FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Third annual gathering of the Netroots to be held July 17–20 in Austin, TX

July 11, 2008--Netroots Nation organizers announced today that Gen. Wesley Clark confirmed his participation in the third annual event, to be held this weekend at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, TX. The retired four-star general will speak to conference attendees for the third consectutive year as part of Thursday night’s program.

Clark, a vocal critic of the Bush administration’s handling of the Iraq war, was an early Netroots supporter, gaining substantial support as a 2003 presidential candidate through the Netroots-driven DraftWesleyClark.com.

“The progressive Netroots community is a critical force for positive change, working tirelessly to put America back on track after seven-plus years of failed right-wing policies,” said Clark. “Without the progressive blogosphere, I wouldn’t have run for President in 2004, and I couldn’t continue to speak out and fight for the issues we believe in.

“Netroots Nation will give our community a great opportunity to re-connect in person, exchange ideas, and mobilize for the important political battles we face in the weeks and months ahead. It will also give me, personally, a chance to thank you for all of your help and support, especially recently. I look forward to seeing everyone in Austin and being a part of this historic gathering.”

The Thursday evening plenary begins at 7:30 p.m. and is open to the media.

Netroots Nation 2008 will feature panels led by national and international experts, including keynotes with Nancy Pelosi, Gov. Howard Dean, Donna Edwards, Lawrence Lessig, Van Jones Harld Ford Jr. and Markos Moulitsas; identity, issue and regional caucuses; prominent political, issue and policy-oriented speakers; and the most concentrated gathering of progressive bloggers to date.

Other confirmed speakers include: Rep. Brad Miller, State Rep. Rick Noriega, Calif. Secretary of State Debra Bowen, Paul Krugman, Rick Perlstein, Darcy Burner, James Rucker, John Dean, Andrea Batista Schlesinger and many more.

Netroots Nation rebranded in August of 2007 in an effort to more accurately reflect the makeup of its audience and mission of implementing programs that teach and empower Netroots communities to affect change in the public sphere. The 2007 gathering last August included a Presidential Leadership Forum that drew seven of the eight Democratic candidates.

For more information about Netroots Nation or to request credentials, please visit www.netrootsnation.org/press.

ABOUT NETROOTS NATION
Netroots Nation amplifies progressive voices by providing an online and in-person campus for exchanging ideas and learning how to be more effective in using technology to influence the public debate. Within that campus, we strengthen community, inspire action and serve as an incubator for progressive ideas that challenge the status quo and ultimately affect change in the public sphere.

##

 NN 2008, Speakers