State party officials say Dean understands Democrats in the West

[madfloridian]

This is from the meeting of the Association of State Democratic Chairs in Wyoming.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/11/20/news/politics/111906153751.txt

TETON VILLAGE, Wyo. (AP) -- Democratic Party luminaries back East who think it was a waste of money to beef up local organizations in places like Montana and Wyoming don't understand the gains the party can make in the West, state party directors said. The state party chairmen are firm believers in the 50-state strategy employed by Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, who took his victory tour to a weekend meeting in this Wyoming resort town of the state chairmen who elected him.

"We have been able to build our party around the state by creating Democratic organizations in every county in the state, for the first time in anyone's living memory," said Jim Farrell, executive director of the Montana Democratic Party.

They had some words to say about the Carville stuff as well.

But some high-profile Democrats, led by Clinton strategist James Carville, attacked Dean,-- even in the wake of big election wins for Democrats. They argue more could have been done. Farrell and his colleagues don't buy it.

"Those people criticizing Dean's 50-state strategy are, by and large, big shot political consultants who have completely lost touch with the grass roots and fail to see its importance," he said. "We know how hard we have to fight to elect Democrats in a state that might be red. We know we can only win by strengthening our grass roots."

Mike Gierau, the Wyoming Democratic Party chairman, said his party used money from the DNC to hire positions it never had before to employ a strategy that he says kept Republicans on the defensive.

"These were Wyoming people who knew Wyoming issues," he said of the new hires.

Dean always said if you don't show in all the states and talk about who we are, then we are letting the Republicans define us.



Dean speaking in Wyoming this week-end. Video.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/658

[KingFlorez]

1. The West is what will boost Democrats in the future

And it's important to look toward the future in terms of where we can have electoral success. The GOP has big numbers in the Mountain states, but Democrats had impressive showings there this year and that could signal a trend.

[silverojo]

2. Screw you, Carville!

K&R

[banana republican]

3. You can't win a race if you don't run!!!

[KingOfLostSouls]

4. EXACTLY!!!

carville and the rest of the plutocracy do NOT understand the west. democrats have a chance to make huge gains out west. republicans out west tend to be less the christian conservative and more the libertarian. you get them less worried about "god, guns, and gays" and get them talking about issues especially individual liberty, it opens a lot of doors.

[loyalsister]

5. That's how it works best in the South, too

Bottom up rather than top-down.
Local\in state language, issues, people.

[FogerRox]

6. Dean =Genius, Carville smoked too much pot to allowed in the CLinton

White House, but then so did I.

[madfloridian]

7. Utah Dem director says criticizing 50 state plan could create backlash.

"Todd Taylor, executive director of the Utah Democratic Party, said the DNC used to give his state a few thousand dollars and a little advice over the phone. Now he gets enough money to hire three extra full-time staff positions.

The criticism of Dean's plan to build the local parties has the potential to create a schism in the party. It's almost as if the party insiders believe the state network is not worth the money, Taylor said.

"It almost creates a backlash," Taylor said. "It feels more personal than I am sure it is meant."

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/11/20/news/politics/111906153751.txt

He is right. It has a tinge of insult to it, that all states are not equal. Our Florida party leaders think Florida is being hurt because other states are getting money. They are critical of the plan out loud, and it is causing some hard feelings.

[survivor999]

8. The Carville "strategy" has a simple explanation

It minimizes work for them. THe hard work is convincing folks in more conservative areas. Note that these people actually NEED exposure to the Dem ideas. All they hear where they are is only conservative propaganda. They have no alternatives, unless we provide them.

[williesgirl]

9. Howard saved all of us and our country. God bless him & fuck Carville.