DFA’s Role in Democratic Party Evolving

An organization growing out of a defeated presidential campaign might have seemed likely for a quick fizzle.  Yet in the three-plus years since Howard Dean's presidential campaign, Democracy For America – originally Dean For America — has flourished.  DFA played the lead role in organizing Saturday's Progressive Iowa Network (PIN) conference in Iowa City.

Still, with Howard Dean now the head of the Democratic Party, could that DFA activism be channeled into the formal Democratic Party structure?  Or has it been?

Iowa Independent discussed the role of DFA within, and without, the official Democratic Party structure with several activists at Saturday's PIN meeting.

The roots of the DFA phenomenon date back to mid-2003.  Supporters of Dean, then an asterisk in the polls, used the then-popular online tool Meetup to find other local Dean supporters and arrange simultaneous meetings across the country.  Rapidly, the first Wednesday of the month became Dean Meetup Night as Dean moved from nowhere to front-runner.  The specific tools changed, as Meetup changed from a free service to a site requiring payment and then quickly fell from favor. But by that time DFA had established both its own online tools and itself as an organization.

There are some technical and legal differences between DFA and a political party, say Dennis and Robin Roseman.  They're co-chairs of Johnson County DFA and also active in the local Democratic Party.  "DFA nationally can do some things that the Dems can't do.  For example, DFA can appeal to no-party voters and other-party voters on behalf of candidates or issues without recruiting for the Dems.  Johnson County DFA has lobbied Sen. Grassley and ex-congressman Leach by visiting their offices.  Elected Republicans would be unlikely to schedule visits from the Democratic Party."

Alta Price of the Quad Cities DFA organization told Iowa Independent she had never caucused before supporting Dean in 2004.  "I haven't had the history with the Democratic Party – in fact, I was an independent.  I may even have been registered as a Republican" to vote for moderate Maggie Tinsman in a primary.

One Scott County Democrat DFA has strongly supported is Rep. Elesha Gayman (D-Davenport), who upset an incumbent Republican in 2006.  "The Iowa Democratic Party was not seeing her as a serious candidate, and thought only an old white guy could win.  The Scott County Party came around to support Elesha, but her early support from DFA was critical.  We think outside the box."

Still, Price sees limits.  "Progressives tend to be passionate about ISSUES.  There are some progressives who just will not work on campaigns.  I do both, but not everyone will.  (DFA) is a bridge between issues and campaigns."

Pat Stansberry of Marshalltown said, "The Democratic Party can't really push issues, and DFA can."  He also said DFA's ability to work on local nonpartisan races was a plus.

Could a scenario develop where DFA could endorse, for example, a Green candidate over a Democrat in a partisan race?

"DFA doesn't have to toe the line," said Price.  "I don't think our first loyalty is to the Democratic Party – it's to progressives and progressive issues."

"Many progressives believe there's a third way," said James Lee, executive director of Progressive Action for the Common Good in the Quad Cities.  "We have to reformulate the relationship between our values as progressives and the Democratic Party apparatus," he told Iowa Independent  "I'd be willing to accept some more moderate things from a third party that was interested in systemic change," such as significant campaign finance reform, said Lee.  The Voter Owned Iowa Clean Elections (VOICE) bill that did not advance in the 2007 legislative session was the single most discussed issue at Saturday's conference.  "To me systemic things trump any particular issue," said Lee, "and campaign finance opens the door to many other issues." 

"You can be Genghis Khan and still be a Democrat," said former gubernatorial candidate Ed Fallon.  He sees a key difference between liberals – "who want an activist government and like to spend money" – and progressives:  "A progressive puts people before profit, and has the interest of the general public as a greater priority than corporations."

Progressive issues transcend party, said Fallon.  "It's not right vs. left.  I've met young evangelical Christians who believe poverty and the environment are important.  We can agree on some bread-and-butter issues, and that's where DFA can reach out." 

"The corporate element of the Democratic Party needs to be replaced by true progressives who aren't afraid," said Fallon, noting that DFA has a role to play in that change.

What is the Democratic Party afraid of?  "The leadership of the party has distanced itself from progressive principles," said Lee.  "They did not even know how to defend themselves when they were attacked with the word `liberal'.  If progressives had the same power in the Democratic Party as conservatives do in the Republicans, the nature of politics would be different.  There are Democrats in the consulting classes at the national level that use the same language and negative characterizations as conservatives do, and they see progressives as something to be tolerated and controlled."

Asked if he saw exceptions, Lee cited Sen. Russ Feingold, (D-Wis.) and former Vice President Al Gore.  "Even someone like Bruce Braley is willing to address some of the systemic issues." As for the presidential candidates:

"John Edwards' focus on poverty opens the door to a big discussion of what other issues need to be addressed. It forces us to re-examine the relationship to the economic system."

Still, progressives are warm to some Democrats.  Congressman Dave Loebsack and state Sen. Joe Bolkcom drew warm reactions at Saturday's conference.

"Some progressive issues have well funded support, like health care," said Pete Hansen of Iowa City.  "But others don't, like fair taxation and (campaign finance)."

Ultimately, the DFA-Democratic Party relationship may vary from place to place.  "It depends what the local party is like," said Price.  "Originally, it wasn't that good a relationship (with the Scott County Democrats); we didn't fit in.  But now that's completely changed, and we work closely with the Scott County party."