Lame-O-Rama

by digby

Howie at Down With Tyranny  writes:

Would it shock you if Jim Matheson of Utah, co-chair of the congressional Blue Dog Caucus, did a fundraiser for Donna Edwards (D-MD), one of Washington’s most stalwart fighters for working families? Don’t worry; that’s one shock you’re not likely to ever have to live through. Instead, please consider the implications of this invitation that southern California progressives got found in their in-boxes yesterday:

Isn’t that nice? After all, poor Jane is one of the richest people in the congress, so she needs to take money from progressives and then vote with Blue Dogs. I guess since the district is the westside of Los Angeles and is as likely to fall to a Republican as Nancy Pelosi’s is, you just don’t want to take any chances.

This is crazy. Woolsey is the Chair of the Progressive Caucus. Harman is a Blue Dog, who is way out of touch with her district and faces a primary challenge from a true progressive, Marcy Winograd. If Woolsey can’t bring herself to campaign against her pal Jane, the least she could do is stay out of this race.

Blue Dogs would never, ever, ever do this. They recognize that the power of the their bloc is their solidarity, their numbers and their financial commitments to each other. Personal friendship isn’t the issue.  It’s how they maintain their power.

You can sign up for Winograd’s newsletter, here.  She’s a real progressive and she came damned close to beating Harman four years ago.  That’s why Harman needs the cover of someone like Woolsey.  Woolsey should not give it to her.

Howie has a good idea:

How about making a donation to Marcy Winograd’s campaign on the anti-Blue Dogs page, in the hopes that she’ll win, get into Congress, join the Progressive Caucus and beat Woolsey in the next co-chair election. She’d certainly do a better job!

If you’re of a mind to let Woolsey know that the progressives she represents don’t appreciate this, you can give one of her offices a call:

Washington DC Office:
202-225-5161
Fax: 202-225-5163

District Offices:

Marin Office:
1050 Northgate Drive
Suite 354
San Rafael, CA. 94903
Ph.: 415-507-9554
Fax: 415-507-9601

Sonoma Office:
1101 College Avenue
Suite 200
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Ph.: 707-542-7182
Fax: 707-542-2745

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