So, finally the long-awaited shake up has occurred, but is it more than just one loyalist replacing another? I hope not, and here are a few thoughts for Maggie as she firmly takes the reigns today.
1. Maybe you all know someone who wasn’t part of Bill’s administration? It seems to me that a core message of the campaign has to be that HRC isn’t Bill, that her Senate career has been separate from his, more disciplined, more productive, less polarizing than his administration ever was. The campaign has to be the same. Clearly no more South Carolinas can happen, but we also need some fresh faces on the team, someone not from 1992.
2. I know you’re not a risk taker, and fundamentally Hillary isn’t either, but some risks are going to have to be taken to regain momentum. How about a morning conference call with everyone interested in the campaign. Yes, I know that less than friendly folk will likely listen in, so what? Maggie, you don’t have the time or money to just work with the inside operatives anymore, let the rest of us regular folks in! I talk to so many people who are passionate about the campaign and HRC but who can’t find a way in. Invite us in for an 8 am call every day and give us some marching orders. Who can we call, what letters can we write, what talking poitns can we use. We’re here and ready – use us!
3. I don’t want a new HRC, just the one I know and believe in. Talking point #2 a step farther, how about HRC herself doing a 2 minute video of the upcoming day. I want to hear from her, unscripted, even tired, maybe even a little cranky. Here’s what’s on my heart and mind today, I am worried about Texas but was hearted by the turnout in Virginia yesterday. My feet hurt, but I talked to a volunteer who manned the phones for 12 hours yesterday.
Bottom line, Maggie, is it isn’t the 20th century anymore. You can’t script a presidential campaign, we won’t buy it. You need to let us in, push power out to the edges, believe in our ability to add value to the campaign, show us the real HRC and we’ll all give it our best shot. Good luck, you might want to set up an open tab at Starbucks!
Tags: 2008 presidential campaign, Hillary Clinton, Maggie Williams
February 12, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Agreed- but let in some of the ‘92ers! We all aren’t stuck in the old mold and agree that there are many, many people who want to help Hillary and are frustrated.
Everyone supporting Hillary has to continue emailing friends and family across the nation – who all have friends and family themselves and re-state WHY she is our choice and the best choice to win in November and to CHANGE the course the country has been on under B/C.