We at ODP Watch have been observing a dustup about the Ohio DFA (Democracy For America) through forwarded e-mails from various Democratic operatives. At first the missives made little sense to us but after asking a few questions we've begun to see a disturbing emerging picture. It isn't our style here to level charges until we have concrete evidence of malfeasance so we'll do what we usually do at ODP Watch, we ask questions.
The DFA Steering Committee decides many basic issues for the DFA. Who are you? How are your members selected? When do you meet? Why are your meetings of the Steering Committee not open to the general membership?
Why isn't the local DFA focused on election reform when this issue is the top priority ot the national DFA? Why does the local DFA leadership delete legitimate election reform events from their central DFA events listings?
Why are DFA members and resources being utilized for candidate support rather than activities related to the national DFA Plan For Victory? Are candidates for public office using the DFA as a springboard to aid their own political ambitions?
Why would the PDA (Progressive Democrats of America) of Northeast Ohio put five Central Ohioans (Scott Nunnery, Chris Redfern, Steve Chaffin, Chris Glaros, Marian Harris) on their panel discussion? Does the ODP have undue influence on PDA and DFA operation?
Democracy For America is an organization that was inspired by the Presidential campaign of Howard Dean. Now that Dean is gone and the single-minded purpose of supporting him is absent, what are the local DFA chapters doing? Is there any accountability? Are local DFA leaders using the now leaderless organizations as their own private fiefdoms? Will the local DFA open up their steering committee membership meetings to the general membership and to outside progressive groups?
We're only asking questions at this point. Feel free to drop us a line here at ODP Watch if you have answers.
