Newsweek has just put up a Richard Wolffe story on Senator Obama that does a great job outlining Senator Obama's campaign strategy, the theme of which is respect, empower, include:
In the final three days in Iowa, Obama operatives made 150,000 phone calls to potential supporters. The campaign gave canvassers strict printed instructions telling them how to engage with voters as they went door to door drumming up support. "While canvassing for the campaign, you are acting as a representative of Senator Obama," the sheet read. "It's absolutely imperative that at all times we remain respectful, polite and overly nice to the people we encounter." Obama's Iowa staff painted a motto on the wall of the state's campaign headquarters. It sounded like something more suited to the side of a small-town police car: RESPECT, EMPOWER, INCLUDE.
It is a feature, not a bug, that Obama does not appear to loathe the other candidates or other Americans unfortunate enough to be a part of the current-day Republican party. It's a strategy and centering focus. I think this has some important lessons for all of us at the dKos Community:
RESPECT: Are we ready to respect Senator Clinton supporters? Or Hillary herself? I'm not saying vote for her, but to stop demonizing the poor woman? How about the misguided, naive Obama supporters (like myself)? How about blue dog Dems, or even - gasp - Republicans? Can we refrain from calling them "Rethuglicans"? or "Repiglicans"?
EMPOWER: It's an admirable campaign strategy showing great trust in the public at large. Kos has already been doing this since the beginning, through the design and structure of this website. Obama's plan isn't to change the nation himself, but to empower us to change it by harnessing the power of a large coalition of voters.
INCLUDE: Listening. That's what Obama is supposed to be good at. Are we really listening to each other at dKos, or listening to the rest of the voters? Are we excluding too many voices that can help us reach our goals?
I am so damn inspired by this candidate, and I am so ready for a real leader. I'd like to say I have so much respect for this community, and I'm hoping it continues to empower and include more voices through the simple act of listening.