Obama Campaign Does the Right Thing

I'd like to be the first (8.00 / 3)

to wish all of those up for delegate best of luck!

k/o

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by: kid oakland @ Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 20:59:43 PM CDT

This was the best thing he could have done (8.00 / 1)

The whole purging issue was just not right.
I had some really good friends get purged.
If you are going to do it, then do it earlier, and with some method that makes sense.
This thing got so out of hand, that this was the best way to fix it at this point.

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by: dan in sd @ Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 21:23:22 PM CDT

wow, thanks. (8.00 / 1)

I'm blown away.  They didn't have to. They played by the published rules.  It's this style of inside baseball political manuevers that will have Barack taking the presidency in November. Thanks Campaign Obama!

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by: mmaheras @ Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 21:47:19 PM CDT

Will Pacific John take back everything he said about Obama not being people-powered? ;-) (3.50 / 2)

I am thrilled that the Obama campaign actually listened to the grassroots -- it is a validation of our belief that this is a campaign that is actually people-powered in both name and deed.

That said, the Obama email seeks to obliquely shift blame to the CDP, which is not an accurate reflection of the Obama campaign's responsibility for causing this mess in the first place by so egregiously pruning the delegate lists.

In recognition of this tremendous enthusiasm, our campaign has asked the California Democratic Party to allow all persons who have filed to be a district delegate candidate for Senator Obama at the Democratic National Convention to participate in the caucuses this Sunday, April 13, 2008.

As some have already said: You can blame the CDP for a lot, but this is not a case where they deserve blame. In fact, from what I understand, CDP staffers were helpful in bringing this unfortunate situation to a positive conclusion.

Plouffe would have been better off sacking up and acknowledging the error.

In any event, cheers to the Obama campaign and everyone who realized the error of this action and sought to rectify it in record time. And cheers to the grassroots and netroots for speaking up and out.

This is what people-powered politics looks like.

Eden

Disclosure: I work for the Courage Campaign. These opinions are my own and are not necessarily those of my employer.  

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by: Eden James @ Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 22:00:38 PM CDT

No, this is not people powered (2.00 / 1)

Pacific John was right. Obama admitted he was wrong.

All this shows is traditional caving to pressure. Yet nothing on why this mistake happened and why it won't happen in the future. Caving isn't people powered.

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by: Bob Brigham @ Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 22:03:43 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

You missed my intent, Bob (0.00 / 0)

I wasn't referring to the the Obama campaign.

I was referring to the people who pressured the campaign to do the right thing.

That's people-powered politics.

And the Obama campaign responded to it. Kudos to them, no matter whether it was "caving" or not.

Disclosure: I work for the Courage Campaign. These opinions are my own and are not necessarily those of my employer.  

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by: Eden James @ Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 22:40:06 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I admit it. (0.00 / 0)

I'm people powered.

Seriously, I'm glad all you guys on the other campaign get to run to be delegates. My advice: 1) bring friends, a lot of friends. One of the reasons we always see a bunch of CTA people at the national convention is they bring friends. 2) come up with a simple, punchy speech, and practice it until you're very confident. 3) Have your friends vote strategically, as in only for you, and no one else.

Would it help if I called up a bunch of Hillary supporters to vote for you?

;)

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by: Pacific John @ Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 23:28:34 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

you sure do seem to enjoy dissing obama (0.00 / 0)

I mean ,every chance you get on Facebook, etc. you jump at the chance to dis Obama. The guy ain't perfect. no one is. and yet.....

--
www.gregdewar.com

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by: gregdewar.com @ Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 23:02:53 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Dude! (0.00 / 0)

You think he disses BO? Not from where I sit!

:)

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by: Pacific John @ Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 23:29:46 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

That's not true (4.00 / 1)

Bob has been a supporter of Obama's, even going so far as to make a "Deadheads for Obama" logo his facebook pic.

It's hard to understand Bob's sudden reluctance to give Obama even a smidgen of props for doing the right thing, but that doesn't mean he's a hater.

Disclosure: I work for the Courage Campaign. These opinions are my own and are not necessarily those of my employer.  

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by: Eden James @ Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 23:37:23 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

ok fine but.... (0.00 / 0)

OK OK!

christ almighty I was just reporting on the face book updates I saw that crapped on Obama's campaign...that is all,,,don't attack me for just reading what I read, ok?

--
www.gregdewar.com

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by: gregdewar.com @ Fri Apr 11, 2008 at 00:15:09 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Context matters (0.00 / 0)

And, for the record, I couldn't let your historically inaccurate comment stand. ;-)

People are allowed to get angry with the candidate. Especially after what happened. Doesn't mean they suddenly decided to start scoring touchdowns for the other team.

After all, dissent is American. That's one reason why I appreciate Obama. He can take it. And so can his campaign staffers, apparently.

Like Bob, I wish the Obama campaign had been more forthcoming in taking responsibility for their actions, but it's still a victory for the grassroots.

And that's something to celebrate.

Now, let's see what happens on Sunday...

Disclosure: I work for the Courage Campaign. These opinions are my own and are not necessarily those of my employer.  

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by: Eden James @ Fri Apr 11, 2008 at 02:45:23 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Obama didn't want this (0.00 / 0)

And changed it when he realized what happened.

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by: djardin @ Fri Apr 11, 2008 at 10:18:27 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

staffers can't use the word, "monster" (0.00 / 0)

But don't get fired for kicking supporters off the ballot? Weird values.

Obama is still better than the DLC candidate, but lost a lot of luster in this mistake.

Two days ago, I was fired up and ready to go. What happened since would be nice if it was accompanied by some accountability. We still don't know why this fuck up happened (though the campaign agrees it was a mistake). If this had happened in a less vocal state, there is no reason this mistake wouldn't have stood.

I want to know why this won't happen again.

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by: Bob Brigham @ Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 22:01:29 PM CDT

Bob (8.00 / 2)

do you know totally what "happened"?

I'd appreciate you sharing if you do.  What's your take?

k/o

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by: kid oakland @ Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 22:25:47 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Why won't it happen again? (0.00 / 0)

Because when you admit a screw up, and try to make it right, you can learn from that.

It's only those who don't admit error who never profit from a mistake.  

These opinions are my own, and are not representative of those of any of my employers.

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by: Malacandra @ Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 23:39:13 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I second the "Wow" (0.00 / 0)

I happened to be one of the "purged" in the 46th,(yes, Rohrabacher's). It was a shock and I was totally bummed. I found out by accident today while checking the Cadem site. I called the # for the Obama campaign and talked to one of the nicest ladies ever. She was empathetic, but had no answers. I spent at least 4 hours trying to get info and finally started the dreaded emailing of friends planning to come and expect my name on the ballot. At around 6:30, I got a personalized version of the above email. How awesome is that. That Obama-he listens. I emailed the "Daryl" referred to, just to say thanks- Less than 1 minute later, he sent me such a nice "good luck" response.I am officially "wow-ed"  

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by: mschuller @ Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 22:04:05 PM CDT

yay!! (8.00 / 1)

Hey, I'll take a candidate who caves to pressure ANY day. Much as I've been super-impressed with Obama, I never, ever believed that he would never disappoint me. I just hoped that he'd be willing to change course when the people complained. He's done that. Game on!!!

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by: CarlsbadDem @ Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 22:55:01 PM CDT

my problem is the process (0.00 / 0)

I still can't figure out how the benefits of an opaque process for  pruning the delegate list outweighed the blow back. And just imagine the coverage if every caucus had been jammed to the rafters. Gad. I hope the political director wasn't responsible for this mess.

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by: Rusalka @ Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 23:04:18 PM CDT

Thank the CDP too! (0.00 / 0)

As I understand it, in addition to the pure grassroots people power, Art Torres and DNC Western States Caucus Chair Aleita Huguenin added their voices to the chorus that produced the reversal.

Judy Cohen Hotchkiss
"It does not take a majority to prevail. Just an irate, tireless minority,setting brushfires in peoples minds." Samuel Adams

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by: jhotchkiss2 @ Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 23:33:45 PM CDT

Art Torres understands people power (0.00 / 0)

We should all thank him for this.

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by: djardin @ Fri Apr 11, 2008 at 10:24:33 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I'm not going to defend how it was done (0.00 / 0)

(mostly because I don't know how it was done), but with Clinton targeting pledged delegates for "conversion" -- Ambassadorships, anyone? -- I for one wish that the Obama campaign did do some serious vetting to identify people who are most likely to stay with Obama until the last cattle future expires.

But -- I'm not running for delegate; maybe that affects one's perspective.

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by: Seneca Doane @ Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 03:07:53 AM CDT

Today's the Day (0.00 / 0)

How many people will show up?
How many will register Dem today?
Who will the delegates be?

Personally, I wish there had* been a vetting process; a transparent one that eliminated people who are contributors to both campaigns.

I'd like to feel more confidence in the process. Good luck to us all today.

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by: Sherry Reson @ Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 07:58:16 AM CDT