archived: 16 - 22 Jan, 2005         Back                 Next

                        ROB STEIN
                        “Alliance For Democracy”  

Junkie:  TPJ reader GARY “BATTS” PELPHREY found the answer to TPJ’s question, “Who is Ron Stein.”  The answer, it was actually Rob Stein and the organization that he helped form is Alliance For Democracy.   

Follow this hyperlink to the Alliance For Democracy website – Alliance For Democracy  AFD has some wonderful material posted on its website. 

It appears that Rob Stein will be working with George Soros and others to build the “intellectual infrastructure” of the progressive movement: 

But behind the scenes, prominent progressive billionaires are gearing up to counteract what some progressives see as the organized and almost total vertical integration of the Republican Party.

Infamous billionaire financier George Soros, who donated $18 million to the Democratic cause for the 2004 election, gathered with Herb and Marion Sandler and Peter Lewis in San Francisco last month to discuss the steps forward, the Financial Times reported Wednesday. It was a group whose activities have been documented over the past year, including a major gathering this August at the Aspen Institute in Colorado where, the New Yorker magazine said, they met with liberal leaders to discuss the future of the progressive movement.

The group gained major publicity through a cover story in The New York Times magazine and in the New Yorker in the months ahead of the election. But, the Financial Times reported, despite disappointing returns Nov. 2, this group of plutocrats was not to be deterred.

The meeting involved a plan for "joint investment to build intellectual infrastructure," one participant told the Times. Democratic strategist Rob Stein, who currently is starting up the progressive Democracy Alliance, in 2002 created a PowerPoint presentation that he said demonstrated that since the 1970s wealthy conservatives had poured some $2.5 billion to $3 billion into an ideological war, building up conservative think tanks, developing a new language of conservative ideas, and grooming the next generation.

Despite the losses, the Times reported, Soros, Lewis and the Sandlers vowed to continue building a comparable infrastructure. – Washington Times

GARY “BATTS” PELPHREY has written some thoughtful comments about AFD that appear in Junkies Speak today. 

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                        CHAIRMAN DEAN 

TPJ recommends Gov. Howard Dean for Chairman of the National Democratic Party.  Gov. Dean formally announced his candidacy this week. 

In two paragraphs, Dean captured the intellectual and philosophical differences that distinguish the Democratic and Republican Party and the battle for the future of America: 

"That word 'values' has lately become a code word for appeasement of the right-wing fringe," Dr. Dean said. "But when political calculations make us soften our opposition to bigotry, or sign on to policies that add to the burden of ordinary Americans, we have abandoned our true values."

“We cannot let that happen," he said, adding, "Our party must speak plainly and our agenda must clearly reflect the socially progressive, fiscally responsible values that bring our party - and the vast majority of Americans - together." – New York Times 

In his announcement Dean stressed that the Democratic Party must organize.  Gov. Dean has the experience in creating the organization that the Democratic Party needs: 

I also have experience building and managing a local party organization. My career started as Democratic Party chair in Chittenden County, Vermont. I then ran successful campaigns: for state legislature, lieutenant governor and then governor. In my 11-year tenure as governor, I balanced the state's budget every year.

I served as chair of both the National Governors' Association and the Democratic Governors' Association (DGA). And as chair of the DGA, I helped recruit nearly 20 governors that won—even in states like Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Mississippi.

All of these experiences have only reaffirmed what I know to be true. There is only one party that speaks to the hopes and dreams of all Americans. It is the party you have already given so much to. It is the Democratic Party.

We can win elections only by standing up for what we believe. – Blog For America (contains Gov. Dean’s entire announcement) 

Dean is also largely responsible for the revolution in the use of the internet as a political tool. As Sen. Kerry’s campaign subsequently proved, the internet can and must become a tool for not only organization but fundraising.  Democrats nationally and locally have to expand its “web presence.”  Gov. Dean is perfect for the assignment. 

Gov. Dean, or the personal ultimately selected as Chairman, faces enormous challenges. Progressive and moderate forces within the Party are approaching open warfare over “direction” of the Party.  It is, in TPJ’s estimation, an exercise in self emulation.  Neither “wing” of the Democratic Party can win without the other. In order to be successful, both “wings” must fashion the compromises that will be necessary to rebuild the Party. 

Dean is actually the right person to help bridge the “wings.”  Progressives should recall that the NRA endorsed Gov. Dean. Specifically: 

"I'm from a rural state and I understand that the gun issue in rural states is different than the gun issue in urban states," Dean said in Iowa in July. "My attitude is let California and New York have as much gun control as they want, but just don't make a law that applies equally to Vermont and Wyoming and Montana."

Dean does oppose the legislation that would make the gun industry immune from victims' lawsuits, according to Ron Weich, a senior policy analyst for the Dean campaign.

NRA Vice President Wayne LaPierre said it's mixed messages like that that make him uneasy about Dean. He acknowledged Dean seems more in line with NRA policy than, say U.S. Sens. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., and John Kerry, D-Mass. – Burlington Free Press   

Gov. Dean has also demonstrated the practical political skills to bridge another “wedge” issue – same sex marriage.  In Vermont, Gov. Dean endorsed civil unions rather than “gay marriage.”  Gov. Dean writes of the experience: 

In the spring of 2000, Vermont became the first state to recognize same-sex partnerships and to make sure that every right outlined in Vermont's Constitution and laws applied equally to heterosexual and homosexual Vermonters. Every right but one. Gay and lesbian Vermonters do not have the right to call their unions marriage. The fallout was the least civil public debate in the state in over a century. Respectable church leaders railed against homosexuals and not-so-respectable ones vowed to oust any legislator who voted for the bill. Five Republican members of the House lost their seats in primaries. In the general election, Democrats lost control of the House for the first time in 14 years. My own race, for a sixth term, was the most difficult in my career.

Four years later, we wonder what the fuss was all about. The intensity of anger and hate has disappeared, replaced by an understanding that equal rights for groups previously denied them has no negative effect on those of us who have always enjoyed those rights. -- Slate 

In short, Dean demonstrates an acute understanding that Democrats span a broad spectrum of views that must be accommodated.   

Ultimately, being the Party’s Chairman is about winning elections.  In the South, TPJ’s home, the NDP has abandoned the effort.  TPJ has covered the devastation that has resulted in – The South Rises Again.  Dean delivered a powerful message that should appeal to every Southern Democrat, “Show Up.” 

Dean is the best candidate.  

                        RON STEIN? 

Junkie:  Who is Ron Stein (at least we believe the name is spelled correctly) and what is “The Democracy Alliance.”?  TPJ has reason to believe that Ron Stein was associated with the Clinton administration.  Stein is thought to have graduated from Antioch College in 1966 and George Washington Law School in 1970.  Google searches turn up no real leads. 

Stein’s identity is important.  He appeared in Seattle, Washington recently and delivered a speech on behalf of a new group of progressive Democrats called “The Democracy Alliance.”   A TPJ source who is known to have impeccable credentials forwarded an email from an individual who attended the meeting in Seattle and wrote of the Stein’s presentation. 

The account of the presentation is outstanding.  TPJ would not normally publish the account without being able to identify the speaker precisely.  However, the presentation warrants publication.  The email that was forwarded has been edited for publication. 

_______________ 

Stein was in Seattle making a presentation to high finance, progressives who might be interested in  making donations to the organization that he calls "The Democracy Alliance, Investing in the Future." 

            Part I  

Stein began by telling us about the Conservative Movement - Institutional Infrastructure. The institutional infrastructure is outside of the political life of the nation and runs day in and day out, 24/7 no matter which Party is in office. Its life depends on what goes on outside of politics per se. It denigrates progressive values on all levels.  

It consists of three parts: 

              1.)     Republican politics. This is the RNC, the state and county Republican organizations and so forth.
              2.)     Conservative Mass Media Distribution - Think Tanks
              3.)     Conservative Message Machine 

The Conservative Dominance oversees all public discourse and runs on two parallels: 

Part II: Economic and Foreign Policies  

It consists of: 

               1.)     Neo Conservatives
               2.)     Libertarians
               3.)     Traditional conservatives - Rockefeller Republicans. 

Their interests are Foreign policy, Taxes, Health Care, Social Security, Tort reform and others. They achieve their support by building alliances between cultural and political issues and focusing on wedge issues: 

              1.)     pro guns
              2.)     gay marriage
              3.)     stem cell research  [Stein may have added abortion]  

The consequence is an inexorable growth of Conservatives during the Republican ascendancy: 1980-2004. Had Kerry won the Presidency, this machinery would have been down his throat and made governing for him ever more difficult than it was for Bill Clinton for whom it was darned difficult. 

            Part III: "The Conservative Message Machine" 

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Conservatives, looking at the political picture realized that they had been out of power for a long time. They looked at the riots which were bringing large, prestigious universities to their knees, as well as large cities having parts of them being burned down. They looked at Ralph Nader’s consumer issues and laws that were being enacted.  They realized that they believed that Capitalism itself was under attack. They crafted strategy that would build a society that would be for free enterprise. 

The author who crafted the Republican strategy was Lewis F. Powell, who, within a month was appointed to the Supreme Court by Richard Nixon. He served as a moderate Justice for his term. What he told the Conservatives in his "Powell Manifesto: A Confidential Memorandum" was that they needed to "attack liberals everywhere." And, so they did.  

In twenty-seven years, they developed sixty organizations. Here is the Mission Statement of the Heritage Foundation, one of the better known, and most prestigious Think Tanks. (By the way, it has an annual budget of $35,000,000 and $90,000,000 in the bank.  

" . . . to formulate and promote Conservative public policies based on the principle of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American Values and a strong national defense." Most of the mission statements of the other fifty-nine are similar to this one. 

Some of the issues that they address: Pre-emption, Iraq, Tort reform, No Child Left Behind.  They drive US Foreign policy. They have $400,000,000 a year in about eighty organizations collectively, each of which is a 501.C3. You can read their agendas in several publications, including "Weekly Standard," "National Review," and about six more publications.  

Some of the groups that help promote the Conservative Message Machine are: 

            Townhall.com;
            Ann Coulter.org;
            The Washington Times;
            The Wall Street Journal;
            Eagle Publications;
            Radio America;
            Cal Thomas Commentary;
            The Rush Limbaugh Show;
            Oliver North's Common Sense;
            Scarborough Country MSNBC;
            Fox TV News;
            Pat Robertson's 700 Club; and
            Virtual Production Center. 

Remember Frank Luntz who was on NOW with Bill Moyers? He is a part of a Republican Brain Trust and has written a "bible" that is provided to each of the above single issue groups. It explains how to frame their message. If they don't quite know which words to use, they refer to this bible.  

Many states have a State-Based Policy Network of Message Makers.  (State based Think Tanks.)  

The Leadership Institute was founded in 1979, founded in Arlington, Virginia. They train political candidates on values, leadership, and use of the media. They use one-day workshops, three-day workshops, week-long, they have fellowships. Some 35,000 Conservatives leaders have been trained in the Conservative movement and are in leadership positions all over the nation today. 

            Part IV: The Money Tree 

Nine families essentially provide the money for most of what goes on. Not the entire $400, 000,000, but enough seed money that they are able to generate what is needed. 

The figures from 2002: 

Scaife Family, $305 M
John M. Olin, $55 M
Bradley Foundation, $496 M
Koch Family,  $52 M
Smith Richardson, $435 M
Earhart, $ 52 M 

            Part V: The Philanthropy Roundtable 

He spoke about the people involved: “Investment Bankers:" Grover Norquist, Paul Weyrich, Michael Grebe, James Piereson, and Irving Kristol. They use the Counsel for National Policy, The Wednesday Morning Group, the Library Court Group, and the Capital Research Table. They appear to be parts of the various Think Tanks. 

These folks are loyal to their message, they are organized, they know each other and are have bonded with one another. The largest fissure in this group is stem cell research and Iraq. And, in terms of the public, these are huge issues that can be exploited. 

            Part VI: The Core values of Conservatives 

The traditional conservatives tend to be the moderate wing on their policies. Examples are Guillani, Christine Todd Whitman, and "Arnold" - all  want to be in power so they shut up about abortions and stem cell research. 

Libertarians want to cut government and get it out of everywhere possible. 

Neoconservatives are pretty much just focused on foreign policy.   

Religious Right - not much can be done to change them or to even begin to dialogue with them. 

Far right - gun owners who are all working together for power. 

            Part VII:  Questions 

Stein stopped his presentation and took some questions.  

One person asked how could this well organized, seemingly intelligent group of people, stand behind a idiot as George Bush. His reply was, "You have to understand. George Bush is a vessel. He is their idiot." 

Someone asked how was corporate money donated. He explained that for the most part corporations do not give very much to the Think Tanks. They will give $50,000 or so, but they will give it to both the Republicans and the Democrats. The mass of corporate money today is going into two battles: Social Security and electoral campaigns. 

Second, so what are Democrats going to do?  Stein’s response was progressives are just getting started raising the money to do somewhat the same thing around progressive values. They want to have several Air Americas on the air in many markets. Progressive donors are forming alliances to form and finance infrastructures. Stein stressed we must work together.  

Junkie:  Ok readers, go to work.  Who is Stein and what is “The Democracy Alliance”?

NEXT- MICHAEL CARMICHAEL

Last Update: 03/23/2006