Why NOI exists Every once in a while, I see something the really reminds me why the whole team takes on an added workload to make the New Organizing Institute great. This is one of those times:

"I do also think that the Internet has proven to be a more powerful tool on our side than it has been for the other side."

-- Karl Rove

In 2003 and 2004, we (progressives) virtually invented the field of online organizing. At the time, I was working for a political science professor writing a book on the Internet and Politics. My job was to surf the web and find examples of outstanding organizing done by campaigns, organizations, and citizen groups. It was simply stunning to watch the advances being made to connect people online - the trade grew by leaps and bounds in a matter of months.

After the 2004 election, it soon became clear that conservatives, recognizing the power of online organizing, were bringing their usual combination of huge financial resources and solid organizations to the task of leaving progressives in the dust. Rove's comment above might be hyperbole right now - I have heard Bill Frist lauded as an online pioneer for merely for podcasting - I truly fear it won't be much longer.

I don't underestimate Karl Rove. Look at the GOP ground game - In 2000, we beat them, in 2002, they made significant advances that allowed them to prevail with a good political climate, and in 2004 their ground game beat us despite a neutral or Democratic-leaning mood in the country. Without progressive infrastructure, the same thing could happen in online organizing: a definite advantage in 2004, fighting to a draw in 2006, and in 2008? Who knows.

We do know that the floor has been raised, and the basic level of knowledge required before organizers can become true political innovators has increased. We need the New Organizing Institute more than ever, to provide that base level of training and knowledge that will lift the whole field. Without it, we could see a great progressive invention - online organizing - transformed before our eyes into a tool of the conservative cause.  ¶ posted by Colin @ 4:59 PM 1 comments links to this post