by Peter Wallsten
Democratic strategists are appealing for help from President Barack Obama's massive grassroots network, which was created during the presidential campaign, as they try to build support for the president's economic stimulus package.
The strategists today called on supporters to host ``economic recovery house meetings'' next weekend, marking the first call to action for the network in support of the White House policy agenda.
The email was sent today by Mitch Stewart, director of the network that was recently renamed Organizing for America, a takeoff of Obama's presidential campaign, which was called Obama for America.
The email stopped short of telling members to directly target Republicans and the 11 conservative Democrats in the House who voted against the president's $819-billion plan on Wednesday. But it said the goal of the house parties was to inform neighbors about the president's stimulus proposal, and to ``help the people you know connect the recovery plan to their lives and learn more about why it's so important."
The Senate is expected to take up the stimulus plan next week, in the next test of how many Republican lawmakers are willing to join with Obama and Democratic lawmakers. Negotiations on the bill between the House and Senate could lead to additional votes in both chambers.
The email comes as liberal organizations began running ads on television and radio today targeting Republican House and Senate members, and it asks for the house parties to be scheduled for the weekend of Feb. 6 - just before Obama hopes Congress will be taking its final votes on the package.
"If it's going to move forward, we need to avoid the usual partisan games," the email said.
The stimulus fight represents an earlier-than-expected challenge for the Obama network, which is still being constructed as strategists debate internally how to best transform the president's Internet-fueled web of trained organizers and street-level volunteers into a ground army to support Obama's governing agenda.
White House strategists hope the network - with its database of 13 million email address and unprecedented network of neighborhood coordinators - will pressure lawmakers to support Obama's goals on health care and energy, among other issues. Democratic strategists are expected to hire hundreds of organizers to work for the network in politically important states and congressional districts.
Comments
Do you think the Obama-manics will get honest facts or the short Axel inspired propaganda email? Hope they have suggestions for hors d'oeuvres and white wine. This will be exciting as the MSM trot out party planners to aid you lefties. Gosh, I get all "tingly" thinking about Super Stimulus Weekend.
Posted by: Bubba Porter | January 30, 2009 1:21 PM
I'm not sure we should trust the Congress and the President with
Americas' money. After all it Congress is responsible for the this mess in the first place. Since they screwed it up the first time around what makes them think that its going to be any better on the replay.
Posted by: Paul | January 30, 2009 1:27 PM
Remember that new tone in Washington? Politics as usual.
Posted by: Jeff | January 30, 2009 1:44 PM
Lets just hope The Obama Admirstration doen't block our computers and this is the only "junk" we can receive.
Posted by: Inky | January 30, 2009 2:18 PM
This method of communicationis a great way to get people involved who are trying to get the people behind fixing the economy. Infact they could make it look great using some email software program like www.wrapmail.com.
Posted by: Albert | January 30, 2009 3:25 PM
All "stimulus"/ financial matters regarding where we are ,are do to the creation of the federal reserve the "Super State" also known as the World Bankers they are ,middlle man ,they are not part of our govment they charge us interest on all money they print for us and the debt incurred is why we have to pay income tax and according to this Website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dmPchuXIXQ The income tax was never fully passed, from all the states needed to pass it into law and it is therefor
not a Law!!!!!!!!
It is Imperative that Obama receive this prior to any stimulus package, other wise all Americans will continue to work for almost 4 months a year for the rest of their lives for nothing because none of that tax goes to our country.
Please check the above website and and all in contact with elected officials need to pass it up the food chain otherwise we will always be enslaved by debt. And our tax system will never be fair ; this is why our Forefathers fought and died to allow us to have an Honest Money System.
Posted by: Two Dogs | January 30, 2009 7:48 PM
Dear Mr. President Obama,
I know you are the first President that will bring hope and pride back to the America citizens. I am in the process of losing my home, I have tried to work with my mortgage company all to no avail, they advertise that they are willing to help, every avenue I tried, there is no help....where do I go for answers and advice.
I am 60 and have worked all my life and paid my bills, my co-owner has no money, now I am losing my home, my credit has been destroyed, I am receiving letters 1st time in my life that we are taking your credit away from you...........where is all the help?
Thank you, sincerely
Mary Fran
Posted by: Mary Fran Jenkins | January 30, 2009 10:51 PM
I don't think Obama is looking out for the American Citizens I think he is taking of the immigrants the hard working americans have to support I am sick of working hard to survive, not getting health care because I can't afford health insurance while the illegals are getting free housing, free health care and not having to work. This country is becoming a third world country because our president does not give a shit.
Posted by: a real American | January 30, 2009 11:14 PM
I don't think Obama is looking out for the American Citizens I think he is taking care of the immigrants, the hard working americans have to support I am sick of working hard to survive, not getting health care because I can't afford health insurance while the illegals are getting free housing, free health care and not having to work. This country is becoming a third world country because our president does not give a shit.
Posted by: Patty | January 30, 2009 11:16 PM
I tried to send this to Timothy Geithner, but could not fine a way to contact him other than a snail mail letter, so...
How are you going to increase confidence for investing by those who have lost 40% + of their 401K? You give money to Fanney and Freddie and Wall Street gu rues who continue to live high on the hog, but not to John and Mary Public. In the words of Geo. W., "Fool me once, shame on you..."
I didn't lose - I never had a 401K, but both of my daughters did/do. They won't put their money there any more. I had some money in the stock market, but drew it out in '01, thank God.
Anyway, this is to encourage you to read, if you haven't already, Paul Krugman's "The Great Unraveling" (published in 2004 - it's still relevant). I know you are busy, so read especially pp 67 - 130.
Those wall street guys just don't get it. People buy stocks
so they can earn dividends, not so the CEO's can scoop all the profits off the top.
Also, Please fund the SEC so they can hire more inspectors in order to can better police the corporations.
This email will probably be screened out for relevance.
If so, please send it to the Sec'y of the Treasury. Thanks.
Posted by: Wanda Daniels | January 31, 2009 7:24 AM
I'd join the email army if Barack started acting more like the peace candidate he said he was when he was flipping off Hillary and calling her racist to the Black community.
NO BOMBING WITH DRONES.
WATCH BILL MOYERS!
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/01302009/watch.html
Posted by: CITIZEN DEATHS ARE NOT 'COLLATERAL DAMAGE' | January 31, 2009 10:15 AM
http://getafghanistanright.com/
I'd join the email army if Barack started acting more like the peace candidate he said he was when he was flipping off Hillary and calling her racist to the Black community.
NO BOMBING WITH DRONES.
WATCH BILL MOYERS!
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/01302009/watch.html
CITIZEN DEATHS ARE NOT 'COLLATERAL DAMAGE'
Posted by: Was the campaign just a war among the ivy league--yale v. harvard, chicago Irish v. NY? | January 31, 2009 10:21 AM
CEO's bonuses, paid by companies receving bailout funds, should be returned. CEOs would return bonuses by buying stock in their troubled companies. They can only redeem shares, bought with bonuses, at the rate of 10% a year.
Posted by: Lorenzo Bruzzo | January 31, 2009 2:48 PM
were does a 60 year old white female go from; being fired by new administration after 10 years of very dedicated and successfull outcomes in her job, loosing most of her retirement in the stock market, not able to get a job as she is in a pool with very young individuals, has to refinance her house that has depreciated over 50% in the last 2 years, and has to pay over $12,000.00 to refinance at a 6% rate. The future is very bleak, cant get a job as to old, or over qualified, even though in Health care, and having submitted over 50 resumes in the last 3 months. I have enough money from my refinance to pay my mortage for the next 6 months, after that I am on the street. Wouldnt mind so much for me but I live in Florida and have 4 dogs, I am afraid for them. By the way unemployement in Flroida is $275.00 a week. Does anyone know how much it costs to live in Miami these days? In the middle of all this my car died, so I had to get a new car, fortunately I was still on the books at my last job for verification of employment, but had to pay over 10% for car loan. Who is going to do something about these banks, the car dealers, the Health care industry. All the greed and the inefficiency's that has been allowed over the last several years. The working class has a medioca attitude, there seems to be no work ethic. How come the Insurance companies are all making profits, yet physicians are scraping by in many instances because they are not paid appropriately for their fee for service. On the other hand the Hospitals have been allowed to scalp everyone that enters their doors. When, when when, how long do we have to wait???? What do you want me to do??? I will help with anything I can.
Posted by: Yvonne NObile | February 1, 2009 9:43 AM
I am very disappointed in the lack of CHANGE I see in the new administration -- looks like more of the same -- lots of public money going to large banks to friter away on bonuses etc. Too much money being spent on such as HomeLand Security furniture, and other pork barrel projects. Appointments to very high level positions being made for reasons that don't seem right. I want REAL change and now...I voted strongly for Obama but feel that the public is not getting what we were promised. Also, this will only help the Republicans regain their seats in the next election.
Posted by: Charlene Stone | February 1, 2009 1:40 PM
Dear President Obama
I do not think that creating new jobs is the answer, I think that preserving current jobs is the way to go.
Your fan, Jill Kaganson
Posted by: JILL KAGANSON | February 6, 2009 3:32 PM
Bring private money back to banks. How: stop taxing savings, offer a 1 year cd with 5% or more rreturn and money will come in. Goverment to guarantee savings to $500k for individuals, $1 million for couples
Posted by: Lorenzo Bruzzo | February 11, 2009 10:38 AM