Since many here are in support of Howard Dean's candidacy for DNC chair, I thought I would briefly report his advice in last night's conference call as to how we can help him gain support. If you back another candidate, I would imagine this advice is still relevant.
Howard has a problem. Meetup attendance is at an all-time high, and he has thousands and thousands of supporters ready to write letters to DNC members and jump up and down on street corners for him. It's Perfect Storm all over again if he says the word (and I intend that in the most positive sense you might read it.)
But there are only 440 or so individuals who get to vote on this decision, and many of them are already fatigued by the unusual attention it's gotten. Perhaps some of them, sadly, are simply turned off by an outpouring of grassroots energy. Dean has already been communicating with this group quite effectively, and will step it up from here until February 12th when the vote takes place.
So please don't write letters willy-nilly to DNC members, certainly not outside your own State, unless you know them personally. And don't bother with email.
On the other hand, Letters to the Editor might be worthwhile, and perhaps handwritten, short letters to your elected officials, or to your Governor if he or she is reform-oriented. These folks don't vote on DNC chair, with a few exceptions, but they meet with those who do, and we want the whole Party enthusiastic about whomever is elected.
Be positive, no more than two paragraphs, emphasize why you're in politics, be sunny, thankful, congratulatory. And if Dean or DFA got you off your rear and made you a Precinct Committee Person, for example, by all means say so up front. If you're not a Democrat, but such grassroots activity got you to help Democratic candidates, say that.
Again: don't write DNC members. Give money to DFA so they can support Howard's internal campaign. Write short, positive LTEs or notes to your elected Democratic officials or County and State chairs if you're so inclined. And think positive. Howard Dean is in this for the long haul no matter who ends up as DNC chair.
Note: I amended this diary slightly, because others on the same call heard the warning as more specific to not to writing any random DNC member, and to qualify my own assumption about hostility to the grassroots.