District of Columbia Statehood Efforts in 2010
This is an exciting time for DC Statehood, and I know I speak for many when I say how pleased I am to see all the renewed efforts and energy surrounding the goal of making the District of Columbia the 51st state.
If there ever was a time to move forward on this issue, that time is now. In the last four years we have seen sweeping changes to the national political landscape. Both chambers of Congress and the White House have switched from Republican to Democratic-controlled institutions — which from a tactical perspective give us an opportunity to advance the Statehood issue for the first time since 1993. We need to move quickly as that majority is already eroding – as demonstrated by the Scott Brown victory in Massachusetts.
However, even with Democrats in control, we all know too well that nothing is a given when it comes to the District’s efforts for expanded home rule. As we have been made perfectly aware of during efforts to pass the DC Voting Rights Act, sometimes even our friends don’t always have the same priorities as we do. It’s wonderful that the Statehood cause has been infused with new energy and purpose, yet this passion will not translate into substantial or measurable progress without a tactical approach. We need to get things moving forward on a number of fronts including local awareness, national education campaigns, and a 2010 political strategy. My thoughts on these approaches are listed below.
I would like to commend Councilmember Michael A. Brown for his coordination and leadership on the Statehood issue at the Council level. His efforts have been a tremendous asset in taking this fight to the next level, and I look forward to working with him on this important issue.
The following items are what I see as the important next steps in to take towards DC Statehood in 2010. I encourage feedback and suggestions at feedback@mikepanetta.com or via comments at http://www.mikepanetta.com.
1. The DC Statehood Movement Needs a New “Brand”
The DC Statehood movement lacks any cohesive brand, which is a necessity in today’s media environment. To be successful in raising awareness, especially on a national level, any issue needs to develop a brand that succinctly defines the image of the cause within the marketplace of ideas. A well-crafted brand boils down an issue down to its core message and gives people something to identify with or become part of.
Recent examples of successful issue brands include “LiveStrong” from the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the “Where Is Their Vote?” campaign organized by Iranian ex-pats during the election showdown in that country earlier this year. The latter cause was picked up by many people around the world – most of which had no connection to Iran, but identified with the issue because of the strength of the brand, as it was something they could easily identify with.
>>Action Item: The DC Statehood movement needs to develop a new brand that has national appeal and the produce the materials to support it (i.e. a logo, website, social media outposts, etc.)
2. The Statehood Issue Needs a Centralized Message
While I like to think we are all on the same team, we often don’t give that impression in public statements testimony, or media interviews. Any good candidate or political campaign knows how important it is to “stay on message” – as it provides a unified and consistent theme and information to the public about a given issue.
This centralized messaging is a component that is sorely lacking from the DC Statehood efforts. Currently each organization, political leader, and activist has their own messaging around statehood efforts, plans, and desired outcomes. This scattershot approach causes confusion with conflicting information and thus keeps the issue from moving forward. Remember, our opponents will look for any opening to drive a wedge into our efforts, we shouldn’t just hand it to them.
It would, of course, be up to each group as to whether or not to actually use the messaging, but not having it available putting us at a disadvantage from a communications perspective.
>>Action Item: A set of “Statehood talking points” needs to be developed and a number of diverse spokespeople and surrogates should be recruited and given basic media training on how to effectively talk about the issue.
3. The Statehood Issues Needs to Go “Mainstream”
DC Statehood needs be much more than a local, borderline fringe campaign. If we are going to become the 51st state, we’ll need support from diverse groups of people around the country, and need to talk in terms that will motivate them towards action. We need to think about how to appeal to “soccer moms” from Kansas, union workers in North Carolina, technology professionals in Silicon Valley, and other Americans from all walks of life.
For the last several years, most activists, non-profit groups and political leaders (myself included) have put a great deal of their home-rule related efforts into the passage of the DC Voting Rights Act, leaving the Statehood issue to a smaller group of committed activists. If things are going to advance in 2010 on Statehood, that equation needs to change and the political establishment in the District be advocating for Statehood as their default home-rule issue.
It is my opinion that DC Statehood needs be advocated for as single, stand-alone issue and must not be solely associated with the efforts of any single local party. The issue must try to avoid any unnecessary entanglements with other divisive social issues or political figures as they will complicate the issue and distract from our basic messaging. The goal is to make as many people as possible embrace and take action on behalf DC Statehood, and we’ll need all parties to remain singularly focused on that objective.
>> Action Item: Reposition DC Statehood to be the main home-rule issue and begin messaging to constituencies outside the District.
4. The Door Needs to Be Shut for Good on Retrocession
We need to nip this in issue in the bud, as it always comes up as a way to derail both DC Statehood and voting representation in Congress. It’s a non-starter as DC doesn’t want to go back to Maryland, and Maryland doesn’t want DC back either. The best way to cut off issue is to get something passed by Maryland Assembly that states something along the lines of the State of Maryland forever gives up the right to the land that currently makes up the District of Columbia and, if possible, that the body supports full Statehood or congressional representation for DC.
Groups in DC that do advocate this position should not be part of any coalitions, hearings, or discussions and should be aggressively relegated to “fringe” status.
>>Action Item: Find possible sponsors of such a resolution – starting with Sen. Jamie Raskin or other friends from the local Maryland suburbs. Also reach to other state legislatures for supportive resolutions.
5. Statehood Stakeholders Need to Be Active in 2010 Elections
Obviously the 2010 elections in the District will generate a lot of activity, but we need to direct some of that energy into the congressional and local elections happening around the country.
We all know that there are certain Members of Congress who take the “in all cases whatsoever” clause of the Constitution very literally. Members such as Rep. Jason Chaffetz from Utah, Rep. Louie Gohmert from Texas, and Senator John Ensign from Nevada interfere will local laws and voting rights efforts because they know that there will be zero push back that affects them. Yes, we can shout all we want about this injustice here in the District, but until we make their meddling an issue back in their home districts they will keep attempting to impose their will on the District.
Every member of the House of Representatives is up for election in 2010, as is 1/3 of the Senate. We need to leverage the political expertise and donor base that exists here in the District and mobilize it for our own good. By using tools such ActBlue.com, we can rally District residents to direct funds to candidates that are challenging “anti-DC” members of Congress. I started a similar effort in 2008 with my PAC, the Free and Equal DC Fund, which funneled modest contributions to Senators Mark Begich (AK), Kay Hagan (NC), as well as candidates in several other states.
The fight for DC Statehood takes place in every election in every congressional district – it’s time started we showing up for these fights.
>> Action Item: Identify key races and candidates to support in 2010 congressional elections. Begin to solicit contributions of funds or in-kind support to bring as many pro-DC members to Congress as possible.
