The grassroots political and fundraising operation that President Obama created to win election and push his agenda will continue past his presidency, a first in American politics.
Jim Messina, co-chairman of Organizing for Action, said in an email to supporters that the group will continue to lobby for “change” after the next election, even if Hillary Clinton wins office.
“OFA is not a political campaign,” he declared of the nonpartisan group closely aligned with the Democratic Party and that is Obama’s booster operation. The president regularly fundraises for OFA. It’s website is barackobama.com.
“We’re a built-to-last movement that’s not going anywhere. When the polls close and elections end, we’re the ones still here, fighting for the principles we believe in,” said Messina, Obama’s campaign manager.
OFA started as Obama for America, his campaign operation. It morphed into Organizing for America during his re-election and is now a stand-alone liberal advocacy group.
“We are — and will continue to be — the sum of millions of grassroots voices calling for change,” said Messina’s note.
The group has 250 offices around the nation.
No other president has kept a 24/7 lobbying and campaign operation up and running after their election and re-election like Obama. And keeping it operational after he leaves office Jan. 20, 2017, indicates that he may take charge of it.
Among the issues OFA advocates for are climate change, comprehensive immigration reform, gun control and women’s rights.
In a message to OFA Tuesday, Obama said:
In a few days, the final Congress of my presidency will take their oaths of office.
I’m committed to working with anyone from either party to put the American people first. Still, I know there will be plenty of obstacles in our way.
We’ve never let it stop us before — on so many of the big issues we’ve taken on, from healthcare to immigration to climate change, we’ve made real, undeniable progress.
And we’re not done, as long as we keep fighting together.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
