The DNC and the $100 Revolution

(February 23, 2004)

The early line after the passage of McCain-Feingold assumed that the DNC would become a shadow of its former self. Stripped of more than 50 percent of its resources, it would shrink in significance and impact. The hundreds of millions of dollars of soft money lost would flow to other organizations, creating a new power Democratic electoral power structure with the DNC in the mix but not paramount.

I no longer believe this has to be the case.

Why? The $100 revolution, and the smart investments made by the DNC in improving its back-end and database capability. (Click here to read a recent article on the DNC's Datamart from the New York Times.)

Here’s the math, first described by Joe Trippi. 45-50 million Democrats will vote in 2004. If 2 million of these 45-50 million, about 5 percent, sign up with the DNC and give $100, the DNC will have $200 million to spend this year. $200 million is much more than Bush has raised so far through his $2,000 a person model. $200 million would be an awful lot of money, and would once again make the DNC the biggest and most important actor on the Democratic/Progressive side.

Can this happen? Is the DNC up for the task?

I think so. Remember that from the last day of the Convention t on the only organization our nominee can raise money for is the DNC. So, we can imagine a scenario where the Convention itself is dedicated to launching this $100 revolution, and calling upon every passionate Democrat, and anyone passionate about defeating George Bush to sign up with the DNC and give $100 before Labor Day. And from the end of July through mid-September every elected leading Democrat – elected official, pundit, allied group member, blogger, community leader – makes it their business to get every member of their professional and personal network to join the $100 revolution and give the DNC $100.

Or perhaps Chairman McAuliffe can launch the $100 revolution at his Unity Dinner on March 25th with Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter. Or later in the Spring when we have a clear nominee.

The point is that the passion that exists on the Democratic side needs to be harnessed by the DNC this year, and as soon as possible. Over the long haul there can be no other organization that can be the HQ of our politics than the DNC. It is the keeper of the lists and the brand. No matter what else we all do as Democrats, we must ensure that the DNC becomes the Internet Age hub of our politics that this new era demands.

Ushering in this new database-driven age of politics has to become the DNC’s highest priority this year. The Dean/Trippi $100 revolution model is not only the only way we can match the Republicans’ financial advantage; it is simply a better way of managing our politics:

The decentralized, bottom-up approach of the Dean campaign allows many more people to have a meaningful and productive relationship with our politics. Why not allow/encourage 2 million people to become essential partners in changing the country? Why not give them specific details on what we need to do to win – as Dean did – and encourage them to do much more then just give money? If millions are raising their hand and asking how they can help we better have something for them to do in addition to giving money.
Having our Party and our elected officials become literally dependent on every day Americans for our success in future elections is good for the Party that argues it is the true champion of the middle class. The more our money, and our passionate workers, comes from rank and file Democrats and not from wealthy Americans and our own narrow interest groups the more our Party will be free to pursue a politics truly of, by and for the people.

Of course all of this assumes a radical culture change at the DNC and with our top-down broadcast era money/message/TV/voter model. Can it happen this year? Do we have a choice