We must also recognize that there are those partisan elements among us that try to keep the anti-Bush forces divided with such tactics as re-arguing the 2000 Election, or the ever popular demands for supporting a candidate with a "D" after his/her name even if that candidate votes against our common interests, e.g., Bankruptcy Reform, CAFTA, etc.
The Battle for Congress in 2006
By Joelle Fishman
Bold Action
This is a time for bold demands and bold action. Congressional Democrats are under fire to come out fighting against Bush administration policies. This was the theme running through the annual meeting of the America’s Future conference, as well as grass roots organizing efforts like MoveOn and Progressive Democrats of America.
The America’s Future Conference expressed a new appreciation of the role of labor in electoral politics, and the need for the entire community to participate in growing the union movement as essential to move a progressive agenda forward.
In a parallel vein, the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists convention rejected as defeatist any approach within labor of a split or a withdrawal form the legislative electoral movement against Bush.
The local victories won by broad, issues based labor and community coalitions across the country show that even in the present climate of fear and attack, gains can be achieved. These gains lay the foundation for bigger challenges in the 2006 Congressional elections.
The potential for broad coalitions to win can be seen in the election of Antonio Villaraigosa as Mayor of Los Angeles. It can be seen in the eight State Legislatures that shifted from Republican to Democrat in the 2004 elections. It can be seen in the overwhelming votes to raise the minimum wage in Florida and Nevada in 2004.
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