Our nation was founded by ordinary citizen activists desiring a government that was accountable to the people.  Today, ordinary citizens across our nation are tired of the status quo and ready to engage for the betterment of their communities.

American Majority is pleased to announce an Activist Training will be conducted on Sunday, November 14th in Monterey, CA to provide citizens with the tools necessary to become effective activists.

The training will take place at Marina Library Community Center located at 190 Seaside Circle, Marina, CA 93933 from 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM.  The cost is $25 per attendee in advance, $35 at the door; discount rates available for students (please call 540-338-1251 to register as a student).

The training will be conducted by a certified American Majority Mechanic Trainer (read more about your trainer at the end of this article).

Topics* to be covered during the Training include:

• The System (an in-depth look at the system we’re in, how we got there, and what we can do about it)
• Grassroots Action (ideas and practical steps to engage our communities and organize a coalition of volunteers)
• Precinct Power (changing your community one precinct at a time with specific micro-targeting and focused action)
• Patriots 2.0 (effectively utilizing social networking tools, blogs, wiki projects and other technologically-driven platforms)

Full training materials, samples and supplements will be provided to help you apply what you learn to your organization, candidate, cause or community.

Political Training Registration

If you have any questions or would like additional information, contact James Moore at James@AMMechanics.org.

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

* Topics are subject to change.

About Your Trainer

James Moore is a full time Activist who has been an active organizer for many Tea Party Groups, events, and causes in the Northern California area. He’s been involved with politics/activism for a number of years, and been involved with petition drives and local political campaigns.

As an organizer he remains very active in the Tea Party Movement in California. In August 2009 he helped mobilize and promote a protest against the state’s eco-tyranny which included farmers and workers, truck owners and drivers, miners and loggers, and was co-sponsered by the Howard Jarvis Tax Association. The event drew over 10,000 participants.

He’s been involved in organizing dozens of other rallies and events across Northern California, as well as coalition building to achieve political objectives. In November 2009, he took a leadership role in developing the California Central Committee Project, which was instrumental in helping grassroots activist groups across the state get elected to their County Central Committee’s. He has been invited to speak before several political and non-political groups.

James has a passion for training new organizers and members of their groups.

The trainer for this event is a certified American Majority Mechanic Trainer as part of the American Majority Mechanics Program.  This individual was identified, trained and certified to conduct Activist Trainings on behalf of American Majority.

The American Majority Mechanics Program was launched in 2010 with goal of training citizen-activists to equip others to become engaged in their state and local communities.  The program is named after the roughly 30 citizens who called themselves “Mechanics” and organized an intelligence network designed to monitor and inform the citizenry about British activities in New England colonies on the eve of American independence.  Among its most notable members was Paul Revere.  For more information on become an American Majority mechanic, please contact us.

American Majority Texas is pleased to announce that on Saturday, October 2nd (one month until Election Day) in Woodway, TX American Majority will be partnering with Americans for Prosperity and the Waco Tea Party to conduct an Activist Training geared toward providing citizens the tools necessary to be effective this November.

The political training will take place at The Best Western located at 200 Colonnade Parkway in Woodway, TX from 12 Noon to 3 PM.  Registration opens at 11:30am.  This is a Free Event if you pre-register online by 10/1 and $5 if you register at the door.  Space is limited.  Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

Topics* to be covered during the Training include:

• The System: In this presentation we breakdown the progressive rise and how their efforts over the past 100 years have build the system we now face. We take a deeper look at that system and explore areas of reinforcement within government than can be broken down and exploited to bring about a more transparent and accountable system.
• Ten Tips to Full Speed: 10 tactics you can implement now to maximize your electoral impact.
• Precinct Power: highlights the great impact that can be made by focusing on precinct work, crunching numbers and understanding how the political system works on the local level
• Putting It To Use: AFP will provide an opportunity for those who attend to get involved with a simple-to-use at-home phone bank system to educate CD17 voters about their Congressman’s record on spending.

Full training materials, samples and supplements will be provided to help you apply what you learn to your organization, candidate, cause or community.

Political Training Registration

If you have any questions or would like additional information, call Andrew at 512-771-2355 or e-mail Andrew@AmericanMajority.org.

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan political training organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

* Topics are subject to change.

Our nation was founded by ordinary citizen activists desiring a government that was accountable to the people.  Today, ordinary citizens across our nation are tired of the status quo and ready to engage for the betterment of their communities. American Majority’s political training addresses these passions by providing education and resources to help you meet your goals.

American Majority Texas is pleased to announce an Activist Training will be conducted on Tuesday, September 14th in Waxahachie, TX to provide citizens with the tools necessary to become effective activists.

The political training will take place at the LaQuinta located at 311 Stadium Drive in Waxahachie from 6 PM to 9 PM.  Registration opens at 5:30 PM.  The cost is $20 if you pre-register online by 9/13 and $25 at the door.  Space is limited.  Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

Topics* to be covered during the Training include:

• The System (an in-depth look at the system we’re in, how we got here, and what we can do about it)
• Ten Tips to Full Speed (10 tactics you can implement now to maximize your electoral impact)
• Precinct Power (Hardwiring your neighborhood for political success and accountability)
• Patriot 2.0 (Utilizing New Media and the Internet to Promote Liberty)

Full training materials, samples and supplements will be provided to help you apply what you learn to your organization, candidate, cause or community.

Political Training Registration

If you have any questions or would like additional information, call Andrew at 512-771-2355 or e-mail Andrew@AmericanMajority.org .

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan political training organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

* Topics are subject to change.

Our nation was founded by ordinary citizen activists desiring a government that was accountable to the people.  Today, ordinary citizens across our nation are tired of the status quo and ready to engage for the betterment of their communities.

American Majority is pleased to announce an Activist Training will be conducted on Saturday, November 13th in Sacramento, CA to provide citizens with the tools necessary to become effective activists.

The training will take place at Red Lion Inn – Arden located at 1401 Arden Way, Sacramento, CA  95815 from 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Doors open at 11:00 AM.  The cost is $25 per attendee in advance, $35 at the door; discount rates available for students (please call 540-338-1251 to make your reservation).

The training will be conducted by a certified American Majority Mechanic Trainer (read more about your trainer at the end of this article).

Topics* to be covered during the Training include:

• The System (an in-depth look at the system we’re in, how we got there, and what we can do about it)
• Grassroots Action (ideas and practical steps to engage our communities and organize a coalition of volunteers)
• Precinct Power (changing your community one precinct at a time with specific micro-targeting and focused action)
• Patriots 2.0 (effectively utilizing social networking tools, blogs, wiki projects and other technologically-driven platforms)

Full training materials, samples and supplements will be provided to help you apply what you learn to your organization, candidate, cause or community.

Political Training Registration

If you have any questions or would like additional information, contact James Moore at James@AMMechanics.org.

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

* Topics are subject to change.

About Your Trainer

James Moore is a full time Activist who has been an active organizer for many Tea Party Groups, events, and causes in the Northern California area. He’s been involved with politics/activism for a number of years, and been involved with petition drives and local political campaigns.

As an organizer he remains very active in the Tea Party Movement in California. In August 2009 he helped mobilize and promote a protest against the state’s eco-tyranny which included farmers and workers, truck owners and drivers, miners and loggers, and was co-sponsered by the Howard Jarvis Tax Association. The event drew over 10,000 participants.

He’s been involved in organizing dozens of other rallies and events across Northern California, as well as coalition building to achieve political objectives. In November 2009, he took a leadership role in developing the California Central Committee Project, which was instrumental in helping grassroots activist groups across the state get elected to their County Central Committee’s. He has been invited to speak before several political and non-political groups.

James has a passion for training new organizers and members of their groups.

The trainer for this event is a certified American Majority Mechanic Trainer as part of the American Majority Mechanics Program.  This individual was identified, trained and certified to conduct Activist Trainings on behalf of American Majority.

The American Majority Mechanics Program was launched in 2010 with goal of training citizen-activists to equip others to become engaged in their state and local communities.  The program is named after the roughly 30 citizens who called themselves “Mechanics” and organized an intelligence network designed to monitor and inform the citizenry about British activities in New England colonies on the eve of American independence.  Among its most notable members was Paul Revere.  For more information on become an American Majority mechanic, please contact us.

This training has been postponed.

Our nation was founded by ordinary citizen activists desiring a government that was accountable to the people.  Today, ordinary citizens across our nation are tired of the status quo and ready to engage for the betterment of their communities.

American Majority is pleased to announce an Activist Training will be conducted on Saturday, September 4th in Milan, TN to provide citizens with the tools necessary to become effective activists.

The training will take place at the B.D. Bryant Memorial Library located at 2072 S. First St. in Milan from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm.  Registration opens at 8:00 am.  The cost is $25 per attendee.

The training will be conducted by a certified American Majority Mechanic Trainer (read more about your trainer at the end of this article).

Topics* to be covered during the Training include:

• The System (an in-depth look at the system we’re in, how we got there, and what we can do about it)
• Grassroots Action (ideas and practical steps to engage our communities and organize a coalition of volunteers)
• Precinct Power (changing your community one precinct at a time with specific micro-targeting and focused action)
• Patriots 2.0 (effectively utilizing social networking tools, blogs, wiki projects and other technologically-driven platforms)

Full training materials, samples and supplements will be provided to help you apply what you learn to your organization, candidate, cause or community.

Political Training Registration

If you have any questions or would like additional information, contact Jonathan Webb at jonathanw@ammechanics.org or call 402-730-7688.

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

* Topics are subject to change.

About Your Trainer

Jonathan Webb was born and raised in West Tennessee and has worked for non-profit organizations for the past 8 years.  He is currently pursuing his Masters Degree in Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University.  He has volunteered for numerous political campaigns and has over 6 years of public speaking experience.  He is passionate about our nation’s founding principles and the Constitution.

The trainer for this event is a certified American Majority Mechanic Trainer as part of the American Majority Mechanics Program.  This individual was identified, trained and certified to conduct Activist Trainings on behalf of American Majority.

The American Majority Mechanics Program was launched in 2010 with goal of training citizen-activists to equip others to become engaged in their state and local communities.  The program is named after the roughly 30 citizens who called themselves “Mechanics” and organized an intelligence network designed to monitor and inform the citizenry about British activities in New England colonies on the eve of American independence.  Among its most notable members was Paul Revere.  For more information on become an American Majority mechanic, please contact us.

We are cancelling the training in Merriam on September 15th and doing one larger training in Merriam on September 28th. If you are interested in attending, please see the entry for Merriam, KS on September 28th on the previous page!

Yesterday when the mail arrived at our office, nestled in amongst the bills and junk mail was a letter from a candidate trained by American Majority for this election cycle.  It was a thank you note for the training and resources provided during his campaign.  Towards the end of the letter, he wrote that “My legs are tired and my heart is weary.”

The fact that within the midst of the storm that is campaigning, he wanted to say thank you for our help- well, it made my week.  So today’s post is not about how to do this, or tips on accomplishing that- today I want to remind you, all of you who’ve been working so hard and giving so much time, energy and passion to candidates and causes you believe in, of why you matter.  And I want to say thank you, because I know for many of you, your legs are tired and your heart is weary- and November is still months away.

Did you know that 70+ percent of elected officials in Congress today got their start in local or state politics? The majority of Washington politicians served as city council, county commission or school board members, and moved up from there.  So know this: your efforts for liberty today will be reflected in the leaders we have in DC for the next 20 or more years.

Did you know that in elections where one candidate has the money and another has the grassroots, the candidates with the support of the people can win? And have won, many times in the past.  So don’t despair and don’t feel small, because you are so much of the difference between winning and losing.

Last night at an activist training, we talked to a grassroots volunteer who walked 20 precincts in her city for candidates she believed in.  Her candidates won all but two of those 20 precincts. In the two precincts where they didn’t win?  One candidate lost by one vote.  Another lost by three.  Your efforts matter.

Receiving that letter of thanks was incredibly humbling because really, I am grateful to him.  And to every other candidate who puts their life on hold to campaign so vigorously, and to every volunteer who makes a difference on the ground.  Because I know what’s at stake- it’s my future.  And you’re fighting for it, today, so that I can look hopefully towards tomorrow, with confidence that our nation will endure and that the American dream is still possible.

So thank you.  And just in case you need a reminder of the importance of your efforts: you simply have to watch this video.  It’s hilarious- when you’re not wincing in pain at the ridiculous and absurd wastes of taxpayer dollars.  I hope it will make you laugh- and also that it will spur you on to keep doing all the good work that you are for liberty.  Thank you for all you do.

Hello activists,

My name is Corie Whalen, and I’m American Majority Texas’ newest Field Representative, based out of Houston. I’m glad to be on board, and have quickly delved into the exciting world of conservative Texas activism.

The Threat We Face

Harris County, the area of the state I’m focusing on primarily, is truly ground zero in the fight for liberty both state, and nationwide. The left knows that if it can “turn Texas”, their stranglehold on the nation will grow stronger. They also realize that if Texas, one of the states actively engaged in the fight against the federal leviathan, elects a far-left Governor this November, that Texas, an independent-minded state known for conducting itself with fiscal restraint, will be held fully hostage to the demands of an ever growing yet beyond broke federal government.

As a result, leftist organizations are targeting and pouring money into the most populous part of the state; Houston. That’s why it’s extremely important, in the months leading up to both this November’s election and various municipal ones, that conservative activists are as engaged, active and united as possible. The threat we face demands it.

This past Saturday, at an American Majority training after a Cypress Tea Party meeting, I had the pleasure of meeting a local activist, Precinct Chairman and candidate for Cy-Fair School Board, Ms. Kay Smith. A motivated woman concerned about the future of her grandkids and community, Ms. Smith stands out as an example of a woman who understands the importance of taking back our communities as a first step toward improving our nation overall.

I was impressed when Ms. Smith explained to me how it came to pass that she became a candidate for School Board; a non-partisan, but certainly ideologically charged race. She told me about how a group of like-minded citizens got together to discuss the issues facing the Cy-Fair school district, and explained how everyone present was angry over years of severe mismanagement that had adversely affected the community. Fed up with being hostage to a school board that didn’t have the best interests of the community in mind, the group decided that they’d pick three of the people among them to run for the positions up for a vote this cycle. Ultimately, the people present decided to ask Ms. Kay Smith, former Judge Bill Henderson, and Mr. Scott Adams to be the candidates.

This example of a group of average citizens concerned about the welfare of their community coming together and uniting behind three local candidates that they all agree with on the issues is a great prototype for activists around the nation to follow. Instead of potentially splitting the vote amongst various candidates and risking losses, like-minded activists united at the local level are poised to make a big change within their community.

Can They Do It?

I spoke with Ms. Smith after we met at the training, and we further discussed what motivated her to accept the challenge to run. She said, “What’s going on in Washington (DC) today is adversely affecting Texas schools. Federal bureaucrats are threatening to cut Texas education dollars they’ve forced us to become dependent on if we won’t switch over to a national curriculum”.

Certainly, conservative activists in Texas and nationwide have a reason to be concerned. The federal government often ties policy demands to aid; aid, of course, that they’ve already spent decades forcing upon states. Now, with Texas and other states dependent on this money ($97 million in Texas, as Ms. Smith recalls), the federal government uses aid as a threat. Conform or else. Educate your children by our standards, whether or not you agree with our agenda, or else.

Coercion, threats, and using the money of taxpayer’s against them; typical dirty politics from a federal government that loves to strong arm the states and the people into falling in line with its agenda (constitutional limits on federal action being of no concern, of course).

Can Ms. Smith, Judge Henderson, and Mr. Adams chip away at the federal leviathan through local level action? I certainly think so, and time will tell us for sure. Nevertheless, their example stands out as a tool for effective local grassroots conservative organizing. The more united we are, the greater an overall effect we’ll have. After all, it was “community organizing” that won the Presidency.

Our nation was founded by ordinary citizen activists desiring a government that was accountable to the people.  Today, ordinary citizens across our nation are tired of the status quo and ready to engage for the betterment of their communities. American Majority’s political training addresses these passions by providing education and resources to help you meet your goals.

American Majority Missouri is pleased to announce an Activist Training will be conducted on Tuesday, August 24 in Ozark, MO to provide citizens with the tools necessary to become effective activists.

The political training will take place at Riverwalk Jazz Cafe located on the Square in Ozark at 209 North 2nd Street from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm.  Registration opens at 6:15.  The cost is $10 if you pre-register online and $15 at the door.  Space is limited.  Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

Topics* to be covered during the Training include:

• Building Coalitions and Reaching Your Community (ideas and practical steps to engage your community and organize a coalition of volunteers)
• Government 101 (how government operates, how legislative and executive bodies work, how to get involved)
• Holding Government Accountable (how to hold leaders accountable once they are in office)
• Effectively Communicating Your Views (how to write effective letters to the editor, opinion editorials and blogs, using social networking tools and wiki projects)

Full training materials, samples and supplements will be provided to help you apply what you learn to your organization, candidate, cause or community. Coffee and Dessert will be provided.

Political Training Registration

If you have any questions or would like additional information, call Rachel Hassani at 417-838-3067 or e-mail Rachel@AmericanMajority.org.

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan political training organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

* Topics are subject to change.

Among the seven candidates in the recent Republican primary for Oklahoma’s Fifth District Congressional seat were a current state House member (“Candidate A”), a former state House member who previously ran for this seat 4 years ago (“Candidate B”), and the former director of the largest Baptist church camp in the country (“Candidate C”).

Here is what happened on Election Day: “Candidate A” received 18% of the vote while “Candidate B” received 32% of the vote.

And in a stunning and surprising win, “Candidate C” (the former church camp director) received 34% of the vote.

But those results only tell half the story…

Who Are These Guys?

As my buddies Trait and Brett have previously and masterfully documented here and here, Oklahoma’s primary season was quite entertaining and many lessons should be learned from many of the races.

But this Fifth District race was especially interesting because of the unlikely result.

In reality, this primary was supposed to be a two-horse race between “Candidate A” (who had the backing of much of the business community) and “Candidate B” (who had been actively campaigning for the office for the past 2 years).

But something funny happened on the way to the voting booth.

As the campaign really began heating up, it became apparent that there were three candidates who were going to battle for the nomination and not two as previously believed.

“Candidate A” had raised A LOT of cash and had some decent TV ads.  He had also gotten some good press over the last couple of years in the state House and had viable name ID.

Unfortunately, apart from that he was a very bland candidate with no real narrative to set him apart from “Candidate B” and “Candidate C”.  It was almost as if he was a “zombie candidate” in that he ran a decent, well funded campaign but did not do nearly enough to set himself apart and motivate enough voters to cast their ballots for him.

On the flip side, “Candidate B” had been campaigning for two years, had also raised a ton of money, was very active among the grassroots, and had spent big money on TV ads that highlighted (over and over) his military service.  He constantly communicated how he had helped “prosecute” the War in Iraq and how he had won a bronze star for his service.

That was his narrative, and he pushed it and pushed it and pushed it.

That leaves “Candidate C”.  A political newcomer, “Candidate C” quietly built a massive volunteer army, went to every political and civic event on the calendar, and used his church connections to build name ID and raise a substantial amount of money little by little around the district.

Moreover, the narrative he pushed could be encapsulated in his campaign slogan: “We’ll never change the status quo in Washington BY SENDING THE STATUS QUO TO WASHINGTON” (emphasis mine).

Armed with this message and narrative as the ultimate political outsider, not only did “Candidate C” force his way into a runoff, but his win in the primary caught many people off guard and even had “Washington Republicans scratching their heads”.

In the end, “Candidate C” came out of nowhere and “Candidate B” finished strong partly because of the narratives they pushed and how they stood apart from their fellow competitors.

Unfortunately “Candidate A” somehow forgot the age old phrase that “People don’t buy the steak, they buy the sizzle” and lost out on reaching the runoff with a disappointing result.

What Can Potential Candidates Learn?

There is a great lesson to be learned from this race and others from around Oklahoma in regards to how candidates can differentiate themselves from their opponents.  These lessons are especially important before primaries when candidates actually agree on many issues.

So how do candidates stand apart from the crowd when running for public office and avoid becoming “zombie candidates” with no real flair or sizzle?

1. Push a Distinct Narrative/Identity: The example from the Fifth District race captures perfectly the role a narrative/identity plays in picking up votes.

2. Push a Different and Distinct Message: While this may be easy during a general election, the Democratic primary for governor in Oklahoma is a great example of how one candidate stood apart from her competitor before the primary by pushing an entirely different message.

In what ended as a surprise win, the message of the current Lieutenant Governor during her gubernatorial campaign has been one of social issues such as equal pay for women, children’s issues, and education reform.  She has pushed these issues in a very calm, cool, and personal way and in a consistent manner.

However, her competitor, the current Attorney General, focused his message mainly on jobs and the economy.  While his message was definitely timely and adequate, it did not convey the same type of emotional response or passion of his opponent’s message.  While some say the Attorney General was also outworked and out campaigned, the difference in message was also very obvious.

Subsequently, though he was heavily favored to win, the Attorney General narrowly lost to the Lieutenant Governor in the gubernatorial primary by 1,493 votes.

3. Campaign Differently than Your Competition: Lastly, a great lesson can be learned from taking the high road and avoiding the type of negative campaign tactics the electorate at large does not appreciate.

An example of this occurred during the Republican primary for Attorney General in Oklahoma.  With both candidates working hard with much the same message, one candidate decided to go negative in a TV spot.  The strategy apparently backfired as this local blog points to the fact that the candidate who was attacked saw his poll numbers and fundraising efforts increase mightily in the weeks after the ad aired.

It must be pointed out that the candidate who was attacked never fired back at his opponent but rather stayed on message and stayed above the fray.  In the end he won the primary handily by 12 points even though he did not raise nearly as much money as his opponent.

In summary, these few examples show how candidates must run their campaigns in such a way that allows them to stand out in the crowd.  If you are a candidate, whether through your narrative, your message, or by the way you campaign, differentiating yourself in any way from your fellow candidates is vitally important if you truly want to win your election.

And if you do these things, you can and will avoid becoming the dreaded “zombie candidate” in your race.

Our nation was founded by ordinary citizen activists desiring a government that was accountable to the people.  Today, ordinary citizens across our nation are tired of the status quo and ready to engage for the betterment of their communities.

American Majority is pleased to announce an Activist Training will be conducted on Saturday, September 4 in Kansas City to provide citizens with the tools necessary to become effective activists.

The training will take place at JPI Glass located at 9760 N Pomona Ave in Kansas City, MO from 10am to 2pm.  Registration opens at 9:30am.  The cost is $25 per attendee.

The training will be conducted by a certified American Majority Mechanic Trainer (read more about your trainer at the end of this article).

Topics* to be covered during the Training include:

• The System (an in-depth look at the system we’re in, how we got there, and what we can do about it)
• Grassroots Action (ideas and practical steps to engage our communities and organize a coalition of volunteers)
• Precinct Power (changing your community one precinct at a time with specific micro-targeting and focused action)
• Patriots 2.0 (effectively utilizing social networking tools, blogs, wiki projects and other technologically-driven platforms)

Full training materials, samples and supplements will be provided to help you apply what you learn to your organization, candidate, cause or community.

Political Training Registration

If you have any questions or would like additional information, contact Andrea Plunkett at andrea@ammechanics.org or call 573-990-1462.

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

* Topics are subject to change.

About Your Trainer

The trainer for this event is a certified American Majority Mechanic Trainer as part of the American Majority Mechanics Program.  This individual was identified, trained and certified to conduct Activist Trainings on behalf of American Majority.

The American Majority Mechanics Program was launched in 2010 with goal of training citizen-activists to equip others to become engaged in their state and local communities.  The program is named after the roughly 30 citizens who called themselves “Mechanics” and organized an intelligence network designed to monitor and inform the citizenry about British activities in New England colonies on the eve of American independence.  Among its most notable members was Paul Revere.  For more information on become an American Majority mechanic, please contact us.

Our nation was founded by ordinary citizen activists desiring a government that was accountable to the people.  Today, ordinary citizens across our nation are tired of the status quo and ready to engage for the betterment of their communities.

American Majority is pleased to announce an Activist Training will be conducted on Tuesday, October 12 in Valdese, NC to provide citizens with the tools necessary to become effective activists.

The training will take place in the Waldensian Room at the Old Rock School located at 400 West Main Street in Valdese, NC from 6:00 to 9:00 pm.  Registration opens at 5:30.  The cost is $25 in advance and $30 at the door.

The training will be conducted by a certified American Majority Mechanic Trainer (read more about your trainer at the end of this article).

Topics* to be covered during the Training include:

• Grassroots Action (ideas and practical steps to engage our communities and organize a coalition of volunteers)
• Precinct Power (changing your community one precinct at a time with specific micro-targeting and focused action)
• Patriots 2.0 (effectively utilizing social networking tools, blogs, wiki projects and other technologically-driven platforms)
• New Media Q&A (find out the answers to commonly asked questions about Facebook and Twitter and gain a few extra tips)

Full training materials, samples and supplements will be provided to help you apply what you learn to your organization, candidate, cause or community.

Political Training Registration

If you have any questions or would like additional information, contact Jessica Wood at Jessica@ammechanics.org or call 919-294-9974.

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

* Topics are subject to change.

About Your Trainer

A North Carolina native and proud NC State grad, Jessica Wood is the owner of Majority Connections, LLC, a social media consulting and training service for conservative causes, non profits, and small businesses. She and her husband both grew up in Union County and currently live in Durham, NC where they are members of Grey Stone Baptist Church and attend as many Duke and NCSU sporting events as they can. Jessica’s goal is to see every conservative in North Carolina connected through blogs, Facebook, and Twitter.

Jessica is a certified American Majority Mechanic Trainer as part of the American Majority Mechanics Program.  This individual was identified, trained and certified to conduct Activist Trainings on behalf of American Majority.

The American Majority Mechanics Program was launched in 2010 with goal of training citizen-activists to equip others to become engaged in their state and local communities.  The program is named after the roughly 30 citizens who called themselves “Mechanics” and organized an intelligence network designed to monitor and inform the citizenry about British activities in New England colonies on the eve of American independence.  Among its most notable members was Paul Revere.  For more information on become an American Majority mechanic, please contact us.

Our nation was founded by ordinary citizen activists desiring a government that was accountable to the people.  Today, ordinary citizens across our nation are tired of the status quo and ready to engage for the betterment of their communities.

American Majority is pleased to announce an Activist Training will be conducted on Sunday, August 29 in Concord, NC to provide citizens with the tools necessary to become effective activists.

The training will take place in the upstairs meeting room at the Bass Pro Shops at Concord Mills Malls located at 818 Concord Mills Boulevard in Concord, NC from 1:30 to 5:00.  Registration opens at 1:00.  The cost is $25 in advance and $30 at the door.

The training will be conducted by a certified American Majority Mechanic Trainer (read more about your trainer at the end of this article).

Topics* to be covered during the Training include:

• The System (an in-depth look at the system we’re in, how we got there, and what we can do about it)
• Grassroots Action (ideas and practical steps to engage our communities and organize a coalition of volunteers)
• Precinct Power (changing your community one precinct at a time with specific micro-targeting and focused action)
• Patriots 2.0 (effectively utilizing social networking tools, blogs, wiki projects and other technologically-driven platforms)
• New Media Q&A (find out the answers to commonly asked questions about Facebook and Twitter and gain a few extra tips)

Full training materials, samples and supplements will be provided to help you apply what you learn to your organization, candidate, cause or community.

Political Training Registration

If you have any questions or would like additional information, contact Jessica Wood at Jessica@ammechanics.org or call 919-294-9974.

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

* Topics are subject to change.

About Your Trainer

A North Carolina native and proud NC State grad, Jessica Wood is the owner of Majority Connections, LLC, a social media consulting and training service for conservative causes, non profits, and small businesses. She and her husband both grew up in Union County and currently live in Durham, NC where they are members of Grey Stone Baptist Church and attend as many Duke and NCSU sporting events as they can. Jessica’s goal is to see every conservative in North Carolina connected through blogs, Facebook, and Twitter.

Jessica is a certified American Majority Mechanic Trainer as part of the American Majority Mechanics Program.  This individual was identified, trained and certified to conduct Activist Trainings on behalf of American Majority.

The American Majority Mechanics Program was launched in 2010 with goal of training citizen-activists to equip others to become engaged in their state and local communities.  The program is named after the roughly 30 citizens who called themselves “Mechanics” and organized an intelligence network designed to monitor and inform the citizenry about British activities in New England colonies on the eve of American independence.  Among its most notable members was Paul Revere.  For more information on becoming an American Majority mechanic, please contact us.

Primary season.  Ah, it’s fun times.  I always look forward to election season, the palm cards, yard signs, door-to-door, fundraiser and sign wave craziness… but sometimes, I’m just ready for the negativity to end.  Am I alone in feeling this way?  At our training sessions, candidates often ask how they can show contrast between themselves and their opponents without “going negative.”  It’s a good question- and it’s a skill, so I think it’s important that we talk about it.

1. Don’t be afraid to illustrate differences.  Elections are inherently about conflict- there is good and evil, right and wrong, liberty and oppression, and voters must choose between them on election day.  Showing contrast is an important campaign strategy, particularly for challengers.  With the high retention rate for elected officials from the local level through Congress, as a candidate, you are asking voters to reject the person who they know, who they may have voted for previously, in favor of you.  Choose the devil they don’t know over the one they do, so to speak.  You must give them good reasons to vote for you.  Part of that is illustrating the differences between them, the voting electorate, and the incumbent, or other candidate.

2. In a republic where we democratically elect our rulers, it’s important to hold those rulers accountable- and even if your campaign isn’t victorious, discussing voting records and illustrating bad choices to the voters is an important part of holding government accountable.

3. Understand the strategy- incumbents or favored candidates will use the “incumbent” strategies, where they appeal to the trappings of office, their current title, their aura of prestige and power to illustrate their legitimacy.  Challengers, however, must use a different strategy if they are to be victorious- they must draw the voters’ attention to the opponent’s record, and call for change.

4. Never touch the family.  In a campaign I worked several years ago, my family was attacked on the blog of a key member of the opponent’s campaign, so I can tell you from personal experience- this is not ok.  Please, don’t do it.

5. Illustrate votes and stances on the issues.  If you keep your contrasting messages during your campaign focused on the issues and show the votes that your opponent made, you will be able to resist the personal mudslinging that can often ensue.  And after all- aren’t campaigns supposed to be about the issues?

6. I once worked with the man whose firm created the Swift Boat Ads during the Bush/Kerry campaign and he told me something that has really stuck with me- he said the entire election might have been different if Kerry had responded to the Swift Boat ads when they first came out.  Learn from this: if your opponent attacks you, respond.  Now, I say that with a caution- measure the importance.  If it’s a campaign ad shown throughout your district in which your stances on the issues are pulled into question?  Probably ought to respond to that.  If however the opponent makes an offhand snide remark about you on the local radio show- probably not important enough to respond to.  You have to be willing to let some things roll off your back, or you’ll turn what was a one-newsday issues into a two, three, perhaps even four-newsday problem.  But when an attack comes that must be answered, answer it.

7. Along those lines, answer in kind.  If your opponent takes out a full ad in the newspaper hammering you, don’t record a radio ad responding to it.  You will likely hit different audiences, meaning that the radio audience now knows about the newspaper ad when they wouldn’t have otherwise, and the newspaper audience doesn’t see your response.  Respond in kind, and respond quickly.

8. Be willing to use surrogates.  You might not be the best person to answer every charge from the opponent, or to draw every comparison.  If there is someone within the community or your campaign who is better equipped than you, don’t be afraid to utilize their strengths.

9. Sometimes a PAC or issue group will engage in negative campaigning on your behalf- because of federal laws, you as the candidate cannot be advised in advance of what their message will be, what form it will be in (mailer, radio, etc), or when it will hit.  But you may take a backlash as a result.  For example, in 2004 a PAC sent out a mailer that was very negative toward my candidate’s opponent, and we received a lot of angry phone calls and emails.  In cases such as these, it’s best to simply make clear that your campaign had nothing to do with the attack, and try to move on as swiftly as possible.

10. Never, ever make a reference to your opponent’s voting record or issue stances unless you are 110% certain that it is true.  Credibility once lost is difficult to regain- do due diligence to know the truth before you speak it.  You owe the voters nothing less.

If you’re looking for candidates to support, use these tips to help you determine who is running a more honorable campaign.  If you’re helping a candidate you believe in, use these strategies as you work towards his or her election.  Remember, talking about the issues and voting records is not negative campaigning- so let’s stick to that, and let the voters have their say.

Our nation was founded by ordinary citizen activists desiring a government that was accountable to the people.  Today, ordinary citizens across our nation are tired of the status quo and ready to engage for the betterment of their communities. American Majority’s political training addresses these passions by providing education and resources to help you meet your goals.

American Majority Missouri is pleased to announce an Activist Training will be conducted on Thursday, August 12 in Brookfield, MO to provide citizens with the tools necessary to become effective activists.

The political training will take place at Smith’s Auction and Business Center located at 502 South State Street in Brookfield from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.  Registration opens at 5:45.  The cost is $5. Space is limited.  Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

Topics* to be covered during the Training include:

• Government 101 (how government operates, how legislative and executive bodies work, how to get involved)
• Holding Government Accountable (how to hold leaders accountable once they are in office)
• Grassroots Action (ideas and practical steps to engage our communities and organize a coalition of volunteers)
• Precinct Power (changing your community one precinct at a time with specific micro-targeting and focused action)
• Volunteer in Campaigns (Learn how to be of the most value to a campaign, how to benefit your candidate and discuss expectations with former campaign staffers)

Full training materials, samples and supplements will be provided to help you apply what you learn to your organization, candidate, cause or community.  Dinner will be provided.

Political Training Registration

If you have any questions or would like additional information, call Rachel Hassani at 417-838-3067 or e-mail Rachel@AmericanMajority.org.

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan political training organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

* Topics are subject to change.