Help get out the vote for President Obama in New Hampshire

Immediately after the CSfC Kickoff, the Obama campaign will be heading into its get-out-the-vote effort for New Hampshire's January 10 primary. The campaign is looking for a big Massachusetts contingent to knock on doors and make phone calls, to make sure people hear the alternative to the Republican message, and to lock in President Obama's New Hampshire support.  Join CSfC as part of that contingent!  You can sign up for canvasses on January 7th and 8th by clicking on the links below, and go to mybarackobama.com to sign up for phonebanks in Boston or canvasses in New Hampshire on Tuesday, January 10th. Thank you!

Saturday, January 7th, Porter Square, 10:00 AM

Sunday, January 8th, Porter Square, 10:00 AM

Obama for President. Warren for Senate. 2012 CSfC Election Endorsements

In November, Cambridge-Somerville for Change asked our members to select our campaigns for the coming year. overwhelmingly to work on both the Presidential and US Senate campaigns and to endorse Barack Obama for President and Elizabeth Warren for US Senate. The votes were overwhelming.

Read more »

Electoral Victory in 2012 via Economic Fairness in 2011

Cambridge-Somerville for Change is kicking off our Economic Fairness campaign at a community meeting this Wednesday, September 21st, at the Central Square YMCA in Cambridge, starting at 7:00 PM.  We're beginning to work on several parallel paths, including

• Educating voters about Scott Brown's opposition to economic fairness policies, like voting to end  unemployment benefits and supporting a budget that eliminates job-training programs.
• Lobbying Senator Kerry and the other members of Congress's Deficit Super-Committee to preserve the social safety net.
• Support the Contract for the American Dream campaign to protect and grow the middle class.

Gradually, as our attention turns toward the 2012 elections, the issue advocacy campaigns will become more heavily oriented toward electoral organizing.  Our goal is to build the popular, progressive policy arguments to draw distinctions between liberals and conservatives, Republicans and Democrats, in an issue arena where the overwhelming majority of voters agree with us.  It's a big goal.  We'll need a lot of help. 

Can you join us on Wednesday?

2010 Post-Election Celebration

Thanks to everyone who came down to the Precinct in Union Square to help us celebrate progressive victories in 2010.

There's a lot more work to do this year and we're excited to have such a great group of activists to work with.

You can check out photos of the event on our Facebook page (whether or not you use Facebook).

POTUS Stumps for Patrick

Over 10,000 enthusiasts like this CSfC'er came out on Saturday to rally for Governor Deval Patrick, and to see special guest Barack Obama. Refrains from Sen. John Kerry to singer James Taylor of "17 days" made it clear that November 2nd is almost here - we need to act now! Eastern Massachusetts has the weight to ensure that Deval Patrick wins on Nov. 2nd -- it's those who plan to stay home on Nov. 2nd who need to hear from us. So let's Get Out the Vote!!

President Obama stoked the crowd with his analogy of inheriting a car in a ditch. "John Kerry, Ed Markey, Deval Patrick, we put on our boots and pushed and shoved that car while the Republicans looked down at us, fanning themselves and sipping Slurpees, not willing to lift a hand to help," he said, to shouts of "That's right!" "Once we finally got the car onto to firm solid ground," he went on, "they say, 'great job.. can we have the keys back now?' No way! They can come along for the ride, but they gotta sit in the back this time! Everybody knows, if you want a car to go forward you put the car into D for Drive. If you want to go backwards to where you just came from, you put it into R for Reverse!"

Yup - put me down for D on Nov. 2nd.

Amazing Somerville Canvass

Today the Deval Patrick/Tim Murray campaign, Organizing for America, and Democrats around the state held a state-wide canvass.  In Somerville, CSfC worked closely with the Patrick/Murray campaign to knock on doors in Winter Hill.  We had a great response, with many supporters identified.  In the Mystic Public Housing Community, several canvassers focused on registering new voters and encouraging registered voters to vote on November 2nd.  For enthusiasts, we had the additional draw of a rally with the President next Saturday in Boston.

The voters are out there, we just need to reach out to them.  We'll be canvassing again tomorrow, and next weekend, and making calls all week. Sign up here to get involved: http://bit.ly/CSDems2010

Pro Choice

Andrea Miller, Executive Director for NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts, explains why NARAL's PAC has endorsed Mac D'Alessandro for Congress.

Mac D'Alessandro v. Steven Lynch Debate from WBZ-TV Today

Mac D. squares off against Congressman Lynch today and makes a strong case for replacing Lynch.

Save the Date--July 14th 2010 Campaign Kickoff!

CSfC's 2010 Election Campaign Kickoff
Wednesday, July 14, 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Cambridge YMCA, 820 Mass. Ave.

Sign up here to attend

On July 14, come hear from representatives of the three campaigns CSfC members voted to volunteer for in 2010. Featured speakers are:

• Mac D'Alessandro, candidate for Congress, who is running against Rep. Stephen Lynch in the 9th Congressional District
• Tito Jackson, Political Director for the Deval Patrick/Tim Murray campaign
• Yawu Miller of the campaign to defeat the Sales Tax Reduction Ballot Initiative

All three will tell us about their campaigns and answer your questions. CSfC organizers will present our plan for how Cambridge and Somerville activists will play a significant role in winning each of these campaigns.

Sign up here to join us at the CSfC 2010 Campaign Kickoff

We look forward to seeing you on July 14!

June 17: Election Endorsements & Healthcare Celebration

Cambridge Somerville for Change (CSfC) will be holding a special Membership Meeting on Thursday, June 17, from 6-8:30pm at the Cambridge YMCA, 820 Mass. Ave., to both decide our endorsements for the 2010 elections and celebrate the recent historic health care victory. Come to the Y in Central Square on June 17 if you want to:

• help decide which electoral campaigns we should work on this summer and fall
• share your thoughts and hear what others have to say about the important 2010 campaigns now getting under way
• toast to the success of all our hard work to pass health care over the past year

Sign up here to attend the June 17 meeting.

[Please note that only those who were CSfC members (on our email list) as of May 26 will be eligible to vote, but all are encouraged to attend.]

Smulowitz and Ross Mini-Debate on WBZ today

WBZ hosted a brief interview with Peter Smulowitz and Richard Ross this afternoon. You can watch the video at WBZ's web site. CSfC is supporting Peter Smulowitz for state senate in the special election coming up on Tuesday. Join us tonight for a phone bank in Harvard Square from 6:00 to 8:30 PM.

CSfC Supports Peter Smulowitz for MA State Senate

The membership has voted and we're pitching in to turn Scott Brown's long-held State Senate seat Blue by supporting progressive Democrat, physician, and first-time candidate Peter Smulowitz.

The Boston Globe endorsed Dr. Smulowitz today, praising his "refreshing willingness to challenge established political figures."

Election Day is just 4 days away! Below is the schedule of events between now and Tuesday, including phone banks in and near Cambridge and Somerville, as well as door-to-door canvasses in the senate district. Note that CSfC is hosting a phone bank at HUCTW in Harvard Square on Sunday night, from 6-8:30pm (sign up here). Please sign up for all events by clicking on the RSVP links, below.

Please spread the word by joining Peter Smulowitz's Facebook page and please forward this message to anyone you think might be interested in helping out.

SUNDAY, MAY 9

Phone Banks:

Cambridge-Somerville for Change, 6pm-8:30pm

HUCTW, 15 Mt. Auburn St., Harvard Square

To RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gp8b8r

Mass Dems, noon -

Mass. Democratic Party Headquarters, 56 Roland St., Charlestown

To RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/phonebank/gp8qwp

Canvass:

Smulowitz Campaign, 10am - 6pm

Smulowitz Campaign HQ, 56 Pickering St., Needham

To RSVP:http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gp8q2m

MONDAY, MAY 10

Phone Bank:

Mass Dems, 10am -

Mass. Democratic Party Headquarters, 56 Roland St., Charlestown

To RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/phonebank/gp8qwy

TUESDAY, ELECTION DAY, MAY 11

Phone Bank

Mass Dems, 10am - 8pm

Mass. Democratic Party Headquarters, 56 Roland St., Charlestown

To RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/phonebank/gp8qw4

Canvass

Smulowitz Campaign, 6am-8pm

Smulowitz Campaign HQ, 56 Pickering St., Needham

To RSVP:http://petersmulowitz.com/index.php?option=com_rsform&Itemid=67

Ready to Make a Difference in 2010 Elections

On Tuesday night, Cambridge-Somerville for Change's Election Team held its first post-Coakley meeting at the Democracy Center in Cambridge. I came away from our discussion feeling energized. Despite recent setbacks for progressives on the national stage, people came ready to work and to take responsibility for the future of progressive politics in the Bay State. In just a few hours, we came up with some very solid organizing ideas for our team during the spring and summer. The list includes:

• Reach out and build our network in low turn out and low-income areas of Cambridge and Somerville, including involvement with the U.S. Census
• Develop local ballot initiatives on the most critical national issues
• Reach out to communities in Congressional districts outside of Cambridge and Somerville
• Provide electoral organizing training and skills development
  
• Co-Sponsor a candidates' forum for an upcoming local Senate race

We may not choose to work on all of these items, but they will form the foundation for CSFC's elections work. Many will not be easy, especially talking our neighbors about their frustrations with politics and government. But together, our work will prepare us the fall election cycle and help elect leaders who can advance a progressive agenda.

Please consider coming to our next meeting on March 9th (location TBD) and join our email list (csfc-elections@googlegroups.com) to learn more about the CFSC Elections Team.

Stopping the Next Brown

This election didn't end up the way I wanted it to, but it's only a small setback in a campaign that started some time in the distant past, and will probably go on forever.

I'm happy today. I'm so proud of all the activists and the great work we did. The Cambridge/Somerville ground campaign that we built over four days was inspiring. We couldn't win the whole state, but we could boost turnout in Cambridge and Somerville for Coakley, and with hundreds of volunteers and dozens of GOTV events, we absolutely did.

We had organizers, volunteers, and local groups working toward one goal. We abandoned factions and borders. We made new alliances, and strengthened old partnerships. Progressive organizers in Massachusetts came together, mostly outside formal organizational structures.

Yes, it was too late to win. But we tested our organizing strategies and tactics. OFA swooped in from every state and provided a massive calls-to-voters operation. It wasn't perfect - there were flaws in everything we did. I'd rather know what those flaws are now, when there's one critical race, than in November when there will be dozens of critical races.

We have so much work to do this year, and we are not yet prepared to win the array of contests coming in November. Democrats across the country should look at this election and learn. We need to commit to preventing the complacency and inertia that allowed this to happen. Every progressive organization in the country should be building their plans for November right now, every day vowing No More Browns. No more unforced errors on Election Day.

As Massachusetts organizers, we are stronger today than we were a week ago. We need to keep exercising those organizing muscles, starting today, to prevail in the 2010 races. It can be done.

If you're not already a member, sign up with CSfC today.


(cross-posted, with edits, from BlueMassGroup)

Knock Doors and Make Calls

There is currently no need for drivers in Boston. The Coakley campaign is very clear that the best thing Cambridge and Somerville volunteers can do now is knock on doors. We have 200 walking routes to hit. There's a light rain out there, but it's mild, so throw on a warm coat and a waterproof shell and come knock on doors. We've got plastic sheets for your canvassing clipboards. If you can't knock, make calls. Canvass and Phone Bank locations:

45 Mt. Auburn St. (Harvard Square)
The Democracy Center

15 Mt. Auburn St. (Harvard Square)
HUCTW, the Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers
(phone bank only)

42 Mt. Vernon St. (Porter Square)
Home of Larry Field

13 Hollis Street
Home of Gerry McDonough and Mary Ann Hart

19 College Ave, Davis Square
Canvass: 10:00am to 8:00pm
Phone Bank: 4:00pm to 8:00pm

Meet here for Davis Square visibility.

490 Broadway, Magoun Square

10:00am to 8:00pm

Turnout is high, but it's not high enough. They're counting on us to get the vote out. Please help!

Meet Your Neighbors Today - Join Our Election Day Canvass

Today is election day; be sure to vote!

The Coakley campaign and Organizing for America have made over two million calls in the last four days, and we'll make many more on election day. But out-of-state supporters can't knock on doors and talk to voters face to face. You can.

After you vote, come out to help at our Cambridge (45 Mt. Auburn St.) or Somerville (19 College Ave.) headquarters. We will be knocking on doors and calling voters, especially in the afternoon when people are getting home from work, right up until the polls close at 8PM.

Call Your Neighbors Today -- Phone Bank from Home

Phone banks for Martha Coakley are still going strong, but we need everyone to contact their neighbors today. Take five minutes, go to http://my.barackobama.com/CoakleyN2N, and make 5 phone calls right now.

Pulling Out All the Stops

In just three days Massachusetts voters will go to the polls to elect a new US Senator. It's hard to imagine a vote cast in the Commonwealth that will have a greater impact on national politics.

This is a great time to volunteer for a political campaign - the race is close and the stakes are high. With partners in our communities we've put together 59 events in the next three days.

Let's have some fun.

Somerville GOTV events

Cambridge GOTV events

CSfC Volunteers Are Amazing

At our phone bank for the US Senate race Thursday night our volunteers, along with recruits from CDCC and the Coakley campaign, made 1860 calls to voters. That's an amazing amount for a single phone bank in a 3 hour shift. But that's just the beginning. To win we're going to need a lot more shifts like that. We're setting up new locations, training new phone bank coordinators, and activating all of our resources to send Martha Coakley to the US Senate. Stay tuned.

Coakley Phone Banks Going Strong

Report from Elections Team Lead:

Last night we had two volunteers waiting when I got to HUCTW at 5:45 and 10 in place making calls by 6:45. We used up all the phone lines. We finished calling Malden independents and started calling Lynnfield Democrats with the whole thing wrapping up at 9:00 PM.

Total Calls: 637
Volunteers: 14

About half the volunteers had never made calls before. Everyone was
great.

There's still a long way to go before Election Day. So, please, sign up for a Phone Bank today!