Don’t Mourn, Organize!

[helderheid]

TWO PROGRESSIVES READY FOR CONGRESS (spread the word)

Many activists are understandably distressed about last week’s Democratic cave-in on Iraq – giving Bush still more billions for a military occupation that most Americans and most Iraqis want ended. But this is a teachable moment. And it’s a moment for action.

And there’s some great news: Within hours of the Capitol Hill defeat, Progressive Democrats of America endorsed two progressive candidates for open seats in Congress: one in Massachusetts, one in Southern California.

What we must learn from the failure of leadership in Congress is that a transformation of the Democratic Party will be needed to end an imperial foreign policy and foster social and environmental justice in our country. It requires that the party base and the movements that animate that base elect Members of Congress who come out of these movements.

So meet the two candidates PDA is endorsing: PETER MATHEWS and JAMIE ELDRIDGE. Each has a good chance of entering Congress this year through special elections that are fast approaching. Both are movement progressives committed to:


* ending the Iraq occupation.

* HR 676, single-payer nonprofit National Health Insurance.

* fair trade, not corporate-drafted “free trade” treaties.

* clean, transparent elections.

* aggressive investigation/accountability of the imperial White House.


PETER MATHEWS is a respected community activist and popular college professor well-known in his district. In the ethnically-diverse 37th district of California (Long Beach, Carson, Compton, South L.A., Willowbrook), Peter is a person of Indian descent who speaks Spanish. He made an impressive appearance at PDA’s recent candidate forum, and has been a longtime PDA activist. He will be on the June 26 special election ballot – only weeks away – for the seat left vacant by the death of Juanita Millender-McDonald. http://mathewsforcongress.org/

JAMIE ELDRIDGE is the only Clean Elections candidate ever elected to the Massachusetts State House. He is a former Legal Aid attorney, and a longtime activist for social justice. Jamie was a strong presence on PDA’s national conference call last week involving dozens of PDA activists. He will be on the Sept. 4 special election ballot for the Massachussets 5th district seat (Lowell, Lawrence, Haverhill) being vacated by Democrat Marty Meehan. http://www.jamieforcongress.com/

A Democratic majority in Congress is not enough. We need a PROGRESSIVE MAJORITY. We’ll be working hard in support of Peter and Jamie. Please make a https://www.pdamerica.org/donate.php">QUICK DONATION TO PDA so we can support these strong progressive candidates. (Please insert PAF in Special Fund Drive box to ensure your donation is targeted to these candidates.)

A NOTE ABOUT CINDY

As many of you know, our PDA colleague Cindy Sheehan announced yesterday that she is http://pdamerica.org/articles/news/2007-05-29-13-21-17-news.php">stepping back from her 24/7 leadership activities on behalf of peace and justice. No one deserves a rest more than Cindy does. No one has given more to the peace movement in recent years than she has. We wish her well and re-dedicate our efforts on behalf of Cindy, her son Casey, and the thousands of other U.S. soldiers and Iraqis who’ve died since our country illegally invaded Iraq.

As we work to put genuine progressives in positions of power, we do so for Cindy. We know of pro-war Democrats in Congress who walk in the opposite direction at the sight of Cindy Sheehan. We’re working to elect Peter Mathews and Jamie Eldridge to Congress, the kind of Democrats who embrace the values Cindy Sheehan embodies.

Please support our work in the coming months with a generous donation.

In peace,

Tim Carpenter


Progressive Democrats of America is a grassroots PAC that works both inside the Democratic Party and outside in movements for peace and justice. Our goal: Extend the victory of Nov. 2006 into a permanent, progressive majority. PDA’s advisory board includes six members of Congress and activist leaders such as Tom Hayden, Cindy Sheehan, Medea Benjamin and Rev. Lennox Yearwood. More info: http://pdamerica.org

[helderheid]

1. Californians and Mass DUers please spread the word

[GliderGuider]

2. inspiration

Thanks for passing this on, helderheid. And a few more words of inspiration taken from the WWI poem by Dr. John McCrea called In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.

And I heard a more catchy version of your subject line that I'd like to share with you:
Don't Agonize, Organize!

[helderheid]

4. I love it!!

[TygrBright]

3. "I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night..." n/t

[helderheid]

5. .