BuzzFlash Reviews
September 21, 2005
Politics the Wellstone Way: How to Elect Progressive Candidates and Win on Issues (Paperback) by Bill Lofy (Editor)
BUZZFLASH REVIEWS
The
right-wing has hijacked America's democracy and continues to threaten
our future. In order to take our country back, progressives must be willing
to work hard to elect candidates that reflect our values.
That's why BuzzFlash highly recommends an informative and useful new book, "Politics the Wellstone Way: How to Elect Progressive Candidates and Win on Issues."
Are you sick and tired of watching the Bush administration turn America's hopes and dreams into a living nightmare and want to do something about it? Then buy this book because "Politics the Wellstone Way" is a roadmap for progressives to get organized and energized. Most importantly, this book offers the nuts and bolts of creating a winning local campaign strategy to elect progressives to public office and win on local issues. This book is steeped in the legacy and tactics of the heroic late Senator Paul Wellstone's campaigns who knew how to be a passionate progressive and still win elections.
This "how to" book is a must have especially for those who want to work or volunteer on an electoral campaign – which we all need to do in the 2006 elections! – progressive candidates running or considering running for local office, and community advocates organizing around a local issue. With clear and concise chapters on message, base building, field organizing, budget and fundraising, getting out the vote, and sustaining progressive change, "Politics the Wellstone Way" is the best toolkit for progressives to get started.
"Politics the Wellstone Way," was written by our friends at Wellstone Action, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting for progressive change and economic justice "by teaching effective political action skills to people across the country." Established by the late Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone and his wife Sheila's two surviving sons, David and Mark Wellstone, along with former campaign staff, Wellstone Action is an indispensable organization in the progressive movement.
Wellstone Action's main vehicle for building the progressive movement is Camp Wellstone, a weekend training program that Wellstone Action leads regularly in locations across the country. BuzzFlash has attended Camp Wellstone and it is a wonderful training seminar that we also highly recommend. But if you can't or haven't attended a Camp Wellstone, then buying "Politics the Wellstone Way," is the next best thing – it's essentially a workshop in book form.
Progressives do not have to compromise our values in order to win elections. Rather we must learn how to organize and mobilize our base of supporters to create people-powered and values based campaigns. We have to be willing to speak from our guts in clear uncompromising language that communicates our vision.
Progressives have principles and plenty of passion, but what we need to win is strategy. The best resource to begin forming our winning game plan is "Politics the Wellstone Way."
BUZZFLASH REVIEWS