Much applause. Reaching the people where they live is crucial.
LANSING, Mich. -- The Michigan Democratic Party's TV ads played a key role in Gov. Jennifer Granholm's successful re-election bid, but now the governor and the party are saying Democrats must do more.
State party Chairman Mark Brewer on Friday announced that the Michigan Democratic Party will become the first to make the principles of a group calling itself the Blue Tiger Democrats a permanent part of its party structure. The group, based in New York City, has called for making civic engagement the first priority of Democratic organizations.
"It starts with attacking the culture of the 30-second commercial," Blue Tiger Democrats founder Bill Samuels told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "We're tired of the 30-second commercials, we're tired of the lobbyists. ... We've got to go back to our communities through civic engagement."
Samuels and Brewer were to give a presentation to the Association of State Democratic Chairs around 7 p.m. EST Friday on Michigan's success with a Blue Tiger pilot project it ran this year. Brewer is president of the national organization, which is meeting in Jackson Hole, Wyo.
The state party helped low-income Michigan residents in 10 of the poorest areas of Detroit and nearby Macomb County learn ways to be more energy efficient and lower their utility bills. The program reached more than 28,000 people, helping some families save more than $1,000 each, Brewer said.
He noted the outreach is important because too many people think the political parties don't care about them except to get their votes. He wants to make the Democratic Party appealing not just for its candidates and principles but because it's involved in improving citizens' lives.
Not only should there be physical involvement such as this, I hope the MDP becomes move active online, too. Take the North Carolina Democrats, for example, reaching out to the blogging community for suggestions on who should run against Elizabeth Dole.
State Democratic Chairman Jerry Meek has turned to the Web to get names of someone who can beat Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole in 2008. The plea is part gesture to the power of political blogs and part acknowledgment that he has no strong candidate in sight.
"Who Should I Recruit to Defeat Dole?" Meek asked in a Saturday posting, which in three days has drawn almost 100 replies in a lively conversation with suggestions ranging from Gov. Mike Easley to former UNC-Chapel Hill basketball coach Dean Smith to Elizabeth Edwards.
Meek writes that Dole may not seek re-election because she is battered by her unsuccessful effort to keep the U.S. Senate in Republican hands.
"But even if she does run, we can beat her," Meek writes. "So, who should I recruit to take her on? Don't limit yourself to politicians. Are there good business people or community leaders out there who share our vision and can win?"
Powerful tool here. I've been told that Brewer really doesn't care for it, but the MDP should get someone in there and run a blog. Yes, it is a lot of work and time, but, hey, it might be a way to raise money, too. Just another way to get people involved- and the MDP at this point is missing a big opportunity.