Some have probably noticed that I’m not too crazy about Kos and the Netroots even though I’m a center-left Democrat.
The rapid rise of Daily Kos and the liberal blogosphere
The group gathered in the Chicago McCormick Place Convention Center was not the usual audience for a presidential debate. While the Democratic candidates for president may not have fully realized this as they strode onstage, it didn’t take long for the crowd to impress that fact upon them. As the candidates were introduced, it was noted that hometown Senator Barack Obama was celebrating his 46th birthday. The audience proceeded to do what seemed most natural: breaking out into song, singing a disjointed “Happy Birthday, dear Barack.”
Who are these irreverent and raucous spectators? They are, of course, the Kossacks; liberal bloggers who frequent the internet site Daily Kos (named after its founder, Markos Moulitsas), and assemble annually to celebrate the successes of the “netroots” (a hybrid formed from “internet” and “grassroots”) and meet each other face to face. They pride themselves on making politics a two-way street, hence the singing of “Happy Birthday” and an abundance of shouted comments throughout the candidate forum. They call this “people powered politics” and they wager that it will change the political landscape, making it both more democratic and more Democratic. This year’s Yearly Kos convention was only the second iteration, but already they have proven their political worth. Attracting seven of the eight Democratic candidates for president (only Senator Joe Biden did not attend) is no small feat, and convincing them to attend a debate-like “forum” as well as individual, intimate “breakout sessions” is a demonstration of just how powerful this group is in the eyes of the candidates.