Michael Huttner

Michael Huttner (born December 22, 1969) is an attorney, author and activist and is the founder of ProgressNow a network of progressive communication organizations in 12 American states with over 2.4 million online members.^[1]

Founder of ProgressNow

Huttner, along with Bobby Clark, a former staffer to the Howard Dean presidential campaign, worked in 2005 with the technology provider Blue State Digital to develop the website that launched as ProgressNow and was later adopted by the Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2008.^[2] The Washington Post referred to their work as one most “ambitious” effort in grassroots organizing at the state level.^[3] Starting with Colorado and then Ohio,^[4] Huttner has developed a network of state based communications hubs across the country.^[5]

Author

Huttner is the author of 50 Ways You Can Help Obama Change America, an activist handbook that the late Senator Edward Kennedy described as “A practical handbook on how every American can do something for our country.”^[6] On September 5, 2009, the book's sales rank was number 28 in its Amazon.com category, but by September 20, 2009, it was no longer in the top 100 in its category.^[7]

Huttner’s book was criticized by conservative commentators including Fox News's Neil Cavuto.^[8] Conservative author Michelle Malkin also criticized Huttner for reaching out to “[Obama] cultists” and for trying to knock her book Culture of Corruption: Obama and His Team of Tax Cheats, Crooks, and Cronies off the New York Times bestseller list.^[7]

Support from the left, criticism from the right

Huttner has developed numerous fans from the left as well as critics largely from the conservative side of the political spectrum.^[9] He was criticized by Republicans when he called on every public official in Colorado who supported Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave’s proposed Federal Marriage Amendment to sign a “fidelity pledge.”^[10]

Huttner was also criticized by numerous Republicans after he put up a billboard near the Colorado State Capitol that accused Governor Bill Owens of Colorado’s post-September 11 attacks economic downturn.^[10]

Huttner was later criticized for his guilt-by-association tactic of renting a plane to fly over Denver’s Invesco Field at Mile High two days before the 2008 general election with a message “McCain is a Raiders Fan.” ^[11]

Education and professional career

Mr. Huttner grew up in Denver, Colorado and graduated from Cherry Creek High School, received his B.A. from Brown University and his J.D. from the UC Hastings College of Law.^[12] He has also taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Denver College of Law.^[13]

References

1. ^ Bill Husted’s Bar & Grilled: Progressive pol proudly embraces the ‘L-word’”, Denver Post, January 14, 2010 [1]
2. ^ Progressive website packs political tools Funded by plush liberal donors, th new site touts roots in Howard Dean’s presidential campaign. The Denver Post, September 16, 2005 [2]
3. ^ “Dean camp’s tactics applied to Colorado; web site aims to organize liberal activists”, Brian Faler, The Washington Post, October 9, 2005 [3]
4. ^ Websites win candidates’ praise; Young people pushed them to get online,” Judy Keen, USA Today, October 17, 2006 [4]
5. ^ “Nonprofits Look for New Ways to Shape Campaign”. Peter Overby, National Public Radio, June 25, 2008 [5]
6. ^ “50 Ways You Can Help Obama Change America,” by Michael Huttner and Jason Salzman, PoliPointPress, 2009 [6]
7. ^ ^{a b} Made in Colorado Obama fans, foes take their fight to reading chairs, The Denver Post, September 20, 2009 [7]
8. ^ “Pro-Health Care Rallies Starting Around the Country,” Fox News with Neil Cavuto, August 31, 2009 [8]
9. ^ The Blueprint: How the Democrats Won Colorado and Why Republicans Everywhere Should Care”, Adam Schrager and Rob Witwer, Speaker’s Corner Books, 2010 [9]
10. ^ ^{a b} Young Blood: Rising political powerhouse Jared Polis is rich, tireless and filled with contradictions. Michael Roberts, Denver Westword; August 19, 2004. [10]
11. ^ “Buzz: ‘McCain is a Raiders Fan’? Now that’s just hate speech”, San Jose Mercury News, November 2, 2008 [11]
12. ^ “Bill Husted’s Bar & Grilled Progressive pol proudly embraces the ‘L-word’”, Denver Post, January 14, 2010 [12]
13. ^ Huffington Post

External links

• huffingtonpost.com/michael-huttner
• progressnow.org
• 50waysyoucanhelpobama.com

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Name	Huttner, Michael
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Date of birth	December 22, 1969
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