Progressive Group Issues 'Deadline' for Woolsey to Withdraw Endorsement of 'War Hawk' Harman

[BradBlog]

Source: BRAD BLOG



Progressive Group Issues 'Deadline' for Woolsey to Withdraw Endorsement of 'War Hawk' Harman
Open letter from PDA details 'appalling record' of Democrat described by PDA-backed challenger as 'Joe Lieberman of the House'
Group seeks signatures in support of 'open letter' to Congresswoman, Co-Chair of Congressional Progressive Caucus...

As The BRAD BLOG reported over the weekend, an internecine firefight has blown up among progressives who support the candidacy of Marcy Winograd against entrenched "Blue Dog" Jane Harman (D-CA), and Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), long regarded as one of the more progressive members of the U.S. Congress.

Woolsey, the co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) and a longtime Advisory Board Member of Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), stunned progressives over the last several days when it was revealed that she was endorsing, and would be participating in a fundraiser for Harman next Saturday, January 16th, as noted in our report yesterday.

In the wake of Woolsey's curious support for the seven term Democrat, PDA is issuing an email blast to supporters tonight, asking them to sign on to an open letter (posted in full at link below) demanding Woolsey withdraw from the upcoming event, as well as drop her endorsement of Harman who will be challenged this year by Winograd, a longtime leader in PDA's Los Angeles chapter, and the first candidate of 2010 to be endorsed by the group. Winograd ran an unsuccessful challenge against Harman in 2006, but has begun her campaign earlier this year, and hopes to capitalize on growing progressive outrage at entrechned Congressional Democrats such as Harman. In a recent letter to supporters, Winograd described Harman as "the Joe Lieberman of the House."

In the open letter, initially signed by Tim Carpenter, PDA's National Director, Mimi Kennedy and PDA's Advisory Board Chair, the group, describes the process signing the letter as "painful", but describes the negative response from members to the Woolsey endorsement of Harman, and asks for her to withdraw from the event immediately.

"The tone and emphasis of the responses vary, but the overwhelming gist is clear," Carpenter and Kennedy write to Woolsey, "The progressive base is upset about your scheduled involvement and hopes that you will withdraw from this event. As an organization, Progressive Democrats of America joins in that request."...

FULL STORY, TEXT OF 'OPEN LETTER' TO WOOLSEY: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7641


Read more: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7641

[tularetom]

1. Remember, Boxer supported Joe Loserman in this 2006 primary campaign

These people are stupid. There are few house members more in tune with progressive goals than Rep. Woolsey.

[No Elephants]

14. So did the DNC, Clinton, Schumer, Obama, et al. Supporting incumbents is the policy.

I do whatever I can to change that policy. Meanwhile, however, it is the reality. You cannot hit Boxer for it without also hitting almost every other prominent politician in the Democratic Party.

Boxer is better than many Senators, IMO. It's inconsistent for you to want to throw her under the bus solely for supporting "the Lieberman of the Senate," Traitor Joe himself, yet support Woolsey in backing "the Lieberman of the House," Jane Harman.

Part of changing the policy of supporting incumbents, no matter what, though, is primarying undesirable Democrats, and I would certainly put Harman in the undesirable category.

I don't know why anyone who supports Progressives would want anyone to back Harman. The Democratic Party has been taking the Party, and therefore the country, further and further to the right. We seem headed for a one-Party system, which seems as though it will be much more Republican than Democrat. That is not something I want. We need to start turning back that tide at some point and backing corporatist Harman, "the Lieberman of the House," is a great place to draw a line. I am glad to see it.

No one is asking Woolsey to step down, just to withdraw her support of Harman. Woolsey can do that and still keep her seat.

[tularetom]

19. Actually I'm not criticizing Boxer - just pointing out how inconsistent these "progressives" are

I guess I should have said "Even someone with as solid a voting record as Boxer supported that asshole Joe Loserman, and nobody criticized her for that, so if you're gonna be consistent, STFU and leave Rep Woolsey alone."

I still can't find any indication in my post that I wanted to throw Boxer under any bus. Sometimes good legislators make dumb endorsements. It could be as simple as Woolsey wanting Harman's support for some bill she was preparing to introduce.

My feelings about Boxer endorsing Loserman are the same as my feelings about Woolsey endorsing Harman. Basically I don't give a crap. I still support both Boxer and Woolsey.

:shrug:

[BradBlog]

27. 2006 is not 2010

While a case COULD be made to support Lieberman in 2006 -- when Senate majority was still a question -- but we've come a long way since then. And supporting Lieberman now would, I suspect, draw much more ire.

In the meantime, Harman's district is extremely Democratic, and if Winograd defeats her in the primary, there is little doubt that Winograd would win, and the seat would remain with the Democrats, but with a *progressive* one, instead of Harman.

While I could understand SOME Dems throwing in w/ Harman (God knows why, but still), the fact that Woolsey is the co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and a member of the Advisory Board to PDA, makes her endorsement inexcusable as far as I see it. I'm welcome to hear her explanation, but so far, she's not given one.

For PDA to stand by and do nothing, while one of their own board members supports the OPPONENT of one of their own endorsed candidates (Winograd), would be a disaster for the organization. If they don't stand up against such a snub, then they will stand for nothing.

Seems like they've done the right thing (so far), to me. And progressives would be right in supporting PDA's move to ask Woolsey to withdraw her support for Harman, while also supporting Winograd's candidacy. Or else, you'll keep getting more of the same from Democrats.

Up to you, of course, if you're happy about the way things are going in Congress.

[Freddie Stubbs]

24. Which House members are more in tune with progressive goals than Rep. Woolsey? Are any of them

supporting Winograd over Harman? Or are they just secretly "in tune with progressive goals?"

[ima_sinnic]

2. have signed letter and donated $20 to Winograd

I remember reading some time ago about how DLC was supporting the dino Harman over the true Democrat.
I don't know what Woolsey's problem is, but I have unhesitatingly donated to Winograd.
This is my first opportunity to fulfill my resolution to fight the DLC scum by supporting anti-DLCers whenever possible.
I will be watching this race with interest.

Link to PDA action page to sign letter (& donate to Winograd if you want):
http://pdamerica.e-actionmax.com/takeaction.asp?aaid=4409

[Jefferson23]

7. Thank you for the link. n/t

[No Elephants]

15. +1 Ima.Sinnic, that is sure not a cynical post. I'm with you. Thanks for the link.

[bvar22]

3. Jane Harman is also ...

...on the take from Big Pharma, and was instrumental at blocking legislation that would have allowed some drugs to go Generic sooner.
She IS one of the WORST Republican Lites in The House.

I can't understand WHY Woolsey would be supporting her. :shrug:

[Lurks Often]

6. Simple

If Harman wins I'm sure Harman will arrange for Woolsey to get some nice pork for Woolsey's district.

That's how Congress works, our Senators and Representatives do each other favors and scratch each other's backs and the money to pay for these favors come out of our pockets.

Or perhaps I'm cynical tonight.

[tkmorris]

8. Cynical you may be...

But your take on how the Congress works is dead on the money, have no doubt about that.

[Cartoonist]

9. Marin

Lynn is my rep and she is one the most progressive members of Congress. I guess you can't please some people all the time. I would like to hear her side before condemning her, which I would hardly do anyway.
As for pork, Marin is so rich that pork is not the issue.

[dreamnightwind]

12. my rep too

Sonoma county here, less affluent than you Marin folk, but Woolsey is also my rep. She's first rate, I rarely have any need to contact her since she's usually already positioned where I am. I may give their office a call tomorrow to see what the deal is.

As far as Harman goes, we can't get rid of her soon enough.

edit to correctly spell Harman (yeah I got it wrong)

[No Elephants]

16. By all means, learn her side. But, please also see Reply 14.

And there is no need to condemn her, no matter what. But, as one of her constituents, if you are so moved, you can let her know that you appreciate that she is a Progressive. Coming at this time, that may or may not send a message about her support of Harman, without saying anything at all about that issue. (Just a respectfully submitted suggestion.)

[Lurks Often]

22. What does rich have to do with it?

When I say pork, I am referring to the money that a Senator or Representative brings back to their district for projects and such which equates to votes. And yes, I am aware that often the money brought back goes to worthy projects and causes, but sometimes it doesn't either.

At no point did I say that I thought Harman had offered money to Woolsey personally.

On Edit: Oops, being from the East Coast, I didn't realize that Marin was the county, for some reason I thought it was a person the first time I read your comment.

Although I still think some sort of agreement was reached.

[Freddie Stubbs]

31. Harman does not serve on the Appropriation Committee

[Freddie Stubbs]

21. Perhaps Woolsey knows Harman better than PDA does

[ima_sinnic]

4. kick

[WhiteTara]

5. Jane Harman is VERY

strong union. I'm sure Lynn had a reason.

[Freddie Stubbs]

28. I'm sure her strong union support is one of the reasons

[t0dd]

10. Donated to Marcy's campaign.

If there is anyone I'd like to get rid of in 2010 (besides Blanche Lincoln), it's Jane Harman. Winograd is a true progressive. Please donate to her campaign if you can!

[Frank Booth]

11. "Joe Lieberman of the House" is a perfect description of Harman.

Winograd's got my vote sewn up.

[Freddie Stubbs]

23. Harman votes with the Democractic Caucus more often than Woolsey

[eridani]

13. Looks like incumberncy is thicker than progressive values n/t

[No Elephants]

17. Not for the Progressive Caucuses!

We may never know the real reasons Woolsey is supporting Harman. They may be political, financial or simple affinity--two California Democratic females in the midst of a traditionally male world. Who knows? I would not undermine Woolsey when we don't know the story, but I would support the Caucuses in asking her to withdraw her support.

I wrote one of my Senators recently and told him I did not appreciate his DLC membership. Like Ima Sinnic, I will do whatever I can to stop conservatives from pulling this country further right, no matter what letter they put after their names.

[Freddie Stubbs]

26. Perhaps Woolsey is afraid that she will be next

Woolsey votes with her Democratic colleagues less often than Harman.

[No Elephants]

18. VERY encouraging news! (A lot of that here this a.m.) Please ACT BLUE, folks and

go to this link (courtesy of Ima_Sinnic), where you can add your name to letter to Woolsey (and see the reasons Progressive Democrats of America are asking Woolsey to withdraw her support of Harman).

http://pdamerica.e-actionmax.com/takeaction.asp?aaid=4409

Hurry. Deadline for adding your name to the letter is Wednesday, January 13.

Even if you miss the deadline, you can still donate to Winograd here: https://www.thedatabank.com/dpg/309/donate.asp?formid=donate

(Where you are asked about a special fund drive, fill in Winograd's name.) At the same site, you can also donate to Progressive Democrats of America, one time or sustaining.

Even donating a small amount to Winograd right now via PDA will be a very nice way of letting Woolsey and all other Democrats know that many Democrats (a) are awake and (b) don't want the Party, and therefore the country, to keep heading in the direction of Republican Lite.

Thanks, Brad Blog, your thread has given my day a very pleasant beginning.

[PassingFair]

20. Done!

Jane Harman is a snake.

[No Elephants]

25. Good!

[bertman]

29. This is THE perfect campaign to get the Progressive ball rolling. Sign on to the letter

and send Marcy Winograd a few bucks if you can afford it.

Nobody is trying to UNelect Lynn Woolsey--just trying to let her know that it's time that PROGRESSIVES got behind progressives in order to make a progressive agenda a reality. It doesn't matter to me why Woolsey is backing Harman; although, I suspect that it's the incumbent love hug as much as anything. Once these folks get in into Congressional seats it's like they are blood sisters and brothers with all their other "friends and colleagues" no matter how screwed up they are. It's too damn much like a club for democracy to prevail.

So, let's get Harman out and Winograd in. And let's start hammering the DLC and DCCC leadership by electing progressives.

Too late to rec, but let's keep this one going so we can turn the ship of state to the LEFT.

[Freddie Stubbs]

30. The 'deadline' has passed