Progressive Vote and
Progressive Democrats of America Merge!
Vol. 1, No. 1--August 27, 2004
Following successful joint events at the National Democratic Convention in Boston, board members of the Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) and key representatives of Progressive Vote (PV) agreed to formally merge efforts.
We did so out of a conviction that the Democratic Party needs to be transformed, and that to accomplish this end we need a "movement." We believe our merger is a step in that direction. Progressive Vote (PV) is a grassroots coalition that combines electoral work with community organizing. Its goal is to form Progressive Democratic caucuses in every one of the 435 congressional districts (CDs) in America. Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) also believes we must combine electoral politics with local organizing in order to redirect obscene levels of U.S. military spending toward full and meaningful employment and to put an end to poverty and war.
What makes the merged organization unique is our ability to work inside the beltway while simultaneously building a strong federation of state and CD based progressive caucuses. This is our country, not Exxon's, Bush's, nor any corporate Board's. America belongs to the people. The highest office in a democracy is that of citizen.
In order to meet these goals. a small combined Board was created to guide the work of staff and volunteers. The Board is composed of Sherry Bohlen, Co-Chair of the PV State Progressive Democratic Caucus Council and Co-Chair of the Arizona Progressive Democratic Caucus; Lu Bauer, Maine Progressive Caucus Co-Chair and PDA Treasurer, and Bruce Taub, former Massachusetts Kucinich State Co-coordinator.
Former PDA Board Chair, actress Mimi Kennedy will chair a new Advisory Council composed of other former PDA Board members and key endorsers who want to actively support PDA's effort, especially with regard to fundraising and networking.
Activities of the new organization include mobilizing to publicize PDA efforts at the RNC in NYC and touring and tabling with Ani DiFranco who has touted PDA on her swing-state-focused Vote Dammit! Tour.
Throughout it all PDA will be building upon the drumbeat of national publicity for the "inside-the-Party" strategy pioneered by Progressive Vote and amplified by PV/PDA activities at the Democratic National Convention.
Between now and November, PDA will be organizing high visibility Teach Ins similar to that done in Boston in several swing states including Ohio and Minnesota. PDA endorser Tom Hayden has already indicated he will be part of that effort.
Plans are already afoot to build critically needed financial support for this effort.
Chair Mimi Kennedy and Los Angeles progressive Democratic activist and Pacifica radio talk show host Lila Garrett have teamed up with Democratic fundraiser Bronwyn Ingram to send an e-mail to more than 10,000 progressive-leaning Democratic Party funders. That letter specifically calls for support to build PDA as a counterbalance to the conservative Democratic Leadership Council!
PDA will also be working with existing progressive democratic state caucuses that were part of the PV organizing network, organizing new caucuses, and spawning PDA chapters across the nation. The "Chapters" will be organized by Congressional District and state.
The first two CD based chapters are already under way in Western Massachusetts CD 1 and 2. (See State News in this issue.)
In summary, while the immediate goal is to support of John Kerry, the long-term goal is the actual transformation of the Democratic Party into a progressive party of "We the People."
The combined organization now has over 26,000 members - including two or more members in 48 states.
The two web sites will be merged in the near future.
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