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DNC Confirms That Obama's Man Paul Tewes Is Coming Aboard
Democratic National Committee spokesperson Stacie Paxton confirms to us that Obama strategist Paul Tewes will be joining the DNC, a sign that Obama is rapidly moving to re-shape the party apparatus in his own image.
Tewes -- who is in the DNC building right now and whose hiring was expected -- is being brought in to help manage the transition as the DNC swings into action on behalf of Obama's general election candidacy, and to help oversee fundraising and other political matters.
Separately, the DNC let it be known this morning that it will no longer be taking donations from federal lobbyists or PACs -- another sign that Obama is rapidly putting his stamp on what will be effectively be his party until November and perhaps beyond.
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I bet the fat cat washington lobbyist are shitting themselves this morning. They've seen the polls, they know the Dems stand to pick up many seats in the Congress.
Fuck it, I say we burn (metaphorically) K Street to the ground.
June 5, 2008 11:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Not all lobbyists are evil. Did you know the Quakers have a peace lobby? The FCNL (Friends' Committee for National Legislation). They work to ban cluster bombs, the mini-nukes the Bush administration is pushing, etc.
It's fine for them not to give money to the DNC, but we shouldn't dis all lobbyists.
June 5, 2008 11:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think it is implied that we are talking about nefarious corporate lobbyists, but I agree it is good to remember that "lobbyist" isn't always a bad thing. Unfortunately there isn't any easy or fair way to only ban money from bad lobbyists while accepting it from good.
June 5, 2008 11:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
I was talking about the "fat cat" lobbyists. To me that means lobbyist for Exxon and the Military Industrial Congressional Complex and the insurance industry etc etc.
Your point is well taken though, sorry for any confusion.
June 5, 2008 11:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Democratic members of the Senate Banking Committee and the amounts they received from financial institution interests.
Chairman Chris Dodd (D-$5,796,000)
Sen. Evan Bayh (D-$1,582,000)
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-$6,162,000)
See Dana Milbank WP report
June 5, 2008 11:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, Severus, I have a friend who is a lobbyist for the Friends, and who once worked for Nader helping with fraud against the elderly.
The Quakers' lobbyist DC headquarters went green, too!! Geothermal heat, etc.
June 5, 2008 11:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
And the democrats are just as beholden to corporrate lobbyists as are the republicans.
June 5, 2008 11:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
NO, WAIT. There's a nice little strip club on K $ 15th, can you leave that standing? I'll miss it.
June 5, 2008 1:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
The power shift that's taken place in the Democratic Party over the last week is something to behold.
June 5, 2008 11:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Like MSNBC's Church Todd said, "This is no longer the Clinton's party."
June 5, 2008 11:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
How can we beHOLD it?
Is it being reported anywhere in the media, cable, networks or internet?
Who held the job before Tewes took it?
We need more detailed reporting on just how the DNC is being remolded and we need analysis.
Instead all we have are news stories on Hillary's loss and spoilsport behavior.
June 5, 2008 12:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
What does this mean for Howard Dean?
June 5, 2008 11:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think Dean has an ideological ally of Obama.
June 5, 2008 11:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
The DNC no longer feels the need to rely on PACs and other large donors because of Obama's success raising funds via the netroots. Dean helped pioneer this in 2004, so I'd say he's the perfect person at the helm of the DNC.
June 5, 2008 11:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
That didn't take long. Latest blog post says Obama's keeping Dean. Makes sense.
June 5, 2008 11:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm glad. It's a smart move. Keep the doctor in the house.
June 5, 2008 12:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep.
I do beleive this is what Obama calls 'change from the BOTTOM up'
not top down.
He is going to be a transformational leader of government.
He said he hopes to be a government legacy like Truman and Roosevelt.
Those were the first Presidents names out of his mouth Tues night at Xcell.
I was there standing at his feet around the podium.
It was an electrifying moment.
June 5, 2008 12:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Amazing how quickly Obama's implementing his standards & reorganizing the Democratic Party.
June 5, 2008 11:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Like the new pic.... the significance of BO's takeover of the party aparatus is very important.... good news for Americans...
June 5, 2008 12:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks, and yes it is good news for the country.
June 5, 2008 3:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's change we can believe in
in action.
Thank goodness and hallejiah.
June 5, 2008 12:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow.
A man of swift action.
June 5, 2008 11:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Double wow! There's a new sheriff in town. Look out washington, times are a changin.
June 5, 2008 11:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well done. This shows the type of leadership that McCain has been unable to do in his party.
June 5, 2008 11:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Moreover, it shows that Obama's campaign organizational strength is just the type of strength he intends to bring to government.
Reading his books ...we know exactly what he plans to do and how he has been focused on this for the past 15 years.
He told us that politics did not lead him to the American worker but that the American worker led him to politics.
Obama went BACK to law school AFTER working as a community organizer in Chicago.
He understands the power of government and he told us from jump.
We have the power to change our government and that when people beleive they can CHANGE their government.
Obama is a giant and we need to all pray for his safety.
especially after that speech at AIPAC yesterday where he told the Palestinians that jerusalem would remain in Israel.
Folks seem not to recall that it was a Palestinian that shot RFK.
June 5, 2008 12:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
I know Dean has a lot of supporters who want him to stay, however I don't know if that is a good idea for Dean or Obama because it could look like they were in cahoots and Clintonites are looking for conspiracies to explain her loss.
June 5, 2008 11:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
A good change should not be held hostage to 'perceptions', especially the perceptions of those who see conspiracy in everything imaginable.
June 5, 2008 11:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
O come on, Jonze.
You dredge up worries where nobody else sees them.
So what if they colluded? It was a fight for power over the party and our side won.
Quit worrying about it! :)
June 5, 2008 12:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed. It's called Leadership and it's about time.
June 5, 2008 12:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes ma'am, it surely is. And god it's about time!
Wave goodbye to the 20th century - that's what you see getting smaller and smaller in your rearview.
:)
June 5, 2008 12:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tena
I am standing on the bridge to the 21st century waving!!
Obama is turning the page and he is putting his impritaur on this party..
What an awesome day...ding dong the Clintons are dead.
Bill must be redfaced and wagging that index finger in folks faces this morning while Hill pouts, stamps her foot and whines...she might even be clutching Bills testicles cause she is not the nominee and he OWES her...what better way for her to receive it ...than to neuter him.
June 5, 2008 12:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Won't take long to uncover the conspirators, unless Penn and McAuliffe have already left the building.
June 5, 2008 7:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is a thing of beauty.
June 5, 2008 11:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Dang, you KNOW all those that were still trying to have HRC to be VP is shitting themselves.
They are thinking "we under estimated him, he can hit back, did you see what he did to Liberman IN PUBLIC", what to do-what to do
June 5, 2008 11:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
O baby yeah! O baby baby baby I just want to sing!
I know - he is amazing and he isn't going to be pressured and I am just loving every second of this!
June 5, 2008 12:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
NO. I only read about it.
Do you have a link to the video of it NavyMom?
obama told folks several times..he was from Chicago and they are KNOWN for fighting as mean as they need to.
We now have a leader who knows how to walk softly and carry a big stick while being full of grace and statesmanship.
Which he also said Tuesday night..he intends to return the art of statesmanship to politics.
Lieberman needed someone with the moral authority to take him down...Bill Clinton and his philandering dingaling couldn't do a thing about Bill.
We are watching the reputation of our government change right here at home in the halls of the nations capital and soon...the entire world will know American once again has moral stature around the globe...good riddance to the Clintons and Bushes.
History will record those administrations as the nadir of America's true ideals and standards as we sunk low ..really low...
June 5, 2008 12:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Talking of big sticks, he got one presented to him by a 95 year old guy at the Bristol town hall this morning. He took it and all, and suddenly it dawned on him, so he said, "if Congress refuses to pass my bills, ... I will whup 'em" and everybody was giggling and grinning, including him. They were all tickled pink -- it was a quite lovely moment of spontaneous fun...
June 5, 2008 2:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
How fun!
June 5, 2008 2:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.tricities.com/
Link to Obama town hall in Bristol, VA.
June 5, 2008 11:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for the link...I am watching now. It is not on cable at all.
Guess they are too busy talking about Hillary the loser.
June 5, 2008 1:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is a very astute move on several fronts:
1. It establishes who is now in charge of the party.
2. It shows Obama to be principled and a man of his word.
(And then there's the biggie ...)
3. It sets up a complete and total destruction of McCain with regard to his lobbyist-infested campaign. Old guy's about to get hammered!
June 5, 2008 11:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yup. And it will be funnier when McCain is caught not living up to the spirit of McCain-Feingold. How can you squeeze through the loopholes of your own legislation and get away with it?
June 5, 2008 1:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Something else I was thinking regarding the VP selection...
Everyone's speculating about all the things that Obama would look for in a VP candidate, but I haven't seen mentioned much what I think is the most important: vision.
He needs someone who understands, agrees with, and is capable of carrying out Obama's vision of governance. Because -and I really believe this - Obama's run for presidency is not about returning Democrats to power for 4 or 8 years. It's about changing the way the government works for the next 20-30 years, and even beyond. The change he wants, and we all want, needs to outlast Obama.
June 5, 2008 11:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
The Obama Revolution!
June 5, 2008 11:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
I hope you are right. Your comments note all that I'd like to see in an Obama Presidency.
June 5, 2008 11:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
I hope so too. But if there is was ever someone who could do it, it's him.
June 5, 2008 11:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think Obama realizes that it's about sound governance. We've seen too many instances of the "permanent campaign" ($1 to Scott McClellan). What I see in Obama is a realization the good governance and re-election are not mutually exclusive. That, in fact, concentrating on the governance is indeed be the best route to a second-term and strengthening the party.
June 5, 2008 12:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
I would take it a step further and argue that what Obama wants is a such fundamental shift in the way government works - especially regarding its ability to serve the public needs - that it will even change the Republicans.
Of course Obama wants to strengthen the Democratic party. However, the real, lasting victory for Obama would not be unending Democratic power, but a change in the philosophy of governance that permeates both parties. So that, even if (when) the Republicans return to power, they will do so under the governing model that Obama built.
In other words, the Republicans will have no choice but to change themselves if they hope to regain their position in the government. And if that happens, regardless of party in power, Obama and, more importantly, the American people will have won.
June 5, 2008 12:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, If Obama can bring about the shift we seek, the Republicans will have to respond -- or stay out in the cold forever.
June 5, 2008 12:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly. I think you hit the nail on the head, MASON.
It isn't about winning the game, just for the sake of winning.
It's about changing the rules for the next game, and the next one after that, so that no matter who wins, government gets back to serving The People, rather than the corporations.
It has taken several decades for the cons and neocons to create the current Corporatocracy. It will take a few years to reverse the trend.
But this is a very good start.
-- ARG
June 5, 2008 12:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agree. More important than all the tactical stuff.
June 5, 2008 11:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
You are absolutely right Mason...the changes that Truman and Roosevelt left on government lasted for generations and that is who Obama referred to Tues night in Xcel.
Their administrations changed American lives for generations.
I don't know that their VP choice was important to having that lasting legacy.
Rather, it was the legislation and policies they implemented that did so.
Which is why Obama tells us that it is not enough to just elect him but that we need a Congress that will support him and his coat tails in this election will be for more important in terms of Obama's vision becoming a reality than his VEEP.
Having said that though, I agree with your criteria and I think the men who fit that are the Governor of VA presently as well as Mark Warner the former President.
June 5, 2008 1:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dr. Dean should be given a cabinet position. I
would like to have him handling Health Care.
Unlike you know who, Dr. Dean has now proved that he can manage a large project from start to finish, and he has the health care expertise to deal with all the
health care Industry weasels, and see through their
their attempts to water down the legislation.
June 5, 2008 11:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'll second that Liam.
I think Dean would be great in that position in terms of knowledge but does he have the political skill to get it accomplished?
We know from the debacle of HRC..policy details will not get the job done.
June 5, 2008 1:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've actually read a couple of reports that stated Dean may be ready to move on (no pun intended).
June 5, 2008 11:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Jonze - basing decisions on fear of people looking for conspiracies isn't good practice either. Nothing will stop a conspiracy theorist from finding a conspiracy wherever they look. Trying to satisfy such a person is a losing cause, because they are not reason-based. they are fear- and paranoia-based.
If Dean and Obama are cool with Dean staying that's enough for me.
June 5, 2008 11:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
well said, or written rather.
June 5, 2008 11:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
So what happens to the DLC?
Has the DLC had anything to do with Obama's campaign because I've never seen anything on the DLC and Obama. DLC didn't seem to have work very well for Hillary in the way the worked for Bill.
June 5, 2008 11:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
They're laying low - but they are still there lurking. And I bet they're worried as hell.
June 5, 2008 12:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
The DLC is rapidly sliding into deserved irrelevance.
If memory serves me correctly, I believe the DLC once listed Obama as a member or supporter (I think this was several years ago) and he made the point of calling the DLC and getting them to remove his name. Which, to me, is yet another sign of his courage and integrity.
June 5, 2008 12:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
You are right in that regard Moose.
The DLC is the corporate lobbying arm of the Democratic party it is where the bluedog Dems are and it was started by Bill, and Harold Ford hung out there a lot too, along with Hill.
I beleive it was the Black Commentator that called Obama out about them listing him as a member about 3 years ago, as you noted. Obama did demand his name not be cited as a member.
June 5, 2008 1:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Am I dreaming? No PACS ? No lobbyists? What does this mean? Will the "people" have as much say as the corporations? Obama is a once in a lifetime politician.
June 5, 2008 11:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
barack is amazing...just amazing! No money from lobbyists...smackdown on Punkass Lieberman...Webb and Warner on the trail already with him in a red state..blew off Hillary's drama...Kennedy on his VP search team...let's go and on...and it's just two days since he clinched the nomination!..I feel great as I look ahead...FIRED UP and READY TO GO!!!
June 5, 2008 11:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, he just 'brushed off his shoulders' real nice to dispense with the Hill drama.
He also checkmated her move on this Veep begging by putting together a committee to check mate her. The committee immediately disqualified Bill as he refuses to be vetted..so no HILL on the ticket.
YeeHAW!!...Obama is a master strategist and tactician. Hill and Bill met their match and if they didn't learn it from the campaign he ran they are now watching him move their asses to the cellar of the party with all their dirt and debris.
No more Clinton drama.
I love how he is on the trail too with both VA Senator and Governor.
Leadership in action..what a beautiful thing to see once again in America.
Our long national nightmare is coming to a close.
It is a new day in America...
Perhaps, all of his leadership will speak for him in terms of the experience that some folks want. Maybe they will begin to believe in the substance of things unseen.
Recognizing that they had forgotten what it means to lead this country and to pull this nation together.
America needs Obama more than he needs this nation.
He just told the folks in Bristol..that he wants to get healthcare done...he doesn't even care who does it he said...I just want to get it done..I don't need to take credit for it.
Leadership!! par excellence.
June 5, 2008 1:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think this affects Howard Dean, because Dean had to be elected to his position. It was the Clinton's that hated Howard Dean, but Obama appears to made up of people who like Howard, which is sort of the new Dem party that didn't cotton to DLC type leadership and very much wanted Howard Dean to lead the DNC.
June 5, 2008 11:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm a Vermonter, and I really like Howard Dean. He has integrity and held everything together throughout this election process. I hope he stays around.
June 5, 2008 11:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
he is. see latest blog.
June 5, 2008 12:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Where?
Thanks in advance :-)
June 5, 2008 3:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
The reference is to the next article on TPM ElectionCentral (there's actually a link at the top of this page):
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/06/breaking_howard_dean_to_stay_a.php
-- ARG
June 5, 2008 4:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
did we pick the right candidate to back or what?
smile smile smile smile smile smile...
June 5, 2008 11:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
tena...it's the friggin happy dance candidate!
June 5, 2008 11:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm telling ya! He gets it sewn up and he goes right to work. First thing out of the gate he backs Droopy into a corner and now this.
It's almost too good to be true, but it is true!
June 5, 2008 12:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, Tena..we DID pick the right candidate and it is time to do the happy dance.
I was on this site long before it changed to this format and I just wish some of the folks were still around who dogged me about Obama.
Who laughed about the impossibility of his candidacy...who touted the polls and who I had to tell...I believe the massive crowds over those polls anyday...not to mention the endless dialogue on Hillary where I had to constantly rebut the factless opinions with the fact.
Particularly, regarding her Iraq vote and her simply being politically expedient without regard to what was best.
I staunchly opposed her and advocated for Obama.
O
Happy
Day
...
June 5, 2008 1:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh Yeah!
June 5, 2008 12:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Excellent news! I see a new age dawning...
June 5, 2008 12:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Quick!
Someone cue The Fifth Dimension!!
June 5, 2008 12:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
How about a wave instead?
READY
June 5, 2008 12:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nope, sorry, got that wrong:
FIRED
June 5, 2008 12:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
UP!
June 5, 2008 12:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
READY
June 5, 2008 12:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
TO
June 5, 2008 2:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
UP!
June 5, 2008 12:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
YOURS, Terry McAuliffe!
June 5, 2008 12:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
WHAT A GREAT DAY FOR OUR COUNTRY!
*and now I know why Lanny Davis is crying...
June 5, 2008 12:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
lanny who????
June 5, 2008 12:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Larry David?
June 5, 2008 12:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
What excites me the most about Barack, is the fact he taught constitutional law at U of Chicago!!! What a refreshing thougt someone in the White House that knows the Constitution and does not plan to walk all over it. I would also like to give props to Dr. Dean for being one of the 1st candidates to use the web and the grassroots reach. Props to Obama's team for expanding and refining the methodology to bring us this victory and change.
June 5, 2008 1:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, there use to be a fellow name Bruce at this site, who I shared that information with. He was a union guy but said he was backing Hillary based on experience.
I was like NAFTA experience..is what you are backing?
Please.
He didn't know Obama had taught constitutional law and would follow it unlike Hillary who gave up the very responsibility of Congress to declare war by ceding that power to Bush to wage war in perpetuity. Whereas, Obama had said he would have voted against it because it was unconsitutional to give Bush carte blanche authority.
Guess you have to go to Harvard law to truly understand our system of government being 3 COEQUAL branches.
O
Happy
Day
Obama is on the WAY to the White HOUSE.
O
Happy
Day
Michelle, Malia and Sasha are on the way to the White House.
O
Happy
Day!!
Joy
Joy
Joy
dancing, smiling and singing
jubliant
June 5, 2008 1:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bruce is still here (bslev) and is being a good sport about the race.
June 5, 2008 2:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just quickly: the Constitution clearly sets the legislative branch (Article I) above (or in front of) the executive (Article II), and the executive above the judicial (Article III) in textual placement, number and importance of responsibilities, and instrumental and functional importance.
This is a more than just a quibble; I think it's necessary to remember where in importance the framers held the "will of the people," and how seemingly innocuous statements like "coequal branches" feeds (or at least doesn't counter) authoritarian tendencies. Won't be surprised if Mr. Obama helps return political agency to the branch which has throughout the 20th century increasingly abdicated its constitutional duties. One can only hope.
June 5, 2008 11:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm trying to remember if I played Obama in a pick-up b-ball game at the gym (with the horrible rubberized floors!). We were at UofC at the same time.
June 5, 2008 2:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
What excites *me* about Barack is the other part side of his attribute that you cited, that is, the teacher aspect.
Here is what he told an interviewer in 1995! (You can read the whole fascinating profile here: http://www.chicagoreader.com/features/stories/archive/barackobama/)
"What if a politician were to see his job as that of an organizer," he wondered, "as part teacher and part advocate, one who does not sell voters short but who educates them about the real choices before them?" [emphases mine]
The teacher in me simply loves that.
His town hall today was this idea in action (as most of his are, in truth). He corrected a woman on her debt/deficit (implicit) conflation, explained why this lobbyist influence is pernicious to the process, the difference b/w having a disease care system that we have now and the health care system he envisions, and on and on. It is fascinating to watch him.
June 5, 2008 4:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Deeks413 to Paul Tewes:
"YEAH, BABY!!!!!"
June 5, 2008 1:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
The contrast with the Clintons is especially stark here. Remember after Bill's original Presidential victory? The first sign that there was a rocky road ahead, when there wasn't even a whisper of a transition team, or a vague clue about who they had in mind for cabinet posts, etc.
Obama has created an organizational marvel.
June 5, 2008 1:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Techically he's "joining" the staff, not becoming a member of the Democratic National Committee. In any event, why the breathless language that Obama is "remaking the party in his own image." This happens every single cycle, the nominee puts someone there to take over the operations. It would only be news if they didn't do that.
June 5, 2008 5:06 PM | Reply | Permalink