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Blue Commonwealth is a community forum for the discussion of political issues of interest to Virginians.
The opinions expressed by users of this website do not necessarily reflect the views of Blue Commonwealth or its editors.
The opinions expressed by users of this website do not necessarily reflect the views of Blue Commonwealth or its editors.
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It seems to me that the OFA, who brought together a lot of people who are not ideologically homogeneous, will not be able to get them all to support the President's agenda. For example, some voted for Obama because they hated Bush and didn't want McCain following in his footsteps. That does not mean they support universal health care as much as it means they bet that Obama would screw up the nation less. There are plenty in the OFA email rolls who do not want their emails given to the DNC and respective state parties. Fine. But what the OFA CAN DO is send an email out to their VA email list and ask them if they'd like to receive emails from Democratic candidates who, theoretically like them, support the President and his agenda. The OFA could also stop sending out annoying and repetitive donation emails and instead send out academic arguments for such things as health care reform to convince those who like Obama but not health care reform.
Campaigns also have to have a list of ideas early which can be used immediately to bring in supporters. This means doing homework. Showing up saying you have a D next to your name and that you'll follow in very popular D politician's footsteps MEANS NOTHING. You might give some people relief but overall people want some new energy each election. Politics is dynamic. There are not four basic politicians whom everyone else aspires to become. (As much as everyone tries to boil it down to Jefferson, Jackson, Hamilton, and Wilson.) Candidates can do better by saying who they are, what they believe in, how they'll do it, and who they need to help. Campaigns can do better by saying we're going to do this, we need this, here is who we don't have to convince and who won't listen, and here is who and how many of them we do have to convince.