New Organizing Institute

An integrated progressive infrastrucutre for all

Check out this report from a lively NOI-Roots Camp dialogue. The panel revolved around the rough title: Progressive Politics in Rural and Republican dominated areas. Below are our ideas:

Take away lessons:

1) Build infrastructure for candidate recruitment and training specifically in rural and Republican dominated areas.

This means organizations and funders must commit not simply to a battlefield expansion, but to a specific program for down ballot offices in these rural and Republican dominated areas.

2) Expand, package, and proliferate micro-targeting technology to the progressive infrastructure and candidates in rural and Republican areas.

3) Speak intentionally. Speak with the voice of our America and be aware of the frame you present.

4) Run to win on core value issues. Run on the issues that unite our America:
-A bold environmental and energy initiative for a new economy.
-Robust living wage laws
-Real reform of our agricultural policy
-True security for our ports
-Strong support for our community infrastructure:
-Accountable investments in healthcare, first responders, and education.

Please give us your feedback and ideas about building an integrated progressive infrastructure for all of America. -Chris

¶ posted by Burks @ 10:15 PM

Comments:

1- You're not likely to get local funding, so it would be important to be able to draw funds from either the DNC or other organizations in a better location to get progressive donations.

2- People and palm pilots--strategic donations to schools, after school programs, etc. would be good too.

3- Good, remember that the rural republicans got these screwy things they call morals. Demonstrate that it's possible to have these values and still be a progressive--in fact these often go hand in hand.

4- Good idea, but you also need to run to win on core local issues. Personal, relevant values are important. So you need to have people on the ground talking to the community to get a feel for what they need.

I think town hall meetings, sponsored bi-partisan discussions/events, and other community friendly events would greatly help the development of a progressive "supply chain" into the heart of the evil empire, I mean, republican rural regions.

# posted by Mirk : 1:56 PM