Did the Civic Engagement Theme Help Obama Win?
The press, including liberal columnists and bloggers, paid virtually no attention to the civic engagement theme in the campaign. Reporters regard a statement about “active citizenship” much like a comment about how wonderful it feels to visit New Hampshire in January. Yet videos of his speeches clearly show rising applause at the civic moments. Within the campaign, policy advisers didn’t pay much more attention to the civic themes than the media. The Democrats’ proposals on matters like education and the environment included no concrete ideas for civic empowerment. The “active citizenship” theme slipped past Democratic Party elites just as it escaped the notice of the press. On the other hand, the campaign was structured in ways that reflected Obama’s civic philosophy. Volunteers were encouraged and taught to share their stories, to discuss social problems, to listen as well as mobilize, and to develop their own plans. There was a rich discussion online as well as face-to-face. This de
