How to Hack a Party Line: The Democrats and Silicon Valley

Twenty-eight-year-old multimillionaires meet canny Democratic Party insiders in this behind-the-scenes account of the attempt to build Silicon Valley's first political machine. How to Hack a Party Line chronicles a high-stakes experiment to turn the Democrats into the party of business, reshaping the politics of the twenty-first century.

In this wickedly funny and often disturbing tale of power, Sara Miles introduces us to a clique of successful geeks, unschooled in politics, and the political operatives who saw their potential. We meet ambitious Democratic fund-raiser Wade Randlett, would-be kingmaker, who declares, "Whoever cracks Silicon Valley is going to be the champeen of the world." Randlett leads Miles at breakneck speed through back rooms, boardrooms, and bars, chasing influence during the boom years leading up to the 2000 elections. The author eavesdrops on the political education of powerful venture capitalist John Doerr, dines with White House aides and consummate Beltway insider Tony Podesta, and follows two dozen New Democrat congressmen on a giddy, wine-soaked tour of California.

This book is the first significant analysis of a major realignment in American politics as the country struggles with the social meaning of the New Economy. How to Hack a Party Line looks at centrist New Democrats who have left behind the liberal coalitions of the industrial economy and are seeking a new identity in the values proclaimed by hightech capitalists: growth, globalism, efficiency, and innovation. It explores the often contradictory forces behind Silicon Valley's political awakening -- a mixture of naïve libertarian sentiment, mellow Left Coast attitudes, and aggressive business instincts. Through vivid storytelling, it asks what values prosper when high-tech business becomes the metaphor for society -- and how democracy will respond.