The vast majority of those participating in the November 25th Mercer for Obama meet-up had participated actively in the 2008 campaign for change, many having worked in multiple states. After 90 minutes of discussion, in both sub-groups and plenary, about whether and how to continue this citizens’ movement, the following principles drew broad and often unanimous agreement:
1. The Mercer for Obama network should continue in active existence, to press for change in the spirit of the “post-partisan” campaign this year that has catapulted Barack Obama into the White House. The largest number of active volunteers in this movement surely identify themselves as Democrats, but many see themselves as nonpartisan and some adhere to a venerable tradition of the Republican Party. The Mercer for Obama network will continue, therefore, as a separate and distinct entity, not as an affiliate or arm of the Democratic Party organization.
a. The network welcomes involvement by Obama campaign supporters in local and state political campaigns, and believes that their commitment to the public good can make them especially effective as public and party office-holders.
b. The network will share with Obama campaign supporters news and information about political issues and opportunities, encouraging their political action across municipal lines.
c. The network commends to Obama campaign supporters who are Democrats the standing invitation from county Democratic chairman Rich McClellan to attend the periodic open leadership meetings of the county Democratic organization.
2. Recognizing that it has been the fierce urgency of the issues confronting America, both in the nation and around the world, that has sparked the outpouring of volunteer energies for Barack Obama’s campaign, the Mercer for Obama network will give primary emphasis to promoting realization of the program for change promised in that campaign.
a. The network will work to build support, through communications media and advocacy with public officials, for legislation and policies to implement the Obama campaign program.
b. The network will invite supporters to create, lead, and participate in issue task forces to shape the message and the campaign in central New Jersey on key priorities, in accordance with supporter expressions of interest. The network has accordingly launched a blog to facilitate discussion of these issues online (my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/mercer4obama), and supporter contributions may either be posted directly or by emailing them to office@mercer4obama.com.
c. The network will call public attention to needed local and regional responses to issues the Obama team may be dealing with at the federal and international levels. (Such issues may include electoral reform, especially of voting, and energy and “greening” technology.)*
d. The network will give particular attention to engaging youth in the policy debate and political action to achieve results on the commitments of the campaign for change.
e. The network will identify like-minded issue advocacy groups and join forces with them where appropriate.
3. The Mercer for Obama network is bound together by a shared commitment to community service, and many Obama volunteers found in the campaign their first real opportunity to work concretely and effectively in communities that have seemed dauntingly beyond their reach. It will coordinate group volunteer activities through existing community service agencies, and will also make a vigorous effort to inform supporters (a) of community service options and opportunities, and (b) of nongovernmental organizations where their active involvement can help promote community well-being or better policies at all levels.
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