An Iowan Considers the IDP Convention

Some of us will make a key decision about the Iowa Democratic Party in the near future, determining which of two conflicting events we will attend on June 12. One will be a tumultuous, fiercely debated grassroots effort to persuade the participants on topics like immigration, abortion, energy independence, financial reform, Senator Grassley, social justice, health care and Varnum vs. Brien. There will be speeches about decisions made that impact how we live today. Also in the offing will be varying attempts to correct the record to reflect what “actually” happened, replete with emotionally charged accusations.

The other event will be a day of speeches, catered food, elders sitting on the dais and a vague compliance with rules, protocols and tradition while passing the time and waiting for a predetermined outcome until we return home. The decision will be whether to attend the IDP State Party Convention in Des Moines (the latter) or our family reunion in Davenport. The wonk in me leans towards the reunion. Political parties, by their nature, are elitist, and conventions a drudgery. At the convention I would feel like
just another Democrat in the big hall, removed from influence. At the family reunion, at least I have a chance to persuade the elders through the use of careful reasoning.

It’s not because the Iowa Democratic Party isn’t trying to be relevant. I think they are, and friends sit on its committees, endeavoring to do good work. Time, thoughtfulness and money are invested in party activities by scores of folks. A platform is written, rules managed and arrangements made. The thing is that the party does not listen to folks and too often mistakes working a phone bank for grassroots activism. The Iowa Democratic Party would go a long way towards relevance if they would do a couple of things.

First, listen. My pet peeve is that an unending flow of callers from the IDP ring me up on our house phone looking for money. The caller always uses a fixed script and does not give me a word until the spiel is finished.  I explain that I budget my political donations, and give 100% of my contributions directly to candidates. After saying this, there is further attempted persuasion, as if I am weak enough not to follow my budget. It’s just rude, and not like most Iowans. At the same time, if the party is reliant on browbeating supporters for contributions, we are in worse shape than I thought. Being more polite would go a long way towards listening to the faithful.

Second, don’t claim to be the grassroots, but enable grassroots activism. “Grassroots” has been the next new thing and folks are talking about it without really understanding what it means. People interested in Iowa politics know that the votes of people who register as no preference determine our elections. According to the Iowa Secretary of State, no preference registrations (707,785) outnumber Democratic (671,832) and Republican (572,436) registrations. People with no party preference are not likely to be persuaded to vote a particular way based on what the state party does. What the IDP should do is enable local activists to work their neighborhoods for those needed independent votes in a way that will secure them. In a year of negativity towards incumbents, we will need independents now, more than ever, and this is the true grassroots activism Democrats need.

As the reader may have determined, I am leaning towards attending the reunion, hoping the party gives me a reason to choose the convention. We'll see as the date draws near.

~Paul
Deaton is a native Iowan living in rural Johnson County and weekend
editor of Blog for Iowa. He is also a member of Iowa Physicians for
Social Responsibility and Veterans for Peace. E-mail Paul
Deaton