The DNC Chair DOES NOT SHAPE THE MESSAGE

[Hippo_Tron]

Everybody is going apeshit about this Dean vs Rosenberg for DNC chair thing as though we're picking our presidential candidate. Here's the thing about it, the DNC chair doesn't shape the message, the DNC chair promotes the message and more importantly the DNC chair raises money to promote the message.

Many people criticize Rosenberg for his stance on the Iraq War. Rosenberg's stance on the Iraq war DOESN'T MATTER. Roesenberg's job is to promote his party's stance on the Iraq War, which is determined by the elected officials. If there's anybody's stance on the Iraq War that you should be concerned about it's Harry Reid's, Nancy Pelosi's, and whoever our next presidential nominee is, not Rosenberg. The DNC Chair fights for his party's agenda not his own agenda.

Similarly, if Dean is elected DNC chair, it will not make the party more progressive because he does not get to shape the message. He promotes the agenda that he is told to promote by the elected officials, if he doesn't do that then he has to resign, it's that simple.

That being said, I do support Dean for the job, but it has absolutely nothing to do with his stances on the Iraq War, abortion, or anything for that matter. Dean has proven that he is good at grassroots organization, something that was vital to the Kerry campaign doing as well as it did. In a nutshell, I think that Dean is the best guy to help us gain support for our message. However, Dean is NOT GOING TO SHAPE THE MESSAGE as DNC Chair if he is elected. Likewise, neither will Rosenberg or Roemer for that matter.

Basically, if Rosenberg or Roemer is elected to the job, it's not like the party will all of a sudden become the party of illegal wars or the anti-abortion party.

I'd actually like to have an discussion around here about who would be best for party chair based on their personal skills (which is what matters) and not their stances on the isssues (which don't matter).

Edit: Mods when I posted this I didn't know about the new "Democratic Party" Forum. Feel free to move it.

[Upfront]

1. Ah

I think you are wrong.

[Hippo_Tron]

3. Care to explain?

I would like to hear your opinion on this subject.

[genius]

10. The chair appoints the committee people who shape the issues

the chairman's way.

[JaneDoughnut]

2. Really?

Someone like Dean, who can reach out to grassroots, allows people like US to shape the message.

[KeireG]

4. Thank you!

That's what I was thinking. In Government class last semester we never learned that the party chair shaped the message, and I was confused about all this controversy.

[ClassWarrior]

5. Nonetheless, Dean understands Lakoffian framing...

...therefore he'd be especially good at delivering the Party's message.

Last thing we need is some blah slug or a cornball like Terry as the face of the Party.

NGU.

[buddhamama]

9. yes, agreed.

n/t

[Mojambo]

6. The DNC chair doesn't DIRECTLY shape the message

That doesn't mean they don't have influence over it.

[PassingFair]

16. Dean as chair will bring a massive influx of new people into the party.

I have seen some of it already.
Our voices will be heard when the number of progressives joining the party at local levels raise their voices together.
My local dem clubs are ripe for Dean's message. Many simply hadn't heard it before the primaries.

[buddhamama]

7. I disagree, the DNC Chair does shape the message

The Party has stances and it is the responsibility of the Chair to present that message to the Public. And, Rosenberg's stances on the issues does matter, imo. If the Party's stance is anti-Iraq war how can Rosenberg effectively present that message if he himself does not agree with his Party's own stance?

[Old and In the Way]

8. All well and good.

I think most here realize that. But we also realize that this position can have wide reaching impact for getting the message out and getting people involved and motivated. Personally, I think these are the attributes most needed in the DNC chair....and why I support the Doctor.

[peacetalksforall]

11. Who selects the candidate, because, surely, Kerry was selected

by the upper crust of the Dem Party. All of a sudden there was a groundswell for Kerry announced by the CPNs, then Kerry wins Iowa. I never thought it was entirely the Iowa voters. I don't exactly know what I'm talking about - I 'intuited' it. It seemed the right wanted Kerry and did not want Dean or Clark. Just a feeling.

CPNs - Corporate Propaganda Network.

[Hippo_Tron]

12. CPN's wouldn't have ignored Kerry until 3 weeks before Iowa...

If they wanted to ensure his victory. The media was spending most of their time on Dean, and admittedly it wasn't all positive. I think that the CPN's sudden coverage of Kerry reflected some polling that they had seen suggesting a close Kerry/Dean race. If they can make it exciting, they will, that's how they get people to watch. Clark kind of came and went, which is partly the media's fault for never covering him.

[JaneDoughnut]

13. Didn't anyone ever get mailings from Terry McAullife (SP?)

THAT is a direct message from the chair to the party members and donors. Even if the letter ended by asking for funds, there were a full two pages prior to that which clearly outlined the party platform and priorities. Certainly, the chair has a large role in shaping, framing and delivering the message.

[ibegurpard]

14. This is how I see it

And I agree with you about the limitations of the DNC chair and hope that people aren't expecting too much... HOWEVER, what a Dean chairmanship would signal to me is that there are ENOUGH people of influence in the party who agree with Dean and people like me about the party's problems and the necessary solutions to actually make some progress.

[CWebster]

15. sigh...

Okay, there are probably some really good Republicans more adept at raising Corporate cash and defining the message of the party as leaning Right. Why not give them a shot, since like Will Marshall, they have a proven record of promoting that agenda.

The struggle IS for the identity. Rosenberg is the mouthpiece through which those who now dominate can continue to put their spin on it--he is a member of their team.

We all define the message by who we are otherwise just hire Republicans- they don't seem to have any problem knowing where they are going. Dean is great at grassroots because he embodies the intent, he doesn't posture in the role.

In addition, it is Rosenberg who pays homage to Dean, while Rosenberg is Lieberman's partner in a DLC-style organization.

But, oh no, you see nothing has to do with anything.

[Dr Fate]

17. But a good DNC chair COULD help shape the message.

Stop telling the hard working base what we can & cant do- we know what we are capable of.

W would have had a LANDSLIDE if it were not for the Dean/Clark/Kusinich types in the base.

Stop telling us what we cant do and LISTEN to us for a change.