A Newsletter by Grassroots For America April 15, 2004 Volume 1 Issue 2
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Do you know where you Bush tax cut is? Neither do we. This issue of Taking Root is a great antidote to the tax filing blues.

In celebration of the historic March for Women’s Lives, much of this issue is dedicated to women of the grassroots who are making a real difference. Inside you learn how Jessica Falker went from mild-mannered housewife to tackling DemocracyFest in a single bound. You’ll also be inspired by the amazing story of 94-year old Granny D and her intrepid walks to take back our country as well as how women are making blankets to give children at risk a bit of warmth and comfort.

We’ve spiced things up with a dash of controversy with a report on big ideas coming out of the Oak Park, Illinois Meetup. Election reform is also a hot topic. Learn how Silicon Valley Deaniacs are determined to take back California and how VerifiedVoting.Org is protecting your electronic ballot.

We hope you enjoy this issue and look forward to your feedback on our Roots blog. We also invite you to receive a free subscription to Taking Root directly in your email box.

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NEWS FROM THE ROOTS

Women For Democracy to March on DC: Where will you be

By Pam Paul
Nearly 1,000 women members of Democracy For America will join the March for Women's Lives in Washington, DC on April 25 for a massive gathering in support of reproductive freedom and justice for all women. Pam Paul, formerly of Okies for Dean, provides the following is field report on this historic event.

For the first time ever this pro-choice march is a collaborative effort - seven leading national women’s rights groups have come together to organize this momentous event. The American Civil Liberties Union, Black Women's Health Imperative, Feminist Majority, NARAL Pro-Choice America, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, National Organization for Women and Planned Parenthood Federation of America are the principal organizers of the March for Women's Lives and they have pooled efforts and resources to lay the groundwork. Many other Progressive groups will join the cause as co-sponsors, there are currently over a thousand such groups who have taken on that role.

Also in attendance will be hundreds of Nationally acclaimed female politicians, artists, actors, and musicians. Governor Howard Dean will be a guest speaker. There will be state and local delegations that have been formed by different groups. Democracy For America will be among the delegations to take part in this historical event. Democracy for America has over 200 hundreds of women coming from all parts of the country to join in this most dramatic expression for their right to choose. Women of DFA (http://www.womenofdfa.org) is just one example of a constituency that will be participating. This demonstration is likely to be the first of many on the next months ahead.

The first rally starts at 10:00am, the March starts at noon, and the final rally ends at 4:00pm. There will also be an opportunity to meet and greet at the official March for Women’s Lives Kickoff Celebration on Saturday, April 24th from 8 pm to 11 pm. There will be music, food, vendor tables, celebrities, performers, VIP speakers and lots of fun! Ticket cost is $20.00. This weekend will be jam packed with plenty of progressive fellowship!

The organizers of the March are still looking for volunteers. This is a huge endeavor and any help is appreciated. You may visit the official March for Women's Lives site, https://www.marchforwomen.org/index.php, to find all information regarding volunteering, co-sponsoring, location, time and other vital information. You may also visit the Democracy for America Delegation site at http://www.voy.com/14951/.

We hope you can make it to the event, and we will be sure to share our experience with you in the next edition.

Are you going to March for Women’s Lives? Roots Blog About It.

Grassroots Profile: Jessica Falker of DemocracyFest

Each month, Taking Root will relay a personal conversation with someone from the grassroots to share their personal experience of going from private citizen to progressive activist. Email us with your story or recommend someone for us to feature.

“Hanging out, being a regular person and a stay-at-home mom of two, I always voted Democrat but never put much thought into it, until, I saw the horrible coverage of Howard Dean’s Iowa speech. That woke me up, and that month I went to my first Meetup and started blogging.

A lot of people had been talking on the blog about wanting to get together at a time around the Democratic Convention and in New England. “DemocracyFest” was sort of a brainstorm out of that blog conversation. The next thing we knew we had a few hundred folks signed up in a couple of days. One of them was a lawyer, and she advised us to set up a non-profit organization so we could raise money and perhaps do even more good work after DemocracyFest.

That’s how My Vote Is My Voice was born. Currently we have 500 people signed up and new people sign up every day. Once we start selling tickets it’s going to be out of control! There is a ton to do and we have 17 different planning committees volunteers can join including scheduling, vendor management, entertainment, marketing, promos and sponsors, fundraising, travel plans, educational programs, children’s entertainment and more.

Working on DemocracyFest has changed my life in so many ways. Really, this is my whole life now second only to my family. In addition to managing DemocracyFest, I’m also the treasurer of My Vote Is My Voice, so I have to deal with all the filing with the FEC forms. I also became a Meetup host this month and just joined ACT for which I’m going to be coordinating voter registration in Vermont. I’m also going down to the March For Women’s Lives. It happens to be on my birthday so that makes it ever more special. I’m really excited!”

For more information on DemocracyFest, go to: http://myvoteismyvoice.org/

National Rapid Response Focuses On Growth of State RR Groups

By Liz Herbert, Editorial Director of National Rapid Response

As November nears, strong state Rapid Response groups will be critical in correcting distortions in the media. Efforts to distort statements and misrepresent positions can only be countered by citizens like us, many strong in each community in each state across the country. Please take a moment to sign up for the group in your state at www.deanrr.com. . If it turns out your state group isn't particularly active, please consider rolling up your sleeves to help a bit (contact rapidresponsenetwork-at-earthlink.net if you are interested).

RR thrives on small efforts by people cooperating across a large group nationally. It is particularly critical that Rapid Response build the strongest network possible in potential swing states: California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, New Mexico, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, West Virginia, New York, New Hampshire, and Maine. If you border one of these states, consider joining their state group to help.

Please consider adding your voice to our efforts.

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NEW GROUPS TAKE ROOT

Blankets For America

Women from across the nation have come together in the most inspiring way to continue the legacy of the Dean Campaign!

Blankets For America is a virtual quilting bee. Women and community groups around the country are quilting, crocheting and knitting blankets for children who are at risk, live in shelters or otherwise need support. The first quilts are going to a shelter in Seattle and a group serving premies in Oklahoma. Each blanket will come complete with it's own DFA Corps label!

Join this special DeanCorps project group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BlanketsforAmerica to participate.

Roots Blog About It.

The Pennsylvania Action Network Emerges From PA for Dean

Leaders of Pennsylvania for Dean recently conducted a survey of Howard Dean supporters throughout the state in an effort to find a clear direction of what their supporters would like to do next. The reaction to these surveys was overwhelming and the agreement on the responses was wonderful. PfD supporters collectively stand, firmly devoted to restoring democracy to our country and to defeating the current regime. Many of the leaders of PA for Dean have newly formed the Pennsylvania Action Network with the goal of developing a strong coalition of small and large groups from across the Commonwealth – groups representing issues and candidates at every level.

The structure of the Pennsylvania Action Network is still in development, but the group’s work has already begun, including work on a mission statement and website to be launched in the near future (http://www.PaAction.com/).

The group will work to educate and inform voters about candidates and expose issues that might not be addressed by other groups. The Pennsylvania Action Network welcomes all local, state and national groups that advocate for ideals and candidates that will improve our nation.

New Political and Electoral Reform Group in San Mateo County, CA

Former Silicon Valley For Dean volunteers have redirected their focus and have developed a new, local chapter of the statewide group Californians For Electoral Reform (CfER).

The new San Mateo group will primarily focus on the serious structural issues currently affecting the health of our democracy and ways that they can actively work to improve the system.

In particular, the group is committed to such reforms as Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) and Proportional Representation (PR). They also care about campaign finance reforms and issues involving non- verifiable electronic voting systems and other threats to fair and accurate elections.

Monthly meetings are scheduled for the 2nd Tuesday of every month, and will typically start at 7:00 p.m. and at the College of San Mateo.

At the Tuesday April 13th meeting, Steve Chessin, President of Californians For Electoral Reform, joined the group to talk about Proportional Representation. The groups also began explorations of legislative actions we can begin in their County.

People of all political parties are welcome to attend San Mateo for Electoral Reform, and no RSVP is necessary. To participate or just to learn more, please join their email list, http://www.smc4dean.org/mailman/listinfo/political-reform, or simply send a blank email to: political-reform-subscribe-at-ReviveDemocracy.org.

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THE POWER OF MEETUPS

May Meetup for Democracy (Dean): Call For Agenda Items

The next Democracy for America Meetup is WEDNESDAY, MAY 5. What do you think about the ideas offered by the Oak Park team (below)? What organizational structure is your group interested in assuming? What direction should DFA state and local chapters take? What other news and issues do you think should be discussed? Submit your thoughts and ideas here or Roots Blog About It.

Featured Meetup of the Month

Milwaukee For Dean Wows Local Candidates

Inside each issue of Taking Root, we are excited to feature reports from DFA Meetup Hosts as a means of sharing new concepts and cross-pollinating ideas across the progressive grassroots community. The ideas expressed in this column are the author’s own. We welcome submissions for this column space as well as blog commentary from all of our readers.

A Big Idea from Oak Park, Illinois

By Eric Davis

The April DFA Meetup in Oak Park, Illinois was an incredible event. While I'm going to forward a complete inventory of the "Top 5" lists to Burlington, things people thought DFA2 should be, I simply HAVE to post Our Big Idea here. Credit for the distillation goes to Ben Iglar-Mobley, a vigorous Dean supporter. Ben's point was that the ideas and policy direction of the Dean campaign is still something that needs fighting for, perhaps even more so now that the nominee is a Party Man who is now three rows deep in other Party people and completely insulated from the progressive grassroots that Gov. Dean tapped into. Ben's idea is beautiful in its simplicity:

DFA SHOULD BECOME THE COMPLEMENT TO THE DLC with a slogan of something like, "Democracy For America: The Soul and the Spine of the Democratic Party". A place to bring Greens, Nader voters and classic, disaffected left non-voters back into the Democratic Party.

One major reason for the DLC in the first place was that Party leaders felt the need for a vehicle to bring people who were centrist Republicans and turn them into (relatively) conservative Democrats. These center-right Dems realized that the Democratic Party in the post-Nixon era had turned too completely to the radical Left for direction to have any hope of capturing enough numbers to actually get people elected. They were not content with moral victories alone and, while I have major differences with them, they did/do have a point.

This post-McGovern migration of the Party's direction left behind huge chunks of the electorate – people that Reagan brought over to that side in droves. But now that the DLC is firmly established within the constellation of Democratic Party and related organizations, it is clear that the left is somewhat flailing around in its wake. Our point is: Fine, that's done, but it went too far and left too much of the base with nowhere to go – which is where we are again now that Dean is out of the race. I still have yet to meet one single Kerry supporter who is as vigorous and all-consumingly passionate about him as hundreds, literally, of Dean people I have met.

One lesson that the Dean campaign revealed is that in one very real sense Dean was right, that there was/is a profound reason for the resonance of Paul Wellstone's line about the Democratic Wing.

The problem right now – right as you are reading this – is that with the ascendancy of Kerry and the evolution of the Coordinated Campaign the center-right of the D party is once again in the driver's seat and while they are aware of the potency of the things Dean tapped into they have NO idea how to harness it. This re-centering after the primaries yield a nominee is what happens every time.

Yet if Dean says right now that DFA is to serve as the complement – not the rival, not the alternative, not the anti – to the DLC, then he could have a very real, focused effect beyond his own candidacy. Because right now liberals have no place to go beyond showing up to vote against GWB in November. We have all this energy, and no organized place for it to reside. DFA becomes, as the corollary to the DLC, the place that brings in Greens, Nader voters, etc., along with uncertain former Dean supporters, and makes them liberal Democrats for life.

We said last night – what if Dean got the key people who endorsed him together, in particular Gore, Bradley and Braun because they're essentially unemployed right now, along with Jesse Jr., Harkin, and a few others and made them the Board of Directors of DFA? What if that group held a constellation of "Annual Banquets" in every state, with at least one of these Directors – and Dean – as the featured speakers? You'd raise a boatload of money for the new group, you'd have significant numbers of progressive elected officials looking to show up and be seen. And you'd have the left/Democratic equivalent of the Christian Coalition, a group where the right has to come and pay its respects and that has an enormous influence on that party's policy direction.

Now THAT, to my mind, is a raison d'etre that says that the post-Dean group, the DFA, has a tremendous role to play, as a constellation of citizen-run local chapters of the national organization. If the DLC is made up of office holders who want to get together like an Adults version of College Democrats, then the DFA is made up of ordinary yet highly-motivated, self-starting citizen volunteers who reflect an important but right now somewhat out to sea part of the Party as a whole.

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GET INVOLVED

VerifiedVoting.Org Combats the National Electronic Voting Controversy

VerifiedVoting.org is all about reliable and publicly verifiable elections... we've seen too many examples already of elections that have had irregularities and, in at least one case, had to be done over. You can see examples of these problems here:
http://www.verifiedvoting.org/resources/flyers/PassHR2239Flyer.pdf

We're enlisting folks to take action all over the U.S. in the following ways:

  1. If you can make it to Washington, D.C., for any or all of April 23 - 28, join us for Verified Voting Lobby Days. Please email lobbydays-at-verifiedvoting.org with the days you can attend. (We won't work on the weekend of the Women's March, just on the Friday before and Monday - Wednesday afterwards.)
  2. Call you Congressional representatives to urge them to support H.R. 2239 in the U.S. House of Representatives and S. 1980 in the U.S. Senate.
  3. Check out what's happening in your own state and contact state legislators as appropriate from here: http://www.verifiedvoting.org/states.asp
  4. Sign up to receive our newsletter, to endorse a resolution on verified voting, or to volunteer at http://www.verifiedvoting.org/joinus_step1.asp

The right for every person's vote to count as cast is a fundamental cornerstone of our democratic system. Let's make sure every vote counts as cast.

Candidates We're Rooting For

On April 5, Governor Dean asked that we give our financial support to another candidate, Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont. Senator Leahy courageously voted with only 22 other Senators against the Iraq resolution, has fought tirelessly against the GOP effort to pack the courts & strip our environmental protections. He typifies the honest, courageous politician who - not accepting PAC money - stands with the people over the powerful. His seat has apparently been targeted by the GOP. This is another opportunity to flex the muscle of the grassroots, let's show them what we've got. To make a donation to Senator Leahy's re-election campaign, go to https://www.leahyforvermont.com/contribute.

Several Democracy for America affiliates have come also come out in favor of specific candidates. Georgia Grassroots Action Network (http://home.earthlink.net/~gagrassroots) is featuring Kerry and Senatorial candidate Mary Squires (www.marysquires.us) . Squires is running for the seat being vacated by Zell Miller, the Democrat notorious for endorsing George Bush. Many pundits expect the Republicans to take this seat, but Squires, currently a State Senator and the first woman to preside over the Georgia Senate, begs to differ. Squires has said that jobs are her #1 priority, but has also stated that “I don't want my children to be raised in a country constantly at war.” She severed 10 years in the Georgia National Guard and Reserves and has called for better equipment and support for reserve units and better treatment of American veterans.

Democracy4NC.com, after extensive consultation with other Dean-identified grassroots elements in North Carolina, has endorsed Patsy Keever for the 11th district Congressional seat and Jennifer Weiss for reelection to the state house of representatives in the 35th district. Keever (www.keeverforcongress.com), who recently retired after a 25-year teaching career, is in her 12th year as Buncombe County Commissioner. Democracy4NC.com, which reports that 99% of Keever’s funding comes from individuals, considers this race against incumbent Charles Taylor to be very close and highly winnable. Weiss (www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/members/viewMember.pl?sChamber=House&nUserID=198), who likewise gets the majority of her funding from individual small donors, is said to be a leading proponent of a health care plan for all North Carolinians and for investing in alternative energy sources. In 2002 the N. C. Center for Public Policy Research ranked her as the most effective first-term member of the House.

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INSPIRATION POINT

Granny D Walks To Take Back Our Country

Doris “Granny D” Haddock has lived longer than women have had the right to vote. Born in 1910, this five-foot spitfire has been politically active for the last 50 of her 94 years. In 1960, with her husband Jim, she traveled from her native New Hampshire to Alaska to protest the planned atmospheric testing of atomic hydrogen bombs. The effort succeeded, and saved the small fishing village of Point Hope.

Since that time, Granny decided she would not let the sun set on her life or the American ideals she holds dear. In 1999, at age 89, she began walking across America --- quite literally --- to take back our country from the scourge of corporate and special interest money. Starting in Pasadena, California on January 1 that year, she walked 10 miles per day for 14 months and ended her 3,200-mile trek in our nation’s capital. More than 2,000 people including several members of Congress, joined her for those last triumphant miles.

Granny D has not stopped walking or talking about the importance of personal political action. Last October, she began another cross-country walk to urge America’s working-women to vote in greater numbers. By November election she will have visited 36 states.

Join Granny D on her walk in your state. Find out more at http://www.grannyd.com.

Roots Blog About It.

WORTH REITERATING

Root Camp Is Now Officially Recruiting Instructors

Root Camp is a new grassroots training program being developed by Grassroots For America to educate, engage and empower everyday citizens on how to become active in the political process. Envisioned as an “ignition program”, Root Camp will develop a farm team of grassroots leaders and channel them into both the progressive community and into political party activism. It will also be a place where new activists can go to get help navigating the occasionally intimidating roads of political engagement.

Working proactively with related groups, Root Camp will offer training and resources to help folks organize for progressive change. Since Root Camp Trainers will be members of the grassroots community, they will be diverse in their experiences and will offer a wide range of political insight. They will be able to speak the “language of the grassroots” and allow participants to feel comfortable exploring the political avenues of their own interest.

Participants in Root Camp will learn how they can use the political system to enrich their communities as well as how to become a part of that system. Training topics will include local government, voter registration, campaign basics, how to reach out to diverse communities and how to build voter awareness of issues. Participants will have the opportunity to join regularly scheduled continuing education events and training activities.

Root Camp is being organized on a national basis. Our goal is to establish a Root Camp in each state to organize the people and resources needed to offer the planned training. Root Camp will hold four Training Weekends per year to strengthen the national and local components of the organization.

There is no program today that involves the grassroots as both trainers and trainees. We believe that there is great promise for this model and we are confident that there will be great power in its implementation. Root Camp will be successful because it will aid the Roots by opening their eyes to the concept that knowledge truly is power!

Want to participate in the creation of Root Camp? Subscribe to the Root Camp mailing list.
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SITE SEEING

Blogs and other grassroots sites of interest

Judy Cadoret from LA set up the definitive portal to what’s happening in the Dean grassroots as folks begin developing DFA chapters. www.takeyourcountryback.com

Find refreshingly astute political commentary by Arianna Huffington here: www.ariannaonline.com/columns. In one of her most recent columns, Huffington admits to her blog fetish!

Connecticut Dean supporter Aldon Hynes has launched Local Politicians for Dean, http://localpols.fordean.net/, where anyone is invited to talk about their campaigns.

The Daily Kos posted a useful rundown on the top 30 House Races in the Country (http://www.dailykos.com/section/House2004/3), as well as a detailed look at House (http://www.dailykos.com/section/House2004 ) and Senate ( http://www.dailykos.com/section/Senate2004 ) races across the country.

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THE TOOL SHED

Campaign Training & Job Fair by 21st Century Democrats

21st Century Democrats’ Summer Campaign Training and Job Fair will give you the skills you need to work on campaigns this year! Join us June 4-7 in Washington, DC to learn the fundamentals of grassroots organizing, voter contact strategies, fundraising and Get-Out-The-Vote.

If you're running for office, working on a race or want to find out how you can help Democrats win tough races this year, our Campaign Training and Job Fair is the place for you! Please visit our website for more information.

Campaign 101 for High School Students

21st Century Democrats invites high school students to participate in Campaign 101 programs in six states are in the works for the summer! Our unique training gives high school-age activists the tools they need to encourage political participation and give young people a voice in our democracy. See our Campaign 101 website for more information.

Grassroots Calendar

April 18

California Dean Leaders Summit

May 1

May Day House Parties (tent.)

May 5

Meetup for Democracy (for America)

June 2

Meetup for Democracy (for America)

July 7

Meetup for Democracy (for America)

July 24/25

DemocracyFest

July 26/29

Democratic National Convention, Boston, MA

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