Blue Dogs vs Progressives-- Tomorrow Is Primary Day In Florida's 12th Congressional District

Gee (I thought) I wish I had a crystal ball to tell me how the primary in Florida's 12th CD would turn out tomorrow before I write this post. But I don't, so I'm going to plow ahead anyway. I'm not certain of this, but I believe tomorrow's election is the first time a Democratic primary for an open seat finds the Blue Dog caucus and the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) lined up formally backing different candidates. The Blue Dogs are backing Lori Edwards, a reactionary who gives every indication of being a habitual aisle crosser if she were ever to make it into Congress. John Boehner must have his fingers crossed that if Edwards wins the primary, he's guaranteed a vote for the conservative agenda regardless of what happens in November. The Congressional Progressive Caucus has endorsed, Doug Tudor, last cycle's Democratic challenger, a stalwart and intrepid defender of the legitimate aspirations of ordinary working American families. Edwards' legislative vision is to back the Wall Street and Big Business blue print for America, i.e., the Law of the Jungle; Tudor's is to fight for small business and for the kinds of folks who can't afford to hire their own lobbyists.

It's nothing new for Blue Dogs to aggressively push their like-minded candidates, load them up with early cash and then use that demonstration of "fundraising prowess" to give the DCCC the excuse it needs to endorse them over a progressive. That's exactly what happened in this case. Edwards' biggest single contribution, $10,000, was from the Blue Dog PAC. The Blue Dog PAC gave $10,000 contributions this year to the following non-incumbent conservative corporate shills:

Ed Case (HI)
Chad Causey (AR)
Lori Edwards (FL)
Roy Herron (TN)
Stephene Moore (KS)

Edwards got an identical $10,000 contribution from the PAC of her Blue Dog sponsor Allen Boyd (The Harvest PAC). Keep in mind that Boyd was the only Democrat to sign on as a cosponsor to Bush's scheme to privatize Social Security. If Edwards is elected he won't be alone next time it comes up. Not only did she get more money from the Harvest PAC this year-- the most anyone else was given was less than half that-- and those were $4,000 pops to the 5 Democrats who voted most frequently against the Democratic agenda: Bobby Bright (Blue Dog-AL), Travis Childers (Blue Dog-MS), Frank Kratovil (Blue Dog-MD), Walt Minnick (Blue Dog-ID), and Glenn Nye (Blue Dog-VA).

The other Blue Dog with a PAC who gave big to Edwards was Mike Ross' Advance Arkansas PAC ($5,000), and then $5,000 slams came in from two Democratic leaders who are most interested in electing pliable, corrupt members like themselves-- Hoyer's AmeriPAC and Debbie Wasserman Schultz's notoriously sleazy Democrats Win Seats PAC.

In all, Edwards has raised $345,977 as of August 4, far less than the DCCC tells progressives they need to raise to get their endorsement and financial backing. And that's far less than half what the GOP candidate, Dennis Ross, raised ($810,875). Doug Tudor, whose donors have been told not to back him by Hoyer, Wasserman Schultz and other slimy DCCC operatives, took in $49,895. If he wins tomorrow, it will be because Edwards spent her money on useless DC consultants and he's managed to mobilize one of the most effective grassroots operations in Florida outside of Alan Grayson's. And because he stands for the kind of populism that Democratic primary voters are looking for.

So what about the Congressional Progressive Caucus? Oh, yeah... I almost forgot. It's the biggest Democratic caucus in Congress-- and it has the most powerful membership list. But it hasn't taken on the Blue Dogs in the electoral game. Members of the CPC have been over one hundred times more likely to donate to a Blue Dog-backed candidate than to donate to a progressive challenger! With CPC endorsements for Doug Tudor-- and 5 other strong progressives, Justin Coussoule (D-OH), David Segal (D-RI), Bill Hedrick (D-CA), Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH), and Beth Krom (D-CA)-- it looks like the CPC is sticking its toe into the world of practical politics. Here's the statement that went to the media about Doug Tudor's race:

Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC endorses Doug Tudor for Congress

Washington, DC – Doug Tudor has won the endorsement of the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC for his election to Congress as Representative of Florida’s Twelfth Congressional District.

“I am extremely honored to accept the Congressional Progressive CaucusPAC’s endorsement and support,” said Tudor. “The Congressional Progressive Caucus has been at the forefront of the fight to ensure that the United States Congress represents all of the people of our country, building a more just and humane society. I will work hard in Congress to promote economic justice for all Americans, protect the Constitutional rights of all, promote peace and security, and ensure that our children and grandchildren inherit a world as beautiful as the one we now share.”

“The Congressional Progressive Caucus will be proud to have you as a member,” said Congressman Raul Grijalva, Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-chair.

The CPC is very different from the Blue Dogs. The Blue Dogs are best known for fighting on the side of the Republicans against Obama's agenda, often using their clout to water down the most progressive, worker/consumer/family-friendly parts of legislation as its being drafted. Their biggest "achievement" in the last year was destroying the public option and ruining the serious efforts at Wall Street reform. When reactionaries were looking for votes against women's Choice, they knew they could find them among Blue Dogs. Every single Democrat crossing the aisle to vote against Hate Crimes legislation was a Blue Dog. They may claim to be "fiscal conservatives" but they back Bush's catastrophic tax cuts for millionaires, unpaid-for-wars and subsidies for corporations, especially for corporations willing to line Blue Dog pockets. The CPC is the dynamic force behind every reform effort in Congress. The Blue Dogs largely line up with the Republicans to oppose them. It's what Polk and Hillsborough County Democrats should try to keep in mind when they go to vote tomorrow.