The Al Gore Support Center Endorses Donnie Fowler For DNC Chair

Hello DUG, how is everyone? I just wanted to share with you what our website just put out. Today we are endorsing Donnie Fowler For DNC Chair and I wanted to get your opinions on him and to see if you will help us!

Remember, we are all in this together and we don't need a flame war or a argument, just discussion!

===================================================


http://www.algoresupportcenter.com/

Dear friends,

I hope that each and every one of you had a very Merry Christmas! As you know, we are approaching the beginning of a new year. In the upcoming year we have a lot of work to do and we are going to need your help! Our first goal of the new year will be to take back our party and rebuild it without conceding anything to anyone. It is time we start to take charge our what is ours. It must start with us! As you have heard Al Gore say before, all political victories start at the grassroots level. Therefore, today the Al Gore Support Center officially endorses Donnie Fowler for DNC Chair.

Throughout his career, Donnie Fowler has achieved a leading role in political and high technology circles through his work in Silicon Valley and at the Federal Communications Commission, service in the Clinton White House, and work on six presidential campaigns. He has advised dozens of companies, policymakers, public advocacy groups, and political campaigns on how to manage their media, policy, business development, & technology agendas.

I have studied politics for a while now and I have yet to find anyone as young as Donnie with so much political experience. It is simply quite amazing! Only in his mid-thirties, he has been involved in the following campaigns:

Six Presidential Campaigns / Four Presidential Cycles
o Gephardt '87-'88, Jackson '88, Clinton/Gore '96, Gore/Lieberman '00 (National Field Director), Wesley Clark '03 (Campaign Manager), and Kerry/Edwards '04 (Michigan State Director)

Political and Campaign Work in Fourteen States on the Ground
o S.Carolina, Iowa, New Hampshire, Connecticut, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Wyoming, California, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Virginia

You might be wondering, what is Donnie’s view on Former Vice President Al Gore? Well, I personally asked Donnie that and I found out that he loves the big guy just about as much as we do. In 2001, 2002, and 2003 Donnie spent his summers teaching at Mr. Gore’s Summer Academy in Nashville, which is a political effort to get young people involved in grassroots politics, for no pay. Before that Donnie served as Gore’s National Field Director in the 2000 election. I can say without hesitation that Donnie Fowler would not only give Mr. Gore the respect he commands, but the admiration he deserves.

Aside from having a vast record of political involvment and a fondness of Al Gore, Donnie also is worthy of you support because he has a real plan and vision for our party. Like you and I, he does not want to concede anything to the Republicans. Like you and I, he is tired of our party being falsely labeled, and like you and I, he is tired of our party not standing firm on what our party was founded on. If Donnie is elected DNC Chair in February, you can rest assure our party will be stronger and more unified than ever!

I hope that you will join me in early 2005 to help make Donnie Fowler our new chair, thus putting our party back on track for victories for years to come!

===================================================

So, are you ready to help elect Donnie the new DNC Chair?

In order to spread the word about Donnie and his vision for our party, please do the following:

* Write a letter to several DNC members about his agenda for change
* Go to a political blogs and forums and say some good things about Donnie

http://www.dailyKos.com
http://www.bloggingofthepresident.com
http://www.MyDD.com
http://www.reachm.com/amstreet
http://www.democraticunderground.com
http://www.democrats.org

* Make a contribution to his effort (http://changetheparty.com)
* Vote for him online at http://standupdemocrats.org/ and at any other online poll
* Tell others to watch Donnie on televison and listen to him on the radio
* Talk to any DNC members you know and try to persuade them to vote Donnie!

===================================================

We sincerely hope that you will help us on this very important endeavor. As you know, every election affects us and how we live. If we act now, we may just get what we have been wanting in 2008!

To visit Donnie's official website, please go to: http://www.changetheparty.com

Thank you and have a great new year!

Chris D. Jackson
Al Gore Support Center Administrator

The year of Al Franken. Ask yourself what you can do for AL FRANKEN this year.

Anyone remember that skit?

Old fogey here!:D

DEAN for DNC chair.

Thanks!

This has nothing to do with Donnie Fowler. But are you the fellow that ran a person in Tennessee for state representative? A man who took out full page ads touting his endorsement from the NRA and his marriage is only between a man and a woman vitriol?

Does Al Gore have anything to do with what you are doing?

who was a good candidate and a good man. He did recieve an A rating from the NRA and did believe marriage is between one man and one woman. What is wrong with that? There are many democrats, especially in the south who have the same views. You need to be careful not to alienate people like that.

Let it be known that my candidate in no way was a homophobe or anything. In fact, he has good friends who happen to be gay. However, he favors a different approach rather than marriage.

Also, why would ask if Al Gore has anything to do with this? Why would he? We are a grassroots site who gets involved in various efforts.

Thanks

I appreciate it. In my opinion however, we should quit tilting to the right and stand on our own principles. Your candidates' non-stop ads catering to the right were disgusting.

And I still wonder if Al Gore would endorse a platform like that.

but he was a great man. The guy we ran against had voted against equal pay for women and minorities, accepted dirty money, and did nothing in his first term except propose legislation on social issues. We on the other hand supported the bill of equal pay, ran on a positive plan for prescritption drugs, and had a very good plan to bring jobs and industry to our area.

However, if I were running, it would have been differnt. Nevertheless, you must respect the candidate's views.

he's as sorry as they come. I'm sorry, but you didn't articulate your jobs plan, afforable drugs, etc well enough. In my opinion. I've dabbled in politics for quite a while, maybe I could offer some friendly suggestions sometime during your next campaign.

:)

In fact, he has good friends who happen to be gay. However, he favors a different approach rather than marriage.

:eyes:

And, if it is, he is a good man.

I know we've been 'round and 'round on DU and other blogs (including Josh Marshall's diatribe about "Fainthearted Factions"), but, in the South, we have but only two choices: moderate Dems and neo-con nuts.

I'll always pick the moderate Dem.

The candidate in question was running for the state house. In addition to what I have already posted about his positions, he also pointed out that he was pro-life.

So let's see. Pro-life. Marriage only between a man and woman. Big buddies with the NRA. And he still lost. I know a lot of Democrats who didn't even vote in that particular election because of the positions the guy took.

Has he been on talk shows, or talk radio? What are his positions on progressive issues? Does he think we should talk about jobs and miniumum wage and social security, or simply stay in the mode of letting the GOP define the issues and address only wedge issues like gay marriage and a woman's right to choose?

on Fowler. There have been several threads, but I'm a newbie and a computer clutz, so I'm not sure how or where to direct you to them. I know I followed a link back to his site. From what I've read here, he has stood up and spoken for progressive ideas. Everything I've seen makes me think he'd be a great representitive of what this party should be about.

Dean's the one who got me into working in politics. Only Dean can inspire me to do what I did for the last year, and certainly I won't be doing more politics than showing up to vote if the DLC and Republican-Lite people continue running the party into the ground.

Don't worry your not alone. I expect similar posts along the line of "nobody but Dean."

Turning the anti-Bush vote into a bunch of voters who say My guy or I'm going home? I don't think Dean would be happy with this.

Does he even know you're using his name?

I have no problem with Donnie Fowler but I do have an issue with the use of Al Gore's name in all this.

We are in no way affilliated with Al Gore. Al Gore in fact knows about us and is appreciative of the work we do. But we are just a grassroots organization who promotes Al Gore and his vision of America. Along the way, we also do grassroots efforts such as this one.

I in no way implied that Gore was in or this or this was his decesion. We are just an advocacy group who think Gore's vision is the one we should all follow.

Thanks

Im not sure how else to say it, but that is a pretty exploitive use of someone's name.

I would not appreciate someone using my name attached to the words "support center", without my permission because of its intent to align me with a group I have absolutely no affiliation with.

Mr. Gore knows about our site and appreciates our support of him. I am sure he would appreciate our getting involved too. However, I don't think he would look kindly on some of your comments and insinuations.

He talked too much about religion. I think it is a mistake for us to be saying "we can be religious too" "Us too", "we love God too", "we are moral too".
We are allowing the republicans to control the debate when we do that. We should stop talking about religion altogether and remind people that religion is a private and personal thing not to be pandered to at election time.
I think Dean is right, when someone asks if we are pro-life we should say we are for equal rights.

Here is a great peice by Donnie from yesterday on this topic:

Faith in Politics (aka, A Little Eggblog for the Soul)
Written by Donnie Fowler

Happy Holidays, everyone. It's Sunday and it's the day after Christmas, so let's talk about faith in politics. Let me start by saying that I am a Democratic because of my faith, not in spite of it. Why do I need to state that? It's because Republicans, and many of their religious allies, have convinced many Americans that one can not believe in God and be a Democrat. I will not concede that argument. Faith does not belong to the conservatives. God does not belong to the right-wing. And values do not belong to George W. Bush.

Think about this. You're Karl Rove and it's the morning after the November election. Bush is in office for four more years – you feel good about yourself – but how can the Republicans rub it in a little bit more? How can they win a victory after the victory? Well, thinks the prince of gloom, if we can convince the press and public that the election was about values, and tell them that voters who had values and morals voted Republican, then that means that voters who had no values and no morals must have voted Democratic. Perfect!

How do Democrats get back into this fight? We start by crossing the values threshold with voters.

Democrats love issues. That's fine, except that we love them so much that we often forget to put them in a context that voters understand and that they feel. Even more, we forget to tell voters what all those issues mean to us.

Before a voter asks what issues a candidate supports, they ask themselves whether they can relate to that person, whether they trust him or her, and whether they are comfortable with his or her philosophy. Voters require a candidate to pass the Budweiser test – would you want to have a beer with him or her? You ask, why am I mixing beer and religion? Let me state it differently. Voters want to feel they would invite the candidate to come to dinner with their families. Only after a candidate (or a party) passes a credibility threshold will a voter listen to his or her views on abortion, the war in Iraq, tax cuts, or health care.

This values threshold is much, much broader than religion. It is about an instinctive impression that a voter gets, just as one might get when first meeting someone on the street. Is this person credible? Can I believe what he or she says? Only the oddest of us wonder where a new acquaintance stands on abortion or the war in Iraq when we first meet someone.

Democrats must restate our core principles – our most sacred values – before we jump into the issues debate. Opportunity is a value. Access is a value. Getting a fair shake is a value. Security is a value. Adequate health care is a value. Tolerance is a value. And, yes, religion means values – no matter what your faith is or where it arose. So in this holiday season, take a moment to reflect on how we can teach the DNC to talk to voters in language and through prisms that they understand, not that we wish they understood. Talk to you again soon…

Come out and say Gore is not doing the endorsing, or post a clarification.

but I had an uncomfortable feeling there. On the side panels where they list articles of interest, there is one article regarding Terry McLoser, and another regarding Donna Brazille. Sorry, looks like another DLCer to me.

Go to his home page and look at the right side. You have to scroll about one to see it, but it IS a really comprehensive plan of what he wants to do to make the DNC more effective.

The mention of the DLCers was just news reports about what the others are doing or not doing...not affiliations (at least that's what I got from it)

Sorry, Fowler is unacceptable due to his lack of experience.

I may be mistaken. I have nothing against him, don't know him.

www.mydd.com has some stuff about him.

On Edit: I am talking about Donnie Fowler's father. I am a she, not he.

but he does have "some friends who happen to be gay".

:eyes:

Nope, I cast him into the pit of unacceptable. No way I accept him as DNC chair.

he helped promote in the South - not Donnie Fowler. I don't know Fowler's position on this, but since he once worked for Wes Clark, I'm guessing he's for civil unions, realizing that the country simply isn't ready for gay marriage. (It's not something to blow off, but we'll need to take baby steps with the media in such Republican control).

Fowler is probably a good second choice, but my first choice is still Dean.

Fowler, I suggest that you have him make one basic change to the website. The plan for a new DNC is so hidden at the bottom right hand side, that people making a cursory visit will miss it. His plan is one of the best and most comprehensive that I have read and it should be put out there front and center, loud and clear. Otherwise, you will find people uninterested as you can see from many of these posts.

I have been interested in Donnie Fowler for some time, especially after hearing him speak on AAR. He seems far more progressive than any of the others I have heard speak.

However, I thought at the time, he does not have the name recognition of Howard Dean so his chances of winning are very slim. But as an up and coming young leader, more Democrats should be made aware of who he is rather than looking at him as purely competition for their own favorite candidate for the DNC Chair.

We simply MUST groom more and more young leaders for the party without getting caught up in popularity contests.

You should make it clear you are not speaking for Al Gore.

You need to be fair here.

I said this in an earlier post, but I don't guess it was clear. Sorry. We are a grassroots site that has is not officially tied to Al Gore. We just do activism work trying to best promote his vision for America. Plus, I would like to know where you think we implied that he was in on this. As far as I can see, you are basically the only one that got hint of that. If you go to our site you will see this: http://s8.invisionfree.com/Al_Gore_Support/index.php?showtopic=2

About:

The Al Gore Support Center is a grassroots ran website that is dedicated to serving Al Gore by posting up to date news and info, providing interactive services, and having helpful material that is useful in defending Gore from the right wing and the media. The Al Gore Support Center's main goal is preserving the Gore vision for years to come in America.

The Al Gore Support Center is in no way endorsed or affiliated with the Honorable Al Gore.

The views and comments on this site are in no way reflective of that of the Honorable Al Gore.

Anyway, thanks for the question and consideration!

Thanks

But I think some people have misunderstood what is going on here. A person earlier in this thread asked me about a candidate I was campaign manager for here in Tennessee during the last election. I said he and I differed on some personal issues. That person is not Donnie Fowler as some of you thought it was. It was the candidate here in Tennessee. Just wanted to clear that up.

In Tennessee in '06 other than Harold Ford?

The Clinton Administration signed the Defense of Marriage Act in to law, and I don't remember any dissent from the VP at the time.

Perhaps this Fowler fellow is on track with Al Gore after all.

Sorry, I'm a bit off on the lingo.

it's unreasonable to expect he would have spoken out against it at the time. However in the book he and Tipper wrote he makes it clear that he considers gay couples another legitimate form of family and they they should be able to addopt children etc... I don't remember if he specifically said anything about Gay marriage or unions.

I really do not. You have not clarified enough.

I announced that my independent website who does grassroots work has endorsed someone for DNC chair. Again, if you find anything not clear, ask it instead of continious posting of "you have not clarified enough." It is really rude for you to do that when I have said everything that needs to be said and answered every question 3 times. All I am doing is trying to get folks involved. Sorry I even bothered with you.

but, interestingly, not all that surprising. ;-)

I have asked you to comment on Fowler's crappy performance in MI this year. Answer taht and I will tell you why I think your tactics are deceptive. Here's a hint, ignoring inquiries and demanding answers for personal slights kinda reveal a certain order of priorities. Forthrightness not at top of list sort of order IMO.

Julie

Take it from this soldier in the trenches daily, Mr. Fowler put together a most UN-impressive Coordinated Campaign effort. So obnoxious was his organization and their tactics they were booted out of several Dem HQ around the state.

The idea of putting him at the helm of the DNC makes me despair.

Julie

As for my first impression, there's just something odd about this whole thing. Even as a Kerry supporter, I wouldn't put someone forth and give my very first reason as being "because he will give John Kerry the respect and admiration he deserves."

This isn't the first time Jackson4Gore has tried to "help" Al Gore. Both times I've seen have given me a bad taste in my mouth. The first was a post that denegrated this year's candidates and said that Gore was so much better. Those of us who supported one of this year's candidates probably weren't terribly enthused about that approach.

This time, coming out with a candidate who would be good for Al Gore, and oh, by the way, also good for the party (as if that were an afterthought) just strikes me as strange.

Jackson might want to be careful he isn't alienating more people than he's attracting. Sometimes the best way to help your candidate is to not try so hard to help your candidate.

You are the only three on the whole internet who deosn't get what this letter was about. It was sent out to our members at the Al Gore Support Center telling them that the staff at GSC was supporting Donnie for DNC Chair and asking them to help him. What you see deceptive in that I have no idea. If you can point out where I am being coy or deceptive I would like to know and I will try to explain.

Just that you have a Gore hangup, and that I'm not supporting somebody just because they'd be good for Gore first, the party second.

Others are contending that it might not be a good idea to link Al Gore's name with someone's nomination for DNC Chairman without Mr. Gore knowing about it.

Where did I say that we were just endorsing him because he would be good for Gore? Last time I checked in our release we talked about his experience, work ethic, ect.

Also, do you still not understand that we are not linked with Al Gore? Only 3 people have even came under that false assumption even after I have explained it a thousand times. What do you not get?

have it appear as though Gore is endorsing this DNC candidate, in spite of the lame "Oh no, this has nothing to do with Gore".

Such tactics smack of underhandedness. I don't want someone in charge who has to achieve it in covert ways.

Julie

this guy will put his ass up for sale to the highest bidder. He's all about accumulation of power and buzz; he cares noting for the plight of democrats

Where the F is he ?

He sure as hell isn't in OHIO :grr:

And his lame ass Michigan campaign is infamous even on the West Coaster.

Yeah... we need him... to scuttle the ship.

AND WHAT'S WITH EXPLOITING AL GORE'S NAME FOR THIS SHIT?
HE'D PUKE IF HE SAW THIS.

Donnie in fact has said that he wouldn't concede anything. If you are mad about Ohio, you would like that fact. I think you have it all wrong about him. He is not all about accumulation of power. He has a real plan to revive our party and build it back up. If you would go to his site and read that, you would be impressed.

Also, as stated above, we are a independent grassroots site dedicated to preserving Al Gore's vision for America. What we are doing here is endorsing who we think can help us preserve that vision.

Explain your candidate's horrible performance as the CC head honcho in Michigan for 04.

Julie

what about that piss poor performance of Fowler in Mich?

Can we look forward to an even worse showing nationally? That seems to be the DNC insider agenda.

It sounds like he brings a lot of experience and understands how to use the internet to organize well. The Clark campaign used the internet very effectively even though they didn't get as much media hype about it as the Dean campaign. It would be nice to have a chair who isn't a polarizing figure like several names that have been mentioned.

..I dunno... Donnie? Will he still keep that name if he was DNC chair? Donnie?

Frankly, I want Dean to focus his efforts on DFA anyway...looking at some of the comments from people who worked with him...who knows...I don't know his views..maybe check his stuff out...

Donnie?

What better way to bridge the "values gap" than with a DNC chair lined up to eventually become God of his own planet!

best. response. ever.

"I'm Al Caholic , and I endorse this message"

to endorse a candidate he wouldn't necessarily endorse.

The name of our group is the Al Gore Support Center. What is so hard to understand about that? You ever heard of the Kennedy Center?

It's a center for the performing arts.

If you look at your URL you'll see how you're using Al Gore's name. If you don't understand how you're using his name to make political endorsements is dishonest, you have no place using Gore's name at all.

My goodness, he appears to be the anti-Dean in that whole comment. I have no doubt he is capable, but I am so damn tired of this "we gotta have a southerner" stuff.

And I AM a Southerner.

And you ARE making folks think it is a Gore endorsement...I have seen comments elsewhere. You posted your endorsement at MyDD as well.

Remember what I said at the begining. The letter was sent to our members, who are Gore supporters. This is what it says:

Therefore, today the Al Gore Support Center officially endorses Donnie Fowler for DNC Chair.

You might be wondering, what is Donnie’s view on Former Vice President Al Gore? Well, I personally asked Donnie that and I found out that he loves the big guy just about as much as we do. In 2001, 2002, and 2003 Donnie spent his summers teaching at Mr. Gore’s Summer Academy in Nashville, which is a political effort to get young people involved in grassroots politics, for no pay. Before that Donnie served as Gore’s National Field Director in the 2000 election. I can say without hesitation that Donnie Fowler would not only give Mr. Gore the respect he commands, but the admiration he deserves.

How in the world do you get that? I even posted a disclaimer saying there is no affiliation. You are just trying to stir the pot and it's not going to happen. If you can't handle a grassroots organization dedicated to Al Gore going out and getting involved, that is your problem.

It implies an endorsement by Gore unless one looks very closely.

No, I was not wondering at all how Mr. Fowler felt about Gore or Dean or anyone else.

I wrote this letter to my members, at my site. They were wondering how Mr. Fowler would treat Al Gore, because a lot of them feel Gore was pushed out by the DNC last time and wanted him to be treated fairly by the next DNC chair. That is why we put that in the press release.

In anycase, I am sorry you don't seem to get that the Al Gore Support Center is merely a name of our group, which has been around for about 3 years now.

Dean AND Gore!

Apparent originally written by Charles Cook of the National Journal with comments intertwined by Donnie Fowler.

http://www.mydd.com/story/2004/12/26/213528/41#comment_top
"And finally ... (1) Don't nominate anyone from the Northeast; (2) Don't nominate anyone with an Ivy League undergraduate degree; and (3) Don't nominate a stiff." -- though I am certainly not a candidate for president, I'm not from the northeast; I merely went to UVa; and I'm rather limber."

Sick of the South/NE liberal stuff.

He;s another PNAC/DLC plant in the race. They've got like twenty potnetials now, don't they?

They just haven't created their web site yet is all.

Gotta go capture that URL now...ciao.

:evilgrin:

personal attacks on our reaction to the vile thing notwithstanding.

dancing around the question posed above:
hhow do you explain Fowler's piss poor performance in Michigan CC this past cycle?

Human Decency also supports Dean, the choice is clear!

:evilgrin:

This thread has run its productive course.