Lynne Woolsey Betrays Progressive Movement-- Raises Money For Blue Dog Jane Harman

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:



Most people who have heard her stumbling along trying to sound like she has a clue what she's talking about already know that Lynne Woolsey is the House's version of what Arkansas reactionary Mark Pryor told Bill Maher about the qualifications-- or lack thereof-- to be a senator. Watch, to get a flavor and imagine the giggling chimp with a wig:



Lynne Woolsey is among the two dozen most progressive voters in the House, not exactly Raul Grijalva, Donna Edwards, Jan Schakowsky, Tammy Baldwin, Linda Sánchez, John Olver, or John Conyers, but she's almost always on the side of progressives when it comes to voting. In fact, her ProgressivePunch lifetime score on substantive matters (93.53) is more than 20 points higher than the Blue Dog she endorsed (71.52). And if Jane Harman has strayed back towards voting with the Republicans lately-- her score since Obama was elected is a pretty dismal 62.30-- it's because she forgot the close call she was dealt in 2006 when progressive activist and L.A. community leader Marcy Winograd nearly upset California's female Joe Lieberman in a primary, the woman who bragged that she is "the best Republican in the Democratic Party." After her brush with political death, Harman started acting more like a Democrat and better representing her district. That lasted about a year and a half. After Marcy didn't challenge her in 2008, she slipped right back into full-fledged reactionary Blue Dog mode.

If she were a far right Likud candidate for the Israeli Knesset, her disgraceful activities would make more sense than they do for a highly educated, strongly Democratic Los Angeles district (where Obama beat McCain 64-34%). Harman supports a wide range of Republican policies that Woolsey has always opposed-- from the Iraq War, the anti-family/pro-bankster bankruptcy bill, and abolishing the estate tax to warrantless wiretaps (except the ones that expose her as an Israeli spy) and offering "special treatment" to defense contractors. She is widely considered to be the least trustworthy and most disliked Democrats in the House by her fellow Democrats. And Lynne Woolsey understands that completely.

Is this how the co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus builds a progressive movement? Marcy Winograd is in a tight primary race against Harman. It may be too much to expect Woolsey to campaign for Winograd but endorsing the Blue Dog who is consistently voting against-- and working behind the scenes against-- everything the Progressive Caucus is supposed to stand for? Then they wonder why no one takes them seriously? Woolsey should be relieved of her position as co-chair and made to write on the blackboard, "I am an asshole clown" 5 billion times. Short of that, 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 anyone plans to picket this event, please let us know-- and take pictures of Lynne and Jane together. Meanwhile, I know-- since I did it myself-- that Woolsey's staffers just love hearing from pissed off progressives about her betrayal. Here are the numbers. Please be polite-- and firm:

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

District Offices:

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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