If Mfume becomes a Senator it would not only give the progressive wing of the Democratic Party another progressive Senator but he would also be the second
African American Senator to boot. I believe that
Chris Bowers hit it on the head.
If Progressives want Progressive Democrats to run for President, then we have to greatly expand our potential Presidential bench. Right now, that bench is so thin that we seriously consider people like Obama and Schweitzer even though they each first took statewide office less than six months ago. By way of contrast, the New Democratic Presidential bench, comprises all of the eight candidates listed in yesterday's poll. This is not something they managed to achieve overnight, or by way of conspiracy. It took literally decades of organizing, identifying, fundraising and grooming candidates to achieve that bench.
Progressives are in the process of building an equivalent, if not a superior, infrastructure to help do the things that organizations like the New Democrat Network have done for over a decade. However, the two most prominent such organizations within this infrastructure, Moveon.org and Democracy for America, are still in their infancy when it comes to identifying and supporting candidates. While we have seen many signs of progress, it is going to take a long time to achieve parity with New Democrats when it comes to statewide offices.
In order to get a progressive candidate for President we have to start electing them to city and county council, the state legislature, and to Congress. It's past time worrying about electibility. It is time to support progressive candidates and use the power of the netroots and our own passion to turn the tide.
Mfume is not a radical. He is just a man, with gobs of executive, legislative and street experience who will speak for you and me and forever stand up for the interests of regular folk--middle class, lower class, and the poor.
On the Scandal: It was nepotism not sexism. The woman who was allegedly favored at the NAACP is the mother of a boy who Mfume adopted when he was in Congress, 10 years or so ago. Mfume, who is divorced, has previously admitted dating the woman in 1997 and adopting her son, now 15. But he denied that any of his personnel decisions were affected by the relationship. Mfume favored his baby's mother. How hard is that to understand?
It is pronounced Kwah-EE-see Oom-FOO-may. In case you were wondering. And no I am not getting paid to do this.