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Election Confidential

Written by: DFA Staff on Oct 15, 2008 8:48 AM EDT

Friday, October 10

In This Issue

Fighting the Hate Campaign
Defending ACORN
Beware of Media Bias
Cool Daily Kos Election Map

Election Confidential #3
		

As we are heading into the final three weeks before election day, the global financial meltdown dominates the headlines, but slightly below the surface, the ugly campaign by McCain and Palin to motivate voters via fear and hate continues to bubble. How to fight appeals to race and fear without adding more fuel to the flames is a challenge for the Obama campaign and for progressive activists. Before taking action, it is important to be fully cognizant of what we are dealing with.

Campaign Strategy: Inciting Hate
		

If you have any doubt about what the attacks are about or how frequently they are being repeated, watch this video produced by Brave New Films. If you have colleagues and friends who dismiss or fail to take seriously the nature of the fear appeal, forward them the video link, so they can be motivated and prepared to add their calming, reassuring voices to the national dialogue whenever they hear the doubt from friends family, colleagues etc.

The theme is the fear of terrorism: On the campaign trail, Sarah Palin repeatedly uses "domestic terrorism" to describe Obama's association with former '60s radical Bill Ayers and makes the ludicrous statement that Obama's campaign was hatched in Bill Ayers living room. McCain plays with the crowd's fears by asking the open-ended question, "Who is the real Obama?" -- encouraging the audience to project their worst fears onto Obama, the candidate.

For a meaty description of the hate on the campaign trail, read about Palin "unhinged" in Florida last week: "This is not a man who sees America the way you and I see America," she told the Clearwater crowd. "I'm afraid this is someone who sees America as imperfect enough to work with a former domestic terrorist who had targeted his own country.

Things have gotten so out of hand that a number of Republicans are denouncing the McCain campaign strategy. Here is the transcript of Amy Goodman interviewing Lifelong Republican Frank Schaeffer who says McCain is "deliberately feeding the most unhinged elements of our society the red meat of hate."

People can go here and sign a letter to help fight the hate campaign

Fighting the Effort to Slander ACORN
		

A parallel tactic of the McCain campaign is to attack the venerable grassroots advocacy group ACORN (and their voter registration arm, Project Vote). The goal here is to scare people into thinking that massive fraud is being perpetuated and hordes of poor voters will overrun the polls. No doubt, in ACORN's huge operation, there have been sloppy efforts to sign up voters and instances of forms accidentally being filled out more than once. But this isn't voter fraud. And claims that say otherwise are just silliness.

Many have come to the defense of ACORN, including Think Progress, which just published a report on controversy. And ACORN has provided fundamental answers to the array of questions raised. Read this article to be prepared to defend ACORN.

Beware of Media Bias Trying To Keep the Race Close
		

It is standard operating procedure for the corporate media to bend over backwards to tighten the presidential race -- closer races keep more media attention -- to keep one candidate from getting an advantage, or simply succumb to pressure from very aggressive campaign tactics. I noticed a piece of bias in a New York Times on Saturday: "McCain Lauds and Attacks Obama in Same Day" By Elisabeth Bumiller. The teaser read, "As the polls have shown Barack Obama gaining ground, John McCain has been veering from message to message."

Obama leads in all national polls, in some cases by more than 10 points, but the NY Times editor uses the term "gaining ground," as if Obama has been far behind and is perhaps catching up on McCain; to say "forging ahead" or "taking the lead," would be far more accurate.

But that is nothing compared to the bias Chris Bowers documents about the Washington Post, where, according to its editors, a 2.2 percent McCain lead is greater than a 13.8 percent Obama lead.

In the Post's system, any state where McCain leads, no matter his margin, is defined as "leaning Republican." States where Obama leads by 7.3 percent-13.8 percent are defined as "battleground states," while states where McCain leads by 2.2 percent-6.8 percent are defined as "leaning Republican." Bowers asks: "Does the uneven math in this strike anyone as problematic? The Washington Post claims that a 2.2 percent lead for McCain is larger than a 13.8 percent lead for Obama. That is objectively wrong and quantifiably unfair. This is as blatantly imbalanced as election reporting can possibly get."

In Bowers' related post, he also documents how big media sites can't admit what is patently obvious to even Republican poll watchers right now: Obama is over 270 outside the margin of error. Says Bowers, "Maybe they are afraid of being accused of pro-Obama bias (probably). Maybe they are just biased toward McCain (possibly). Maybe they just suck at electoral forecasting (definitely). Maybe they are invested in a close campaign (absolutely)."

Useful Daily Kos Political Race Calculator
		

Check out this colorful and helpful map of the U.S., brimming with useful information, especially helpful for election night.

Discuss

Evening Watercooler

Written by: DFA Community and you

DFA's home for a free form, open-ended discussion of what matters most to committed progressive activists.

Discuss (∞)

Stephen Views the News 10/15/08

Written by: Stephen Weinstein on Oct 15, 2008 6:52 AM EDT

Stephen Views the News 10/15/08

http://stephenviewsthenews.blogspot.com/

* Naked on the right - The demise of the most recent version of conservative economic and political policies has the populist talking heads of conservatism in a dither. Examples include Neil Cavuto and Rush Limbaugh from viral broadcasting and the right-sided writing of the Washington Post’s Charles Krauthammer. They currently are desperately grasping for a hold on respectability and relevance. In order to protect their message they have concocted faux targets to divert attention from misguided and wrong counsel. One of their disingenuous maneuvers is to place the blame for the current financial crisis on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.” Look out for those liberal-supported policies designed to assist lower income families to invest in homes.” “Those damn left-wingers.” Fortunately, there are still some in the Fourth Estate doing their job.

The McClatchy Newspapers Washington Bureau just removed the wheels from the canard that conservatives are riding. The article is titled “Private sector loans, not Fannie or Freddie, triggered crisis.” It was an unregulated private sector gone wild that brought our economy to its knees, not regulated government-assisted programs. I highly recommend a read of this article as an aide to understand what took place and, just as importantly, guidance for future policy. Republican conservatives bemoan the fact that the current financial crisis has altered the parameters of the upcoming election. I agree that it is unfortunate. We all had to suffer the effects before their failed policies were laid bare. The policies that they promoted should be evaluated and voted upon by the electorate, without spin and din.

To borrow an often used phrase of Barack Obama, “Let me be perfectly clear.” I do not advocate a national discourse devoid of conservative ideas any more than it would be appropriate to give voice exclusively to liberal thinking. It so happens that conservatives have dominated the national landscape while their views were implemented dishonestly and incompetently by President George W. Bush and the Republican Party. Liberal thinking and the Democratic Party are not without criticism. Going forward America’s best chance is a synthesis of views from all positions. It is likely that the first step will require that the political house be cleaned, with many more Republicans than Democrats being left for the trash pickup. A return to normalcy will be accompanied by a return to balance. At some point in the future this lesson will be forgotten and the process will cycle again. At best, we can hope for less dramatic swings of the political ideology pendulum and greater integrity in the people that we elect.

Discuss

On Associations, Or, I'll See Your Ayers, And Raise You A Saddam

Written by: fake consultant on Oct 15, 2008 3:55 AM EDT

Linked to groups: DFA Night School, Democracy for Illinois, Quad Cities Trained Activists, Young Democrats of IL, Blog For America

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

Barack Obama is a Threat To America, we are told, because he served on a board of directors and had other contacts with William Ayers, who, in the 1960s, was, or was not, involved in terrorist acts for which he was never convicted of any crimes.

So imagine how serious of a Threat To America we would have if, last month, one of the two candidates hired someone to lead their transition team—the person who would recommend who should be selected for every appointed office of the new Administration—who, at the time of the 9/11 attacks, actually worked for Saddam Hussein...and who ended up working for him for five years.

Well, one of the candidates did, and I’ll give you a hint: it wasn’t Obama.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s time to meet William E. Timmons, Sr.

Discuss

Wednesday picks

Written by: Gerry L on Oct 15, 2008 8:03 AM EDT

Wednesday~

***************round of articles about our domestic ‘issues’ ~ October 15th, 2008

=========================================

Professor Juan Cole:

The Great Reagan Pyramid Scheme Comes Crashing Down

The Republican Party that Nixon invented melded the moneyed classes of the Northeast with the white evangelicals of the South. This odd couple went on to simultaneously steal from and oppress the rest of us. The moneyed classes were happy to let the New Puritans impose their stringent morality, since they could always just buy any licentiousness they wanted, regardless of the law. And the New Puritans were so consumed with cultural issues such as homosexuality, abortion, school prayer and (yes) fighting school desegregation that they were happy to let the northeastern Money Men waltz off with a lion's share of the country's resources, consigning most Americans to stagnant wages and increasing debt. The Reagan revolution consolidated this alliance and brought some conservative Catholic workers into it. ~more

http://www.juancole.com/

==============

Hank Paulson and His Wall Street Cronies Move to Plan B

By Nomi Prins, The Nation
http://www.alternet.org/story/103004/

=========================================

Discuss

Happy Days Are Here Again? Not Yet. But Look Up at the Moon

Written by: Eric Weis on Oct 14, 2008 3:26 PM EDT

Linked to groups: The Passaic County Green Party, Pequannock DFA, Passaic County DFA, BlueWaveNJ, DFA County Committee Project, NJ for Democracy

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

Did you breathe a little easier yesterday? Stock market up 11%. No blaring catastrophes on the news. The G7 ministers offer soothing advice and common action. John McCain is telling his crowds to cool it. North Korea will let nuclear inspectors in. Obama revealed a fresh economic recovery plan. Paul Krugman earned the Nobel Prize in Economics. Jewish people are celebrating their Thanksgiving (aka "Sukkot").

This time is perhaps was the "pause that refreshes". Remember that line? You could feel good, while killing yourself with a nicotine addiction foisted on us by a pernicious tobacco industry. The trouble is, the tobacco nightmare is not over, and neither is ours.

What is the measure of real happiness? For me, it is the feeling that my life has counted, that the world will be a better place as a result of my existence and that I have contributed something to humanity. On a personal level, it is having an expectation that my kids will have a better life than I did.

On the first score, I am working on it. I won't know the outcome until my time is done. On the second subject, the evidence is that the answer is not positive. Our children will face a more difficult world, will have to work harder, and will be dealing with an earth environment which is changing very quickly in ways bound to affect our own biology. That's why I am not humming "Happy Days Are Here Again".

So what can offset these pressures and challenges?

Discuss

Important Reading

Written by: Kenneth Quinnell on Oct 13, 2008 2:25 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Florida DFA, Democracy for Florida, Democracy for America Miami-Dade (DFAM), DFA Tallahassee, Training Academy Alumni, Class of 2007, DFA at Netroots Nation (formerly YearlyKos) July 17-20, DFA Campaign Academy Alumni

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

Good stuff you all should read from bloggers in other states...

Huffington Post: Obama Advancing On The Ground, Under Pollsters' Radar

No More Stolen Elections: Great resource for fighting to save our election process

techPresident: Twitter: An Antidote to Election Day Voting Problems?

New Policy Institute: New Policy Institute Paper: Harnessing the Mobile Revolution

Culture Kitchen: Five ways to guerrilla broadcasting with your cell phone

Marion County Democratic Party: The really busy person's guide to political activism - Slate/Christopher Beam

Discourse.net: Quantity Has a Quality All of Its Own

the 13th juror: Brain injury may be the cause of homelessness for many people

Pam's House Blend: Gay or queer?

OpenLeft: Educating the Public About Organizing: Beyond "Just Doing It" (Core Dilemmas of Community Organizin)

African American Political Pundit: Black Folks, Black Facts, Black Americans, Stats on Blacks, Black Population Facts

Pushing Rope: Netroots Needs to Stop Backing Fringe Democrats

Discuss

DFA Night School Live Blog

Written by: Michael Langenmayr on Oct 14, 2008 8:34 PM EDT

DFA Night School reconvenes for this special edition for an hour long training on DFA's groundbreaking new online tools to mobilize your friends and family to vote for Barack Obama.

DFA Field Director Adam Quinn will join Night School as we go over DFA's plan to turn out millions of new voters using a combination of old school voter contact and new online technologies. This hour long online training will give you the power to run your own personal GOTV program for Barack Obama.

About DFA Night School:
Night School is DFA's interactive online training program. Every month Night School brings top campaign experts right to your home at absolutely no cost to you. You can listen live from your computer on Blog Talk Radio or call into a nationwide conference call on your telephone. The training will last approximately one hour and will be accompanied by a slideshow you can view online or download and print out.

Check out our special edition of DFA Night School over at Blog Talk Radio!

Or, call into our conference call at 888-346-3950! The passcode is 404034, followed by the "#" sign.

Discuss

Candidate Clips for October 14th, 2008

Written by: Dave on Oct 14, 2008 11:05 AM EDT

Here you are folks, the candidate clips for October 14th, 2008:

Charlie Brown, put your money where your mouth is.
10-12-08    Roseville Press Tribune    Winston_Niles
Nancy Pelosi gave $12000 to Charlie Brown, and Charlie Rangel gave $11500. Turns out Congressional life is full of deep and treacherous waters.

Congressional races in Northern California are 'on the line'
10-12-08    Los Angeles Times     Patrick McGreevy
McClintock's contest with Democrat and Air Force veteran Charlie Brown in a Northern California district is one of two federal races in the state receiving

Letters: Choose the local candidate for Congress
10-12-08    Enterprise-Record   Lance Anderson
Charlie Brown, a decorated Vietnam veteran, family man and staunch fighter for the middle class, needs our vote. John Doolittle has left in disgrace.

Maine Sunday Telegram backs Collins
10-12-08    Boston Herald     Associated Press
Tom Allen — "will undoubtedly continue to contribute to the welfare of Maine and the nation." But the paper gave its nod to Collins, crediting her with "a ...

We'll be better off if we keep Collins in Washington
10-12-08   Central Maine Morning Sentinel    Terry Tiner
I thought it was the Tom Allen who has been a representative for about 12 years in "Washington." But he keeps saying Washington needs leadership.

Summers vying for District 1
10-13-08   York Weekly   Deborah McDermott
Summers is facing Democrat Chellie Pingree in the race to represent District 1 in Washington. Democratic Rep. Tom Allen, who has held the seat for 12 years, ...

Discuss

Every morning lately...

Written by: fake consultant on Oct 14, 2008 12:31 AM EDT

Linked to groups: DFA Night School, Democracy for Illinois, Quad Cities Trained Activists, Young Democrats of IL, Blog For America

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

Every morning lately, we have turned anxiously to the news to see if financial markets are in freefall...and some days, they actually are.

Governments across the world have responded over the past two weeks--including a massive commitment by the United States Treasury that is, to say the least, highly controversial to the American voter.

As this is being written markets are opening in Asia. At the moment things are somewhat stable, and except for Shanghai and Taiwan, they’re heading upward. During the writing process, Europe has opened, and there are gains there today as well.

The US credit markets did not open today (although the stock markets did) because of the Columbus Day holiday—but anyone who recalls Mr. Dow’s Wild Ride last Friday is quite nervous ahead of the Tuesday opening.

Despite all that bailout stuff we’re hearing about, confidence doesn’t seem to be returning to the markets. Why?

Excellent question, Gentle Reader, and I have a few helpful answers.