"Heretic, Rebel, a Thing to Flout" - PROGRESSIVES FOR OBAMA--Familiar Voices Launch New Initiative

The Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) created quite a stir this morning when they posted an appeal for progressives to unite around Barack Obama.  The call to action was co-authored by a team of widely known and respected voices of the American left, Tom Hayden, Bill Fletcher, Barbara Ehrenreich, and Danny Glover.

Although some progressives were early supporters of the Illinois Senator—the proprietor of this blog counts among their numbers—others were slower to warm up.  Many were passionate supporters of Dennis Kucinich.  Others admired John Edwards for his economic populism and frank acknowledgement of class issues.  Many feminists, including a Who’s Who of “founding mothers” of the modern movement, clung instinctively to Hillary Clinton. Not a few, despairing over repeated Democratic cave-ins to the Administration over the war in Congress, gave up on the Party and all of its presidential candidates as agents of change.  And there have always been those who yearn for a third party—populist, progressive, labor, or socialist—and those who disparage electoral politics and prefer to wait for “the revolution.”

When Kucinich withdrew, he urged his followers to support Obama, a move that shocked some.  But many indeed did so.  Edwards remains neutral to this day and his supporters have gone both ways, but the largest majority of them, particularly among the activists, have come to Obama.  The Kennedy endorsements were an important signal for some.  The increasing tendency of the Clinton camp to a subtle—or not so subtle—“playing of the race card” drove remaining Clinton loyalists in the Black community and many white liberals to Obama.

As the months have passed many progressives have, as they have grown to know him, warmed to Obama  with increasing enthusiasm.  But debate remains.

Locally in McHenry County, Rob Smith, the proprietor of the leading local Democratic discussion forum, Dem-IL-Mchenry@yahoogroups.com, has become increasingly disenchanted with the Democratic Party and has vowed never again “to vote for anyone that does not reflect my values.”  Rob recently announced his resignation as moderator of the group and has initiated a new group for local progressives.  But he continues to post to the Dem group and debate rages there.

Likewise the comments following the post on the PDA web site reflect lingering doubts by some of Obama’s progressive credentials on one hand, and a bitter denunciation of him by others—Clinton supporters—as a leftist fraud who will doom the Democrats in November if nominated.

Still, the trend to Obama among progressives—and lets use the “L” word here—liberals is strong and growing stronger.  I endorse the sentiments of Hayden, Fletcher, Ehrenreich, and Glover and ask any wavering progressives out there to consider them carefully

PROGRESSIVES FOR OBAMA

March 24th, 2008

by Tom Hayden, Bill Fletcher, Barbara Ehrenreich, and Danny Glover

All American progressives should unite for Barack Obama. We descend from the proud tradition of independent social movements that have made America a more just and democratic country. We believe that the movement today supporting Barack Obama continues this great tradition of grass-roots participation drawing millions of people out of apathy and into participation in the decisions that affect all our lives. We believe that Barack Obama’s very biography reflects the positive potential of the globalization process that also contains such grave threats to our democracy when shaped only by the narrow interests of private corporations in an unregulated global marketplace. We should instead be globalizing the values of equality, a living wage and environmental sustainability in the new world order, not hoping our deepest concerns will be protected by trickle down economics or charitable billionaires. By its very existence, the Obama campaign will stimulate a vision of globalization from below.

As progressives we believe this sudden and unexpected new movement is just what America needs. The future has arrived. The alternative would mean a return to the dismal status quo party politics that have failed so far to deliver peace, health care, full employment and effective answers to crises like global warming.

During past progressive peaks in our political history—the late Thirties, the early Sixties—social movements have provided the relentless pressure and innovative ideas that allowed centrist leaders to embrace visionary solutions. We find ourselves in just such a situation today.

We intend to join and engage with our brothers and sisters in the vast rainbow of social movements to come together in support of Obama’s unprecedented campaign and candidacy. Even though it is candidate-centered, there is no doubt that the campaign is a social movement, one greater than the candidate himself ever imagined.

To read the entire appeal and posted comments click here