Imagine, if you will, two groups of political activists.
Group A is organized. Group A works their butts off making calls and knocking on doors. Group A gives lots of money to their PAC.
Group B is none of these things. Group B doesn't really have an organization. Individual members of Group B work hard in politics, and give money, but not through Group B per se.
OK, thought experiment: which group will have more influence on elected politicians? I think the answer is obvious.
So, dear Kossack, do you want influence? Then emulate the NRA.
More below the fold.
Caveat: for purposes of this discussion it doesn't matter how good or bad you consider the actions of the NRA to be. This is not intended to be a RKBA diary. I don't care if you blog in camo while stroking your massive weapon or if you forbid your children to point their fingers and say "bang!". This is about the NRA, not about RKBA. If I knew an equally effective organization lobbying about something else, I'd mention them.
I think the NRA has characteristics Democrats can emulate without harm to our nature.
- The NRA has focus. The NRA does not lobby, so far as I know, about climate change. Or tax rates. Or health care. They may use any and all of these things to scare money out of their members, but they don't lobby about those things. They make it quite clear to elected officials what it is that they care about - a particular view of the Second Amendment and hunter's rights - and they keep careful track of those issues.
- The NRA has dedication. They don't go away. They don't give up. They will keep coming after politicians they dislike, and keep supporting the ones they do, cycle after cycle. They will be there in 2012, in 2014, in 2016.
- The NRA is reliable. There are some Democrats that receive the blessing of the NRA, but the NRA works with the GOP leadership because they know where their bread is buttered. And so the NRA will help the GOP leadership by contacting their members, every election cycle, and pushing themes that help the GOP. Remember "Health Care Reform is bad for gun owners because you won't be able to afford more guns"? Not one of their better moments, but they were in the fight, reliably working for their friends.
- The NRA is ruthless. Make an enemy of them and they will do their best to make you pay. Don't mess with them.
The applications for Democrats are as follows:
- There is much to be said for general-purpose progressive groups like Move On, but there is a definite need for the focused issue specific groups on key issues. And those groups, IMNHO, need to raise their game in many cases. The abortion-rights groups that got caught flat-footed by Bart Stupak come to mind.
- The progressive groups must stay in the game. For most of them, this is not a problem.
- The progressive groups need to realize that they will never get anything from the GOP. Ever. The Democratic party, therefore, is their only route to achieving their goals. The progressive groups do not have the power of the NRA so they will not achieve the same degree of fear-inspired obedience that the NRA generates among the GOP leadership. Therefore, what they must do is work with their friends even when their friends are not in complete agreement. The basic point is this: no one ever gains influence by staying home. Politicians do not grant you influence because the last election you gave no money and provided no workers. They grant you influence because the last election you provided 100 phone bankers and a $100,000 ad campaign, and they want that to happen again this election. "Show me the money" - if you show up and say "We didn't do anything for you last time, but this time we'll deliver big if you'll just do X" you are likely to be shown the door, unless you have already demonstrated the ability to deliver big.
- When betrayed, primary the betrayer. And betrayal means that when the politician casts the vote in question, they know as they cast it that you will exact a price. Post hoc outrage is simply useless. This is extremely different than turning your back on the entire Democratic Party because 10% of the members betrayed you - see point 3.
What we need are 20 different progressive groups, each with the power of the NRA. When we get focused, dedicated, reliable, and ruthless, we will achieve our goals. I think the biggest shortfall is reliability. Your mileage may differ.