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Demos is a liberal
In March 2000, Demos opened its first office in New York with Stephen B. Heintz as President. In this first year, Demos' work focused on solving economic inequities and increasing civic participation by developing a more inclusive democracy. These two areas continue to be a large part of Demos' core work. In 2001, Heintz stepped down and was replaced by Miles S. Rapoport, Connecticut legislator (1985–1995) and Secretary of State (1995–1999).
In March 2014, Rapoport left Demos to become the President of
think tank
A think tank, or policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technology, and culture. Most think tanks are non-govern ...
based in the United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...
. Founded in 2000, Demos' stated mission is to "power the movement for a just, inclusive, multiracial democracy." The organization's president is Taifa Smith Butler, formerly of the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute.
History
Founding
Demos was conceptualized in the late 1990s byCharles Halpern Charles Halpern is a lawyer, activist, author, educator, and meditation practitioner. He also served as the founding dean of CUNY School of Law, and as a faculty member of various prominent law schools across the country.
Halpern is considered a pi ...
, President of the Nathan Cummings Foundation
The Nathan Cummings Foundation was endowed by Nathan Cummings (1896–1985), founder of Consolidated Foods, later renamed Sara Lee. Cummings was also a prominent art collector and supporter of Jewish causes.
In his lifetime, Cummings made ...
(1989–2000). Halpern wanted to create a counter-force to the growing influence of the many right-wing think tanks such as the Heritage Foundation
The Heritage Foundation (abbreviated to Heritage) is an American conservative think tank based in Washington, D.C. that is primarily geared toward public policy. The foundation took a leading role in the conservative movement during the preside ...
and establish a multi-issue organization that would focus on progressive policy development and advocacy. David Callahan
David Callahan (born 1964/1965) is an American writer and editor. He is the founder and editor of ''Inside Philanthropy'', a digital media site, and Blue Tent Daily, which offers in-depth reporting on progressive organizations and the Democratic ...
, a Fellow at the Century Foundation
The Century Foundation (established first as The Cooperative League and then the Twentieth Century Fund) is a progressive think tank headquartered in New York City with an office in Washington, D.C. It was founded as a nonprofit public policy ...
, and Stephen B. Heintz, Vice-President of the EastWest Institute, joined Halpern in helping to found Demos.
Founding board members included Arnie Miller, of Isaacson Miller, an executive search firm; David Skaggs
David Evans Skaggs (born February 22, 1943) is an American lawyer, politician and educator from Colorado. A member of the Democratic Party, he served in the United States House of Representatives from 1987 to 1999.
Early life and education
Sk ...
, a Colorado Congressman; and future President
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
* President (education), a leader of a college or university
* President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Automobiles
* Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, Obama was the first Af ...
, then an Illinois State Senator
The Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the State of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. Under the I ...
.
In March 2000, Demos opened its first office in New York with Stephen B. Heintz as President. In this first year, Demos' work focused on solving economic inequities and increasing civic participation by developing a more inclusive democracy. These two areas continue to be a large part of Demos' core work. In 2001, Heintz stepped down and was replaced by Miles S. Rapoport, Connecticut legislator (1985–1995) and Secretary of State (1995–1999).
In March 2014, Rapoport left Demos to become the President of Common Cause
Common Cause is a watchdog group based in Washington, D.C., with chapters in 35 states. It was founded in 1970 by John W. Gardner, a Republican, who was the former Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare in the administration of President ...
, a watchdog group. Heather McGhee
Heather Charisse McGhee is a New York Times bestselling author and policy advocate. She is a former president and currently a trustee emeritus of Demos, a non-profit progressive U.S. think tank. McGhee is a regular contributor to NBC News and freq ...
, formerly the Vice President of Policy and Outreach at Demos, became the organization's president. McGhee is now a Distinguished Senior Fellow at Demos. In 2018, Demos named Sabeel Rahman as the new president.
In 2016 Demos fired blogger Matt Bruenig
Matthew Bruenig (born November 22, 1988) is an American lawyer, blogger, policy analyst, commentator, and founder of the left-leaning think tank People's Policy Project. He was a blogger for the American think tank Demos covering politics and pub ...
after he called the Center for American Progress
The Center for American Progress (CAP) is a public policy research and advocacy organization which presents a liberal viewpoint on economic and social issues. It has its headquarters in Washington, D.C.
The president and chief executive offic ...
's president Neera Tanden
Neera Tanden (born September 10, 1970) is an American political consultant and government official who has been a senior advisor and staff secretary to President Joe Biden since 2021. Tanden previously served as president of the Center for A ...
a scumbag.
Issues
Demos was part of a settlement in a lawsuit, filed in 2005, alleging Ohio Secretary of StateKen Blackwell
John Kenneth Blackwell (born February 28, 1948) is an American politician, author, and conservative activist who served as the mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio (1979–80), the Ohio State Treasurer (1994–99), and Ohio Secretary of State (1999–2007) ...
, Governor Bob Taft
Robert Alphonso Taft III (born January 8, 1942) is an American politician and attorney, who served as the 67th governor of Ohio from 1999 to 2007 as a member of the Republican Party.
A member of the Taft political dynasty, Taft served first in ...
, and their predecessors failed to protect the fundamental rights of eligible Ohio voters to cast a meaningful ballot, as required by the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Fourteenth Amendment (Amendment XIV) to the United States Constitution was adopted on July 9, 1868, as one of the Reconstruction Amendments. Often considered as one of the most consequential amendments, it addresses citizenship rights and ...
. The settlement was binding and required the state to provide for uniformity and consistency in Ohio election procedures so that the opportunity to vote can be enjoyed equally by all Ohio citizens.
See also
*Democratic deficit
A democratic deficit (or democracy deficit) occurs when ostensibly democratic organizations or institutions (particularly governments) fall short of fulfilling the principles of democracy in their practices or operation where representative and l ...
References
External links
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Demos (U.S. Think Tank) Civil rights organizations in the United States Non-profit organizations based in New York City Election and voting-related organizations based in the United States Political and economic think tanks in the United States Civil liberties advocacy groups in the United States 2000 establishments in New York City Progressive organizations in the United States