More DCCC Mischief-- This Time In North Texas

In 2008 Ken Leach was the Democratic candidate against 3-term Congressman Michael Burgess, an ultra right-wing obstetrician in an overwhelmingly Republican district (PVI +12) in the suburban and exurban Dallas-Ft Worth area. Burgess has been an extreme winger even by Texas Republican standards-- which is just fine with the Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh listeners who dominate the area-- and he won with 60% of the vote while McCain garnered 58%. In their endorsement of Ken, Esquire pointed out that Burgess "goes beyond even the most doctrinaire conservatives in urging cuts to federal help for poor families and turning more federal programs over to the private sector." Ken spent less than a thousand dollars on his campaign. Burgess spent $1,021,104, and most of that came from PACs and lobbyists whose interests he serves always and without hesitation.

A true-blue grassroots Democrat, Ken doesn't have fond memories of his interactions with the DCCC, the organization charged with helping Democrats win House races. Not only did they refuse to assist him financially, they wouldn't even help with non-financial matters. The other day he told me that "As a result of the DCCC not helping me, my Republican opponent did not have to spend much money in his district, but was able to shift funds from his campaign to help Republicans in swing districts." I asked Ken to write up a post on what it was like for a grassroots Democrat running in this north Texas district. His report:

In Texas, candidates for public office can get on their party’s primary ballot by paying a $3,200 filing fee or gathering 500 qualified signatures on a Petition in Lieu of Fee. Candidates filing as an independent must pay the fee and gather 500 signatures after the primary elections. While 500 signatures may not seem like a lot, it is extremely hard to achieve. While I decided to run in the 2008 Democratic primary for the 26th Congressional District, I elected to accumulate the 500 signatures or not file. My reasoning was I would not be a viable candidate if I could not find 500 registered voters who wanted me to run. As it turned out I was that year’s only Texas Democratic candidate for Congress to file by petition. An announced independent candidate failed to garner the necessary signatures.

Everyone told me I would have to raise at least $500,000 before I stood a chance to unseat the four-term Republican. I knew that was not going to happen as no Democratic candidate for the district’s congressional seat had amassed more than $50,000. My plan was to organize precinct clubs and hold house parties. My past observation of the Democratic attitude toward election was that people organized for an election and let that work dissipate as soon as the election was over. The next election the organizing started from scratch.
 
Nine congressional districts are served by the Dallas-Fort Worth media and the chances of attracting meaningful news coverage is between nil and nada. I called the DCCC to ask not for money, but for help contacting celebrities who might participate in fund raising events. I was told if I needed help raising money the committee would not give me any support at all. When I tried to explain I was not asking for money, just some phone numbers. When I tried to explain I was not asking for money but just some information, I was told I did not understand the DCCC would not give money or information to help my campaign.

While I do not know how much money flowed from North Texas into the coffers of the DCCC, I do know millions of dollars from the area went to various Democratic presidential campaigns and was spent out of state. This money could have been more wisely used by regional county organizations to build effective local campaigns. Tip O’Neill got it right, when he proclaimed, “All politics is local.” To that end, I am convinced no red state will be turned blue until we can elect Democrats to county offices.
 
We fail to realize not everyone is as interested in politics as we are. Money is needed to bring local elections to the attention of voters and develop get out the vote programs. Before contributing money to a national candidate or committee, stop and think how much more effective that money could be used by the local Democratic effort. With money being spent by the national party, the top of the ballot will benefit. When we fund locally, the money helps elect the ballot from the bottom to top.

There is hope for this country and for the Democratic Party but looking towards the Beltway for it is a joke. Leadership, Hope and Change don't come from Washington; they come despite Washington. That much we have in common with the professed aims of the mostly duped and shanghaied teabaggers, who have been manipulated and led around by the nose by charlatans and hucksters from Dick Armey, Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck to Roger Ailes and some quick buck con men. Blue America is asking grassroots Democrats to eschew wasting money on Bad Faith players like the DCCC and DSCC and instead donate directly to candidates. Which candidates? Progressives who are fighting against reactionaries and Blue Dogs. We don't need Democrats like Joe Lieberman, Blanche Lincoln and Ben Nelson. Send The Democrats A Message They Can Understand is backing the good ones against the bad ones. Check it out at the link.