Raul Grijalva:New Progressive Caucus Leadership - Myself and Rep. Keith Ellison

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http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/12/2/924843/-New-Progressive-Caucus-LeadershipMyself-and-Rep.-Keith-Ellison

The Congressional Progressive Caucus held its leadership election last night for the 112th Congress. I was honored to be elected to another term alongside my new co-chair, Rep. Keith Ellison. A lot of discussion focused on how the CPC should be structured over the next two years and, most importantly, how we're going to be effective in the minority. Without spoiling the whole thing now, I can tell you all that we have a plan.

This is the letter I sent to my CPC colleagues before the vote:

Dear Progressive Colleague,

As a candidate for one of the co-chairmanships of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, I’d like to ask for your support and lay out a brief vision for what we can accomplish over the next two years.

The 112th Congress will be a defining moment for the progressive movement in this country. We can learn the wrong lessons from November and dilute our advocacy on core issues, or we can build the most effective grassroots coalition this country has ever seen. We can be very effective in a number of ways next year, even in the minority. There are four major steps we need to take.

1. We need not only to be the premier opposition to Republican legislative proposals, but to provide thoughtful alternatives. When the GOP tries to defund government agencies, privatize Social Security and take a belligerent stance overseas, the Progressive Caucus must be the first line of counterattack. The American people must be presented with options and comparisons. We cannot be content to vote no. We need to be active, vocal and strategic when it comes to legislation.

2. We must build stronger relationships with progressive organizations. Many groups can help us work smarter when it comes time to legislate, organize and coordinate. The grassroots and Netroots are yearning for an effective two-way line of communication, and given the legislative advancements we have yet to make in this country, I strongly believe we need to bring activists into the fold in appropriate ways. When outside groups can improve our effectiveness, we need to embrace and cultivate those opportunities.

3. The CPC should empower task force chairs and vice chairs to prepare legislative responses and speak publicly. We need to expand the CPC profile as an effective entity. One of the best ways to do that is to have numerous faces speaking publicly about ideas they and other CPC members generate. Rather than our traditional role as the left wing of the Democratic Party, we should pursue and embrace our new role as the majority of the Democratic Party. Our ideas are mainstream, and we should take opportunities to say so.

4. The CPC should promote outreach to base constituents in home districts and around the country. We can be an effective message center no matter where in the country we are and no matter what the issue is. We have to reach out effectively to our diverse base of support, including producing bilingual information and message strategies. Waiting to capitalize on Republican mistakes is a recipe for inaction. We must be proactive in telling voters what we’re doing for them, why we’re doing it and how it’s going to help them and their families. We need to do this not just at home, but nationwide.

I believe the CPC has a bright future, and I ask for your support in making that future a reality over the next two years. I thank you sincerely for your consideration, and I promise to work closely with you in any way I can in the 112th Congress and beyond.

Sincerely,
Raúl M. Grijalva

^^^

I mean every word of that letter, and I'm confident that these next two years will actually be good for the progressive movement in the long run. Republicans are going to overreach -- there's no doubt about it. The public already agrees with us on a host of important issues, including Social Security and the importance of better health care access. The GOP is going to over-interpret the results of this election, and we're going to be there every step of the way pushing back, countering their spin with the facts, and reminding the American people of what effective progressive government can really look like.

As always, I hope you'll join us. This is going to be a challenge, but it's one we're excited to embrace. Working with Rep. Ellison is going to be an absolute joy, and together we're going to make big things happen in this country with your help.

[Bobbieo]

1. I'm proud to say Raul is my Congresman

[laughingliberal]

2. As much as I like him, this disturbs me:

<1. We need not only to be the premier opposition to Republican legislative proposals, but to provide thoughtful alternatives. When the GOP tries to defund government agencies, privatize Social Security and take a belligerent stance overseas, the Progressive Caucus must be the first line of counterattack. The American people must be presented with options and comparisons. We cannot be content to vote no. We need to be active, vocal and strategic when it comes to legislation.>

I'd prefer to see a commitment to stand against benefit cuts in SS as well as a stand against privatization. This is what worried me about Obama during the recent campaign. He loudly proclaimed his opposition to privatizing SS but remained silent about benefit cuts.

[pampango]

3. Love it. CPC to be led by a Hispanic and a Muslim African American. Can the tea party say that? n/t