SFist Interviews: SF For Democracy

I would say that our year-round level of activity, as well as our nonpartisan status, are what sets us apart from other political groups. Our meetups on the first Wednesday of every month always have a fresh topic of political interest, and you'll find us down at the Ferry Plaza most Saturdays registering voters and passing out information. Lots of other activities -- ours and other groups' -- are on our calendar.

In contrast to many other local groups, we're nonpartisan -- more interested in finding good progressive solutions than we are checking party labels. We come to our own conclusions on issue endorsements -- and you certainly wouldn't find us supporting someone like Joe Lieberman, for example.

Tom Brown (president): A big part of our mission is to return ownership of our democracy to the people, which means making politicians accountable to the citizens who elect them. Who could possibly disagree with that goal, you ask? Apparently Willie Brown! When I appeared on the Will and Willie show on July 19th, our ex-Mayor defended the purity of big money contributions in the political process. After all, aren’t corporations people too?

My experience on the Will and Willie show helped to reinforce in my mind what makes San Francisco for Democracy so unique. Although we grew out of the Howard Dean for America movement, we are not affiliated with any political party. Unlike other political and social welfare groups in the city, we are not limited to just one issue, political party, or constituency group. We support politicians based on their actions and stands on the issues. Isn't that what democracy is all about?

Alane Bowling (volunteer coordinator): We support pragmatic, progressive causes and candidates. We educate and register voters of all kinds. And we do a lot of community service.

So what's up with the Howard Dean fixation? What does Howard Dean have to offer for, say, the District 8 election this year?

WE: Well, the funny thing is, we haven't heard from Howard in a long time, basically since he went to the DNC. (He's probably got bigger fish to fry back there in DC.)

TB: Great question! When it comes to the overall direction President Bush is taking the country, I think a majority of Americans can now appreciate the wisdom of Dean's early call to "take our country back." But Dean’s grassroots approach to politics is just as relevant to municipal government, because eventually what happens at the local level will influence the direction of the country. For District 8, that means that the supervisor's race should turn on more than loyalty to the incumbent supervisor.

Mimi LaPointe (political affairs director): Anyone who asks about the Howard Dean fixation hasn't seen the Hot Howard pictures...

But, seriously. Dean, as governor, talked about a lot of issues that are relevant locally. He was the first governor to protest against No Child Left Behind (even before it was implemented). He spoke out against the War in Iraq. He dodged death threats to defend the rights of gay Vermonters. All of those issues are still relevant in the neighborhoods of San Francisco. He's also working to revitalize the Democratic Party. Even in San Francisco, we need to wake people up and give them an alternative to Bush and Schwarzenegger.

AB: Anyone who heard Howard Dean's "What I Want to Know" speech to the California State Democratic Convention in 2002 was electrified. At the time, I was so concerned about the direction our government was heading and how that would affect our country and the world that I joke it was either Prozac or politics for me.

When Howard Dean was governor of Vermont, he said that you can't build lasting social justice without a strong financial foundation. Most of us see the wisdom in that statement. Achieving that balance requires discipline; it isn't easy or quick.

If you're a Howard Dean affiliated group, doesn't that just mean you agree with everything the Democratic National Committee does? If not, how do you reconcile your positions with Howard Dean's?

TB: Actually, San Francisco for Democracy and other Dean-inspired groups have been among the most vocal critics against the Democratic National Committee and its dominance by high-priced consultants and fundraising mavens. Now that Howard Dean is chair of the DNC, we have virtually no connection with him in an organizational sense, since there are legal boundaries that must be respected. Although we are proud to have been inspired by Dean's vision, we are not affiliated in any way with Howard Dean and the DNC.

ML: Well, first, we're not a large D-Democratic group. And second, you seem to have the Democratic Party confused with some other organization that has a coherent, consistent message. (As in, Will Rogers' quip: "I'm not a member of an organized political party - I'm a Democrat.")

Where do you put yourselves on the spectrum of San Francisco politics? Do you consider yourselves a progressive group?

ML: Yes -- but progressive doesn't mean "super liberal." Progressive means you get things done. We are looking for people with a record of supporting civil rights, and who can work to make change. Being a great liberal but a flame-thrower doesn't mean you are progressive. Daly's my supervisor and while he's got good ideas, he's one of those flame-throwers that doesn't necessarily get things done.

TB: Yes, we consider ourselves very progressive, but also independent minded. When it comes to making local political endorsements, we really do try to evaluate each candidate on his or her own merits. I have personally supported a number of Green candidates over the years and I was happy that San Francisco for Democracy endorsed Green Party candidate Barry Hermanson for Assembly District 12 in the November election.

AB: If a candidate has the knowledge, experience, vision, and ideas to work toward solving the city's problems, we'll endorse him or her regardless of political affiliation or other endorsements.

For instance, Gavin Newsom is by far the best mayor we've had in the 20 years I've lived here. At first I thought he was just a smarmy frat boy, but evidently looks can be very deceiving. We endorse Green Party candidates as well as Democrats. When moderate to progressive Republicans make their resurgence, we'll endorse some of them, too.

What activities does your group sponsor?
WE:
- Lots of voter registration, at the Ferry Plaza and other sites around the city (especially as voter registration deadlines approach)
- DeanCorps community service events at least once a month, usually more...two of our regular partners are the SF Food Bank and the Parks Department's Native Areas Program.
- Monthly meetups on the first Wednesday of every month.
- Other civic education programs & films, such as a "Good Jobs in the New Green Economy" forum at the Unitarian Church earlier this year, and a Mark Crispin Miller talk about election fraud at the Roxie.
- a political endorsement process for our members to hear from the candidates directly and ask them questions about their positions.

I've noticed you guys tabling outside the Ferry Building to register Democratic voters, right next to the Schwarzenegger booths. Any funny run-ins with the Republicans that you can tell us about?

TB: Recently when I was working the Ferry Plaza table an out-of-state Republican tourist, a retired airlines pilot, engaged me in conversation about Democrats and Howard Dean. We spoke for a good ten minutes about the war on terror, economic issues and whether Howard Dean was crazy. (I assured him he is not.) Although our world views were miles apart, the conversation was friendly and when his wife came to drag him off he was reluctant to leave. Not funny or even a run-in, but a worthwhile experience nevertheless.