This isn't a new story, just another person reacting to inaction on the part of the party's leadership. No, I don't mean Barack Obama. I'm guessing that the residue of Bill Clinton's hotshot political machine is still running things. As a result, I'm much less likely to think of Obama's loss in November -- if he does lose -- as Obama's loss. More likely, it's the party's loss and it seems uncannily deliberate.
I was reminded of this when I read this comment at a New York Times column in which Charles Blow asks: "Are too many Democratic voters sleepwalking away from our democracy this election cycle, not nearly outraged enough about Big Money’s undue influence and Republican state legislatures changing the voting rules?"
Denise Heap writes from Camarillo, CA:
I worked my local precinct's primary election in June. It wasn't just that Republican voters believe that voter ID should be required. It was a matter that they clearly were following a script.
Some were loud and overbearing. They appeared to be trying to intimidate voters in the room with their pointed comments.
Please note: Not all Republican voters acted this way. The majority were respectful of the process and proud to be Americans. But: *All* voters who acted this way were Republican.
I wrote my local Democratic leaders about the experience, and the state DNC, and the national DNC. To date, I have not heard back from anyone (almost two months later!).
While grass roots action is very, very important, it is also even more critical that the DNC and others who actually have the power to make things happen TAKE ACTION. And that includes following up when voters like me who are in fact trying to be involved contact them.