| Formation | 2004 |
|---|---|
| Website | pdamerica.org |
The Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) is a progressive political organization and grassroots political action committee operating inside the Democratic Party.
Contents |
History
The Progressive Democrats of America formed out of the presidential campaigns of Howard Dean and Dennis Kucinich.
PDA was founded during the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Massachusetts by Tim Carpenter, Steve Cobble, Kevin Spidel, and Mimi Kennedy, former staff and supporters of the Kucinich Campaign who helped organize delegates and activists concerned with the trends in the Democratic Party. Currently PDA consists of "a large group of progressive grassroots activists from across the country who want to support other progressive grassroots activists locally." [1] Appearing at the first PDA meeting in Roxbury, Massachusetts were leaders, activists, and politicians including Dean and Kucinich, U.S. Representatives John Conyers, Jesse Jackson, Jr. and Barbara Lee, Jesse Jackson, James Zogby, Tom Hayden, Medea Benjamin, John Lauritsen, and Current PDA Executive Director Tim Carpenter.
PDA's mission is to strengthen the voice of progressive ideas within the Democratic Party by using "inside/outside" and "grassroots fusion" models of working both in the Democratic Party as well as working with other progressive organizations.
PDA gained support from actors Ed Asner and Mimi Kennedy.
Priorities
War in Iraq
The Progressive Democrats of America believes that the Iraq war is one of the worst foreign policy disasters in U.S. history. The PDA has called on the United States to withdraw its troops and redirect its war funding toward social needs at home and humanitarian aid for Iraqis. The organization has called on Congress to cut off military funding for the war and investigate all White House claims justifying the invasion. PDA is also behind the Bring the Troops Home and Iraq Sovereignty Restoration Act, introduced by key members of the PDA board, Reps. Lynn Woolsey, Barbara Lee and Maxine Waters. The bill would bring all U.S. troops home within 6 months. PDA has also publicly endorsed House Resolution 746, known as the Safe and Orderly Withdrawal From Iraq Act.[2]
Single-payer health care
PDA supports establishing a single-payer health care system through HR 676, which would essentially provide enhanced Medicare for all by establishing a streamlined, nonprofit national health insurance program that would negotiate drug and treatment costs. Care would be publicly financed and privately delivered. PDA also supports health care initiatives at the state and local level that move toward a single-payer system.[3]
Economics
The Progressive Democrats of America support an agenda of progressive taxation and fair trade. PDA has worked to get the United States Congress to roll back President George W. Bush's tax cuts. The PDA also supports fair trade, which it claims protects workers' rights and the environment, while opposing free trade agreements that it argues allow corporations to exploit unprotected labor worldwide. PDA is attempting to block renewal of fast track authority that allows the White House to enact trade deals without Congressional amendment. PDA endorses the Employee Free Choice Act, which would make it easier for workers to organize unions.[4]
Election reform
The Progressive Democrats of America support federal legislation that would ban further use of touch-screen voting machines, establish a paper ballot as the official record for determining voter intent and require rigorous mandatory audits for elections. PDA also supports comprehensive campaign finance reform at the state and national level.[5]
Energy policy
The Progressive Democrats of America want to reduce America's dependence on oil and fossil fuels by raising auto fuel economy and imposing mandatory caps on carbon pollution while investing in public transportation, energy conservation technologies, and alternative energy development.[6]
Criticism
Since the Progressive Democrats of America are a PAC of the Democratic Party, many on the left have criticized it as simply serving as a "Judas goat" organization—a mechanism to lure progressives into the party. One left-wing critic wrote, "I'm not sure how working to elect 'progressive' Democrats to office, which Benjamin and Sheehan are now attempting to do with the PDA, will ever help build an alternative to the two pro-war parties." [7]
Advisory board
- Mimi Kennedy, Advisory Board Chair
- Stephen Shaff, Advisory Board Vice Chair
- John Conyers, Jr.
- Raul Grijalva
- Barbara Lee
- Maxine Waters
- Diane E. Watson
- Lynn Woolsey
- Cindy Asner
- Medea Benjamin
- John C. Bonifaz
- Steve Cobble
- Jeff Cohen
- Jodie Evans
- Gary L. Flowers
- Lila Garret
- Tom Hayden
- Joe Libertelli
- Ralph I. Miller
- Greg Moore[disambiguation needed]
- Joel Segal
- David Swanson
- Lyle Wing
- Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr.
Staff and consultants
- Laura Bonham, Communications Director
- Kimberly Buchan, Administrative Coordinator
- Bryan Buchan, Virtual Outreach Coordinator
- Tim Carpenter, National Director
- Mike Hersh, Member Outreach Coordinator
- Michael Jay, Special Projects Coordinator
- Tom Pallow, National Volunteer Coordinator
- National Field Coordinator Diane Shamis works as a producer for the Laura Flanders Show.
References
- ^ phttp://pdamerica.org/images/pd_conv/dennis_dean-prog-conv-2004-th.jpg]
- ^ PDA Iraq Policy...Link
- ^ PDA Health Care Policy...Link
- ^ PDA Economic Policy...Link
- ^ PDA Election Policy...Link
- ^ PDA Environment Policy...Link
- ^ Joshua Frank: Counter Punch, Democrats or Bust: Cindy Sheehan's Lesser Evilism (Oct., 2006)
External links
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