Some of us Obama supporters left the Democratic party in disgust some years ago. We found our political home in the Obama campaign. We don't want Democratic party affiliation until the party moves in our direction. So now comes the question: Who's going to win a power struggle between Obama supporters and the DNC?
"Traditionally, the new president would
blend his campaign operation with his party's national committee. Some
of Obama's closest advisors lean toward that pragmatic view.
"But others, who built the grass-roots organization, worry that linking it too closely to the party could cause the unusual network to unravel -- and squander an extraordinary resource.
"The Obama machinery relied heavily on idealistic political outsiders committed to breaking free from old ways of doing politics. The worry is that these enthusiastic activists might drift away if they are turned over to the Democratic National Committee, where the party might ask them to support Democrats and target Republicans.
"Instead, Obama advisors involved in building the force think it should remain an independent entity -- organized around the 'Obama brand.'
"The goal, they say, is to integrate Obama's political organization into his new role as president without damaging its zeal for a candidate who promised to change Washington. ..
"... Temo Figueroa, another top Obama campaign organizer who headed Latino voter outreach, said he was hearing from community activists across the country who wanted the network to remain intact -- but who were not necessarily party loyalists.
"'A lot of these warriors on the ground are not Democrats, and that's by choice,' Figueroa said."
"So creating a different organization might make them more apt to join it."
"But others, who built the grass-roots organization, worry that linking it too closely to the party could cause the unusual network to unravel -- and squander an extraordinary resource.
"The Obama machinery relied heavily on idealistic political outsiders committed to breaking free from old ways of doing politics. The worry is that these enthusiastic activists might drift away if they are turned over to the Democratic National Committee, where the party might ask them to support Democrats and target Republicans.
"Instead, Obama advisors involved in building the force think it should remain an independent entity -- organized around the 'Obama brand.'
"The goal, they say, is to integrate Obama's political organization into his new role as president without damaging its zeal for a candidate who promised to change Washington. ..
"... Temo Figueroa, another top Obama campaign organizer who headed Latino voter outreach, said he was hearing from community activists across the country who wanted the network to remain intact -- but who were not necessarily party loyalists.
"'A lot of these warriors on the ground are not Democrats, and that's by choice,' Figueroa said."
"So creating a different organization might make them more apt to join it."
