Democracy for America

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Democracy for America
Democracy For America for logo.png
Founded2004
HeadquartersSouth Burlington, Vermont
Membership
1 million+
Chair
Charles R. Chamberlain
Chief Executive
Yvette Simpson
Key people
Howard Dean, Jim Dean
Websitedemocracyforamerica.com

Democracy for America (DFA) is a progressive political action committee, headquartered in South Burlington, Vermont. Founded by former Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean in 2004, DFA leads public awareness campaigns on a variety of public policy issues, trains activists, and provides funding directly to candidates for office.[1] The organization has more than a million members in the United States and internationally.

History[]

Dean created the PAC Fund for a Healthy America in 2001 in Montpelier in advance of a planned campaign for President.[2][3] In March 2004, following the conclusion of Dean's presidential campaign, the organization was renamed "Democracy for America".[4]

Following his unsuccessful run for the Democratic nomination in the 2004 presidential election, Dean used the organization to build on the grassroots momentum for Democratic candidates around the country.[5] DFA used the Internet-based, grassroots organizing that Dean had created for his presidential campaign to help like-minded Democrats get elected.[6] In 2004 the organization endorsed and supported Democrats (known as the Dean Dozen) on the federal, state, and county levels.

In 2005, Dean turned over control of the organization to his brother, Jim Dean, when he became DNC Chair.[7][better source needed]

Since then, Democracy for America has helped elect over 600 progressives into office, including President Barack Obama, while building their membership to over a million like-minded progressives across all fifty states.

In 2007, DFA became the first carbon-neutral political action committee in the United States.[8]

Arshad Hasan served as Executive Director from 2007 to 2013, after which Charles R. Chamberlain became Executive Director.[9]

Effective January 1, 2019, Chamberlain was named Chair and Yvette Simpson was named Chief Executive.[10]

DFA-List[]

First DFA logo

DFA focuses on endorsing candidates, at all levels of office, both local and national. DFA's endorsements are often orchestrated by members of local groups, and they provide resources, such as funds and addresses, to endorsed campaign. According to their own records, the group endorsed over 578 candidates.[11] Candidates wishing for an endorsement may apply on the organization's website.

DFA initially endorsed Bernie Sanders in the 2016 U.S. presidential race after earning a record-breaking 87.9% of the vote in their online poll.

The organization switched its endorsement in July 2016 "...to stand with Bernie Sanders by joining him in formally endorsing Hillary Clinton for President."[12] Sanders has since formed his own group Our Revolution.

Notable past DFA endorsements have included:

Political positions[]

Democracy for America's status on various social and economic issues places the organization strongly on the left of the American political spectrum. Although they often endorse and advocate for Democratic Party candidates, DFA is also to the left of many national and state Democratic lawmakers.

In 2006, the group supported Ned Lamont over Sen. Joseph Lieberman in Connecticut's primary and general elections.[17] DFA also supported Carol Shea-Porter in her Democratic primary and general election victory[18] in New Hampshire's 1st congressional district. In 2008, the group supported Donna Edwards of Maryland's 4th congressional district[19]

During the 2008 Minnesota Senate election between Norm Coleman and Al Franken Democracy for America aligned themselves with the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and called their campaign "Donate a Dollar a Day to Make Norm Go Away".[20] Coleman lost to Franken following an official statewide recount.[21]

Domestic issues[]

Before creating this PAC, the group's founder, Howard Dean, who was already a famous person, had strongly campaigned/promoted universal health care. Therefore, as its first major issue, after the 2008 presidential election, DFA campaigned mainly about universal health care (in support).

In 2011, DFA's main issue of interest was about employees of companies, such as by promoting unions. DFA, Progressive Change Campaign Committee (or PCCC), and several other organizations with lesser contribution levels, combined funds to spend $2.2 million canvassing about these issues, including phone calls, door-to-door campaigning, and TV ads.

DFA has also campaigned to oppose legislation that requires voters to present government-issued identification cards, birth certificates, or passports before voting.[22] The organization has at various times deemed the laws "excessive" and "Draconian," and has argued that the laws inhibit ordinary citizens from being able to enter the polling stations.[23]

DFA continues also to campaign on behalf of legislation which they believe homosexual Americans would want, even though same-sex marriage in the United States has been mandatorily legal across America for several years. In 2009, the organization sent volunteers to Maine to campaign against Ballot Question 1, which nullified a same-sex marriage law passed by the state's legislature. In a related issue, DFA pushed for the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" laws in regards to the U.S. military.

DFA has also run anti-Wall Street campaigns and "Boycott BP" campaign in response to a leaky oil pipe in the Gulf of Mexico that was owned by BP.

Foreign policy issues[]

Democracy for America supports the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.[24]

Endorsed Presidential Candidates[]

In 2008, Democracy for America endorsed Barack Obama, who was then an outspoken critic of the war in Iraq. In February 2009, President Obama stated unequivocally that American occupation in Iraq will end no later than August 31, 2010. DFA did not withdraw its support for Obama after he failed to do this.

In 2016, DFA endorsed Bernie Sanders in the 2016 U.S. presidential election due to the results of a poll of their supporters which they had posted on their website.[25]

In 2020, DFA again endorsed Bernie Sanders for 2020, again due to a poll which they posted on their website of who their members wish for them to endorse.[26]

Training and scholarships[]

DFA members at both the national and local levels have participated in numerous training programs, intended to instruct prospective candidates on running a successful political campaign. DFA's main training initiative, called the Campaign Academy, consists of 16 hours of interactive workshops that bring hundreds of local activists, campaign staff and candidates together for 2 days of intensive campaign training.[27] Topics have included; online organizing, shutting down a campaign, canvassing and phonebanking, recruiting volunteers, how to increase voter turn out, developing a finance plan, sustaining your media presence, winning with social networks and building a grassroots army: volunteer recruitment.[27]

"DFA Night School" is the organization's online training program. Each session is an hour-long interactive conference call and web presentation where trainees participate and ask questions.[28]

Netroots Nation Scholarship competition[]

DFA also awards scholarships to progressive or liberal bloggers, known as the "Netroots Nation Scholarship".[29] In 2010, DFA sent 60 online activists to Netroots Nation, held in Las Vegas, NV from July 22–25.[30] Other sites for the Netroots Nation Convention have included Austin, Texas, in 2008[31] and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 2009.[32]

Dean Corps[]

In 2010, DFA sent field organizers to progressive campaigns for a program called Dean Corps. Similar to Sen. Russ Feingold's Progressive Patriot corps, organizers represented an in-kind contribution to the recipient campaign. The goal is to hire, train and place field organizers on key progressive campaigns to get more real progressive Democrats elected in all 50 states at all levels of office.

Social networking[]

"DFA Community" was a political and social networking tool that allowed DFA members to meet like-minded people in their area, form groups, and organize events. Members typically met on the first Wednesday of every month in organized groups around the country. DFA Community is currently listed as having over 600 online groups, with representation in every congressional district. While DFA members in local groups regularly implement the priorities of the national organization, DFA local groups are voluntary, autonomous, and not officially affiliated with the national organization. Some of DFA's most notable groups include East Bay for Democracy, Democracy for New Jersey, Philly For Change, DFA Columbia (Missouri), and Democracy For New York City.

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Gillespie, Elizabeth (for the AP) (March 18, 2004), Dean promises his group will raise money, recruit candidates, USA Today, retrieved 2009-07-12
  2. ^ The Buying of the President 2004: Center for Public Integrity http://projects.publicintegrity.org/bop2004/candidate.aspx?cid=8
  3. ^ Clift, Eleanor (January 4, 2002), Howard Who?, Newsweek, retrieved 2009-07-12
  4. ^ FEC Amended Statement of Organization, Org. # C00370007, March 18, 2004 available at "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-07-09. Retrieved 2009-08-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ^ Keil, Richard (February 12, 2005), Dean becomes Chairman of Democratic Party, Bloomberg.com, retrieved 2009-07-12
  6. ^ Mercurio, John (May 6, 2004), Democracy (Dean) for America, CNN.com Morning Grind, retrieved 2009-07-12
  7. ^ "New DNC head Dean hopes to rebuild Democrats". China Daily. February 13, 2005.
  8. ^ "Carbon Offsets: What Democracy for America is doing". www.energyrefuge.com.
  9. ^ Celock, John (13 June 2013). "Top Progressive Staffer Joins Dean Group". HuffPost.
  10. ^ "Democracy for America's Jim Dean steps down, appoints Yvette Simpson new Chief Executive". Democracy for America. November 14, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  11. ^ "Democracy for America : Past Endorsements". democracyforamerica.com.
  12. ^ "Democracy for America endorses Hillary Clinton for President, praises Bernie Sanders run". Democracy for America - July 12th 2016 Press Release. 12 July 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  13. ^ Ballhaus, Rebecca (December 17, 2015). "Progressive Group Democracy for America Endorses Bernie Sanders". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  14. ^ "Democracy for America : Julie Gunnigle - Maricopa County Attorney, AZ".
  15. ^ [1]
  16. ^ Democracy for America. "DFA backs Paulette Jordan for Governor of Idaho", Democracy for America, Vermont, 15 March 2018. Retrieved on 15 March 2018.
  17. ^ Nichols, John (April 20, 2006), No to Pro-War Democrats, The Nation, retrieved 2009-07-13
  18. ^ Alarkon, Walter (November 8, 2006), Shea-Porter Beats Bradley, Concord Monitor, archived from the original on November 5, 2012, retrieved 2009-07-13
  19. ^ Merida, Kevin (February 13, 2008), "On an Icy Day A Challenger Wins Her Heated Contest", Washington Post, retrieved 2009-07-13
  20. ^ BoldProgressives (18 May 2009). "Norm Meets "Dollar a Day" Campaign" – via YouTube.
  21. ^ "Status". services.myngp.com.
  22. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-06-17. Retrieved 2009-06-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  23. ^ "Democracy for America : Home". democracyforamerica.com.
  24. ^ Boyer, Dave (September 10, 2014). "Obama: Offensive against Islamic State 'will be different' from Iraq, Afghanistan". The Washington Times. Retrieved 2016-05-20.
  25. ^ Wolfgang, Ben (December 17, 2015). "Powerful liberal group endorses Bernie Sanders, promises to push for 'revolution'". Washington Times. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  26. ^ Siders, David (3 March 2020). "Democracy for America endorses Bernie Sanders". Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  27. ^ a b "FXで為替の仕組みを知ろう". progressivespirit.com.
  28. ^ "Democracy for America". www.democracyforamerica.com.
  29. ^ "Democracy for America : Home". democracyforamerica.com.
  30. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-11-01. Retrieved 2010-07-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  31. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-02-23. Retrieved 2009-06-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  32. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-08-20. Retrieved 2009-06-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

External links[]

Retrieved from ""