them once they reach their goal to a high dollar >> event to meet Hillary/photo op :); >> · The emails asking for donations need to get on a cycle that works >> with everyday Americans, like $5 Fridays. >> · The amount of emails and follow ups asking for more money makes it >> feel like my contribution isn't enough, that's the impression the >> experience leaves one feeling badly; >> 5: Ethnic Outreach: Would it be possible to get a brief audience on November >> 2nd with some of the Chicago ethnic leaders: re: Maureen Pikarski who >> you met in Chicago. I see Hillary has a window in her busy schedule from 3-6 >> p.m. Also, it seems we have had little traction on the Bosnian American >> outreach and that is a HIGHLY strategic in Iowa and Missouri and >> enthusiastic supporters of Hillary. Our Missouri HRC super volunteer has >> asked the Midwest Fundraising team to schedule a side meeting with Hillary >> and the leadership of the St. Louis Bosnian community during her next trip >> to Missouri. The feedback I'm hearing is that folks have mixed feelings >> about the campaign’s response so far and I recommend hiring asap and engage >> aggressively through the Ethnic Outreach department - more of a TASK FORCE >> with liaisons to court and engage the diverse constituencies with the >> sensitivity and respect they deserve. It would be most unfortunate to see >> another young D.C organizational hire that isn't up to the task for each of >> the assigned 10 desks. >> >> 6: Hillary's 2007 delegates - have they been contacted yet? I shared an >> updated list with David Huyhn at the DNC Summer Meeting and I hope outreach >> is happening. I think it would be a wonderful gesture to do some special >> outreach there. *(update David Huyhn says that is underway! :) )* >> >> Consider the following issues: >> >> 7: Messaging: Hillary's four fights seem to get lost and aren't front >> and center (we need easy print outs for folks to hand out that are shrunk >> down so you can print and cut a page into 4 that has four fights on it). >> Hillary lacks a slogan like Trump: Let's Make America Great Again or >> Bernie: Not for Sale etc. etc. perhaps Hillary: A fighter in your corner >> (you get the idea) Bernie has cornered the market on income equality but >> Hillary can really pounce on Civil Rights and Social Justice as part an >> parcel of good economic policy. *(As of today, a four fight print out >> was provided for the debate watch night! THANK YOU!)* >> >> 8: Disability outreach and mobilization - again that should be a special >> task force - especially targeting caucus states and swing states. Getting >> them engaged in volunteer activities and identifying ways to get them to >> the polls! Dr. Janice Lehrer Stein in San Francisco has spoken to you and >> Robbie I believe on this matter. >> >> 9: Many people would like to contribute to this campaign in other ways >> that do not include money. CREATE incentives! Like 1,000 sign-ups gets >> someone an autographed book by Hillary! 5,000 sign ups by one person gets >> them to a high dollar event, 10,000 sign ups gets the person a professional >> autographed and framed photo with Hillary and 50,000 sign ups gets you a >> dinner with Hillary (have this set up like Hillraisers and Hillblazers with >> recruitment so that folks get credit for the efforts of their recruits) >> >> 10: Create another incentive for merchandise: Like Hillraiser Links - >> provide HillMerchandiser Links so that folks get an incentive/credit for >> every sale made via purchases on those links...this helps encourage folks >> to sell and promote the merchandise store! Again - a certain number of >> sales gets someone free merchandise, an even greater amount of sales gets >> you an invitation to a fundraiser event with Hillary or Bill or Chelsea, >> etc. >> >> 11: St. Louis is the largest Bosnian American community in the U.S. >> --around 80,000. Angie Acree, HRC Super Volunteer and the Clinton Campaign >> volunteer rep in Missouri has asked the Midwest Fundraising Team to arrange >> for a side meeting between Hillary and the Bosnian American leadership in >> Missouri during her next fundraising trip. It is the belief of Ajla >> Delkic, the executive director of the Advisory Council for Bosnia and >> Herzegovina (based in D.C.) that it would take little attention by Hillary >> to light this community on fire. Mr. Vajrovic is the leader and is locally >> connected to the Democratic Party. But no one has ever met with them >> from the Democratic Party at a senior level. Barack Obama lost Missouri to >> McCain by 3,903 votes in 2008. These votes are to be SOUGHT aggressively. >> >> 12: At the recent Ethnic Council Meeting with Amy Dacey, CEO of the DNC >> here in Chicago, the talk among the ethnic leaders of Chicago area was the >> lack of outreach to their constituencies....People were highlighting the >> absence of aggressive outreach since Bill Clinton's campaigns in 96 and >> Obama's in 2007 - November 2nd - Hillary is in Chicago ALL day for >> fundraisers - would be nice if an Ethnic Round Table could be arranged >> (small one) with Maureen Pikarski who could help make that happen >> 1-312-718-9351 and if it could be filmed by various news outlets that >> cater to these constituencies - would be huge in audience reached and for >> mobilizing the ethnic communities to help in IOWA and in IOWA! >> >> 13: Lastly swag: I know and appreciate how much frugality is being >> exercised in the primary (in stark contrast to 2007) but if perhaps >> something could be worked out so that grassroots point people in each state >> are not encumbered with the expense of providing the basics like bumper >> stickers (that provides free advertising!) lapel stickers at a minimum. >> This would be for commit to votes/commit to caucus but would really help at >> the tables/booths so many volunteers do (which many cost money to do) and >> provide incentives. It really is what is required in getting sign ups. The >> most successful efforts over the summer were ones that had folks who could >> afford to buy supplies like this for handing out in exchange for sign ups. >> >> >> Thank you for your time reading this. Line item one is a very personal >> observation that has been shared with me from a number of sources involved >> in the LGBTQ movement/leaders etc - particular midwest to west coast. The >> rest are number of observations and feedback I've heard from multiple folks >> along the way. >> >> Thank you for all you do to support Hillary’s historic campaign for the >> presidency. Those of us in the grassroots and a growing contingent of >> volunteers continue to work hard for our Champion, she is worth it! >> >> Best regards, >> >> John West >> 'Volunteer and Supporter' >> >> > > > -- > Amanda Renteria > National Political Director > Hillary for America #Hillary2016 > 650-868-1188 (c) > Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/renteriaforcongress> or Twitter > <https://twitter.com/AmandaRenteria> >