Grassroots Clark supporter says Clark is running an "insiders' campaign"

[unfrigginreal]

The Movement as Message
by Ellen Dana Nagler

Ellen Nagler is a leading grassroots supporter of Clark for President. She operates out of California, and was a formative presence in the draft movement.

snip

The Clark campaign is an insiders' campaign, with the classic insiders' hermetic structure and one-way message pipe. In a season of alienation and frustration, it is exactly the wrong kind of campaign to be running. And the shame of it is that it didn't have to be that way. Dean saw a way to remake the rules of the game. So did the core of early Clark supporters. Trippi has made spectacular use of the cadres he produced. The Clark campaign chose not to use what was produced in its behalf. The Clark campaign talks to itself, heeds only its own signals, gives no air and no space to those not on its inside. When the campaign does talk to us, what it says is almost always a money pitch. The Dean campaign does the opposite. Dr. Dean pounds on the word "empowerment" when he talks to his troops. Every e-mail signed Dean or Trippi emphasizes the campaign's inclusiveness, its respect for its supporters, its community. And the money pitches are subtle, only one part of a larger message. Impressive.

A fight for the soul of the party?

Some are saying that this nomination shoot-out is a fight for the soul of the Democratic Party. On one side are the "old politics" hands, with their cronyism, their top-down, big money, insider ways of thinking and being. And on the other side is Howard Dean. There has been a lot of talk about who will be the man anointed the "un-Dean" by the insiders, the one designated to chase Dean all the way to Boston.

Wesley Clark was never meant to be an un-Dean or an un-anybody. He wasn't meant to be the un-Bush. He was meant to be his own man, a winner in his own right, not because of his résumé, superb though it is, but because of his soul, his spirit, his imagination, his character, his palpable love for America and his optimism for our future — attitudes of heart and mind all the more powerful because they didn't come packaged in the rhetoric of electoral politics. The belief in Wes Clark's vision, ultimately, is what drove the Clark Movement.

What happened? Well, electoral politics happened. Clark joined the fray. No longer able to stay above it, he began to to talk its language. The inspirational message that had been so clear before got muddled, pressed down into sound bites, policy promises, and, alas, endless emphasis on the Iraq war. Clark, egged on by the press and operating under the exigent rules of the "debates," became too much about his résumé and not enough about himself. Same old same old. Which left Dean, whose "freshness" is all about his style and about himself, as the only "new politics" player on the field.

http://www.bopnews.com/archives/000092.html#000092

---------

I think that these paragraphs offer a good analysis of why Clark has not caught on as well as expected. Many folks that initially thought about supporting his candidacy see this coziness with the beltway pros and figure that he would govern the same way.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

1. this is exactly how I feel about Clark's campaign

He's fighting a different war. He has the ability to organize the base of the Democratic party and bring in lots of other people, but he chose to do something else. If he was a true progressive populist, and acted like it, he would not only be the frontrunner but a landslide winner against Bush. So why isn't he?

[dkf]

2. Mstoller of The Clark Sphere says:

http://www.theclarksphere.com/

Intensification
I mean, I really like Clark, I just wish I knew what Clark's campaign message was. That said, the anti-Dean rhetoric is beginning to crescendo. Josh Marshall, usually reasonable, is letting his emotions carry the day; the Democratic establishment seems to be waking to the fact that Howard Dean is very very hard to beat. And they don't like it one bit, and are looking where to turn to for the anti-Dean.

Man, it would be great if Clark had a resonant message right about now.

mstoller on Dec 30 @ 12:04 AM

[Democrats unite]

3. I suggest you visit his website very informative

http://www.clark04.com/

[w4rma]

4. The folks running that campaign need to read this and change their tactics

accordingly.

And this needed to be done months ago.

[Fleshdancer]

5. Interesting

You know the DC insiders are in trouble when their only hope of beating an outsider is with another outsider. If this isn't a big enough sign that people are ready for a change, then I don't know what it.

[poskonig]

6. Chris Lehane was probably a bad choice.

I mean, the guy already ran Kerry's campaign into the ground. Who else would have been a better option?

[Capn Sunshine]

25. a better option

anyone.

[SahaleArm]

31. Chris Lehane doesn't run the campaign...

He doesn't even run communications; Matt Bennett is the head of communications:

Senior Communications Counselor Chris Lehane
Resigned as Senior Advisor for Communications to the Kerry campaign on Sept. 15, 2003. After the 2000 campaign Lehane was based in San Francisco, where he worked with Mark Fabiani. In 2000 (announced Oct. 27, 1999) Lehane served as press secretary for Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign. He moved over to that campaign from his position as press secretary for the Office of the Vice President, and previously served as the Vice President's deputy communications director. Worked as a special counsel for HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo in 1997 and as special assistant counsel for the President in 1995-96. Lehane is a native of Lawrence, Mass. and is a graduate of Amherst College ('90).

At least they aren't resorting to whining...

http://www.gwu.edu/~action/2004/clark/clarkorg.html

[TexasPatriot]

7. read the responses to the article...

here's a good one...
--snip--
Ellen... I don't get it. I remember you from the warroom list, and we emailed each other on several occasions.

Why aren't you involved with the grassroots group with the Clark campaign? We're working with Hlinko and several other members of the DraftClark group as liasons out of little rock. Definately nothing top-down about this.

I get the impression from reading this article that somehow you got out of the loop, and don't know what's going on. I don't know when that happened or why, but it's too bad. You would have liked what we've done with the place.
--snip--

see - i know people in the movement, people on the action teams... just because it feels like a slick organization at this point doesnt mean people came in and took power away from anyone. In fact, most of those original people are well entrenched busting their asses sleeping in their chairs trying to get the General elected. I've seen it.

[JNelson6563]

8. That's sort of the impression I have gotten

The gal here who is an ardent Clark supporter has tried real hard to promote him but has been unable to achieve anything. I get the distinct impression she is on her own.

Julie

[wndycty]

9. The objective is winning. . .

. . .its about retaking the White House. I am former "Draft Clark" person and a grassroots leader in Illinois and I can tell you that the grassroots continues to play a vital role in the campaign. I am sure you will find literally thousands of Clark supporters who feel the same. I appreciate everyone's concern about whether or not we are playing a role in the campaign, but we have a nomination to secure and an election to win and we will do it!

[Tom Rinaldo]

10. A long and very thoughtful piece

It has much in it to think about. Her issues are with the structure, though, not the man. Here are three key paragraphs:

"Don't bring me a problem unless you can tell me how to solve it."
It shouldn't and mustn't be so. Just once Chris Matthews and Tim Russert and the others should leave the safety of their studio desks and go to a New Hampshire town meeting, where they'd hear Wes Clark being Wes Clark. Just once they, and the other talking heads who plumb the shallows for their stories, should dig a little deeper, and find for themselves the man, the real man, who is there when he is with the people. Just once the pundits and prognosticators should stop reading picked-over tea leaves and start listening with both ears.

If they did that, they'd see not only the man, but his Movement. They would know that the Movement continues to expand its circle, drawing new people in everywhere that Wes Clark goes one-on-one, heart-to-heart with his audience. They would see the real story happening before their very eyes.

We may not have the offices, the staff, the sheer numbers — of people or of money — that Dean has rallied through Trippi's masterful use of the Internet (and through his recent masterful coöpting of the very insiders Dean once decried). But we have Wes Clark himself. We have Wes Clark sly and quick-witted with Jon Stewart on The Daily Show. We have Wes Clark moving a temple congregation in Florida. We have Wes Clark exhorting a graduating class at Seton Hall. We have Wes Clark, a man who has spent his entire life finding solutions to exceedingly difficult problems. We have Wes Clark, a strategic thinker, a hero and a leader."

[unfrigginreal]

11. But that's not the reality but what she is hoping for

and I would suggest was the hope for how Clark would campaign by many. Here's what she said is happening on the stump:

No longer able to stay above it, he began to to talk its language. The inspirational message that had been so clear before got muddled, pressed down into sound bites, policy promises, and, alas, endless emphasis on the Iraq war. Clark, egged on by the press and operating under the exigent rules of the "debates," became too much about his résumé and not enough about himself.

[wndycty]

12. Your concern for the welfare of our campaign is greatly appreciated. . .

. . .however we have an election to win. Speaking as a grassroots leader from Illinois I will let you know that the grassroots is still greatly involved.

[w4rma]

13. You *say* it is. Show us. (n/t)

[wndycty]

14. What do you need to see. . .

In Illinois we can report. . .

. . .two major fundraisers attended by General Clark--planned by the grassroots.

. . .signature gathering--executed by the grassroots.

. . .a lot of positive press on General Clark, secured by the grassroots

. . .a number of grassroots supporters running as delegates?

What exactly do you want to see?

Move along now

[poskonig]

16. I see Dean people here in Illinois.

:kick:

[wndycty]

18. So do I. . .but I also see a lot of Clark people as well. . .

. . .look beyond your world. . .you might be surprised what you will see.

[poskonig]

19. I was at the CMB campaign kickoff.

Besides that, I've seen all Dean.

[Gloria]

17. I agree. Here in Las Cruces, our draft Clark guy is still a powerhouse

and we're using our own materials as well as those from AK. No one is telling us what to do.
We got a call from HQ in Albuquerque praising us on our efforts.
We're linked to other people in other towns across Southern NM. We're exchanging info and materials.

ClarkActionTeam emailed me personally and asked for some of my brochures that I made up.

Did this person expect a job and not get one?

I personally would prefer that Lehane stay off camera...I didn't like him when he spoke for Gore. But, apart from that, I'm happily doing my bit.

I think Clark is fine in his message of concern for the future of American families.

If he got more air time, maybe he would "catch on." I mean, when I see nothing but reports about Dean's house parties as if they're unique, while Clark has hundreds the same night and isn't mentioned at all, I wonder. When Clark's office opens and the announcement is on page 5 as opposed to page 1 for Dean, I wonder.

Dean is no outsider. The GOP have made him their boy.

[Tom Rinaldo]

15. Nope, got it wrong.

Yup she says that also, about when Clark is campaigning in the standard stump and sound bite formats. She specifically mentions the clumsy 9 candidate debates we all had to endure.

She closes her piece with what I quoted above, and that's what Clark is doing right now, specifically those New Hampshire Town Meetings. That's where Clark gets to step out of the format and be himself. That's not a hope, that's a reality. She wishes more people could go there and hear Clark do one of those free form sessions. I have, he's great.

[unfrigginreal]

20. I appreciate that you see it that way

and initially I thought that I might too. But he's been less than inspiring on the stump to many of us.

[Jerseycoa]

27. That explains it

Howard Dean is less than inspiring on the stump to many of us. That tells you why we have two different candidates. We'll see which one inspires the rest of the country.

[wndycty]

28. Very well put. . .

. . . :kick:

[unfrigginreal]

29. Agreed n/t

[Donna Zen]

23. When was the last time you went to see Clark?

Yesterday or the day before? I'll be seeing him this weekend, and from what the people who saw him yesterday have to say, it's Katie bar the door. So before you presume to know what Clark is saying and how he is saying, wouldn't it be better to have correct information?

BTW, he has been talking about jobs, healthcare, and voting rights.

If he is constantly asked by the talking heads about world affairs, it is probably because he is considered to be among one of the world's experts in the field.

I hope the poster of that message finds her way back into the Clark sphere, it would be terrible to lose such dedication.

[maddezmom]

24. hey make sure you update us after you meet Wes

have a great time and let him know he has a supporter down here in Peru. :)

[Bombtrack]

21. all the campaigns have beltway people helping to run them

Dean original chair, now co-chairman, is Steve Grossman, former DNC chair and AIPAC bigwig (I'm not anti-Israeli, but it is a big lobby in Washington, and thus insider in nature)

Dean is as much an outsider as george w. bush was

Clark's campaign is ripe with Clintonites, and so is every other campaign

[SahaleArm]

33. Yep, no beltway people here, move along...

http://www.gwu.edu/~action/2004/dean/deanorg.html

[LoneStarLiberal]

22. A Thoughtful Piece...In Addition...

I am a Clark supporter, a grassroots local volunteer, and have been involved since the Draft movement.

I think one thing that gets lost in many of the critiques of Clark that set his message and his campaign in opposition to Dean's message and Dean's campaign is that Wes Clark was never going to try to be Howard Dean. The underlying emphasis of many of the "Clark's campaign was hijacked away from the grassroots" critiques I've read over the last several months seems to be that the Dean campaign has a monopoly on how to do grassroots. That's an insanely naieve notion in general and a fallacy waiting to happen when used as a tool of comparison. It is possible, after all, to be grassroots without being completely wedded to digital means. I'd point out that grassroots politicking has been around a long time before the internet came into widespread use or before Joe Trippi excellently initiated the first mass use of it in a political campaign.

The whole concept of grassroots campaigning goes way beyond using Meet Up, garnering online donations, and communicating through email lists. The expansion of the Tupperware Party approach to organizing is also a novel and very welcome idea, one that I would argue would be far more useful than the heavy reliance on the internet. I would argue that while all these are and will be very valueable contributions to political organization, they are not without their problems. Relying on an overly-digital idea of grassroots also biases you in terms of your audience; the poor and significant percentages of minorities do not have the same kind of access nor do they possess the same "savvy" and cultural experience of being "plugged in" to the internet.

Some are saying that this nomination shoot-out is a fight for the soul of the Democratic Party. On one side are the "old politics" hands, with their cronyism, their top-down, big money, insider ways of thinking and being. And on the other side is Howard Dean. There has been a lot of talk about who will be the man anointed the "un-Dean" by the insiders, the one designated to chase Dean all the way to Boston.

Wesley Clark was never meant to be an un-Dean or an un-anybody. He wasn't meant to be the un-Bush. He was meant to be his own man, a winner in his own right, not because of his résumé, superb though it is, but because of his soul, his spirit, his imagination, his character, his palpable love for America and his optimism for our future — attitudes of heart and mind all the more powerful because they didn't come packaged in the rhetoric of electoral politics. The belief in Wes Clark's vision, ultimately, is what drove the Clark Movement.

I don't think there's any danger of the Democratic Party coming down to a battle for its soul. I did believe this, but after some careful consideration and thought to the matter I don't see this occuring. That we're probably staring at a pretty divisive primary season is not in doubt. That Howard Dean and his campaign are going to achieve such a plurality of support in both the primaries and in the general election that they will revamp the entire Democratic Party is a complete and total pipedream.

I would agree with everything in the second paragraph and go further in saying that it is exactly because Wes Clark is who he is and has done the things he has done and has the vision that he has for America that has always encouraged and motivated people like myself to support him instead of Howard Dean. If you'll notice you don't hear Wes Clark refering to himself as the "un-Dean" or the "anti-Dean." That his campaign and himself are alternatives and have been alternatives all along are being subsumed in the frenzy of the punditocracy and the media in general to identify an alternative to Dean doesn't in any way change who he is or what his plans are for America.

The only thing I would change here is the last sentece: I would state it in the present tense for my own beliefs..."The belief in Wes Clark's vision, ultimately, is what drives the Clark Movement."

Huzzah!

[Jerseycoa]

26. Grassroots

We have a state coordinator. I do tell him what we are doing and when, but as a courtesy, so he knows, and so he can point up any possible conflict. He lets me know about statewide campaign news and events and things the campaign might need done. For example, he supplies out of state addresses for letter-writing. We write the letters and mail them.

Is this is what you mean by top down?

Independently, we plan events, do voter registration, leaflet, issue releases and letters to local press, mail informational packets, whatever. Any materials we want we can download from the site, or we can design our own. It's pretty much a two-way street in terms of what the central campaign wants, but we call the shots on our local organizing. We have our own websites and our own blogs and our own Yahoo groups. We schedule our own meetings, perform our own volunteer outreach, and design our own projects. The state coordinator can advise, but he in no way directs what we do.

I wasn't in the draft movement and I can understand there would be different and differing feelings among those who were, but I thank our professional campaign staff on a regular basis for their hard work, political acumen, and overall support of the Clark grassroots. The pros do what needs doing and we do what needs doing. I'm not that worried about a movement, and more concerned with getting the best president we can get, but just because you want us not to have a Clark grassroots doesn't make it so.

This was yesterday's rally in Nashville. It was planned and managed entirely by grassroots Clark supporters who had never remotely done anything like it before. It was a great success and they're very proud of their work. I'm proud of them, too.





Don't worry your pretty heads about us: We have what we want. It's just not what you want.

[Kathleen04]

30. Good post, Jerseycoa

I agree with your points.

[LouisFC]

32. "draft" veteran

I'm a "draft" veteran. I'm still here. I'm still inspired.

I didn't become part of the "draft" to revolutionize politics. I joined because I saw in Wesley Clark the character, intelligence and dedication that I still see today. I believed then, and I believe now, that he will be an Extraordinary American President.

[Myra]

34. Since DU is now being used as a blog mirror site

And anyone can say anything on a blog, I went to
"bopnews" and picked a post at random to mirror here:

"Clark was in front of cameras with bombs flying - as one reporter remarked "He didn't need handlers, the handlers needed him, and weighed him down as a result."

They can be forgiven for not getting it, Clark is one of the few politicians in 30 years who really is larger than life - rather than a small person who is being made up to look larger than life.

Posted by: Stirling Newberry at December 18, 2003 04:48 PM"

[KittyWampus]

35. Wishful Thinking

"I think that these paragraphs offer a good analysis of why Clark has not caught on as well as expected"

You know, maybe this woman expected a carbon copy of the Dean campaign... but even more likely...

Maybe she had an unrealistic view of what the Dean campaign actually is.

[PatrioticOhioLiberal]

36. I too joined the "movement"

before Wes decided to run.

During that time I read much of what these folks have written...I've also continued to read much of their later works. (Later, as in after they decided things were going "all wrong")

My take, as I watched this evolve, is as follows...

We have a handful of people who are superb wordsmiths who sometimes fall in love with the sound of their own voices to the detriment of the point they are attempting to make.

These are people who have been looking for a White Knight (not unlike many of us) to come to the rescue of the Democratic Party and the nation. You can see this thought line woven through Ellen's piece. She even uses the literary examples of Don Quixote which, though used in reference to Dr. Dean, still demonstrates a desire for a bigger than life "Prince Charming" to ride in and save the day.

It's a heady feeling to think that "we" brought this hero forth by sheer force of will. It tends to make us feel as though "we" created him. Hence, we start to believe that he is, indeed, all that we envisioned, right down to the snow white charger on which he comes riding in to pluck us from the the grasp of the evil enemy.

Many of us saw somthing of that hero in Wes Clark...and some people have not been able to admit that it was not "us who created him".

We tend to endow our heros with mythical attributes...attributes that no mere mortal could ever possess.

IMHO Ellen, Stirling & some others from the early draft days fell in love with their created vision rather than the very solid & real man that they placed their vision upon.

They forgot that the man they pinned their mythological cloak around is human, not a literary hero.

They forgot that in the real world politics is a harsh and bitter frontier where there are no snow white chargers, fairy godmothers, nor perfect princes who right every wrong.

The traits they saw in Wes have not diminished. He is still a man of honor, integrity and honesty. He is still a fighter for what is right and good. He will still make an extraordinary American President.

But because they want more than just a man, they are now dissappointed feeling he hasn't climbed to the mythological heights they created in their dreams...heights that no mere mortal could hope to reach.

I don't know the whys & wherefores of these people no longer being a part of the "official" team.

But were I to venture a guess, it would be this.

How easy could it be for anyone to work day in day out with those who will settle for nothing less than the consumation of their own perfect fantasy...even if that fantasy is completely out of reach?

Wes Clark is in my opinion, and the opinion of many others, the best man for the job of POTUS.

Perhaps they still feel that way as well, it is really hard to tell any more.

Either way, it is not the because of the man who seeks to serve...rather it is the result of their own imaginations.

Peace