1. Donna Edwards Race
1.1. bkgrd
1.1.1. MD 4th
1.1.2. safe dem
1.1.3. mostly black
1.1.4. edwards progressive
1.1.5. Al Wynn
1.1.5.1. lots of bad legislation
1.1.6. she ran close 2006 race
1.1.6.1. 49-46
1.1.6.2. progressives didn't back her enough
1.1.6.2.1. no unions
1.1.6.2.2. no moveon
1.1.6.2.3. not enough money
1.2. Lots of groups wanted her
1.2.1. SIERRA
1.2.2. ACORN
1.2.3. League of Conservation Voters
1.3. Stoller Embedded
1.3.1. helped w debate prep
1.3.2. told story via blog
1.3.3. de facto coordination w outside groups
1.3.3.1. not legally allowed to coordinate
1.3.3.2. don't want to confuse voters
1.3.3.3. Stoller posted materials - de facto message cohesion
1.3.3.3.1. robocalls & flyers
1.3.3.3.2. outside groups could use that
2. Other Cases & Lessons
2.1. ColorOfChange - CBC/Fox
2.1.1. early outreach to bloggers
2.1.2. also traditional media. black newspapers and radio
2.1.2.1. took message into local CBC member districts
2.1.2.2. this created political space
2.1.3. campaign not just about hitting fox but holding CBC accountable
2.1.4. result. proven victory against CBC
2.2. blue jersey - marriage equality
2.2.1. Supreme Court gave same rights as hetero couples
2.2.1.1. left with legislature
2.2.1.1.1. unprogressive
2.2.1.1.2. rush to pass civil unions
2.2.2. GSE message = civil unions don't work in real world
2.2.2.1. hospital case ex
2.2.3. decided to try to influence debate
2.2.3.1. parody PC vs. Mac ads
2.2.3.1.1. money from Matt
2.2.3.1.2. actors from Krebs
2.2.3.1.3. donated studio space
2.2.3.2. 4 30sec ads in two weeks
2.2.3.3. initially 3 of 100 supported marriage
2.2.3.4. result. strong civil unions
2.2.3.4.1. create commission to report on effectiveness 1yr later
2.2.3.5. now. 50% legislative support for marriage
2.3. Courage Campaign - blackwater
2.3.1. amplify local voices
2.3.1.1. local recall petition
2.3.1.2. needed to avoid look of outsiders coming in agressively
2.3.1.2.1. focused on telling their story
2.3.2. regional folks in conservative area
2.3.3. result. planning board recalled
2.3.3.1. 75% to recall and put in anti-blackwater
2.3.3.2. blackwater pullted out
2.3.4. now thank you letters to townspeople
2.4. Ecology and Ecosystem among progressive groups
2.4.1. email to get phone calls
2.4.2. blogs for visibility
2.4.3. embedded bloggers
2.4.4. what are these at state level?
2.5. other notes on blogging
2.5.1. saying the same thing - roughly
2.5.1.1. important who sets agenda
2.5.2. we were on defensive and won. nice but...
2.6. make connections w existing orgs in the field
2.6.1. traditionalists have great ideas but poor messaging tech
2.7. Defense vs. Offense
2.7.1. Panama Canal treaty of 1977
2.7.1.1. to give back to panama
2.7.1.2. right wing used DM in vicious anti-treaty campaign
2.7.1.2.1. made senators lives miserable
2.7.1.2.2. lost fight
2.7.1.2.3. but came back in 78
2.7.1.2.4. got reagan in 1980
2.7.2. we're building coalition now even on defense
2.7.2.1. FCC open spectrum example
2.7.2.2. can carry forward to future victories
2.8. FL - gay marriage ban amendment
2.8.1. problem is two groups fighting don't like each other
2.8.2. bloggers have reached out to both to bridge
2.9. beware complacency
2.9.1. gains won't stay forever
2.10. RI - privatization
2.10.1. blog readers upset at no progressive pushback
2.10.2. made a video of gov testimony - snake oil salesman
2.10.2.1. commercial
2.10.2.2. AFSME used clip in major media buy
2.10.2.2.1. led to MSM coverage
2.10.2.3. we were test market
2.11. Cali Legislature - yacht owner sales tax exemption
2.11.1. proof of concept
2.11.2. video ad thanking legislature from POV of yacht owners
2.11.3. emboldened dems in legislature
2.12. LGBT - Latino issues - PR samesex marriage ban
2.12.1. hard to get word out
2.12.1.1. not covered in US
2.12.1.2. not many political LGBT latino bloggers
2.12.2. training new bloggers in community?
2.12.3. stoller response.
2.12.3.1. what's ideal political configuration
2.12.3.2. who's supposed to be fighting with you?
2.12.3.3. corruption in latino leadership to call out?
2.13. LN Rock on stopping race baiting
2.13.1. shut it down!
2.13.2. stoller: think about who you should be talking to. pts of leverage
2.13.3. adam. failure to defend sexism complicates defense of racism?
2.14. how do we make things hit the big sites
2.14.1. random process?
2.14.2. personal connections and lines of communication
2.14.3. find clear case. action
2.14.4. where do we really have impact
3. Adam Intro
3.1. evolution from commentary to action
4. Case Study - Fox Fight
4.1. background
4.1.1. greenwald Fox attacks Obama
4.1.2. adam suggested people could DO something not just get riled up
4.1.3. same week fox sched dem debate in nevada
4.1.3.1. this would legitimize them
4.2. process
4.2.1. greenwald video
4.2.2. openleft
4.2.2.1. attacked dem party of nevada for embracing fox
4.2.3. moveon
4.2.3.1. sent video to members. drive rankings
4.2.3.2. sent email demanding calls to nv dem party
4.2.4. call to action - sign petition
4.2.5. nevada blogs - local coverage
4.2.6. all drove nat'l coverage
4.2.7. result - call with harry reid
4.2.7.1. pulled plug on debate
4.3. why did this work?
4.3.1. 1. communicating around official party / CBC leadership
4.3.1.1. proving leadership out of line with members
4.3.1.2. wedging base from leadership
4.3.2. 2. we had leverage
4.3.2.1. state party cares about what activists think
4.3.2.2. were asking our friends. couldn't pressure fox but dems yes
4.4. result. opened new political space
4.4.1. no one had our backs
4.4.2. made it more possible to criticize fox
4.4.2.1. edwards put out statement - sched conflict
4.4.2.2. next time edwards said "legitimize fox"
4.4.2.3. elites came out in support
4.4.2.3.1. mark mehlman poll 88% Fox voted for bush
4.4.2.3.2. begala came out
4.4.2.3.3. these folks WANTED to say something. we gave them space
5. Case Study - FISA
5.1. backgrond
5.1.1. been involved in net neutrality telco battles
5.1.2. will these telcos get away with spying on us
5.1.3. last fall article on senate dems cutting deal with white house
5.1.4. got email from dodd campaign staffer
5.1.4.1. dodd will do all in his power to fight
5.1.4.2. regrets over military commissions
5.1.5. adam asked him to put hold on bill
5.2. process
5.2.1. get hold on bill
5.2.1.1. conf call with greenwald
5.2.1.2. background on how it works
5.2.1.3. developed game plan
5.2.2. major bloggers asked dodd to put hold on
5.2.3. moveon put out email for calls to dodd's senate and camapign offices
5.2.4. result. afternoon statement putting hold on bill
5.2.4.1. if reid doesn't honor, then auto filibuster
5.2.4.2. question: will HRC and BHO fall in
5.2.5. got big candidates in
5.2.5.1. statement from BHO after two tries
5.2.5.2. HRC
5.2.5.3. Joe Biden
5.3. lessons
5.3.1. no video but phone calls plus blog pressure
5.3.2. emboldened dodd
5.3.2.1. 10x increase in web traffic
5.3.2.2. contributions
5.3.2.3. headlines for him
5.3.3. emboldened house democrats
5.3.4. blogs part of strategy, not just carrying message