Which Dems Will Face Serious Primaries Over CAFTA? by David Sirota

[Douglas Carpenter]

posted by permission of Mr. Sirota

the link: http://www.davidsirota.com/

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"Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Which Dems Will Face Serious Primaries Over CAFTA?

The labor movement has let it be known that it is no longer in the business of supporting Democrats who sell out America's middle class. That declaration follows a similar groundswell of disgust from the progressive community for Democrats who consistently undermine the Democratic Party. And that brings up the question: which Democrats are in danger of facing a serious and well-funded primary should they undermine their party and help President Bush pass the destructive, corporate-written Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA)?

The easiest way to whittle down which Democrats are in real trouble would be to look at those Democrats who have previously slapped working people in the face. To be sure, that is a big list. So let's whittle it down further and confine it just to 2005. Which Democrats have undermined their party and put a boot in the eye of the ordinary American?

The best place to look is in the 73 Democrats who voted for the credit card industry-written bankruptcy bill - a bill roundly recognized as one of the biggest sellouts in recent times.

Of these 73 Democrats - including many New Democrats whom I have criticized - many have said they are voting against CAFTA, bucking the elitists at the Democratic Leadership Council. That is a good thing, and will likely spare these Democrats from serious electoral retribution.

Still, there are some left. Which again raises the question - which Democrats are really in trouble if they vote for CAFTA?

I would look for the Democrats who voted for the bankruptcy bill who represent safe Democratic districts, and have gotten comfortable sidling up to business lobbyists because they don't expect a primary. I would then hone it down further and look among these Democrats for those who represent districts where there is an on-the-ground infrastructure that could put up a serious primary challenge.

One of the prime targets, thus, is New York City, where the Working Families Party (WFP) exists just for this purpose. WFP has become a major force in New York state politics, using the state's cross-endorsement/fusion system to help Democrats win in districts that Democrats have had trouble competing. They have done this by sticking to core economic issues.

WFP, however, has also shown a willingness to take it to Democrats in safe districts who think they can sell out working people in New York. This is a muscular organization that doesn't screw around - and my bet is if there are New York City Democrats who vote for both the bankruptcy bill and CAFTA, those Democrats are going to find themselves face-to-face with a primary challenge.

For instance, there's Rep. Greg Meeks (D-NY). Meeks is playing footsie with the Bush administration and Corporate America, threatening to undermine Democrats and vote for CAFTA. And he not only voted for the Bankruptcy Bill, he actually signed a letter to Republican House Speaker Denny Hastert demanding the bankruptcy bill be passed immediately. This from a Congressman who represents a safe Democratic, working-class district.

If I were Meeks - or any other Democrat with a WFP-like force in my district - I would think very hard about whether I really want to sell my soul on the CAFTA vote. Remember, the powerful grassroots group Moveon.org showed no hesitation in going after Democrats who voted for the bankruptcy bill. That highlighted the fact that labor and the progressive movement in general seems just pissed enough (and rightly so) that the political dynamic is fundamentally changing for those Democrats who think they can walk all over working people with no consequences.

To be sure, if progressives are willing to hold Democrats feet to the fire, we will undoubtedly see a much more unified and effective Democratic Party in the future. That is ultimately the point – you can't hope to build a Democratic Party that stands for something, yet continue to coddle party members who stand for nothing other than selling out to the highest big-money bidder. And as much as Democrats may whine and cry, this new kind of bare-knuckled, tough, and populist progressive politics is a good thing for the Democratic Party in the long run."
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Who is Congressman Bernie Sanders?

Read this article and watch the short video clips:

http://www.davidsirota.com/2005/04/who-is-bernie-sanders.html

[wli]

1. also the 43 who voted in favor of PATRIOT reauthorization

[Catt03]

2. I hope someone takes and keeps names

on who voted for both bills.

These guys think that we won't vote for a Republican in the HOUse...well...maybe not. But we can sure skip the name on the ballot.