Democratic Primary Challenges

Bush Democrats

Bob Fertik — Wed, 30 May 2007 13:52:46 -0400

While Democrats control the House of Representatives by 231-202, they cannot pass progressive bills on health care, the environment, jobs, justice, and impeachment - or even stop horrendous Republican bills on Iraq, torture, and warrantless wiretapping - because a few dozen "Bush Democrats" usually vote with George Bush.

One solution is to elect more Democrats to increase our majority so "Bush Democrats" matter less, and many netroots groups like Moveon.org, DailyKos.com, and Blue America are doing this brilliantly.

The other solution is to support progressive Democrats in primaries against "Bush Democrats," and that's why we launched this effort, drawing heavily on the excellent advice of Blue America's Howie Klein.

The main reason progressives have avoided primaries against Democratic incumbents is the fear that a divisive primary might help turn a "Bush Democratic" seat into a Republican seat. Realistically, there may be a few "Bush Democrats" who are uniquely able to win in Republican districts and therefore should not be challenged in a Democratic primary. But those are the exceptions, not the rule - especially in an election like 2008 where Democrats have a large lead due to widespread disgust with Bush and the entire Republican Party. We will not target incumbents who are truly exceptional.

While we focus on replacing incumbent Bush Democrats, there are two other situations in which progressive Democrats face Bush Democrats:

Open seats where progressive Democrats are running against Bush Democrats
Progressive Democratic incumbents who are being challenged by Bush Democrats

You can help all of our progressive Democratic candidates through our Actblue page:
http://www.actblue.com/page/bushdemocrats

1. Incumbent Bush Democrats who deserve primary challenges

Below is a list of Democrats who voted wrong on one or more crucial votes. Some are hard-core "Bush Democrats" while others simply join them from time to time.


Steny Hoyer

By publishing this list, we hope to accomplish several goals:

Persuade these Democrats to stop voting with Bush so we don't have to challenge them in a primary. Democrats who reverse their bad votes and genuinely embrace progressive positions will be ~~crossed off our list~~
Encourage progressive Democrats to run primaries against those who keep voting with Bush

This list began after 59 Bush Democrats voted against the McGovern Amendment on 5/10/2007 on the first key vote to end the war. Those 59 Bush Democrats voted for an endless occupation of Iraq despite overwhelming opposition from Democrats, Independents, and even many Republicans. The list has been modified since then to take account of other key votes since the original Iraq War vote on 10/10/02.

Key to Column Headings:

"B/R" ranks each district on a "Blue/Red" scale where 1=Strong Blue, 2=Leans Blue, 3=Tossup, 4=Leans Red, 5=Solid Red. In theory there is less "risk" in challenging an incumbent in a Blue district than a Red one, because the seat should stay Democratic regardless of who wins the primary. But each district and each race is unique, so that general theory may or may not apply.

"Incumbent" links to a page for each incumbent where you can discuss progressive Democrats who could challenge them in a primary, and other topics related to local political organizing.

"B/N" identifies Members who join the "Bluedog" (B) or "New Democrat/DLC" (N) caucuses. "Bluedogs" claim to support "fiscal responsibility," but these Bluedogs support a war that has already wasted an incredible $434 billion and driven budget deficits to record levels. "New Democrats/DLC" claim to support "national security" but the Iraq War has severely damaged our armed forces, undermined military recruitment, increased global terrorism, and alienated our allies. Those who play a leadership role with either group earn an asterisk (*).

"BDI" is the "Bush Democrat Index" which ranks all Democrats on their overall voting support for George Bush and the Republicans. It is the reverse of the Progressive Punch Index.

"Votes" identifies key votes where these Members voted wrong:

?: (Not in office when vote occurred)
A: Authorization for Use of Military Force in Iraq on 10/10/02 (bad=support)
B: Bankruptcy Bill on 5/14/05 (bad=support)
M: Military Commissions Act on 9/27/06 (bad=support)
I: Iraq Supplemental McGovern Amendment to end the war by 4/08 on 5/10/07 (bad=oppose)
R: Andrews Amendment to block Iraq/Afghan funds for military strike on Iran on 5/16/07 (bad=oppose)
X: Iraq Supplemental with unenforceable timetable on 7/12/07 (bad=oppose any timetable)
W: Warantless Wiretapping on 8/4/07 (bad=support)
C: Bi-Partisan Compact on Iraq to oppose any funding cuts 9/26/07 (bad=support)
P: "Protect America Act" letter co-signer 2/08 (P voted against Democratic alternative 3/14/08)
Q: Iraq $163B on 6/19/08
F: FISA wiretapping immunity on 6/20/08

"Primary Nominees" lists people whose names have been mentioned. If they are running and have a web site we link to their site. If we consider them priority candidates (whether or not they are running) we make them bold.

Dist	B/R	Incumbent	B/N	BDI	Votes	Primary Nominees
AL05	4	Bud Cramer	B	2	ABMIRWCPQF	retiring in 08
AL07		Artur Davis			MWBPKQF
AR01		Marion Berry	B		ABCKQF
AR02	1	Vic Snyder	N	49	IXWQF
AR04	1	Mike Ross	B*	26	ABMIWCPQF
AZ05	4	Harry Mitchell	b	59	?IRWQF
AZ08	3	Gabrielle Giffords	B	79	?IQF	Jeff Latas
CA18	3	Dennis Cardoza	B	46	?BIF
CA20	2	Jim Costa	B	50	?BIWCQF
CA28	1	Howard Berman		117	AIQF	Rep. Cindy Montanez Rep. Lloyd Levine Mike Stettler
CO02	1	Mark Udall		109	IQF	running for US Senate
CO03	4	John Salazar	B	56	?BMIRWQF
FL02	4	Allen Boyd	B*	6	ABMIRWCPQF	Rep. Al Lawson
FL03		Corrine Brown			KQF
FL16	4	Tim Mahoney	B	63	?IRQF
GA02	1	Sanford Bishop	B	27	ABMIRQF
GA08	5	Jim Marshall	B	9	?MIRXWQF	Robert Nowak Jack Ellis George Carswell
GA012	1	John Barrow	BN	12	?MIRXWPQF	Regina Thomas 7/15
GA013	1	David Scott	BN	52	?BMIRQF
IA03	3	Leonard Boswell	B	20	ABMIWPF	~~Ed Fallon~~ [Likely to retire after IA loses seat in 2010]
IL03	1	Daniel Lipinski		76	IWQF	~~Mark Pera~~
IL05		Rahm Emanuel	*		KQF
IL08	4	Melissa Bean	BN	37	?BMIRWPQF	~~Randi Scheuer~~
IN02	3	Joe Donnelly	B	29	?IRWQF
IN08	4	Brad Ellsworth	B	30	?IXWPQF
IN09	4	Baron Hill	B	32	A?IWQ	Gretchen Clearwater 5/6
KS02	4	Nancy Boyda	b	88	?IQF
KS03	3	Dennis Moore	BN*	47	ABMICPQF
KY06	3	Ben Chandler	BN	55	?BMIWQF	Sen. Ernesto Scorsone
LA03	3	Charlie Melancon	BN	15	?BMIRWPQF
LA06		Don Cazayoux			?QF
MD02	1	Dutch Ruppersberger		68	?BIQF
MD04	1	~~Al Wynn~~		94	AB	Donna Edwards
MD05	1	Steny Hoyer	*	83	ABIQF	Paul Pinsky
MN07	4	Collin Peterson	B	3	ABMIWQF
MO04	5	Ike Skelton		5	ABIQF
MS01		Travis Childers			?QF
MS04	5	Gene Taylor	B	1	ABMIXWCQF
NC02	2	Bob Etheridge	N	48	ABMIWQF
NC07	3	Mike McIntyre	BN	7	ABMIWQF
NC011	3	Heath Shuler	B	23	?IRWPQF	Sen. Martin Luther Nesbitt Rep. Susan C Fisher Rep. Ray Rapp
ND00	4	Earl Pomeroy	B	33	ABMIWPQF
NV01	1	Shelley Berkley	N	67	AIRQF
NY20		Kirsten Gillibrand	B		?QF
OH06	3	Charles Wilson	B	140	?IWQF
OH18	4	Zack Space	B	57	?IRWPQF
OK02	4	Dan Boren	B	4	?BMIRXWCPQF
PA04	3	Jason Altmire		25	?IRWQF
PA07		Joe Sestak			?KQF
PA10	5	Chris Carney	B	43	?IRXWPQF
PA11		Paul Kanjorski			AQF
PA12		John Murtha			AHRBKQF
PA13	1	Allyson Schwartz	N	145	?BIRQ	Chuck Pennacchio
PA17	5	Tim Holden	B	11	ABMIRXPQF	Sen. Michael O'Pake
SC05		John Spratt			AMBPKQF
SC06		Jim Clyburn	*		KQF
SD00	4	Stephanie Herseth Sandlin	BN*	36	?BMIRWCQF
TN04	3	Lincoln Davis	B	13	?BMIWCPQF
TN05	1	Jim Cooper	B	24	?BIWPQF
TN06	4	Bart Gordon	B	18	ABMIWQF
TN08	1	John Tanner	B	8	ABMIRWCPQF
TX09	1	Al Green		167	?BIF	Rep. Alma Allen Rep. Hubert Vo
TX15		Ruben Hinojosa			KQF
TX16		Silvestre Reyes			KQF
TX17	5	Chet Edwards		17	ABMIWQF
TX22	5	Nick Lampson	B	34	A?IRWCQF
TX23	3	Ciro Rodriguez		75	?IWQF
TX27	2	Solomon Ortiz		14	BIQF	Juan Garcia
TX28	1	Henry Cuellar	bN	19	?BMIRWQF
TX29	1	Gene Green		43	AIQF	Sen. Mario V. Gallegos
UT02	5	Jim Matheson	B	10	ABMIXWCPQF	Mayor Rocky Anderson
VA09	5	Rick Boucher		38	ABIQF
WA03		Brian Baird			CKQF	Cheryl Crist
WA06		Norm Dicks			AQF	Paul Richmond
WI03	2	Ron Kind	N*	66	ABIQF

2. Republican districts and open seats where progressive Democrats are running against Bush Democrats

3. Progressive Democratic incumbents who are being challenged by Bush Democrats

Dist	B/R	Progressive	Bush Democrat	Notes
TN-09	1	Steve Cohen	Nikki Tinker	Cohen is an outstanding progressive Freshman who won Harold Ford Jr.'s open seat in 2006 by beating cousin Joe Ford Jr. in the Democratic primary and brother Jake Ford in the general election. Religious right ministers want to defeat Cohen because he supported the Hate Crimes Bill H.R. 1592 and they are likely to support Nikki Tinker, Harold Ford Jr.'s former campaign manager, who came in 2nd to Cohen in the 2006 Democratic primary.

2008 Primary Challengers Wanted

Bob Fertik — Thu, 24 May 2007 02:05:05 -0400

Help us recruit Democratic primary challengers! Use our map or list

In 2006, we elected Democratic majorities to the Senate and House for one overriding reason: to end the Iraq War.

In May 2007, both the Senate and the House voted on amendments to end the Iraq War by setting a March 2008 deadline for removing combat troops. Those amendments would have passed if all Democrats had voted to end the Iraq War - but some pro-war "Bush Democrats" voted to continue the Iraq War forever.

As Democrats, we have every right to expect our Democratic Senators and Representatives to vote with us on the issues we care about deeply. And if they do not, we have every right to support candidates who agree with us in Democratic primaries against them.

There are two good reasons to support primary challengers. If we win, we get a better Member of Congress. But even if we lose, a competitive race often persuades the incumbent to change positions on the issue that fueled the primary. In 2006, two key anti-war challengers brought dramatic changes: both Jane Harman (CA-36) and Al Wynn (MD-4) voted for the war in 2002, but voted against the war in 2007 as a direct result of anti-war primary challenges by Marcy Winograd and Donna Edwards.

Of course, challenging an incumbent Senator or Representative is a huge effort. To run a competitive race requires finding an excellent candidate and a building a strong grassroots organization. Happily, the Internet lets us do both.

Use our map or list of Representatives who voted to fund the Iraq War forever. If you are represented by one of these "Bush Democrats," click on their dot and help us find a candidate to challenge them in the 2008 Democratic primary.

Together we can take back the Democratic Party from the "Bush Democrats" and end the war!

Update 1: Our benchmark votes are the Feingold-Reid Amendment (Senate 5/16/07) and the McGovern Amendment (House 5/10/07) because these are the "cleanest" votes on setting a deadline for Iraq. The later votes on the Supplemental (5/24) were more complicated and harder to use as a benchmark.

Democrats.com Endorses Steve Harrison in NY13

Bob Fertik — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:06:45 -0400

Our first endorsed candidate of 2008, State Senator Regina Thomas (GA-12), gave incumbent Bush Democrat John Barrow a good scare in July's primary. Despite being outspent 40:1, Thomas won 24% of the vote. Better yet, Thomas promised to primary Barrow again in 2010, which might scare him into voting with Democrats instead of Republicans. You contributed over $25,000 to Thomas, and that money was very well spent!

Today we are endorsing our second candidate, Steve Harrison (NY-13). Why Harrison?

Steve Harrison is an "aggressive progressive" who supports all the issues we care about: immediate withdrawal from Iraq, no war with Iran, single-payer health care, stopping global warming, and protecting abortion rights. Compare Harrison and McMahon on the issues. Watch Harrison discuss these issues with voters.

Harrison is endorsed by Progressive Democrats of America, Democracy for NYC, Down With Tyranny, Stonewall Democrats, the National Organization for Women, and Gloria Steinem. Harrison earned the right to be the Democratic candidate in his 2006 campaign, when he won 43% against Republican incumbent Vito Fossella, the best showing ever for a Democrat in the district.

Unfortunately BushDemocrats like Steny Hoyer and Rahm Emanuel are supporting Harrison's opponent, Mike McMahon, because he will be another BushDemocrat. McMahon supported the invasion of Iraq and is so conservative that he ran on the Conservative Party line in past elections.

Also this race is a great opportunity to turn a red district blue. NY13, which covers Staten Island and part of Brooklyn, is the last red seat in blue New York City. The seat is open because Fossella was caught driving drunk to his second family in Virginia, much to the horror of his first family in Staten Island. Republicans couldn't find a decent candidate and got stuck with someone they hate. According to experts, this is the 3rd most likely district to go from red to blue.

The primary is just 15 days away, so we're trying to raise enough money for Harrison to mail his message to every primary voter in the district. He needs $16,000 today and we can reach that goal if 640 of you contribute $25 each. Can you help?
http://www.actblue.com/page/bushdemocrats

Adam Sullivan Endorses Steve Harrison for Congress

Bob Fertik — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:35:18 -0400

Impeachment supporter Adam Sullivan challenged Jerrold Nadler in the Democratic primary in NY08, but was thrown off the ballot on a technicality. Today he endorsed Steve Harrison for Congress in NY13 over Mike McMahon, Rahm Emanuel's chosen candidate.

Entrenched, well-financed (DLC-type) Democrats say they believe that moderate or right-leaning Democrats are the best option for winning an expanded Democratic majority in congress. They are wrong, wrong, wrong. National polling shows that the People are far to the left of Congress on nearly every issue, in every state, almost without exception. Run a centrist, you get tepid turn-out at the polls. Combine that with GOP attack ads, and you get Harold Ford losing in Tennessee. Why is the Democratic party afraid to back progressive candidates?

In other words: Why is Jerrold Nadler backing McMahon, instead of Steve Harrison, for the Democratic party nomination in the 13th CD of New York?

I found myself talking about Harrison's primary challenge, and getting angrier and angrier. The problem with Congress is not that they won't impeach. The problem with Congress is damned near everything! McMahon is on the record as being pro-Iraq war and anti-choice. This is the guy the NY Dems want to run to capture a long-held GOP congressional seat? I know it's a fairly conservative district, but try polling them on what they think of McMahon's stance on the war. I doubt they'll be sympathetic. But because the Dems want someone in the seat who'll help them consolidate their power for some invisible long-term goal that helps the Party and not the people, they'll run a candidate who has little name recognition and dubious Democratic credentials. Even if he wins, what have progressives gained?

Why would Nadler endorse McMahon? Because he'll play ball, and because he seems to be able to raise money. Old-style, ugly politics-as-usual. Thanks, Jerry. Thanks a lot. What a progressive you are.

When I went to a Harrison fundraiser in June, I heard him speak about his commitment to working for people instead of for institutions. (Institutions like the Democratic Party, for instance!) It struck me that that was what we were doing, with our campaign. The people want this president held accountable, but the institutions which hold and consolidate power--corporations, political parties, etc.--feel that the cost was too high. The cost to THEM, mind you. The cost to the people and to the principles on which our nation was founded are not considered.

We need Harrison in Congress, and more like him. If the House and Senate are to do the People's business, then the seats must be occupied by true representatives and statesmen. If you feel that you have time and energy to work on a primary campaign this year, I would suggest this one. I have met Steve: he is intelligent, well-spoken, quick-witted and generous, in the broadest sense. Plus he is committed enough to be running for the second time: in 2006 he received 43% in the general. Against a then-very-popular incumbent, Vito Fosella, this is no small potatoes.

Some of you will prefer to pick other battles, I'm sure. Harrison's is not an impeachment fight like ours was. But as we take small steps toward a real and lasting progressive democracy, we will be aided by having true progressives in Washington, and representing New York. Also, this is one more way to show Jerry that he cannot take his constituents for granted. If McMahon loses in the primary, it will be largely because of New Yorkers in districts like Nadler's and Moloney's.

Food for thought, anyway. Feel free to let me know if you agree or disagree, and also what else you plan to do in these next crucial months. Frankly, I miss working more closely with all of you, and look forward to hearing about what you're doing.

Power to the People,
Adam

AK00: Diane Benson Takes On Corrupt Republicans and Democrats

Bob Fertik — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:54:57 -0400

Guest blogged by Phil Munger:

In Alaska, the state tied most closely to corruption, two credible candidates have emerged to challenge the structural problems that led to so much unbridled fraud and naked venality. On the Right, current Governor Sarah Palin emerged two years ago, to challenge big oil's longtime dominance of the state's executive branch. On the Left, Diane Benson emerged around the same time to challenge both Alaska GOP Rep. Don Young for his seat in the U.S. Congress, and her own party, the Alaska Democrats.

Shortly after her U.S. Army Ranger son was grievously injured outside Baghdad in late 2005, Diane Benson discovered that the Alaska Democrats didn't contemplate putting up a credible challenge to Alaska Rep. Don Young in the 2006 race. After watching her son's recovery at or near Walter Reed Army Medical Center, near Young's DC office, seeing the neglect suffered by our wounded warriors, and experiencing Young's indifference to Alaska's wounded, Benson entered the race.

Defeating Alaska's most notable muckraker, Ray Metcalfe, in the 2006 primary, Benson crafted a grassroots general campaign that forced Young to make more public campaign appearances than any year since 1992. Benson attacked Young fearlessly, bringing to light Young's many contacts with and favors to now-convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff. She forced Young into more debates than he had ever done before. Outspent almost ten to one by Young, Benson garnered about 41% of the 2006 vote. All this before many of the more recent revelations about Young came to light. It was by far the closest threat Young had endured since 1992.

Alaska's Democratic Party gave Benson's 2006 campaign the least help possible, selling her outdated voter information at a high price, and only giving her about $10,000 so late in the campaign it made little or no difference. The closeness of her run to Young was a wake-up call to political opportunists, though.

The Chairman of the Alaska Democrats in 2006, Jake Metcalfe, who had deferred to DCCC Chairman Rahm Emanuel's advice then not to support Benson, resigned his chair in early August 2006, and filed for the House seat from Washington, DC, the next day. Benson had already filed for the 2008 race in late spring. In late fall, ex-Alaska state legislator, Ethan Berkowitz, filed for the seat.

Jake Metcalfe's campaign spun out in early May. Ethan Berkowitz's campaign has been very well funded, especially by a long list of DINOs, lobbyists, and such. Diane Benson's campaign has attracted the support of progressive organizations like the National Women's Political Caucus (and its Alaska chapter), the National Organization of Women, 21st Century Democrats, former Senator Max Cleland, and Emily's List. Why?

Diane Benson's platform is the most progressive of any major candidate in Alaska history. She seeks a comprehensive solution to the medical care crisis that would mandate care for everyone, as it strives toward a single payer model. Her campaign platform is the only one in Alaska to address the issue of poverty, a serious problem in parts of the state, both urban and rural.

Her approach toward education not only directly seeks to immediately dismantle No Child Left Behind, but hopes to revolutionize rural education and vocational education, and calls for long-term partnerships on educating comprehensively in the realm of renewable energy technologies, research and resources. She has stated that "Alaska could be Iceland on steroids!"

On Veterans' issues, on the wars, and on American foreign affairs and diplomacy, Diane Benson is not only quite progressive, her plans and platform are detailed, rational. She wants a safe, quickly staged withdrawal from Iraq, a sane effort in Afghanistan, and a far less confrontational American military stance, but one based upon real strength.

On women's issues, Diane Benson is one of the most dynamic candidates running for the U.S. House in the country. Her speech to the 2008 Alaska Democratic Party Convention was one of the most important speeches on women's issues in Alaska history. Her appearances at several candidate forums alongside the other primary challenger, Ethan Berkowitz, have shown her to be formidable, sometimes easily overshadowing Ethan Berkowitz in her knowledge and pragmatic solutions on issues and to problems. As the list of questionable contributors to Berkowitz's campaign seems to grow daily (see companion piece at DownWithTyranny), and as more GOP-tied crooks are indicted almost daily in Alaska, Diane Benson's strong commitment to campaign finance reform is gaining traction.

Here are some hallmarks of her 2006 and 2008 campaigns:

Diane Benson was the first to publicly detail the depth and breadth of Don Young's ties to Jack Abramoff.
Diane Benson was the first to publicly demand an investigation into Rep. Don Young's unconstitutional changes to the 2005 Omnibus Transportation Bill (Coconut Road).
Diane Benson was the first candidate in the USA to address the disparity in VA care between rural Native Americans and other rural Veterans.
Diane Benson, after publication of an article in the Anchorage Daily News, detailing Benson's long-time advocacy for and volunteer work with victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence, turned the disclosure around, giving her campaign another area upon which to focus. Alaska's sexual violence against women is by far the worst in the USA, against Native Alaskan women, even worse. And it isn't getting better, but worse. Benson wants to fight for these women.
Diane Benson was the first 2008 Alaska candidate to openly endorse the Alaskans for Clean Elections ballot initiative.
Diane Benson has refused contributions from lobbyists and PACs which include lobbyists. As Howie Klein writes, they've found another candidate - Ethan Berkowitz - more than willing to take every dime they'll send him.
Diane Benson, time and time again, has held developers and potential developers to a high standard of accountability, questioning some proposals in greater detail than even the state's government itself.
Diane Benson, in her fight against the corrupt paradigm represented by Don Young, and in her present struggle against the old school DINO establishment, has shown herself to be one of the most noteworthy candidates in the United States. Just last week, The Nation's editor and publisher Katrina vanden Heuvel, recognized this in a detailed profile of the candidate.

Please join us in supporting Diane Benson here. The Alaska Democratic Party Primary is Tuesday, August 26.

DCCC Opposes Progressives in Upcoming Primaries

Bob Fertik — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 19:25:50 -0400

In the next few weeks, we'll have the final round of Democcratic primaries for Congress. And Howie Klein is rightfully outraged that the DCCC is endorsing rank mediocrities instead of talented progressives, all of whom we endorsed on our Replace Bush Democrats Actblue page.

AK00: Ethan Berkowitz over Diane Benson
AZ01: Ann Kirkpatrick over Howard Shanker
FL24: Suzanne Kosmas over Clint Curtis
NY13: Michael McMahon over Steve Harrison

[When] Chris Van Hollen first took over the chair of the DCCC from Stalinist Rahm Emanuel he promised-- in accord with democratic norms and Party rules-- to allow hotly contested primaries to play themselves out and not take sides the way Emanuel had done. Emanuel, you may recall, backed reactionary Establishment candidates in tough primaries against dozens of progressive and grassroots Democrats. In some cases his shills won and we wound up with pseudo-Democrats who vote with the GOP, like Tim Mahoney in Florida, or with a victorious Republican, like Vern Buchanan, who was able to beat a weak, vacillating me-too-Democratic who stood for nothing. In other cases the grassroots beat back Emanuel's anti-democratic strategy and that is why we now have progressives in Congress like John Hall (D-NY), Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH), and Jerry McNerney (D-CA). Van Hollen promised to not follow the Stalinist path Emanuel had lain out. But he has.

4 of the 5 endorsed candidates still contesting primaries [see list above] are conservative, Establishment hacks fighting progressives. The DCCC's strategy of funneling money and the sense of inevitability into the candidacies of the conservatives makes it extremely difficult for the grassroots candidates to tap into traditional sources of Democratic funding. Even unions-- and not just notorious Democratic Party lap dogs like AFSCME-- often succumb to DCCC pressure to support candidates whose election is not in the best interest of progressive goals.

Recently I saw Ann Kirkpatrick speak at a Red to Blue event. My heart sank. With an outstanding, brilliant and articulate candidate like Howard Shanker in the race, the DCCC is backing a card board cutout of a candidate who stands for nothing whatsoever and is as inspiring as a potato. Better than the neo-fascist Republican running in AZ-01 (Sydney Hay)? Yes, but a C is always better than an F. What about going for an A+? Standing in front of an audience of Democrats Kirkpatrick was unable to make the case of why anyone should even bother to go out and vote. The Republican brand is so damaged in AZ-01, after the indictment of Congressman Rick Renzi, that it will be hard for the Democrats to lose the election. But if anyone can do it, it is Ann Kirkpatrick. The primary is on September 2.

Michael McMahon is so reactionary that his races for New York City Council have been endorsed by the Conservative Party-- which is to the right of the Republican Party. The Staten Island Conservative Party was about to endorse him for Congress-- they love his pro-war approach to Iraq-- when the state party jumped in and forced them to toe the line and endorse whichever Republican was the nominee that particular week. Steve Harrison is a far better choice and an actual progressive. It is unconscionable for the DCCC to try to swing the primary to someone who, of he is elected, will oppose Democratic Party positions for as long as he's in Congress. The primary is on September 9.

Similarly, In Florida's 24th CD Clint Curtis is the grassroots candidate and the DCCC shill, Suzanne Kosmas, is just some rich person who promises to be easily led around by the nose. In Alaska Ethan Berkowitz is the Rahm Emanuel establishment candidate who is running against a grassroots independent-minded progressive, Diane Benson.

If you're outraged that the DCCC is trying to keep progressives out of Congress, please support the progressives on our Replace Bush Democrats Actblue page.

Primary Challenge Scares Nadler into Considering Impeachment

Bob Fertik — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 11:08:13 -0400

At Friday's impeachment hearing, Rep. Jerrold Nadler took impeachment a lot more seriously than he has until now. And there's a good reason - he escaped a primary challenge by the skin of his teeth.

Because of New York's strict ballot access laws, Nadler's pro-impeachment constituents had to organize a massive petition-gathering effort. Unfortunately candidate Adam Sullivan was tripped up by those strict laws, but Nadler seems to have gotten the message!

Sullivan Ends Primary Bid Against Nadler, Vows to Fight on Over Impeachment

Adam Sullivan announced Tuesday that he will no longer actively seek to unseat Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-8) in the September Democratic primary, but he will continue his fight to persuade Nadler and the Congress to initiate impeachment hearings against the Bush Administration.

In a press conference held outside the U.S. Post Office in Manhattan, Sullivan explained that he did not mention to his campaign staff that he had changed his enrollment from unaffiliated to Democrat at the start of the campaign, incorrectly assuming that his change of enrollment would be current at the time his petitions were filed. Members of his campaign assumed that he was a properly enrolled Democrat. According to New York state election law, Sullivan would have had to have changed his enrollment by October 12, 2007 to run in this year’s primary. “I regret if I have let down my supporters but given the rules I cannot in good faith continue this campaign through to the primary,” Sullivan said.

At the same time, Sullivan vowed to fight on over the issue that prompted him to run—impeachment. Of Nadler, he said, “His outright contempt for the process of impeachment makes him unfit to serve as Chairman of the [House Judiciary Committee] Subcommittee on the Constitution. His abandonment of the Constitution in its hour of greatest need—when he has sworn an Oath of Office eight times to protect and defend it, when he could use his Chairmanship to draw his district’s and perhaps the nation’s attention to impeachment proceedings . . . makes Representative Nadler complicit in our nation’s current suffering and the assaults on our freedoms.”

As for next steps, Sullivan stated “I will continue to seek other avenues, other ways to press my congressman on this issue. I will continue to support those in government who are truly progressive, who are committed to preserving the living Constitution, and who truly represent their constituents. With this in mind, I and others are making arrangements to travel to the nation’s capital on Friday, where we will assemble to show our support for Congressman Kucinich as he and others testify before the full House Judiciary Committee on the matter of the illegal war in Iraq and other related abuses of Executive Power.”

Read Adam Sullivan's July 22 Statement to the Press

Read a Chronology of Nadler's Constituents Urging Him to Initiate Impeachment Hearings

Congratulations to everyone who helped Adam Sullivan and keep up the great work!

OK District 1 Congressional Race - www.ManleyforCongress.com

LeftDemocrat — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:54:47 -0400

Mark has a master list of Dems who vote in primaries, for his
district, from Democratic HQ: this will target our efforts and make
sure we're not wasting our time, as we pound the pavement on behalf of
our progressive candidate for U.S. Congress, in our canvassing efforts
this week.

This is a grassroots campaign and we need you to step up. Call the
candidate 437-0129 or 406-9514 to volunteer your time and enthusiasm.

A radio interview online for Mark is also scheduled for Wednesday afternoon

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/epradio

There's a call in segment of the 30-minute programme (2:30 to 3:30
PM). The call in number will be 718-508-9410 on Wednesday afternoon.

Feel free to call in on the Wed aft and ask Mark some questions live on radio!

P.S Please forward this message to anyone you know who may be interested in supporting Manley for Congress.

-------- Original Message --------

Subject: Pre-Primary Call for Volunteers

Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:42:57 -0700 (PDT)

From: Mark Manley <mwmanle1>

The election primary vote is coming up in only a few days. I had a
nice chat with Randy Kriebel from the Tulsa World this morning and I
think we will see a nice article from that corner in a few days.

We have been seeing a bit more activity from the opposition so to
counter I have ordered 100 more yard signs and come up ( thank you
Judy!) with a nice new bright-yellow flier on card stock. We very much
need help to distribute these! We have around 150 yard signs out but
there are few to be seen in the commute around Tulsa. We need to put
more up along the roadsides. The fliers could go under car windshields
in almost any parking lot. We also have walking lists of Democrats who
always vote in the primaries if anyone wants to pair up and knock on
doors with fliers. I will have the extra signs Tuesday ( tomorrow)
early afternoon. Fliers are ready now. Please respond to this email or
call at 437-0129 or 406-9514 if you can spend a bit of time in the next
week getting our campaign message out!

Thanks for all your help!!!

Mark Manley

http://www.manleyforcongress.com

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

Edmund Burke

Regina Thomas Scares Bush Democrat John Barrow in GA12 Primary

Bob Fertik — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 07:32:33 -0400

Our first endorsed candidate of 2008, State Senator Regina Thomas (GA-12), gave incumbent Bush Democrat John Barrow a very good scare in Tuesday's primary. Despite being outspent 40:1, Thomas won 24% of the vote. Here's the Examiner:

The eastern Georgia district leans Democratic with its heavily black portions of Savannah and Augusta, but it also has a large number of conservative white voters spread across 20 rural counties.

Thomas tried to persuade voters that Barrow's record betrays core Democratic values. Though well-known in her hometown of Savannah after 12 years in the state Legislature, Thomas entered the race virtually unknown in the rest of the 12th District. She raised just over $21,000 and campaigned with an all-volunteer staff.

Barrow spent more than $858,000 on the primary. He also scored a big endorsement from presumed Democratic presidential nominee Obama, who recorded a radio ad urging voters to support Barrow.

Obama's presence underscored the potential threat to Barrow, a white incumbent, of blacks voting along racial lines. Thomas is black, as are 41 percent of voters in the district - enough to form a solid majority in the Democratic primary.

Here's Howie Klein:

So if we knew Regina has virtually no chance to win, why did we work so hard for her? Someone has to stand up for progressive values and principles-- especially against a craven and corrupt jackass like Barrow. And Regina was willing to. How could we not help her?

Perhaps she'll be better known in 2010 if Barrow continues voting like a Republican. Maybe even Obama will realize the mistake he made by endorsing someone who will be opposing so much of what he tries to accomplish. And, believe me, many people will be reminding Obama of his endorsement every time Barrow votes against one of his bills.

One thing I know for sure, we managed to scare the bejesus out of the little twerp. According to the FEC, as of March 31 he had spent $303,492 on the primary. Once Blue America and Democrats.com made some very modest expenditures on behalf of Regina's campaign and raised her a little money, Barrow spent another $500,000. According to tonight's Examiner, the panic-stricken "Barrow spent more than $858,000 on the primary" -- and that was with an endorsement from Obama!

In 2006 arrogant and reactionary California Blue Dog Jane Harman was dragged into a tough primary fight. She won by a wide margin but the fight itself made her a much more loyal Democrat. Her lifetime ProgressivePunch score is a dismal 79.66. Her score since progressive activist Marcy Winograd held her down to under 65% of the primary vote is a much more working family-friendly 93.65. I don't expect such a dramatic turnaround from Barrow, but one thing for sure, if he keeps voting like a Republican he'll probably be able to bank on another primary fight in 2010.

UPDATE: MESSAGE FROM REGINA

At the exact same moment I was putting up this post, Regina sent me the kind of gracious and loving e-mail that has made me feel like she is family. She worked very hard on this campaign and I hope she will be better prepared next time. Let me share some of her e-mail:

Hello my friend. We didn't pull it out. That's ok, he knows that I will be watching him. Two years is not long. Let's talk about ActBlue. When the next check comes I want to donate it to Democrats in other states who need the money. I look to you and Blue America to help me figure that out. I do not have a campaign deficit (thanks to Blue America and the others). Once I pay back the loan that I borrowed to qualify ($3,050.00) I will send the rest to progressive candidates who we figure out can use some help.

I am fine. The Lord's will was done and I am ok with that. I have so enjoyed our talks and getting to know you. I will miss that. But...anything can happen in two years.

For now.. I will take care of some personal things-- get my house in order, complete my Senate term and enjoy my grandchildren.

I just got off the phone speaking with her. She said she was glad to have given the voters a choice and to have run an issue-oriented campaign. "Even if I knew the outcome, I would do the same thing. Tomorrow I'm going to get in my truck and drive around picking up my signs. I haven't had a vacation in 14 years and my husband just told me he's glad to get his wife back."

My life is richer for having gotten to know Regina Thomas. I consider myself very lucky for the opportunity.

And so do I. I give my deepest thanks to all 1,341 of you who contributed $25,431 to Regina for her heroic race. I also want to thank Progressive Democrats of America for enlisting volunteers all across Georgia to make hundreds of calls to GA12 voters. PDA volunteers Will Smith (right) and Cynthia Brown also joined Regina Thomas and her supporters on the streets of Savannah, where Thomas nearly beat Barrow.

And now we'll study the lessons of this race so we do even better in the remaining primaries against Bush Democrats. It will be hard to find a better candidate than Regina Thomas, but we also need to make sure our future candidates have a full-time campaign manager and an energized Netroots campaign covering the whole district.

Update 1: Digby puts this race in perspective:

The point isn't that anyone thought they would win these races. Indeed, they didn't expect to even come close. What they did believe is that activists need to take the opportunity to get into these races, see what they have to learn and educate people in these districts about their representatives. Primary challenges are the institutional vehicle for changing the party apparatus. If you don't lay the groundwork, nothing will ever happen...

The netroots are out here trying to do some things that all the very smart people consider pointless. But then they consider fighting for liberal values in any way to be pointless. What else is new? If we cared what they think we'd be doing something else, wouldn't we? It's not like online activism is great resume builder or anything.

Keep the faith, folks. Blue America has backed a bunch of winners since 2006 and they're going to have more winners in the fall. But primary challenges are always going to be the toughest thing they do, and probably have the highest failure rate. It's the nature of the beast. But every time they put up a fight and make some noise, the easier it's going to be for the next progressive challenger to put a little fear into a fat cat politician. We'll get there.

Exactly!

Regina Thomas Uses Your Money for Final Ad Blitz

Bob Fertik — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:24:24 -0400

Our first endorsed candidate of 2008, State Senator Regina Thomas (GA-12), is just one week away from her primary against BushDemocrat John Barrow, so I called for an update.

Thomas was overjoyed to receive a check from Actblue worth $28,387. Most of that money - nearly $25,000 - came from you via our "Replace Bush Democrats" page:
http://www.actblue.com/page/bushdemocrats

The check arrived after she filed her June 30 FEC report with a cash-on-hand balance of $10,601. Thomas is running a completely grassroots campaign from her dining room, with no office rent and no paid staff, so every dollar she receives from us will go to a final week media blitz including TV, radio, billboards, and local newspapers.

Barrow, of course, has a lot more money - over $1 million in cash. Thomas says his TV and radio ads are saturating the local media. While his ads feature African-Americans, their message is conspicuously vague - "I trust John Barrow." Thomas says Barrow's ads give voters no reason why they should trust Barrow, and are backfiring as voters see through them.

Thomas is preparing two ads. One underscores her 12 years of service to her community in the State Legislature, and the other says she's "the real Democrat" compared with BlueDog Barrow.

Thomas expects a very large turnout on July 15 because there are many hot races, both statewide and local. Voting in the Democratic primary is open to all parties, but voters must choose either a Democratic or a Republican ballot for all races. So Thomas doesn't have to turn out voters, she just has to convince those who are already voting to vote for her.

So if you know anyone who lives in GA12 (interactive map here), tell them to vote for Regina Thomas for Congress on Tuesday!

Update 1: Thomas is getting some excellent coverage in the news and blogs. Here's part a great interview in Connect Savannah by Jim Morekis (read it all):

What about privacy issues such as the wiretapping bill, which Barrow fully supports and Obama seems to be moving towards approving?

Regina Thomas: Well, John Barrow’s basically a Republican. But I don’t know what’s wrong with Obama. Why in the world would you give immunity to anyone who illegally wiretaps American citizens and then give them carte blanche to do that, then using terrorism as the excuse?

I would go back and try and repeal some provisions of that bill, because that’s a direct conflict to the Fourth Amendment right to privacy. John has tried to defend that, saying that it doesn’t give them the right to wiretap American citizens, but it is a direct violation. Who else would be able to get immunity for doing something illegal like that?

Is it just the telecom money talking?

Regina Thomas: I tell you what, they have given the Democrats that supported that bill big money, and Barrow has received $13,500 from telecom companies. So you tell me what that is. That’s pandering to lobbyists and big corporations at the expense of American citizens.

And here's Howie Klein:

This morning I spoke to a reporter for the Savannah Morning News, the biggest newspaper in John Barrow's district. He mentioned to me, and he seemed surprised, that Regina Thomas has been making warrantless wiretaps an issue in a race where Regina's own best issues, employment and high gas prices have been front and center. But Regina remembers when the government wiretapped Martin Luther King and she finds it deplorable that the congressman from GA-12 should support Bush doing the same thing to untold millions of American citizens without legal warrants. The same reporter asked Barrow, who has been one of Bush's most dependable allies on this, and Regina about warrantless wiretaps and retroactive immunity in their Savannah debate last night. It was obvious that Barrow-- for all his touting of his Harvard education-- has no understanding of the Constitution, separation of powers or the oath of office he took. Although Regina is just a state Senator, her intuitive understanding of Justice and the respect with which Americans hold the Rule of Law, puts her light years ahead of Mr. Smarty Pants.