PREVIEW: How the Independent Movement Went Left By Going Right

On January 25, 2009, five days after President Barack Obama was inaugurated in Washington, D.C. amid global celebration, 500 independent movement activists from 35 states gathered in New York City to take stock of their (mostly) unheralded accomplishments.

With the top analysts citing Obama as Americas first Independent President, convener and strategist Jacqueline Salit delivered the multi-media keynote, which examined Obamas election victory, through the lens of Americas independent voters. Her report was videotaped in front of a live audience to produce this untold story of the unknown movement that elected Americas first Independent President.

Salit paints a vivid picture of a fluid but pivotal movement that broke into the mainstream in 1992 in the explosive center-right campaign of Ross Perot. In her dual role of political player and analyst, she documents its evolution over the next 16 years into a center-left, multi-racial movement that changed the rules of engagement in 2008. This movement powered Obamas upset victory in the Democratic primaries against the Clinton old guard and cemented his majority coalition that carried him to victory in the November general election.

In the course of a 64-minute presentation, Salit introduces a fascinating cast of characters -- political figures ranging from the famous to the infamous to the little known -- who played key roles in the independents saga. They include:

•Michael Bloomberg
•Pat Buchanan
•Hillary Clinton
•Lenora Fulani
•Jack Gargan
•Wayne Griffin
•Larry King
•Dennis Kucinich
•John McCain
•Jim Mangia
•Chris Matthews
•Ralph Nader
•Fred Newman
•Barack Obama
•Sarah Palin
•Ross Perot
•Larry Reinsch
•Nicholas Sabatine
•Cathy Stewart
•Jesse Ventura

Her story is unorthodox, funny and insightful. But most of all, it opens a window on a history made by many but reported by few.

* * *

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• independent voters
• independent party
• cathy stewart
• ross perot
• jim mangia
• jesse ventura
• mike bloomberg
• hillary clinton
• barack obama
• john mccain
• ralph nader
• lenora fulani
• fred newman
• jacqueline salit
• neo-independent
• sarah palin