My rant about useless, dysfunctional Democratic committee people.
I put this post together in response to a comment in another thread, but decided to post it on its own thread.
12. Pleased to note that Erin McClelland is gearing up to challenge Rothfus
I heard her speak and field tough, unscreened questions in the last election, and she is most impressive, and ready for Washington. I'm thankful she has the drive & commitment to challenge Rothfus again. If our Democratic committee people - many of whom have no interest except going to parties and conventions - would bother to spend more time contacting registered Democrats in their wards, and making sure potential Democrats are registered, AND MOTIVATING PEOPLE TO GET TO THE POLLS, Rothfus never would have been elected in the first place.
You're absolutely right about Citizens United. The GOP/Big Businesses/corps., pour millions into Rothfus' campaigns because the Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District is NOT a sure win for the GOP. The only way we can overcome their money is to get people registered and to the polls.
My area Dem. committee people don't do door-to-door to collect signatures for petitions or hand out campaign literature; get yard signs out along the roadways or into yards; don't campaign for individual candidates; don't provide Democratic candidates with addresses and locations for yard signs; don't volunteer to be poll watchers, and don't show up at the polls to hand out literature, ask people for their votes or thank them for their votes. In other words, they're pretty much good for shit. Sounds like the same types with which Sestak became disgusted. If they're not physically fit enough (usually because of age) to do anything but sit around socializing and guzzling booze at their official gatherings, then they should get the hell out of the way. We have a huge contingent in the Pittsburgh area who are in their 60's & 70's, and they have blocked several generations of younger Democrats from getting involved as committee people.
Re their "Let's Party" attitude:
Bagpipers, street food vendors, and green shamrock T-shirts. Passers-by might have mistaken today's festivities at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers local union headquarters in the South Side for an early St. Patrick's Day celebration.
But the event was the Allegheny County Democratic Committee's annual election endorsements where committee members cast their votes to decide which candidates the party should endorse in the upcoming May primary election.
The annual event draws some of the region's most powerful committee powerhouses and longest reigning political families. But though the event is steeped in tradition, some have begun to wonder if the endorsement process should be changed." I think we should get rid of endorsements," said Sam Hens-Greco, 14th Ward Democratic Committee chair. "We spend a tremendous amount of money and time on them, and there's more the party could be doing." Attitudes like this are part of the reason the ACDC plans to hold a convention this summer to re-examine the committees bylaws and endorsement process.
"We may make some adjustments, but we won't be eliminating them," said Mills. "You can see the committee people love it. Everyone's having a ball."
http://www.pghcitypaper.com/Blogh/archives/2015/03/08/allegheny-county-democratic-committee-endorses-candidates-for-2015-election
Look at the Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation - 100% males; 17 of 18 Congressmen are white; 5Ds 13Rs; 2 white male senators, 1 D and 1 R. Then look at the statistics for party registration in the Keystone State:
As of December 31, 2014:
Registered Democrats - 4,047,193
Registered Republicans - 3,000,090
No Affiliation - 668,025
Libertarians - 47,357
For the primaries, only the Ds and Rs can vote, but come November we outnumber them by a goddamn ONE MILLION+ VOTES! There's no excuse for the fact that we don't have TWO Democratic U.S. senators representing our state.
As to the Independents, an ever increasing proportion of the electorate, this is where we desperately need committee people in each and every ward and district, pounding the pavements and knocking on doors to hand out literature and ask people for their votes. My aged knees no longer permit me to climb up and down my community's hills or trudge along it's sidewalk-less streets and roads. But I did do that for several decades for individual Democratic candidates, and it was my experience that many, many voters of whatever party affiliation, appreciated having someone politely ask them for their vote, answer questions for them, tell them the location and hours of their polling place; perhaps help them change their registration if they had just moved into the area, arrange for them to get absentee ballots or a ride to the polls.
On edit: And while I can no longer campaign door-to-door, I do arrange voter registration sessions at the senior community in my ward and district - people are constantly moving in and need to update their registrations, and they do turn out to vote. And I serve as a Judge of Elections and make damn sure no voters are intimidated by the local tea party jerks. Get out the vote, everyone!
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