Democracy for America

I already posted the footage of Bill Richardson and Barack Obama's responses. Here is the one I had missed so far.

Here is the second Democracy for America film clip on the Democratic Primary candidates. As with Barack Obama's clip, I present it without comment:

Democracy for America is interviewing each of the Presidential candidates. Let me present to you Barak Obama's response to DFA:

This year has so much potential not just for Democrats, but also for the progressive grassroots. Already, the grassroots are geared up for puting up their biggest fight to date. I want to highlight a couple of ways the grassroots are prepared to take a stand against the corrupt Halliburton Republicans and to restore integrity and democracy to our government.

Starting with Democracy for America, here are just a few things that DFA has done just in the last month:

1. Raised thousands of dollars for key Secretary of State candidates so we can start restoring fairness and accuracy to our elections, something I am working on as well.

2. Expanded DFA coverage of congressional districts though their linkup groups to cover 420 of the nation's 435 congressional districts. That leaves only 15 Congressional districts with no DFA group! You can find your local group or start a new group here.

3. Trained 2000 activists in message development and dissemination through their "Night School Program." You, too, can sign up for training here.

And that was only in one month.

MoveOn.org has been focusing their attention on putting out TV ads in key congressional districts. Market research has shown that these TV ads have been turning districts from leaning Republican to leaning Democrat, opening up more possible pick up chances. You can view these ads and donate to put more on the air by going here.

But MoveOn.org is firing up a new effort, one which my wife and I will be doing our small part for. They are gathering thousands of volunteers to participate in phone banks around the country, targeting the 30 hottest House races. Joy and I will probably be hosting one of their organizers here in Brooklyn where one of their phone banks will be located. You can sign up to participate in this effort here.

I know of a few other efforts but they are local to NYC. If you know of any other national efforts, please post them in the comments. But the most important thing is to volunteer or donate now if you want to win in November.

On Tuesday, July 18th, in house parties all over the country, activists will gather to learn the fundamental tools they need to generate earned media coverage for their events, as well as connect to organizers in their communities and across the country.

Click here to host an event.

Click here to find an event near you.

Through an innovative combination of a video training, live conference call with a national expert, and small group interactives, the National Media Impact Training will provide participants with the tools for implementing successful earned media events.

The Center for Progressive Leadership Action Network, Democracu for NYC, MoveOn.org, America Votes, People for the American Way, Latinos for Democracy and others are helping progressives gain the skills to shape media coverage of important issues in their communities, including:

* Working with a national organization to reinforce a larger message
* Successfully planning and implementing an event
* Targeting and attracting local media coverage

In the latest endorsement process, Democracy for NYC is following the trend of delivering the expected results. The difference between DFNYC's endorsement vote and those of IND and CBID, previously covered, is how lopsided the DFNYC vote was.

DFNYC collected paper ballots over an eight day voting period. To receive a DFNYC endorsement a candidate must secure 55% of the vote, each of the following candidates surpassed that threshold with ease.

Chris Owens for Congressional District 11 in Brooklyn with a record 93% of the vote. David Yassky was a VERY distant second, showing yet again that Yassky is losing the progressive and grassroots votes that he has very actively wooed. Previously, the Independent Neighborhood Democrats, in a VERY divisive vote, endorsed David Yassky while the Central Brooklyn Democrats endorsed Chris Owens.

Eric Adams for Senate District 20 in Brooklyn with 74% of the vote. So far Eric Adams has the reform/progressive endorsements sewn up, easily winning IND, CBID and now DFNYC endorsements.

Bill Perkins for Senate District 30 in Manhattan and the Bronx with 81% of the vote.

Bill Batson for Assembly District 57 in Brooklyn with 75% of the vote. Previously, Bill Batson won the CBID endorsement. IND does not cover this district.