tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706185.post116962463298523079..comments2023-10-28T04:04:43.525-05:00Comments on Easter Lemming Liberal News: Holding Their Feet to the FireGaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17414725749450659875noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706185.post-1169670667763250392007-01-24T14:31:00.000-06:002007-01-24T14:31:00.000-06:00Yeah, I had just read about that and already Cuell...Yeah, I had just read about that and already Cuellar is complaining he represents his district and not outside liberal interests.<BR/><BR/>If he represented his district he wouldn't be the top Texas target.Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17414725749450659875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706185.post-1169664661210130822007-01-24T12:51:00.000-06:002007-01-24T12:51:00.000-06:00possibly helpful in the future:http://www.dailykos...possibly helpful in the future:<BR/><BR/>http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/1/22/12741/7531<BR/><BR/>They Work for Us <BR/><BR/>by kos <BR/>Mon Jan 22, 2007 at 09:34:23 AM PST<BR/><BR/>Today, a new organization was born, They Work For Us.<BR/><BR/>Looking to instill discipline among Democrats, a coalition of labor, trial lawyers and liberal groups is launching lobbying and campaign organizations this week to keep Democratic lawmakers from straying on populist issues.<BR/><BR/>Democrats who don't hew to this agenda could find themselves facing well-funded primary opponents _ an aggressive strategy to counter moderate and conservative blocs within the party. <BR/><BR/>They Work For Us is led by Steve Rosenthal, former labor organizer and head of ACT. Its members include SEIU, the United Steelworkers, MoveOn, the American Association for Justice (formerly the American Trial Lawyers Association), and this little ol' website (I'm on the board).<BR/><BR/>The first three targets? Three Democrats we already know and love -- Ellen Tauscher, Al Wynn, and Henry Cuellar.<BR/><BR/>This is a potent alliance, and one that will have real muscle as we look to target not "conservative" Democrats, but Democrats who are out of step with their districts (a key and important distinction). This is no lame-brained Club for Growth clone -- an operation obsessed with ideological purity without regard to electoral realities.<BR/><BR/>Rosenthal said the new coalition would not single out members with moderate to conservative constituencies. Instead, it will target lawmakers who coalition organizers believe are out of step with their voters.<BR/><BR/>"We're not trying to force people to the left of their districts," he said. "We want to make sure that Democrats primarily represent their districts." <BR/><BR/>They Work For Us will give challengers the sort of heft that challengers often lack against entrenched (and oftentimes corrupt) incumbents -- especially those in "safe" Democratic districts. Rosenthal is one of the nation's top organizers and fundraisers. We all know and love what MoveOn can deliver. SEIU, the Steelworkers, and other member unions have cash, boots, and organizers. Daily Kos is a megaphone, one of the nation's premier progressive media outlets. The trial lawyers have money. It's like the Super Friends of progressive politics.<BR/><BR/>We, as a movement, are becoming more sophisticated. More organized. We're forging new alliances. We're working smarter. We're growing up.<BR/><BR/>And if all goes well, we won't need self-funding millionaires like Ned Lamont to hold Democrats accountable. There's a finite number of class-acts like Lamont with the financial means to fight the tough primary battles. With They Work For Us, courageous primary challengers will have immediate, substantive, significant support.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com