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{{short description|American political blog}}

{{Multiple issues|
{{Primary sources|date=March 2024}}
{{COI|date=March 2024}}
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'''OpenLeft''' was a [[political blog]] active from July 9, 2007 until February 2011 by Matt Stoller, [[Chris Bowers]] (originally of [[MyDD]]) and [[Mike Lux]], a former official in the [[White House]] under [[President of the United States|President]] [[Bill Clinton]].<ref>Ari Melber. [http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070716/melber OpenLeft Aims to Open Doors in DC], [[The Nation]], July 9, 2007</ref><ref>[[Mike Lux]]. [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-lux/openleft_b_54717.html OpenLeft], [[Huffington Post]], July 3, 2007</ref> Covering political and social issues from a [[Progressivism|progressive]] standpoint, it spearheaded a number of causes, including focusing attention and criticism on the [[Blue Dog Democrat]]s<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kraushaar |first1=Josh |website=[[Politico]] |title=Liberal blogger targets 'Bush Dog' Dems |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2007/08/liberal-blogger-targets-bush-dog-dems-005498 |access-date=1 June 2024 |date=2007-08-24}}</ref> and supporting [[net neutrality]].<ref>[[Adario Strange]]. [http://blog.wired.com/business/2007/08/fcc-commissione.html FCC Commissioner Discusses The Future Of Internet Distribution], Epicenter blog, [[Wired.com]], August 20, 2007</ref> The website's campaign garnered criticism from a number of Democrats, including [[Brian Baird]].<ref>Liz Mair. [http://www.seattlepi.com/opinion/329747_mair31.html Baird in political no-man's land], Seattle pi, August 30, 2007</ref>

On February 4, 2011 Bowers announced that Open Left would cease publishing new content, although previously published content would remain available. He explained, "As the people who founded the site, myself included, moved on to other projects, we have gradually run out of money to maintain operations."<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://openleft.com/diary/21606/open-left-is-closing |title=Open Left is closing |last=Bowers |first=Chris |authorlink=Chris Bowers |date=February 4, 2011 |publisher=OpenLeft |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110205222350/http://openleft.com/diary/21606/open-left-is-closing |archive-date=February 5, 2011 |url-status=usurped |access-date=July 10, 2019}}</ref>

== ''A Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq'' ==
Stoller endorsed and helped create the document ''[[A Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq]]'', a policy plan designed for progressive/liberal Democratic congressional challengers (or incumbents) to endorse and point to as their "plan" for the [[Iraq War]]. The plan had several high-profile military endorsers, including retired General [[Paul Eaton]].<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/progressive-candidates-netroots-launch-iraq-plan/ Progressive Candidates, Netroots Launch Iraq Plan], [[The Politico]], Mar 17, 2008.</ref><ref>Matt Stoller. {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090220135003/http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4657 More Challengers Sign on to Responsible Plan]}}, OpenLeft, Mar 20, 2008</ref>

== Collaborative legislation writing with Dick Durbin ==
In July 2007, Senator [[Dick Durbin]] (D-IL) visited OpenLeft to seek input into drafting broadband legislation in the Senate.<ref>{{Cite web |last=CORLEY |first=CHERYL |date=2 August 2007 |title=Next Big Thing: Virtual Legislation |url=https://www.npr.org/2007/08/02/12444660/next-big-thing-virtual-legislation |access-date=June 7, 2024 |website=NPR}}</ref> The effort garnered notice for the coordination between senior lawmakers and bloggers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gross |first=Grant |date=2007-07-29 |title=Bloggers Write Legislation |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/135194/article.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170418083016/http://www.pcworld.com/article/135194/article.html |archive-date=2017-04-18 |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=PCWorld}}</ref>

== Public option campaign ==
Throughout the health care debate in 2009 and 2010, Chris Bowers worked with readers at OpenLeft to maintain a public whip count on the supporters of a health care public option.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100316044859/http://www.openleft.com/diary/17802/senate-democrats-acting-in-bad-faith-on-the-public-option-the-proof-isnt-there-yet Senate Democrats acting in bad faith on the public option? The proof isn't there, yet]}} OpenLeft, March 12, 2010</ref> His whip count was an attempt to demonstrate that there were in fact 51 Senators who would support a health care reform bill through reconciliation that included a public option. Chris also engaged in a series of posts demonstrating that reconciliation was a viable means by which to pass a public option. Upon proving 51 Senators existed for such a goal, OpenLeft, in partnership with [[CREDO (company)#CREDO Action|CREDO Action]], bought ad space in traditional media sources such as The Washington Post, Slate, Roll Call and The Hill, funded by its readers.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110727121632/http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=15640 Your Ad in the Washington Post]}}, October 21, 2009</ref> The ads were aimed at [[Majority Leader Reid]] and President Obama with the message of “no excuses”, pointing to the whip count, and asking Reid to put a public option in the merged Senate bill, which he later did.

== Net neutrality ==
Since its inception, OpenLeft has done significant work and reporting on the issue of net neutrality. OpenLeft's writers worked with Congressional and Senatorial candidates to encourage their campaigns to support net neutrality. Congressman and 2010 Senate candidate [[Joe Sestak]] wrote a piece on the site voicing his support of the issue.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20120907083223/http://www.openleft.com/diary/15197/standing-up-for-consumers-not-corporations Standing Up For Consumers, Not Corporations]}}, OpenLeft, September 21, 2009</ref> Former OpenLeft writer Matt Stoller played an instrumental role in gaining a commitment from every Democratic Senatorial candidate in 2008 in favor of net neutrality.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110727121245/http://www.openleft.com/diary/7125/ Every Major Senate Democratic Challenger Announces Support for Network Neutrality]}}, OpenLeft, July 24, 2008</ref>

== Searching for John McCain ==
During the 2008 presidential campaign, Chris Bowers launched an initiative to influence search engine results for [[John McCain]], and asked readers to do so as well. Readers raised the Google pageranking of links to certain articles on McCain's record so when voters searched for information on the candidate, those articles would be the first to come up. This effort helped voters become more familiar with McCain's negative history on issues such as Social Security, health care for children, and the Iraq war.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110727121254/http://www.openleft.com/diary/6422/ Searching For John McCain Update]}}, OpenLeft, June 17, 2008</ref>

== Protect Maine Equality ==
In 2009, Adam Bink wrote heavily on the "No On 1" campaign to protect Maine's marriage equality law, discussing the importance of a win for the LGBT and broader progressive movement, and encouraging readers to contribute. Over the course of the election, his efforts helped raise nearly $1.4 million on ActBlue, included over $8,000 via OpenLeft's "Better Democrats" page on ActBlue.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Left:: Thanks, and onward for marriage equality |url=https://www.openleft.com/diary/17356/thanks-and-onward-for-marriage-equality.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805005322/https://www.openleft.com/diary/17356/thanks-and-onward-for-marriage-equality.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=August 5, 2024 |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=Open Left |language=en}}</ref>

In October, Adam Bink raised money from OpenLeft readers to travel to Maine and report from on the ground.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090928033218/http://www.openleft.com/diary/15237/an-interconnected-movement An Interconnected Movement]}}, OpenLeft, September 24, 2009</ref> While in Maine, he engaged on a number of issues to elevate attention to the election, including rank-and-file Catholics' response to the Bishop's involvement;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Left:: The Bishop vs. The Grassroots |url=https://www.openleft.com/showdiary_diaryid-15634.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805005327/https://www.openleft.com/showdiary_diaryid-15634.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 5, 2024 |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=www.openleft.com}}</ref> the emerging role of new media infrastructure in supporting the campaign;<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20091108154910/http://www.openleft.com/diary/15616/plugging-infrastructure-gaps Plugging Infrastructure Gaps]}} OpenLeft, October 10, 2009</ref> and pushing back on opposition efforts. He also filmed and produced a thank-you video from the campaign to the netroots and organized several online blogosphere fundraisers.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20101223163034/http://openleft.com/diary/15564/no-on-1protect-maine-equality-thanks-the-netroots No On 1/Protect Maine Equality Thanks the Netroots]}}, OpenLeft, October 16, 2009</ref> Adam also co-produced the 3-2-1 Countdown for Equality designed to help online activists understand the who, what, and where needed for the three LGBT-related elections in November 2009 (Washington State, Maine, and Kalamazoo, MI).<ref>[http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/content/321CountdownForEquality 3-2-1 Countdown for Equality: No Bittersweet Victories], Courage Campaign, October 28, 2009</ref> When it was “swarmed” by nearly 50 other prominent blogs, it became the equivalent of tens of thousands of dollars in free media in the final days of the election.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100618063405/http://www.openleft.com/diary/15747 3-2-1 Countdown for Equality Contributed Posts]}}, OpenLeft, October 29, 2009</ref>

== ''The Progressive Revolution'' ==
In January 2009, OpenLeft co-founder Mike Lux released a book titled [http://www.mikelux.com/?page_id=50 ''The Progressive Revolution: How the Best in America Came to Be'']. In it, he discusses the history of conflicts between progressives and conservatives, disputes long-time conservative myths about progressive leaders and accomplishments, and details why the time is ripe for another “Big Change Moment.” The book was published by [[Wiley & Sons]]. After its release, Lux went on a 60-event, 29-city book tour to discuss the book and the future of the progressive movement. He also wrote a series of posts from the road on what the mood is out in the states among progressive activists.<ref>[http://www.openleft.com/tag.do?tag=The%20Progressive%20Revolution The Progressive Revolution]{{dead link|date=December 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, OpenLeft, March 31, 2010</ref>

== Movement-oriented campaigns ==
OpenLeft.com was known for being one of the few blogs on the internet to have built its own infrastructure, including its own email list, fundraising apparatus, and legislative contact tools for e-action. It is part of a left-leaning coalition of websites that pool their web space together to sell to advertisers. OpenLeft has used these resources to create several partnerships to interest progressive media and build broad action campaigns. Such partnerships include working with [[CREDO (company)#CREDO Action|CREDO]] to create action campaigns on the public option, including buying ad space and creating petitions to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid;<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110727121516/http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=15364 Harry Reid: A Public Option Will Be In Final Bill]}}, OpenLeft, October 10, 2009</ref> Service Employees International Union ([[SEIU]]) on building a coalition for health care action, and with Friends of the Earth to provide on-the-ground coverage in December 2009 of the climate change conference in Copenhagen.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100102141448/http://openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=16616 Copenhagen Wrap Up: Climate crisis left unabated, diplomatic chasms created]}}, OpenLeft, December 21, 2009</ref>

==List of notable regular contributors==
*[[Chris Bowers]]
*[[Mike Lux]]
*[[David Sirota]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20080206165158/http://www.openleft.com/ Openleft.com]}} website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Openleft}}
[[Category:American political blogs]]
[[Category:Internet properties established in 2007]]

OpenLeft - Revision history

imported>EatingCarBatteries: Removed {{Citation style}} tag