netroots news stories on Newser

Conservatives Out-Tweet Liberals

Kevin Spak — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:16:01 CDT

You might assume that Twitter, like most things having to do with the Internet, is dominated by liberals and “netroots” activists. But you’d be wrong, according to Johanna Neuman of the Los Angeles Times . John McCain hit the million-follower mark weeks before the White House did, and he’s not even...

It's the Small Change We Should Believe In

Harry Kimball — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 14:16:01 CST

The 2008 election marked the death knell of post-Watergate public financing, Mark Schmitt writes for the American Prospect , but the raft of small donations that killed the system heralds a hopeful future. The public financing system was designed—and failed—to limit the influence of special interests: “Since the ability...

The Plouffe Plan That Terrifies Washington

Nick McMaster — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:35:00 CST

The shy middleman who spearheaded Barack Obama's campaign now plans to morph it into a powerful netroots organization, Lisa Taddeo writes in Esquire . Drawing on his unprecedented 13-million-name contact list, David Plouffe says he will soon unveil Organizing for America, a group aimed at drumming up support for policy initiatives....

Obama Tries to Re-Plant Netroots

Kevin Spak — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 09:25:10 CST

Barack Obama is determined to turn the legions of Facebook friends and Twitter subscribers that got him elected into an effective force for his administration, the New York Times reports. He’s already begun issuing his weekly addresses via YouTube video, rather than radio, and crafted a new group called Organizing...

Web-Saavy Obama Needs No Party

Kevin Spak — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:31:50 CST

Barack Obama has so revolutionized politics that he may not even need the Democratic party, writes David Carr in the New York Times . Parties are supposed to provide a base of support, a brand, ground troops, money, and relationships—all things Obama already has in abundance. The president-elect ran his...

Internet Army Could Power Obama Presidency

Kevin Spak — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:14:14 CST

Barack Obama hadn’t even given his victory speech when the message went out to supporters: “We have a lot to do,” the email read. “I’ll be in touch.” Obama won’t disband his digitally organized army of volunteers, McClatchy reports. Joe Trippi, who designed Obama’s social-networking machine, thinks Obama will use...

Liberal Bloggers Get Their Wish... or Do They?

Kevin Spak — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:14:35 CDT

Barack Obama's frontrunner status has liberal bloggers wondering whether they should have been careful what they wished for. “The way it’s looking, we might actually win this thing,” said Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitas. The "Netroots" movement began as a response to a Republican-dominated Washington; the Washington Post explores what...

Gore Wows Bloggers at Austin Show

Sam Biddle — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:54:34 CDT

Al Gore surprised a crowd of liberal bloggers today by showing up at the Netroots Nation conference in Austin, Texas. He wowed the 3,000 progressives by emerging after Nancy Pelosi and giving a speech on the importance of grassroots organization for green issues. When asked about sharing a spot...

'Right-Wing Freak Machine' Hit Me: Clark

Jonas Oransky — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:22:46 CDT

Wesley Clark told a netroots conference last night that he was attacked by the “great freak show” after saying John McCain’s POW experience wasn’t sufficient qualification for the presidency, the Huffington Post reports. “This is a playbook operation by the right-wing freak machine,” Clark said, “the great freak show where...