The most recent effort to elect more Democrats was a dismal failure. Even so, this is the season for getting better Democrats. There will be about 240 Republicans holding seats in the House of Representatives. In each case, he should have a progressive opponent in 2012.
Even more important, between now and then each one of them needs a progressive voice in his district pointing out the choices:
The way to go forward instead of back,
The needs of Main Street against the desires of Wall Street,
Dealing with the needs of the country rather than just saying no.
I'm not dealing with the possibility of challenging the few Blue Dogs still standing in a primary; that is a tactical decision. It is best made by pregressives in the respective districts. But, when there is a Republican incumbent, there should be a progressive challenger.
More after the jump.
In our situation, the old habit of waiting until the DCCC recruits somebody and then bitching about the choice is counterproductive. The progressives in each CD with a Republican congressman should be looking for their candidate now -- with results before June 2011.
Look!
- The first choice would probably be an elected official in a lower slot -- state rep., state senator, county official, small-town mayor.
- OTOH, if you have an organization -- chapter of DFA, PDA, OFA, or some similar group -- then one of the officials of that group might be a better spokesman, and -- thus -- a better candidate.
Which of these paths you take is a local decision, and that decision should be taken tactically.
- But these are not the only possibilities. A community organizer or union official might be the best candidate.
- Hold forums in the localities of your CD on single issues. Look at who comes forward to present some progressive proposals. If that person speaks well, he (or she) might be the candidate you want.
Agree. This is a bad time to let the perfect be the enemy of the good. If enough others whose principles you respect are supporting somebody you think is the lesser choice, support that person rather than fighting within the tent.
All of this is merely the Congressional level, and for nearly half the population -- and probably the majority of the readers of this diary -- not a decision which is relevant. We have Democratic Representatives. But the same arguments can be made mutatis mutandis about other political offices.
Look at those held by Republicans. Find a progressive who would be better. Put him forward, first as a critic, then as a candidate.
If there are too few progressives to work on all levels at once, prioritize. But don't let the argument, "this district is too Red," dissuade you. Even if the next election won't go our way, and predicting two years in the future is a fool's errand, the progressive position needs a spokesman in each locality. And, after all, your Republican official might be the one arrested for taking a "wide stance" in a men's room just before the election.
And, if not, it's better to have a presentation of progressive values than someone who'll run a "me too" campaign. As Truman told us,
When the American people want a conservative party, they know where to find one.
Even if the voters in your district are so mossback that the majority won't back a progressive in the foreseeable future, there are young people who only hear one side. They deserve to hear our side, too. Or they will grow up and move away still as mossback as their grandfathers are.