Democracy for Iowa is pleased to announce
that we are joining a new alliance of progressive grassroots
organizations called Progressive Democrats of America. PDA, a
coalition of Dean, Kucinich, and other progressive groups, has the
distinction of being recognized by the DNC. Both Dean and
Kucinich will be speaking at the launch of PDA next week along with
other well-known progressives.
Washington, DC: A new political organization will be officially
launched next week in Boston, at the conclusion of the Democratic
National Convention. The group, Progressive Democrats of America (PDA),
will reflect a broad desire by many within the Democratic Party to
champion progressive issues, along with working to defeat pResident
George Bush. PDA has already won the support of well-known activists
and political figures such as Tom Hayden, and actors Ed Asner and Mimi
Kennedy.
“The Democratic Party needs our help to regain its soul,” said Kennedy,
who has been a supporter of grassroots efforts. “If this is to be the
party of peace, of universal, single payer healthcare, of fair trade,
then it needs people to speak out on those issues.” PDA will work to
mobilize supporters within the Democratic Party on behalf of
progressive office holders, including public servants and Democratic
Party officials.
“There are many progressives, newly energized by the Dean and Kucinich
campaigns, who are also new to the Democratic Party. We’re going to do
the hard work of integrating them into the party and shifting the
balance of power in the progressive direction,” adds Charles Lenchner,
acting director of PDA.
Many newly established grassroots organizations who have sprung up in
recent months – in the wake of the Howard Dean and Congressman Dennis
Kucinich campaigns – are working together to ensure a Republican defeat
and to empower grassroots efforts.
“Our strategy is to work with the grassroots movement and with other
groups established in the wake of the Dean and Kucinich campaigns,”
says Kevin Spidel, former field director for the Kucinich for President Campaign.
Spidel will serve as the field director for PDA.
“Our goal is to win back the presidency from the Republicans,” says
Spidel, “and also to wrest the Democratic Party from the free trading,
Iraq invading, Patriot Act supporting leadership it has now.” PDA will
campaign to transform the Democratic Party and resurrect the spirits of
Theodore Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy.
A number of groups have signed on as endorsers, including: Progressive
Vote, Citizens for Legitimate Government, WeCount.org, Grassroots for
America, Latinos for America, Rapid Response Network, Oklahoma
Grassroots Campaign, DIY Politics, Punks for Democracy, Grassroots for
Democracy, Oklahoma Grassroots Campaign, Latinos for America and
Educators for Democracy.
These groups – and others – will meet on Thursday, July 29, for an
event titled: “Building the Progressive Wing of the Democratic Party.”
It will be held at Roxbury Community College. This ‘progressive
convention’ will feature talks and panel discussions with speakers
representing the diversity of our movement. This includes individuals
such as: Gov. Howard Dean (D-Vermont); Cynthia Peters, Fund the Dream
DNC Coalition; Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio); Representative
John Conyers (D-Michigan); Representative Jesse Jackson Jr.
(D-Illinois) (invited); Doris “Granny D” Haddock, Senatorial Candidate
(D- New Hampshire); Reverend Jesse Jackson, Executive Director
Rainbow/Push Coalition (invited); Dr. James Zogby, Founder and
President of the Arab American Institute; Marianne Williamson, Global
Renaissance (invited); Kevin Spidel, Progressive Vote; Boston
Councilman Chuck Turner (District 7). Other names will be announced
shortly.
PDA supporters and members will also meet with grassroots organizations
from around the country in Washington, D.C. on August 14-15th, to draft
plans for strengthening Democratic resolve in supporting universal,
single-payer health care, fair trade, human rights, and an end to the
occupation of Iraq.
With Ralph Nader still commanding approximately three to six percent
nationwide in most polls, many observers are concerned about a backlash
from anti-war voters left out by the Kerry campaign.
Lu Bauer, an emerging leader in the Maine Democratic Party summed up
some issues PDA will work towards. “While there are some efforts to win
those voters back, they have not emerged from within the anti-war,
progressive camp. This time around, it will take former Nader voters to
win over real progressives and help defeat Bush. Kerry can’t do it,
because his position on the war remains out of sync with most
progressive voters, let alone with early and strong opponents of the
invasion of Iraq.”
that we are joining a new alliance of progressive grassroots
organizations called Progressive Democrats of America. PDA, a
coalition of Dean, Kucinich, and other progressive groups, has the
distinction of being recognized by the DNC. Both Dean and
Kucinich will be speaking at the launch of PDA next week along with
other well-known progressives.
Check out the PDA list of partners. We, and our logo, are right up there.
Washington, DC: A new political organization will be officially
launched next week in Boston, at the conclusion of the Democratic
National Convention. The group, Progressive Democrats of America (PDA),
will reflect a broad desire by many within the Democratic Party to
champion progressive issues, along with working to defeat pResident
George Bush. PDA has already won the support of well-known activists
and political figures such as Tom Hayden, and actors Ed Asner and Mimi
Kennedy.
“The Democratic Party needs our help to regain its soul,” said Kennedy,
who has been a supporter of grassroots efforts. “If this is to be the
party of peace, of universal, single payer healthcare, of fair trade,
then it needs people to speak out on those issues.” PDA will work to
mobilize supporters within the Democratic Party on behalf of
progressive office holders, including public servants and Democratic
Party officials.
“There are many progressives, newly energized by the Dean and Kucinich
campaigns, who are also new to the Democratic Party. We’re going to do
the hard work of integrating them into the party and shifting the
balance of power in the progressive direction,” adds Charles Lenchner,
acting director of PDA.
Many newly established grassroots organizations who have sprung up in
recent months – in the wake of the Howard Dean and Congressman Dennis
Kucinich campaigns – are working together to ensure a Republican defeat
and to empower grassroots efforts.
“Our strategy is to work with the grassroots movement and with other
groups established in the wake of the Dean and Kucinich campaigns,”
says Kevin Spidel, former field director for the Kucinich for President Campaign.
Spidel will serve as the field director for PDA.
“Our goal is to win back the presidency from the Republicans,” says
Spidel, “and also to wrest the Democratic Party from the free trading,
Iraq invading, Patriot Act supporting leadership it has now.” PDA will
campaign to transform the Democratic Party and resurrect the spirits of
Theodore Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy.
A number of groups have signed on as endorsers, including: Progressive
Vote, Citizens for Legitimate Government, WeCount.org, Grassroots for
America, Latinos for America, Rapid Response Network, Oklahoma
Grassroots Campaign, DIY Politics, Punks for Democracy, Grassroots for
Democracy, Oklahoma Grassroots Campaign, Latinos for America and
Educators for Democracy.
These groups – and others – will meet on Thursday, July 29, for an
event titled: “Building the Progressive Wing of the Democratic Party.”
It will be held at Roxbury Community College. This ‘progressive
convention’ will feature talks and panel discussions with speakers
representing the diversity of our movement. This includes individuals
such as: Gov. Howard Dean (D-Vermont); Cynthia Peters, Fund the Dream
DNC Coalition; Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio); Representative
John Conyers (D-Michigan); Representative Jesse Jackson Jr.
(D-Illinois) (invited); Doris “Granny D” Haddock, Senatorial Candidate
(D- New Hampshire); Reverend Jesse Jackson, Executive Director
Rainbow/Push Coalition (invited); Dr. James Zogby, Founder and
President of the Arab American Institute; Marianne Williamson, Global
Renaissance (invited); Kevin Spidel, Progressive Vote; Boston
Councilman Chuck Turner (District 7). Other names will be announced
shortly.
PDA supporters and members will also meet with grassroots organizations
from around the country in Washington, D.C. on August 14-15th, to draft
plans for strengthening Democratic resolve in supporting universal,
single-payer health care, fair trade, human rights, and an end to the
occupation of Iraq.
With Ralph Nader still commanding approximately three to six percent
nationwide in most polls, many observers are concerned about a backlash
from anti-war voters left out by the Kerry campaign.
Lu Bauer, an emerging leader in the Maine Democratic Party summed up
some issues PDA will work towards. “While there are some efforts to win
those voters back, they have not emerged from within the anti-war,
progressive camp. This time around, it will take former Nader voters to
win over real progressives and help defeat Bush. Kerry can’t do it,
because his position on the war remains out of sync with most
progressive voters, let alone with early and strong opponents of the
invasion of Iraq.”
Blog For Iowa 
Linda, I think it is just great that we are building coalitions with other progressive groups. I will make it a point to attend this event on Thursday and show support from DFIA to their cause.
LikeLike
Hey folks, check out IDP's new website……..looks kinda familiar doesn't it…….they are using a blog format now….just like us…..hmmm, somebody must have taken notice of our success. The greatest form of flattery is when someone copies you.
Now, you think they will copy some of Linda's more spicy articles…..NOT likely…LOL
LikeLike
Linda,
I love seeing our logo on the PDA page! I'm proud of us! LOL
I like their mission statement and vision. It certainly fits in with what we are about. And Howard is going to be addressing their summit, too! It's nice to know we aren't alone, isn't it?
Alta Price
altaprice@mailblocks.com
LikeLike
I checked out the site…this looks great! Our blog design is soooooo good!
I'm glad we are going to be so visibly linking with other progressives. There is indeed strength to be gained from the gathering together of like minds. And, to top it off, Kimmy is here too! Great!
LikeLike
Oh, excellent! I was hoping you'd be able to go. We will be very proud to have you represent us.
LikeLike
The IDP re-design is great looking, but the weird thing is that they started this links page, but there is no way to find it from the home page. I wrote in to their “volunteer” email address because they don't have a contact address for the webmaster up yet. LOL
LikeLike
It IS a cute logo, isn't it? Demetrius took the same design he made for Blog for Iowa and changed it to Democracy for Iowa.
LikeLike
Yeah, I thought it was VERY interesting to see how many Dean-inspired groups had already joined. I think most of the Kucinich-inspired groups are loosely affiliated with the PDA sister group called Progressive Vote, so they are listed in a little bit different way. I also thought it was neat to see all the different constituency groups up there.
LikeLike
WOW! The PDA is even recognized by the DNC. Maybe, just maybe, there will be a voice for our views within the DNC.
LikeLike
I know! I was very impressed by that. Seems like getting recognition is half the battle. I hope the recognition is just more than lip service, but other signs indicate that the progressive movement may have reached a kind of critical mass. So, I've got hope with a dash of wait-and-see thrown in for good measure. LOL
LikeLike
Yeah, I will wait and see too. Hopefully the DNC will pay some attention to the progressives beyond this election cycle.
LikeLike
Now that we've found our collective voice, I'm willing to bet they can't shut us up. Ever. {wink}
LikeLike