A Pithy Progressive

Back in the day when Democrats could actually run as Democrats, we never had to ask questions like the ones we are looking at today:  How can we get Democrats elected to offices since a Teflon President has apparently passed on that mantle (now usually referred to as IOKIYAR) to an entire guilty party, which people CONTINUE TO VOTE FOR?

There seem to be two theories.  Some think that we need to appeal to the populace which seems to be swinging to the right.  Others, of whom I am one, feel that if you give voters a choice between a real Republican and a fake Republican, they will go for the real one every time.  Yes, I know, it hurts my tongue (and keyboard fingers) to describe hypocrites like Republicans as "real."  But that's another philosophical dichotomy for another day.

I will admit that the first theory worked for a time.  Not a very long time, but a time.  But it doesn't seem to be working any more.  I don't know whether I will come up with enough of these candidates for a series, but I received an email this week from a candidate who is definitely in the same camp I am on this issue, and, since it's an email, not a weblink, I thought I would share it in a post.

Vincent Fort is running for Mayor of Atlanta.  He sent out an email under the subject line "Progressives can win.  Here's how."  It said (fundraising delinked):

There is a dangerous myth floating around in the Democratic Party — this idea that Democrats can’t win if they’re too progressive. A dangerous myth that I am going to shut down, right now:

For two decades, I have been a state senator in the ruby red state of Georgia. And I’ve been a loud and proud progressive for that entire time.

Since I was first elected in the 90’s, I’ve been supporting our friends and families at Pride events — not only for sexual orientation, but also for gender identity. I support single-payer healthcare, and have been arrested twice for protesting healthcare injustice. I speak out against Wall Street — and even passed the strongest law against predatory lending in the nation, back in 2001, in an attempt to prevent the 2008 financial crisis. I was arrested with Occupy Atlanta for protesting Wall Street greed. I’m a proud feminist. I endorsed Bernie Sanders.

And somehow, I was reelected to serve in the state senate for 21 years. In the South. Even when the entrenched establishment elites tried to recruit someone to run in a primary against me in the last election cycle.

There are folks in our party, self-proclaimed campaign experts, who will tell you that you have to compromise your progressive values if you run for office in a red state. That you can’t say the word abortion, that you can’t talk about transgender rights, that you can’t support single payer healthcare, that you have to be nice to Wall Street. That’s nonsense.

It’s that kind of thinking that led to the problems we’re experiencing in Atlanta now. Because we keep electing “Democrats” who put Wall Street over Peachtree. Our current City Hall is full of “Democrats” — and yet, they had me and dozens of other activists arrested for protesting Wall Street greed at Occupy Atlanta. City Hall has put off doing anything about the issues of criminal injustice and mass incarceration in Atlanta. They refused to declare Atlanta a sanctuary city. And I could go on.

What’s the point of electing Democrats if they refuse to work to move our city, our state, and our nation forward? What’s the point of electing anyone who is just Democrat In Name Only?

This is about more than just Atlanta — it’s about sending a powerful message to the state and nation that we don’t need to compromise our values to win. Our campaign now is just the beginning of a movement that we need to work to spread across the state and nation.

Together, we will prove once again that progressives, united, can never be defeated.

In solidarity,

Senator Vincent Fort
Candidate for Mayor of Atlanta

I found it inspiring.  OK, yes, I'd rather have a Blue Dog in office than a Republican.  But I'd really rather have a Democrat.  In every office.  Including mayoralties.  I am wishing him all the best.

Cross posted to Care2 at http://www.care2.com/news/member/101612212/4051733