Politics the Wellstone Way
 


Politics the Wellstone Way

How to Elect Progressive Candidates and Win on Issues

Wellstone Action

Top 10 tips and more

Politics the Wellstone Way

$19.95 Paper
ISBN: 0-8166-4665-1
ISBN-13: 978-0-8166-4665-4

 

A comprehensive, step-by-step guide to successful grassroots campaigning and organizing.

During the past four years, political activism has grown to a level that has not been seen in the United States since the Vietnam War. Tensions over the war in Iraq and the presidential election motivated hundreds of thousands of people on both sides of the political fence to take to the streets. Politics the Wellstone Way offers a comprehensive set of strategies to help progressives channel that energy into winning issue-based and electoral campaigns.

Wellstone Action is a nonprofit organization dedicated to continuing Paul and Sheila Wellstone’s fight for progressive change and economic justice by teaching effective political action skills to people across the country. Politics the Wellstone Way is a workshop in book form, providing the detailed framework needed to jump-start a new generation of activists plus plenty of helpful tools for old pros, including articulating a strong message, base building, field organizing, budgeting, fundraising, scheduling, getting out the vote, and grassroots advocacy and lobbying, illustrated by practical and inspirational examples.

From the school board all the way to the White House, Politics the Wellstone Way instructs people on becoming better organizers, candidates, campaign workers, and citizen activists, empowering them to make their voices heard.

“Paul Wellstone was a great American because he was honest and led with his heart. But he was a successful leader because he knew how to organize, and he showed ordinary citizens that they had the power within themselves to change our country.” —Howard Dean

“Don’t mourn, organize. This book tells you how to—and the right way—in that joyous, battling spirit that so distinguished Wellstone’s politics.” —Molly Ivins

“Politics the Wellstone Way will influence a generation of Democrats. For that the country will be grateful.” —Senator Bill Bradley

“This book is the next best thing to going to a Camp Wellstone if, like me, you are too lazy, or too important.” —Al Franken

“As an expert organizer, Paul empowered ordinary people to do things they never thought possible, and in turn they work with others to do the same, the Wellstone way. This book is a great tool for progressive-minded people to learn how to take action in their communities and win.” —Robert Redford

Wellstone Action was established by the Wellstones’ two surviving sons, David and Mark. The main vehicle for this ongoing work is Camp Wellstone, a weekend training program that Wellstone Action leads regularly in locations across the country. Jeff Blodgett, Paul Wellstone’s longtime campaign manager, is the executive director of Wellstone Action.

216 pages | 10 line art, 8 sidebars | 8 1⁄2 x 11 | September 2005