They raised over $2 million, but more important, the call was *very* focused on mobilizing grassroots activists. Really well done. One speaker said something like "this isn't the time to form book clubs and do the introspection we should've already done, it's time to get involved and do the work." - ThreadSky

kevinmkruse.bsky.social • 221 days ago

They raised over $2 million, but more important, the call was *very* focused on mobilizing grassroots activists. Really well done.

One speaker said something like "this isn't the time to form book clubs and do the introspection we should've already done, it's time to get involved and do the work."

Reposted from Kevin M. Kruse

My wife is on a White Women for Kamala Zoom and they're got 136,000 people on the call. Hooooooooboy.

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deepwatermike.bsky.social•221 days ago

I'm trying not to get too used to Democrats in Array. But this whole shift has been amazingly well-coordinated.

rubyji.me•221 days ago

I wasn't on this one, but what these calls seem to really lack is any effort to connect activists to each other. It seems like it's all about raising money and doesn't do much to increase grassroots people power networks.

rlux.nyc•221 days ago

There is somewhat of a tendency for white folks to go out and start their own new organizations rather than affiliating with existing ones, so maybe that’s why they skipped it?

marccunat.bsky.social•221 days ago

It was really outstanding.

scaypgrayce.bsky.social•221 days ago

Excellent comment.

sugarcubedog.bsky.social•221 days ago

Shannon Watts posted this morning that numbers are still rolling in and they’ll update later. She said they’re huge.

kevinmkruse.bsky.social•221 days ago

Given how the link kept crashing I’m not surprised

sugarcubedog.bsky.social•221 days ago

Can’t wait to get the update. Already signed up for the organizing call on Sunday.

sugarcubedog.bsky.social•221 days ago

Shannon announced last night’s call raised $8.5 million.

butterinthis.bsky.social•221 days ago

I listened in and it was great. They kept pushing action items. Knock on doors, host a fundraiser, get out and talk to people. It was fabulously done

redsonja.bsky.social•221 days ago

Oh, and as to the donations, for those of you keeping track at home: https://observablehq.com/@rdmurphy/actblue-ticker-tracker

They've already surpassed a weekly record set back in September 2020 (the week Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died). And the week isn't over yet.

redsonja.bsky.social•221 days ago

I dropped in for a minute, and one speaker said that in her opinion, postcards and phone calls don't cut it: It's about person-to-person. And, though I'm loath to discourage people from getting involved however they can, I've always felt that way, which is why I do GOTV & poll watching.

ckjohnsonbk.bsky.social•221 days ago

With respect, phonebanking is one of the most effective actions you can do remotely. Done correctly, it cleans lists and helps the campaigns target weak support or undecided voters. IMO postcarding is largely a waste of time.

elsjones.bsky.social•221 days ago

phone banking is so huge! I phonebanked for Obama both elections and many of the calls also became helping people sign up for rides to the polls, and figuring out voting requirements. It's a great way to get people to the polls

redsonja.bsky.social•221 days ago

Agreed, that is incredibly helpful!

redsonja.bsky.social•221 days ago

And again, not trying to convince anyone, but I have done in-person Dem GOTV and poll watching for forever and I have incredible memories, especially of the Presidential elections. The most amazing was when I was stationed at a non-denominational evangelical church in Columbus, Ohio, in 2012.

ckjohnsonbk.bsky.social•221 days ago

Yes! I’ve been phonebanking for state leg candidates with Sister District since May, and it’s a great way to build name recognition this early on. And yeah, phonebanking is not fun. I’m in it to win it, not have fun. Begging my fellow progressives to phonebank. https://Sisterdistrict.com

johnnyvector.bsky.social•221 days ago

Vote Forward has solid data showing a several percent increase in turnout in targeted areas. For those of us who would rather eat ground glass than knock doors, letters are an effective alternative.

rlux.nyc•221 days ago

I get why they said that, but I know someone who signed up for 400 postcards and she’s kind of pissed off they were so dismissive of her labor.

veleda-k.bsky.social•221 days ago

The idea of door knocking or phone banking sends me into a screaming anxiety attack, so I do postcards and letters. But someone pointing out that phone banking/canvassing is more effective is just stating a truth. They're not attacking me.

rlux.nyc•221 days ago

Yes, of course. A lot of the time it's not so much what you say, but how you say it.

elsjones.bsky.social•221 days ago

i found this entire segment incredibly offputting. the way she talked about vacations and leisurely lifestyles, it felt 100% aimed at upper class white women, and not middle class women like me, who are working to make ends meet. im doing postcards and phone banking. it was 100% a money pitch only

redsonja.bsky.social•221 days ago

I didn't stay on the call long because it was clearly just a fundraiser and I've given my monthly quota already. (I mostly went on to see what was up.) But I'm also middle class, worked all my life -- and I've always done in-person GOTV. (Not saying you should, just saying, that's what I do.)

elsjones.bsky.social•221 days ago

i've done in person GOTV. i was in NY for obama's 08 and knocked on doors in PA and OH. since 2012, I've been a parent with a disabled child. it's not easy to go knocking on doors and her comment felt incredibly dismissive of people like me, and others, who may not be able to physically do that

redsonja.bsky.social•221 days ago

Yes, she was pretty clueless. And so glad you continue to be involved!

redsonja.bsky.social•221 days ago

That being said, I have the opposite of whatever social anxiety is. As a dear friend once said to me explaining why she was a great English-as-a-second-language teacher: Paula, I can talk to a wall. It kind of became my motto.

redsonja.bsky.social•221 days ago

Y'know, I kinda winced when she said that, for just this reason, even though I only do in-person GOTV. But I've never seen anything that's convinced me otherwise. Also, obvs, during pandemic times, that was the only thing available. (Though I still poll watched in PA.)

redsonja.bsky.social•221 days ago

Though yeah, there might have been a more diplomatic way to put it about the efficacy of in-person vs. phone calls/postcards.

jennyhayes.bsky.social•221 days ago

There's actually a ton of research that hand written postcards and letters increase turnout (happy to share links if anyone wants). But for persuasion (which is what I think she was getting at), probably not. And definitely seems like some regional variations.

redsonja.bsky.social•221 days ago

I would appreciate those links when you have time. I've often heard it mentioned, but never actually seen the research.

jennyhayes.bsky.social•221 days ago

Sure! I was just sharing these with someone -
Postcards to Swing States research: https://www.turnoutpac.org/postcards-faq/ (and blog post at https://turnoutpac.medium.com/a-gateway-to-activism-postcards-win-close-elections-5bf7f45da15a)
Vote Forward research: https://votefwd.org/impact (and https://votefwd.org/research for specific experiment details)

redsonja.bsky.social•221 days ago

Thank you!

3fecta.bsky.social•221 days ago

Forget the money, the people committing to volunteer is going to be the big story in the end.

stevenalleyn.ca•221 days ago

100% - groundwork is the biggest factor in winning elections, at the end of the day

hydevoltyge.bsky.social•221 days ago

This feels like something Dems have needed to create an activist core to match what people like Viguerie did with the GOP with letter-writing and church groups decades ago. Really positive development.

bigblutiger.bsky.social•221 days ago

I sent this out earlier this week. And everyday I see it coming to fruition. There is a Tsunami coming, a Pink one. Some of these people have lost memories of their childhood when they REALLY pissed off their mother's, and they are about to get reintroduced to that memory.

profcat24.bsky.social•220 days ago

It was a great meeting! So well organized and planned quickly.

indyfromspace.bsky.social•221 days ago

I was so impressed with it Kevin. Amazing and inspiring speakers who spoke a lot of hard truths. "Do THREE things".... "speak to people you know". So focused and real. Organize where you are.

kevinmkruse.bsky.social•221 days ago

Yeah, it was concrete and specific, and they made it so easy for first-time volunteers, speaking to their reservations and offering great advice.

Elisa Slotkin's personal story was great on that point, and Mallory McMorrow was blunt and effective.

jennyd67.bsky.social•221 days ago

Michigan is being run by some kick ass women right now. Such a great time to live here!

boredquest.bsky.social•221 days ago

Does anyone have timestamps when those two spoke? I'd love to catch the highlights.

demonninjallama.bsky.social•221 days ago

McMorrow is a treasure

shuadc.bsky.social•221 days ago

Elissa Slotkin is one of the most impressive people in Congress and I very much hope she wins that Senate race; Michigan would be incredibly well served to have her

mhindley.bsky.social•221 days ago

I was impressed. It was concrete with action items. They also acknowledged that it might push some women out of their comfort zone and to lean into that. Discomfort is part of the process.

hylonome.bsky.social•221 days ago

All candidates have volunteer sign ups on their pages, as do most major unions, parties, advocacy groups. Local parties also LOVE volunteers.

hylonome.bsky.social•221 days ago

https://www.mobilize.us/

jimadamsgeo.bsky.social•221 days ago

The first person who suggests having a meeting to form a "coalition" or a "task force" should immediately be pelted with handfuls of cold oatmeal.

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