Gatekeepers to Teach Gate-Crashing at DPVA Summit?

I believe that's because (4.00 / 3)

they do not want any real grass roots people or orgs.  They call "grassroots" their own insiders at the local level.  And anyone who strays outside of their narrow mandate (obey orders from whomever their or DNC organizers are) is to be banned. The idea that they chose whom they chose shows how they just do not get it.  And I mean this as no negative judgment about the speakers.  They are just not those who know anything about "crashing the gate."

DPVA still doesn't get that there are some advantages to having activists they cannot control. Instead, they are essentially control freaks and view everyone who works outside their narrow chain of command with the same mantra, "why are you hurting the party?"  How dare anyone try to do anything they have not prescribed or pre-ordained?  Well, given the utter lack of competent leadership of DPVA in recent years (and now), it is a good thing they are not going it alone.

But I guess I have to add, who cares who was left out?  It is not worth worrying or even thinking about.  It is better this way.

There's nothing in the middle of the road except yellow stripes and dead armadillos (Jim Hightower). PS I'm on Twitter here.

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by: KathyinBlacksburg @ Wed Jul 13, 2011 at 14:32:13 PM UTC

Agree with Kathy. (0.00 / 0)

I have absolutely zero desire to work with a party that: a) is basically a hollow shell, not where the real action is (of course, the Kaine and Obama campaigns will do their own thing and NOT rely on DPVA!!!); and b) is led by an individual who represents a corrupt, predatory industry that is the absolute antithesis of everything progressives - and Democrats, more broadly - stand for.  

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by: lowkell @ Wed Jul 13, 2011 at 14:55:02 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I think there's a difference.... (0.00 / 0)

between having "activists they cannot control" and inviting individuals to come and speak who actively, aggressively and very frequently bash DPVA candidates for office, often because of their own petty personality conflicts, or personal grudges.  

Seriously, if you spit in your neighbor's eye on a regularly basis, are you surprised when he doesn't invite you to the cook out?

Not saying that's you Kathy; I don't believe it is.  But anyone who reads Virginia blogs often knows exactly who is guilty of this sort of conduct and who is not.  

There are plenty of choices that would all have been reasonable and wouldn't have done anything to embarass (like, oh, implying that the Chairman is corrupt) those who invited them.  Unfortunately, the same can't be said about everyone.  

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by: NOVA expat @ Wed Jul 13, 2011 at 18:56:41 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'm going (0.00 / 0)

Well, I for one will be going to the Virginia Summit and am looking forward to it. Reform requires work from inside and outside, and I see this Summit as an opportunity to talk directly and publicly with party leadership. I'm going to be taking advantage of it.

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by: Paradox13VA @ Wed Jul 13, 2011 at 15:09:25 PM UTC

I'll be there (0.00 / 0)

and am staying at the Garden Inn, under my name, Teddy Goodson. See you there?

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by: Teddy Goodson @ Thu Jul 14, 2011 at 00:22:46 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Summit participants (3.33 / 6)

I'll be participating in a panel on Saturday morning re: local committeess. As chair of a local committee, I guess I'm a "party insider". There has been substantial criticism of the DPVA on this blog and on others, and I suppose I get a bit irritated with this "insider" label. I have risen to a position in my committee after years and years of hard work, at what we would call the "grassroots" level. I am glad that I'm now in a position to make things happen at the local level, and as I continue to volunteer my time, hope to be able to get lessons learned from the local level incorporated at the state level. As a "party insider" I hope it's ok to say that all committees, be them local or at the state level, need more work, more volunteers, more fresh ideas and energy.

I have no idea who was invited to participate and who was not. I will say, however, that folks choose their own ways to seek reform. Whether folks feel they have been forced to seek reform from the outside (which is a debate in and of itself) several commentors on this site and others are taking the approach to critize the DPVA at every opening, and deride its leadership and staff. I'm not at all surprised that those who critize the DPVA at every turn were not invited to participate in a DPVA-sponsored summit. You can't have it both ways.

Let me be clear- I don't think the DPVA has all the answers. I think there is tremendous value in what commentors on this site and others provide on a weekly basis. However, I do think a dynamic has been set up as "us vs them", "insiders vs the establishment", "the neglected vs the majority", etc. and that in many ways folks like that dynamic. It exists throughout politics on many issues- in many respects this dynamic is real, though many times it is engineered or exacerbated intentionally to draw stark contrasts. However, it doesn't have to be a pitched battle--- in many respects this comes down to personalities.

So, I'd like to see people check egos at the door (from both camps- the "establishmnet--- whatever that is" and the "grassroots---- whatever that is") and start trying to work together. I hope there is a good turnout at the Summit this weekend and that people do not choose not to attend because they aren't happy one panelist or another wasn't invited, and that conventional wisdom is challenged, good questions are asked, and folks are fired up moving into a set of critical elections.  

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by: clark @ Wed Jul 13, 2011 at 15:17:38 PM UTC

Couldn't agree more! (0.00 / 0)

Clark, you said exactly what I thought, and I couldn't agree more. Let me buy you a beer this weekend!

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by: Paradox13VA @ Wed Jul 13, 2011 at 15:32:43 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Top-down agenda (4.00 / 1)

Again, look at the agenda. The speakers are virtually all Richmond insiders - DPVA employees, elected officials & consultants. Only ONE panel features anyone outside that group - "Running An Effective Local Committee" with 8 local party leaders crammed onto one panel.

Can you really tell us with a straight face that's a recipe for challenging the conventional wisdom and not simply a new way of handing down marching orders?

Read more at TheGreenMiles.com and follow me on Twitter

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by: TheGreenMiles @ Wed Jul 13, 2011 at 16:23:45 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Not entirely true. (0.00 / 0)

I'm on one of the panels, and not a DPVA employee or consultant, last I checked.

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by: Isaac Sarver @ Wed Jul 13, 2011 at 18:20:16 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Um, hello? (0.00 / 0)

President of VAYD is an elected official ... UNLESS YOU'VE JUST LET SLIP YOUR ELECTION WAS LIKE TOTALLY RIGGED. ;)

I kid. Give us a preview of what you're going to say on your panel!

Read more at TheGreenMiles.com and follow me on Twitter

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by: TheGreenMiles @ Wed Jul 13, 2011 at 20:20:14 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Well... (4.00 / 1)

I can say with reasonable certainty it wasn't rigged. :-)

For my section of the panel, I plan to talk a little bit about the role Young Democrats play in the party apparatus, tactics to recruit and empower young activists with positions of responsibility so they stay engaged with their local party, the campaign program that VAYD encourages our chapters to participate in and how that relates to local party campaign goals, how to maintain a strong relationship between committees and Young Democrat chapters, and tips to retain the young volunteers and activists who make so much of the work we do as Virginia Democrats possible.

Plenty of specifics that I have left out... guess you'll just have to come to the panel and find out!

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by: Isaac Sarver @ Wed Jul 13, 2011 at 20:52:12 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

The problem is, the DPVA is led by someone (0.00 / 0)

who is utterly, completely at odds with progressive, Democratic, or good government values. Not sure how to reconcile that with being a progressive and a Democrat, someone who believes in what our party (supposedly) stands for.

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by: lowkell @ Wed Jul 13, 2011 at 16:28:16 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

The Previous Chair... (0.00 / 0)

The previous chair was no different. Indeed, the previous chair was in that position only for what he could get out of it without expending any effort in party building. The current chair has done more in party building and connecting with the grassroots than the previous chair ever did. Of course, that has little to do with the way he makes his living. Someday, perhaps there will be meaningful investigations into the way far too many for-profit "colleges" rip off their students, leading to regulations from the federal level. We all would benefit because we all provide the resources through our taxes for student loans.

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by: Elaine in Roanoke @ Wed Jul 13, 2011 at 17:35:01 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I do not intend anything I have said to (4.00 / 1)

mean I disrespect local leaders. I have great respect for my country chair, who is also a friend.  County chairs may be part of the chain of command in some respects, but they get precious little help from "on high."  

Unlike DPVA, county chairs are vital to our efforts, probably much more important than "leaders" at the top. The extent to which they are successful depends in large measure on their organizational skills, and, especially, the extent to which their committee members and rank-and-file Democrats, rally around them.  They organize the boots on the ground; raise the money to open local offices/HQs; and host many, many events. And in Steve Cochran's case he is just a great person whom local Dems like to work "for."  He and his wife are pretty much at the heart of what we do here and who we are as local Democrats.

I have been on our country committee and served as a district chair.  And the two local chairs I have experienced are not just good at what they do, but also the kind of people you want to have leading us. Where Steve Cochran, and Lindsay West before him, are concerned, I think the world of both of them. So do hundreds of local Dems. So, no, I do not intend my remarks to encompass local chairs.


There's nothing in the middle of the road except yellow stripes and dead armadillos (Jim Hightower). PS I'm on Twitter here.

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by: KathyinBlacksburg @ Wed Jul 13, 2011 at 17:38:25 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

The DPVA (4.00 / 3)

I have my issues with the DPVA, which, like any organization, has its good and bad points. And, depending on who you talk with, I might or might not, be called an "insider."

But, I will say that there are many good folks "within" the extended Virginia Democratic Party system who are trying to make things better. And, it's always good to have "insiders" who are rebels and reformists. We have a important job; to make things more accessible and open up the Party to as many folks as possible.

The main thing is that we are all trying to make Virginia a better place for the poor and the voiceless.  

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by: RebeccaJ @ Wed Jul 13, 2011 at 16:12:59 PM UTC

a couple follow ups (4.00 / 4)

@Miles, we'll see how the summit goes, you may very well be right that it's not a good mix. To be honest, I haven't paid attention to the other panels, etc. just given time to getting my own thoughts together and I haven't been given any talking points or top down guidance. My comment was specifically about not being surprised by those who have been hyper-critical of the DPVA not being given a platform as this weekend's summit.

@Ben, we have never met before, we have never exchanged emails, I have never been asked by you my opinion on anything. It would be far too easy for me to call you names like you did to me- a "hack", "pathetic", etc. and write you off as an "outsider with a grudge" and, in doing so, set up the very dynamic I talk about in my original comment. Doing so would give me cover to not have to address issues you bring up. And, for you, writing someone you never met before off as "pathetic" and a "hack" and allows you to do the same. It's this very dynamic that I don't think has to exist, perpetuates the "circular firing squad" that both parties often refer to, and keeps us from moving forward. While the point of this diary was about the DPVA summit coming up this weekend and who was and wasn't invited, and the value thereof in the summit, I'm happy to address this issue that you bring up. Yes, I think it is a valid issue to raise with regards to for-profit colleges. I didn't have a vote for Chair, I didn't endorse anyone for Chair, and to those that asked me, I said this was a valid issue to be raised and that it should be discussed. I hope that Chairman Moran can be a leader in reforming the industry from the inside- only time will tell. Regardless of those efforts though, yes, I do think it is a legitimate issue.

On a personal note, I don't need to be lectured about Alexandria and sending kids to college. For seven years I've coached the high school soccer team and set up SAT reviews and study halls, working with my players to get them into 2 and 4 year schools. During that time I have run a telethon for our high school's scholarship fund, which raises money for need-based scholarships (raising over $100k for each telethon, resulting in the fund giving out over 500 scholarships a year).

At any rate, always happy to discuss party-related issues with anyone. My email is scmercer@gmail.com.

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by: clark @ Wed Jul 13, 2011 at 17:07:36 PM UTC

For what it's worth... (0.00 / 0)

...I think you rock! :)

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by: lowkell @ Wed Jul 13, 2011 at 17:14:01 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Well (4.00 / 1)

Clark, I echo Lowell's comments about you, and notwithstanding Ben's passion on this (and other issues), I think the name calling on his part is unjustified.

But that said, your response does puzzle me. You say:

I hope that Chairman Moran can be a leader in reforming the industry from the inside- only time will tell.

Am I right that Brian's day job is the chief lobbyist for this industry? Not to put too fine a point on it, but in what reality is this a position from which one acts like a reformer?

You might as well be saying you hope Grover Norquist can be a leader in reforming our tax code so that everyone pays their fair share -- only time will tell.

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by: aznew @ Wed Jul 13, 2011 at 17:31:52 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

we'll see (0.00 / 0)

Alan,

Brian is currently the interim CEO and President, prior to that was Counsel and Pres. of Govt. Relations. I think if one wants to reform an industry, being in these positions makes it quite possible. One might disagree and, that said, regardless of what may happen with reform in the future, like I said, I do think it was/is a legitimate concern.

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by: clark @ Wed Jul 13, 2011 at 18:06:30 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Exactly, there is 0.0000000000000001% chance (0.00 / 0)

that Brian Moran will suddenly turn into a reformer for the industry that makes him a wealthy man, especially when Harris Miller was just "let go," apparently for not fighting hard or effectively enough to keep the multi-billion-dollar scam on taxpayers chugging along its merry way.

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by: lowkell @ Wed Jul 13, 2011 at 18:16:49 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I don't criticize the party for having this type of summit... (4.00 / 1)

...which seems at least a tentative step in the right direction.

But Miles, you're right on point.  While we know the Dem pols in VA read us, borrow from us, use us whenever they can, there is this attitude that they are basically supposed to come up with the message and feed it to us, we're just supposed to deliver it unadulterated.  As Kathy said, this is really old-fashioned, and pretty clueless.

Any political organization that believes that this sort of one-way communication is even possible anymore, not to mention desirable, is fooling itself.  We need to work, on both sides, on building bridges, and showing some respect, so that the Dem establishment and the netroots/grassroots can work together when we need to.  

It'll be a better alternative than welcoming Governor Cuccinelli, believe me.  

Impeachinelli! Now on Twitter.

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by: kindler @ Wed Jul 13, 2011 at 22:49:36 PM UTC

I'm not attending the "summit" (4.00 / 1)

I'm not attending the summit, even though it is being held practically on my front door step.  Why?  Because it is a "for profit" summit.  

Moran has taken a page out of his for-profit college clients' playbook and is charging people to "learn" how to volunteer.  They are then following the summit up with a celebration party with yet another admission fee.  It's just people paying for access.  I have better things to do on a weekend in July than pay for the DPVA's advice on how to run my blogs.

No thanks.

The fact that they didn't ask a single actual blogger to participate in the program is just an extra little gratuitous insult.

The Richmonder

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by: The Richmonder @ Wed Jul 13, 2011 at 23:35:30 PM UTC

Nailed it! (0.00 / 0)

n/t

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by: lowkell @ Wed Jul 13, 2011 at 23:36:49 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'll be at the Summit (4.00 / 1)

god willin' and the creek don't rise. I look forward to meeting Party members from around the Commonwealth, and have not pre-judged the purpose or the agenda---- actually the idea of the Summit is good, and I shall see how well it turns out (although I did tell Brian I did not want to be "lectured" at).

I was disappointed by the conference call the White House had with DPVA members not long ago, supposedly to discuss problems and ideas for Obama's re-election campaign in Virginia. It turned out to be a bunch of party functionaries brown-nosing like mad, currying favor with the higher-ups instead of a frank grass-roots discussion of problems and ideas (as I reported here on BlueVirginia.us), so it was IMO the sad waste of an opportunity to get down to the nitty gritty. The Establishment does seem to be afraid of its own grassroots, doesn't it? Now that I finally have received the full agenda, there seem to be some things missing, like, for example, including those "new Obama voters," or inter-active discussions about the Democratic vision for Virginia and the country (in contrast, say, to the Republican vision)...    

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by: Teddy Goodson @ Thu Jul 14, 2011 at 00:21:23 AM UTC