August 15, 2011

Dear Wellstone Club Members,

The Progressive Caucus of the California Democratic Party (CDP) has been threatened with decertification by the CDP. The reason is that the caucus passed a resolution calling for an exploration of ways to push President Obama in a progressive direction, including the possibility of a primary challenge. (See the bottom of this message for the Progressive Caucus's resolution.)

In response, the Wellstone Club Coordinating Committee (CC) has approved its own resolution in support of the Progressive Caucus's right of free speech.

We helped launch the Progressive Caucus and value it as a place to challenge Democratic candidates and elected officials when they violate core Democratic values. No matter how we may individually feel about the strategic wisdom of the caucus's action, we deplore the attempt to stifle its right of dissent and free speech.

Please note that our resolution of support for the Progressive Caucus does NOT include support for their resolution to the California Democratic Party.

WDRC Resolution Support Progressive Caucus's Right of Free Speech

Whereas progressive Democrats, including members of the Congressional Caucus, have become increasingly concerned about the willingness of the Obama Administration to retreat from certain progressive values and sacrifice certain fundamental, Democratic commitments to protect America's most vulnerable citizens; and

Whereas a great many progressives have called on the Administration to change course, to no avail; and

Whereas the Progressive Caucus of the California Democratic Party has urgently joined in this call, passing a resolution that called for progressive Democrats to unite and consider a range of options to change the Administration's direction, including a possible primary challenge to President Obama; and

Whereas the CDP Progressive Caucus is now threatened with sanctions by the CDP for passing such resolution:

Therefore be it resolved that the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club, many of whose members oppose the idea of a primary challenge, reaffirms its commitment to free speech and progressive values by insisting on the right, indeed the duty of the Progressive Caucus to open up a discussion on a range of remedial options aimed at correcting the current political drift of the Obama Administration; and

Therefore, be it also resolved that the WDRC calls upon all California Democrats to oppose any effort to stifle debate and dissent within the California Democratic Party, and calls on the CDP to refrain from any punitive action against the CDP Progressive Caucus for putting forward resolutions that seek to pressure the Obama Administration to adopt more progressive policies.

More Background: Progressive Caucus Action Does Not Violate Party Rules

CC member Mal Burnstein was one of the founders of the Progressive Caucus and until recently one of its co-chairs. He was at the CDP Executive Board meeting when this controversy erupted. Here's Mal's account of what happened:

The progressive caucus, at it's meeting during the July Executive Board meeting of the California Democratic Party, passed a resolution lamenting the failure of the Obama Administration to even vaguely approximate the goals progressives around the country had for it, detailing many areas of that failure, and calling for progressive Democrats to unite to pressure the Administration to do better. Finally, that resolution called on progressives to consider using a primary as a method of pressuring the Administration to change course.

Coincidentally, all caucuses were up for renewal of their charters. The Rules Committee, which recommends that re-certifying, had recommended the re-certification of all caucuses. There were immediate calls for the denial of the progressive caucus certification.

The excuse for such action would be the CDP bylaw prohibiting any arm of the CDP from endorsing for president until after the national convention. Of course, the progressive caucus resolution was in no sense an endorsement, but that was politically irrelevant. After an evening and morning of ad hoc "crisis" meetings, it was agreed that the re-certification of the progressive caucus be postponed till the November E. Bd. meeting to allow tempers to cool. That's where things now stand.

Progressive Caucus Resolution

RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF A POSSIBLE 2012 DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY CHALLENGE

Whereas, the Progressive Caucus of the California Democratic Party, recognizes the challenge presented by President Obama's negotiating away Democratic Party principles to extremist Republicans. We are challenged by President Obama in the following ways:

• His unilateral closed-door budget offer to slash Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, which endangers The New Deal and War on Poverty safety nets.
  
• His determination to escalate U.S. militarism through illegal secret CIA drone attacks and unauthorized wars.
• His willingness to extend the Bush tax cuts for millionaires and bail out big banks without ending the foreclosure crisis that displaces American working families.
• His insistence on pushing a health insurance bill which enriches private insurance companies while ignoring growing support for single-payer health care or robust public options.
• His continuance of President Bush's assault on civil liberties with an extension of the repressive Patriot Act.
• His failure to restore international rights, due process, including the protection of whistleblowers and habeas corpus.
• The continuing practice of nationwide FBI raids of anti-war progressive protestors.
• His decision to increase the arrests and deportations of undocumented workers.
• His facilitation of the privatizing of the public sphere, which includes education and housing, among others.
• His disregard of his promises to the Labor movement.
• His failure to adequately protect the environment and adequately address climate change.
  

Whereas the Progressive Caucus of the California Democratic Party recognizes the historical significance of the great late Robert F. Kennedy's anti-war challenge to former President Lyndon Johnson. The challenge followed President Johnson's decision to escalate U.S. military involvement in Vietnam, betraying his campaign promise to end a war that polarized America. Similarly, we recognize the danger and betrayal the "Grand Bargain" represents to the legacy of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's signature gift to all Americans, Social Security and the New Deal, a point of pride for all Democrats.

Whereas the Progressive Caucus of the California Democratic Party, is committed to the understanding that an interest in a 2012 Democratic Presidential Primary challenge will not interfere with President Obama's ability to govern and not limit his ability to do so in ways that include invoking Constitutional options. We recognize that this will, in fact raise debate on important issues without risking the ability to mobilize and energize the base of the Democratic Party to elect a triumphant leader to counter the far-right agenda.

Therefore, be it resolved, to make our views heard, the Progressive Caucus of the California Democratic Party will begin the process of contacting other Democratic organizations, Democratic Party members and public organizations that share our views on the issues and which seek to change the course of history by exploring other steps necessary to effect a necessary change, including a possible primary challenge against President Obama.