Israel is debated at California Democratic convention, Harman walks out in huff

[laststeamtrain]

Israel is debated at California Democratic convention, Harman walks out in huff

by Philip Weiss on April 19, 2010 · 76 comments

We often note the news that Democratic rank-and-file support for Israel is fading. Well, the California State Democratic Convention yesterday endorsed Congresswoman Jane Harman for reelection from a district around Los Angeles, but before it did so, Harman and her opponent, Marcy Winograd, both appeared before a progressive caucus at the convention, and argued Israel. The Fresno Bee calls the fight the "flashpoint" of the convention. Peggy McCormack, a delegate to the convention, says that the story will be covered today on Pacifica radio, KPFA, 10 am PST. Meantime, her report:

"Jane Harman and Marcy Winograd managed to squeeze in a debate of sorts before a couple hundred Progressive Caucus delegates at the Democratic Convention. Marcy herself brought up Israel in order to distance herself from Harman. I never thought I'd hear a candidate talk about brutal occupation, lack of water, unnecessary continuous deaths and lack of democracy. Harman in response called Marcy an extremist who wants to get rid of Israel, and Marcy shot back with a democratic state from the Mediterranean to the Jordan River. This got a standing ovation. And, Harman stood up and said she did not go to the caucus to debate and strode out. Unbelievable. We collected enough signatures to get Marcy's signature to the floor of the convention, whereupon the vote was done in a strange but legal way with party workers counting the people holding up cards, and of course Harman won. When we called for a recorded vote, John Burton, the party chair, snarled something or other about Marcy should organize better. Clearly Marcy won the standing vote (we all waved our delegate badges) but we had not done our homework to jump at the mike and call for a recorded vote. Doesn't matter, the point will not be lost on the lobby." ... http://mondoweiss.net/2010/04/israel-is-debated-at-california-democratic-convention-harman-walks-out-in-huff.html

[Zomby Woof]

1. GO MARCY!!!

I am proudly voting for her in the June 8 primary.

[Sebastian Doyle]

2. K&R for REAL Democrats!

FUCK Jane Harman and the "defense" industry DINO she rode in on.

[enlightenment]

3. I hate caucuses for that reason.

Far too easy for intimidation and willful manipulation to take place.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. Good for Marcy!

She's no Blue Dog.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[peacetalksforall]

7. That answer is what we've been trying to find out. She is loyal loyalist - to AIPAC,

Israel, and who knows which other acronym organizations.

[IndianaGreen]

10. She works for the military-industrial complex

and she is as much a warmonger as any neocon.

[peacetalksforall]

6. Judging from the story you're telling, it is great news to know that there is

someone strong that you all can support. Sometimes that doesn't happen. I would like to see Harman out.

[IndianaGreen]

8. Harman is a neoliberal warmonger and torture enabler

She knew of Bush's crimes in Iraq and Guantanamo and did nothing!

[IndianaGreen]

9. Harman’s $1.5 million dollars invested in Goldman Sachs.

In addition, Norman Solomon asked Harman which caucus best displayed progressive values in Congress, the Blue Dogs or the Progressive Caucus. And Harman said something to the effect that she would be happy to join the Progressive Caucus, making it sound like she needed an invitation. Then Winograd and Harman sparred over job creation and Israel/Palestine issues and that was about it.

Right after this debate, which again was the first time Harman ever shared a stage with Winograd to my knowledge, the endorsement conference began. Winograd said that progressives must hold primaries when their leaders don’t act in the interests of the people, and made sure to mention Harman’s $1.5 million dollars invested in Goldman Sachs. Harman framed the endorsement as being “taken away” from the locals through the signature-gathering process and said that this the energy should be focused on defeating Republicans (some would say it is). In the end, Harman got 44 votes to Winograd’s 6 at the endorsement conference. This was not surprising, as it’s a meeting of party insiders and everyone’s name is read aloud describing their vote. If you want to get ahead in the party and a favored incumbent is standing there watching your vote, guess where you’re going to go. A lot of people switched from “no endorsement” in the pre-endorsement conference (Harman did not attend that) to Harman

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/04/18/ca-36-floor-fight-between-winograd-and-harman-today-impromptu-debate-yesterday/

[bvar22]

11. Jane Harman is also a shill for Big Pharma.

She was "their mouthpiece" in the Senate for extending patent rights for drugs to prevent them from going generic.

[applegrove]

12. Let's hope the GOP don't use Israel as a wedge against democrats.

[grassfed]

14. too late (jewsforsarah.com)

http://jewsforsarah.com

[applegrove]

15. Oh my god. Of course the GOP will shove the wedge in as far as it will go. But Sarah Palin?

That is just sick.

[classysassy]

13. When

will M'S Harman start supporting America and our president instead of Israel and its prime minister?