Thursday, November 11, 2004

DNC

Matt Stoller raises the question which, while obviously not unrelated to the question of who should be in charge of the DNC, is probably the more important question -- just what should the DNC do with its time, money, influence, and resources?

People have the tendency to lump the politicians, the party institutions, and other assorted but unaffiliated groups together. But, the DNC doesn't really play the role that most people imagine. In fact, 3 years out of 4 it really doesn't have a clearly defined role. Aside from running the convention and the presidential nomination process, and trying to help elect the president, it doesn't really have much of a specific mandate. Obviously the DNC chief can have a public role, or not. But, given its nominal place on top of the power pyramid and its obvious ability to raise funds, it could do a lot more. Ideas?