You’ve heard of Super Bowl parties and Oscar night parties. What about a party to watch the president’s State of the Union address?
Organizing for America, the grassroots arm of the Democratic party, is hosting just such a thing in living rooms across the country.
“On Wednesday evening, President Obama will deliver his first State of the Union address. It comes at a critical moment,” states an email sent by Obama campaign manager David Plouffe to OFA volunteers. “We must regroup, refocus, and re-engage on the vital work ahead.”
There are at least six SOTU parties within 45 miles of Hartford, according to the OFA website. Among them is a gathering in Bristol where participants can “watch, absorb and pray” as well as participate in a national conference call with Plouffe.
The speech is Obama’s first SOTU address and the stakes couldn’t be higher — especially in the wake of the Democratic defeat in Massachusetts. That might explain why party activists are turning to the same grassroots approach that helped them win the presidency in 2008.
“We’ve hit some serious bumps in the road recently in our march toward change. We always knew it would be difficult, but this past week has definitely been a hard one, for all of us,” Plouffe wrote.
“But this movement didn’t come so far without making it through some challenging times. It’s at moments like these when we need you most. People are hurting. Our country is at a crossroads, and in communities like yours all across America we must all fight for the progress our families and businesses need to thrive.
“The President’s resolve has never been stronger to keep fighting for health insurance reform, for lasting job creation, and to rein in the big banks and fight the undue influence of lobbyists. Wednesday’s speech will be a pivotal moment for us all to get on the same page and continue the fight together,” Plouffe wrote.