New MoveOn Director Backs The President, For a Change

Justin Ruben had a good meeting with President Obama last week.

As the new executive director of MoveOn.org, the 35-year-old Texan was invited to a small White House gathering for allies on February 18, where he brought a message from his five million members to the new President. "This is a moment to go big," he said, citing daily conversations with MoveOn activists. "We understand that's not going to be easy, but people are mobilized and willing to fight to make it happen. That's really what I carried with me into that room," he said. Ruben outlined MoveOn's goals, its Obama strategy and its mechanisms for grassroots accountability in an exclusive interview with The Nation this week, his first extensive discussion with the media since taking the helm of one of the largest progressive organizations in the country.

As executive director, Ruben must now take a network that has long battled bad ideas – impeaching Clinton, invading Iraq, gutting Social Security – and adapt it to supporting and broadening the administration's agenda. "We're in this amazing position now where we get to fight for stuff," he says. MoveOn's four "core" policy areas, decided by members during December house meetings, are economic recovery, universal health care, climate change and ending the Iraq war. "Finally our top priority," he enthused, "is winning real substantive changes that will make a difference in the lives of everyday Americans."

That change agenda tracks closely with Obama's, obviously, and excludes some popular liberal issues that the administration has sidestepped. Politico's Andie Coller noted, for example, that MoveOn's new agenda does not address "holding the Bush administration accountable; fighting for gay rights and LGBT equality; and reforming campaigns and elections." And while MoveOn loudly led the battle against the Iraq "surge," Ruben said he does not expect ending the war Afghanistan, where Obama is deploying additional troops, to make the priority list. The "overwhelming priority" is still Iraq, Ruben explains, and while his members are concerned about Afghanistan, they tend to "differ on what ought to be done about it."

Some critics complain that the organization has already swapped its independence for incumbent boosterism. "Clearly MoveOn has completed its morph into an Obama Cheerleading Squad" said John Stauber, a liberal critic of the group and longtime corporate gadfly.

Ruben, who has organized for labor, trade and environmental groups, thinks people have the ability to back incumbents and hold them accountable.

"Having spent a lot of time with MoveOn members, I think folks are loyal first and foremost to their vision of the country. They are tremendously hopeful about Obama," he acknowledged, while stressing how netroots activists gather a rich range of views on policy debates. "In the end they will come to their own judgment, and it will be informed by what he says, and what we say, and what they read in the New York Times and blogs -- and certainly Moveon members are pretty independent. They're not going to believe it just because we said it, or because the president said it."

While MoveOn is more democratic and member-driven than many liberal interest groups and virtually all foundations, the decision to tap Ruben was still made by five people, without any input from the group's millions of members. The board, made up of MoveOn's founders and the group's popular outgoing executive director, Eli Pariser, simply tapped Ruben from his post as organizing director. In our interview, Ruben was sympathetic to the idea that the members who provide the labor and money that fuels MoveOn should have more influence, but he argued that they control important decisions in other ways. It is worth quoting at length:

Ruben: The thing that's so interesting that a lot of folks don't get -- it wasn't obvious to me until I came work for MoveOn – [is that] you can only work on the stuff that is right on the tip of people's tongues, right on the forefront of their consciousness -- the things that people are looking for a way to have an impact on. As an organization, a huge part of our focus is just oriented on just trying to figure out what those things are -- what people want to work on and how we can give them opportunity to make biggest impact, much more so than any other organization I've ever been a part of. That's our DNA. It's our whole core operating model. In that sense, I've found MoveOn to be more member-driven than formally democratic institutions that I've been part of.

The Nation: Like unions?

Ruben: Yes, or other more local grassroots groups that work by consensus. Because there are always power dynamics in situations -- things are formally democratic but you can have leaders who aren't seeking out what the great majority of folks are most passionate about. That said, technology is a powerful tool for aggregating opinions and allowing people to make decisions together. I am really interested in how we can keep using technology to make MoveOn more member-driven….When I think about role that members play in the organizaton, I want to see more ways we can tap into ingenuity, skills -- a lot of them are smarter than me and know lots of stuff that I don't know. The question is more than just allowing people to click and sign a petition, make phone calls or organizing a rally… Can they be formulating policy? Finding opportunities for other MoveOn members to get involved? We have a small staff, [so] we tended to not be very process intensive. Historically, that's something that people like about us: "I don't have to do lots of meetings; I can do it right from my house; Let me know exactly when there's something to do." [We want] to do more, but without the trappings of process that an end up excluding folks.

In a blog post last August, Ruben wrote that he could envision MoveOn adding "more formal democratic mechanisms," noting that members could not "vote for the board" or "fire the staff" or "frame the questions" in emails, and such reforms might make the group stronger. For now, the focus is on trying to "devolve more responsibility to shape our campaigns on the ground," Ruben said, though he doesn't know if members will vote on the next executive director.

In the end, it is hard to balance moderated grassroots energy with coordinated national campaigns, or to toggle from White House meetings with the President to hammering the administration with independent pressure. But for a relatively young, self-organized political organization, these are good problems to have.

Comments (18)

1. Let's see who wields more influence, Moveon.org and it's "members" or Wall Street, the folks that subsidize our elections.

   Posted by crabwalk at 02/27/2009 @ 10:02am

2. "Ruben: The thing that's so interesting that a lot of folks don't get -- it wasn't obvious to me until I came work for MoveOn – [is that] you can only work on the stuff that is right on the tip of people's tounges"

   Really? I have to disagree. Or perhaps such is intrinsic to MoveOn's organization.

   How did the "stuff" get on the peoples tongues in the first place? Who put it there? How did they do so? How long does it tend to stay?

   ...

   Posted by V at 02/27/2009 @ 10:06am

3. It's interesting that the Right has been so inept in creating their "own" MoveOn....Move America Forward is a flop.

   Posted by Mask at 02/27/2009 @ 10:12am

4. It's interesting that the Right has been so inept in creating their "own" MoveOn....Move America Forward is a flop.

   Posted by Mask at 02/27/2009 @ 10:12am

   I agree..but the right is not in control of the media..am radio, sure, but that ius under seige right now and will be decimated by govt edict...

   the right doesn't exist anymore..killed off by the Bush clan..the only ones that revive it are the kook fringe in Washington thats running everything...

   it will take a little time..but I believe it will happen when Joe public realises what is happening to his country and his wallet, currency and his way of life..especially all those who exdopect a nice check, feee health care and housing, food and no risk for anything wake up and fuind out they have lost everything.

   The real m oney here has already moved out of harms way and molre is doing so as we speak...just as the money is clearing out of California along with the job producers, so it is through out the country...it is doing so quietly, but it is happening.

   So to pronouce with flair and pride that groups like Moveon.whatever are in the WH..is a good thing from my point of view.

   Posted by YourJomamma at 02/27/2009 @ 10:34am

5. RUBEN: "Finally our top priority," he enthused, "is winning real substantive changes that will make a difference in the lives of everyday Americans."

   On "economic recovery"....the everyday American is still employed (92%+) but a bit worried about a future filled with gov't debt and diminished upward mobility..."recovery" ain't enough, and MoveOn has no clue to engineer GROWTH!

   On "universal health care", same deal, most Americans are covered and most `uncovered', are NOT Americans or chooses NOT to be covered.

   On "climate change", the everyday American now rank it last of things to worry about.....just below the next oil change.

   On "ending the Iraq War".....the everyday American knows it's in the wrap-up phase...MoveOn is totally irrelevant!

   Posted by Happy at 02/27/2009 @ 10:41am

6. On "ending the Iraq War".....the everyday American knows it's in the wrap-up phase...MoveOn is totally irrelevant!

   Posted by Happy at 02/27/2009 @ 10:41am

   True...but America needs to be re educated to the "truth"...

   Capialism is death..diversity is the key to a great life here(not freedom or individual exceptionalism),govt must take care of everyone, and the Dems are placed here by Mother Earth to save the planet from your car, steak, and golf course.

   Posted by YourJomamma at 02/27/2009 @ 10:47am

7. When the going gets tough

   the tough move abroad

   fleeing the country that allowed them to become wealthy.

   Cut and run

   Whine and cry

   step up? Fat chance. Cry victim.

   Where will you be when your country needs you?

   Posted by crabwalk at 02/27/2009 @ 11:09am

8. Son, I need you to go die for me in Asia.

   But, don't expect me to lose any money, that sacrifice for the Homeland is too steep a price.

   Oh, and you that "only" lost a limb, tough titties, don't expect me to help you out. I will be sippin mai tais in Singapore.

   Posted by crabwalk at 02/27/2009 @ 11:13am

9. I will be sippin mai tais in Singapore.

   Posted by crabwalk at 02/27/2009 @ 11:13am

   Its Mau Tai, and it is in Beleing, not Singapore.

   Nice poem....no one is fleeing America...just hiding from the likes of ..you..and your "appetite" for the lionsshare of food off your neighbors dinner table...we will be waiting to fix the mess when your are "though or thrown"..

   Posted by YourJomamma at 02/27/2009 @ 11:18am

10. 'But, don't expect me to lose any money, that sacrifice for the Homeland is too steep a price. "

    Sacrifice for the home land is noble...60% combined taxes and fees with no results but demands for more is...

    stealing. Your types steal. It is never enough.

    Posted by YourJomamma at 02/27/2009 @ 11:21am

11. Here Crab..

    A story for you..

    " Catching Wild Pigs

    A chemistry professor in a large college had some exchange students in the class. One day while the class was in the lab the Professor noticed one young man (exchange student) who kept rubbing his back, and stretching as if his back hurt.

    The professor asked the young man what was the matter. The student told him he had a bullet lodged in his back. He had been shot while fighting communists in his native country who were trying to overthrow his country's government and install a new communist government.

    In the midst of his story he looked at the professor and asked a strange question. He asked, 'Do you know how to catch wild pigs?'

    The professor thought it was a joke and asked for the punch line. The young man said this was no joke. 'You catch wild pigs by finding a suitable place in the woods and putting corn on the ground. The pigs find it and begin to come everyday to eat the free corn. When they are used to coming every day, you put a fence down one side of the place where they are used to coming. When they get used to the fence, they begin to eat the corn again and you put up another side of the fence. They get used to that and start to eat again. You continue until you have all four sides of the fence up with a gate in The last side. The pigs, who are used to the free corn, start to come through the gate to eat, you slam the gate on them and catch the whole herd.

    Suddenly the wild pigs have lost their freedom. They run around and around inside the fence, but they are caught. Soon they go back to eating the free corn. They are so used to it that they have forgotten how to forage in the woods for themselves, so they accept their captivity.

    cont,.

    Posted by YourJomamma at 02/27/2009 @ 11:28am

12. cont.

    The young man then told the professor that is exactly what he sees happening to America . The government keeps pushing us toward socialism and keeps spreading the free corn out in the form of programs such as supplemental income, tax credit for unearned income, tobacco subsidies, dairy subsidies, payments not to plant crops (CRP), welfare, medicine, drugs, etc.. While we continually lose our freedoms -- just a little at a time.

    One should always remember: There is no such thing as a free lunch! Also, a politician will never provide a service for you cheaper than you can do it yourself.

    Keep your eyes on the newly elected politicians who are about to slam the gate on America .

    Posted by YourJomamma at 02/27/2009 @ 11:29am

13. Posted by YourJomamma at 02/27/2009 @ 10:34am

    Fox News Channel out of business...or part of the "liberal media" now, John?

    Posted by Mask at 02/27/2009 @ 12:15pm

14. On "climate change", the everyday American now rank it last of things to worry about.....just below the next oil change.----Posted by Happy at 02/27/2009 @ 10:41am

    Is that why BOTH major Presidential candidates (Obama and McCain) both said it was real, man-made, and needed addressing?!?!???

    Posted by Mask at 02/27/2009 @ 12:17pm

15. Is that why BOTH major Presidential candidates (Obama and McCain) both said it was real, man-made, and needed addressing?!?!???

    Posted by Mask at 02/27/2009 @ 12:17pm |

    No tahas not why..they said it because that's what was on the news of the day,.. and now it has been fogotten and will be unless the Dems bring it up again with a new tax increase on carbon..

    it is also why ALGORE will not come out in front of a questioning audience..he knows he will finish off GW/GC/WHATEVER once it is openly debated...

    both ploticians used it because both believe it would help then...NOT because of anyhting real behind it...IMO

    Posted by YourJomamma at 02/27/2009 @ 12:25pm

16. both ploticians used it because both believe it would help then...NOT because of anyhting real behind it...IMO---------------Posted by YourJomamma at 02/27/2009 @ 12:25pm

    So it's all just a "mass delusion"...but you in the 10% who don't believe "know the Truth"....that it?

    Posted by Mask at 02/27/2009 @ 2:03pm

17. Mask,

    It is more simple than that...I don't care what the politicians say..they say what they believe will help them win....

    I don't believe in man made global warming. And I certainly don't believe in anything ALGORE nor do I believe that govt is the answer, but quite the opposite...it is the problem...the economic crisis was brought down on us by govern regs that were wrong or not installed...either way it was intersession into the the market...and the what we are doing now is no different...it is just more of the same with a factor of 6..so far.

    Posted by YourJomamma at 02/27/2009 @ 3:14pm

18. I am one of the five million people in the moveon.org database no doubt and they did not take me into the room to talk to Obama nor was I in one of their precious "house meetings". This is ridiculous. Moveon.org is not a movement. It's not democratic. It isn't even interactive. Moveon.org has no open forums or voting capacity or any of the new social media tools out there. It is hopelessly out of date, serving as a propagandistic push media for a certain leftist faction that I can see doesn't even represent the left!

    It appears to be merely about hijacking the new media with a few rewarmed socialist concepts merely to come to power -- the sort of thing that always makes people suspicious of the left.

    >While MoveOn is more democratic and member-driven than many liberal interest groups and virtually all foundations

    The latter is certainly true; the former isn't a sustainable claim. How is it democratic?! It has no authentic tools for listening and deliberation.

    >the decision to tap Ruben was still made by five people, without any input from the group's millions of members

    Yeah, someone should make an alternative site and put up a roster to vote on this and see what you get.

    Posted by Prokofy at 02/28/2009 @ 2:52pm