Netroots vs. The Base

3:05 pm EST May 17th, 2006 | Politics | 7 Comments

I’m not sure if that’s the exact framing of the issue, but it’s pretty close. Let me preface this by saying that I am not a netroots true believer. I think blogs are one of, if not the major tool in the Democratic arsenal, but at the end of the day they’re a really big wrench in an entire set of equipment. Because of the hype often given to the blogs, people assume that it is an accurate reflection of the Democratic base. On issues like the Dems fighting in Washington and on the Iraq War, I believe that is true. But in many cases the netroots and the grassroots of the DNC are not on the same page. Would the blogs have chosen John Kerry as the nominee in 2004 if it were up to them? I don’t think so, and there’s ups and downs to that.

Now we’ve had a succession of candidates – Paul Hackett, Chuck Pennachio – who have been netroots favorites but not to the extent where that fervor extends to the Democratic roots. It makes no sense to blame these things on the DLC boogeyman either, because the influence they wield over the Democratic grassroots is probably even less than the blogs.

Some are dismayed by the loss of people like Hackett and Pennachio, but from where I’m sitting the PA and OH senate seats are in better play because Brown and Casey Jr. are more likely to win, and the primary voters – the Democratic base and activists who did more than blog but actually voted – feel similarly. You could call them corporate neocon sellouts, but you’d be an idiot if you did.

(this also means talk about Hillary not getting the Dem nomination because of her unpopularity among the Dem bloggers is premature, though I think there are going to be major problems in the general)

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7 Responses to “Netroots vs. The Base”

  1. Rheinhard says:
    May 17, 2006 at 4:05 pm

    Pennachio was always a long shot. Admittedly unfortunate, I’ve met him on a few occasions at Drinking Liberally and he struck me as knowledgeable and committed.

    But a number of netroots candidates seem to be doing well. Francine Busby is leading her Repub opponent by 7 points in district with a R to D registration advantage of 50% to 32%. And Patrick Murphy, an Ira

  2. Rheinhard says:
    May 17, 2006 at 4:05 pm

    huh… something burped and caused my post to be sent before I finished… I was about to say:

    And Patrick Murphy, an Iraq vet “Fighting Dem”, did quite well against his primary challenger, and his is a strongly netroots-supported candidacy.

  3. Todd B. says:
    May 17, 2006 at 5:05 pm

    I don’t live in Pennsylvania, but I told many people who did about Mr. Pennachio. I thought that he was a great candidate and it’s a shame that the DSCC/DNC didn’t support him more. Instead we’re stuck with Santorum-lite who is in favour of practically the same things (intervention in Terri Schiavo, Alito, Iraq, etc).

  4. Oliver Willis says:
    May 17, 2006 at 7:05 pm

    The job of the DSCC/DNC is to have a Democratic senate. That’s much more likely with Casey than Pennachio.

  5. James E. Powell says:
    May 17, 2006 at 9:05 pm

    The question is, what people comprise the grassroots? I have never really liked the term because it lacks a useful definition. Does it mean activists? The regular volunteers? The donors who are neither lobbyists or connected with large organizations like unions or NARAL and the like?

    However it is defined, if we are going to be as accurate as possible, “the grassroots” has to include what might be more accurately called the lower level party regulars. These are people who have made politics a regular part of their lives. They vary in political ideology from region to region and vary even within metropolitan areas. In my beloved home town of Cleveland, Ohio, for example, the people who would fit most definitions of grassroots vary considerably from one side of town to the other.

    Similarly, the netroots vary widely and wildly. What looked like a nets consensus in 2004 was more apparent than real. The blogs, as outsiders, were rejecting the Rollover Dems in favor of the more vigorous and vocal opposition of Dean and Clark. Were the blogs wrong? We will never know, will we?

  6. Oliver Willis says:
    May 18, 2006 at 12:05 am

    The grassroots are most clearly defined as people who are more actively engaged in politics than their fellow citizens, they vote in primaries and caucuses, volunteer for campaigns, etc.

  7. Todd B. says:
    May 18, 2006 at 8:05 am

    The job of the DSCC/DNC is to have a Democratic senate. That s much more likely with Casey than Pennachio.

    I don’t buy that for one second – anyone can be an electable candidate if they are presented with the opportunity.

    Especially given that Pennachio beat or came darn near close to beating Santorum, according to polls.