Democratic Courage

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Fear and Courage in the Democratic Party Now On Sale

Find out how Democrats lost their backbone - and how they can find it in 2008.

See Glenn's upcoming Tour Dates and Media Appearances; read the excerpt published by The Nation or the excerpt published by The Politico. Read a review here.

Order the book now by clicking here.

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Victory! Scott Kleeb Win Makes Democratic Courage Three for Three

- May 14, 2008 10:04 AM

U.S. Senate candidate Scott Kleeb, the first of Democratic Courage's Daring Dozen candidates, won his primary last night with 69 percent of the vote. Democratic Courage president Glenn Hurowitz wrote the following message to Democratic Courage members:

Dear Supporter,

I have some great news to report: Nebraska U.S. Senate candidate Scott Kleeb, the first of Democratic Courage's Daring Dozen candidates, won his primary last night with 69 percent of the vote! Thanks to everyone who contributed to help make this victory possible.

This is a great win for progressives. Scott is a champion in fighting the climate crisis, expanding health care, and bringing the war in Iraq to a responsible end. His victory in a conservative state (while being outspent) shows that his brand of courage can work anywhere (it also makes Democratic Courage three for three in congressional primaries!).

Hillary's Popular Vote Problem

- May 7, 2008 11:53 AM

Wharton professor Gregory P. Nini and author Glenn Hurowitz (Fear and Courage in the Democratic Party) have updated their widely covered studies of the popular vote and the popular will in the 2008 Democratic primary nominating contest and the Michigan and Florida vote.

Among the conclusions of the update:

* Because of dramatically lower turnout in caucus states, caucus state residents are underrepresented in national popular vote tallies by a factor of 6.

* Even if primaries had been held everywhere, caucus states would still favor Obama, albeit by a smaller margin, based on demographic characteristics. Giving all states equal representation in the popular vote by holding primaries everywhere (and accounting for demographic differences between caucus and primary voters) would boost Obama's current popular vote margin by approximately 600,000 votes.

* If Michigan and Florida's current vote totals are included, Clinton would need to win only about 53 percent of upcoming primary votes to claim a popular vote lead. However, if vastly lower turnout in caucus states is factored in, Obama's lead returns to 689,000, an almost insurmountable advantage.

* 1/3 of Floridians and 60 % of Michiganders stayed home during their primaries because they didn't think their votes would count. Based on demographic projections from the results in other states, regular primaries there would have produced a Clinton win in Florida and an Obama win in Michigan.

The study is available for download at http://www.dcourage.com/Popular%20Vote%20Study.pdf.

Glenn Hurowitz is available at 202-552-1828. Professor Nini is available at 215-898-7770 or 202-285-0652.

The Daring Dozen

- May 5, 2008 9:43 PM

Democratic Courage today announced the first two members of its "Daring Dozen" congressional candidates - chosen for their progressive values and their backbone. Democratic Courage will be asking its members to contribute to their campaigns and take part in grassroots efforts on their behalf.

Scott Kleeb, Nebraska Senate, primary.

Scott Kleeb is taking on Tony Raimondo in the May 13 primary.

"Although he's running in one of the most Republican states in the country, Scott Kleeb has the courage to say what he believes and say it proudly," said Democratic Courage president Glenn Hurowitz. "He's fighting for progressive solutions to the climate crisis, for America's economic anxiety, and the lack of affordable health care, and Nebraskans are responding."

Raimondo was a lifelong Republican until five months ago.

Bob Lord, Arizona-03

Bob Lord is running to represent Arizona's Third District against Republican John Shadegg.

"It takes someone with real backbone to take on John Shadegg and the Republican machine, but Bob Lord's got it," Hurowitz said. "Bob is standing up against Shadegg's legacy of corruption, oil industry influence peddling, and bankrupt ideas, and that message is resonating in this conservative district."

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Ft. Worth Star-Telegram: Wall of Contempt

- April 21, 2008 9:20 AM

Originally Published April 20, 2008
By Glenn Hurowitz

The concrete wall rising along the Mexican border is supposed to help keep illegal immigrants out of America. But it's precisely because it will do nothing of the sort that its politician defenders are willing to throw billions of dollars and hordes of political capital into constructing it.

Those politicians know something they hope their constituents won't figure out: Walls don't work.

A 10-foot wall does nothing to stop someone with an 11-foot ladder. The Border Patrol has admitted that there are dozens of tunnels under the wall. People fly over in small airplanes. More than 40 percent of illegal immigrants to this country come here legally and then overstay their visas.

There are ways to reduce the flow of illegal immigrants: more border security guards, deployment of a high-tech "virtual fence" (though technical glitches are slowing this down), vehicle barriers and (above all) enforcing America's immigration laws, including penalties against employers who hire undocumented workers. Indeed, according to border mayors and law enforcement officers I interviewed, the wall will perversely weaken our border security.

"We're fortunate that right now Mexicans have positive feelings about America and have provided invaluable assistance to the United States in several criminal investigations," McAllen Mayor Richard Cortez told me while I was investigating the wall for Grist Magazine. "But if you really want a security problem, have Mexicans hate the United States, and I'll show you a security problem."

The Politico: Who Will Be Tibet's Charlie Wilson?

- April 15, 2008 7:39 AM

By Glenn Hurowitz

The evil empire is invading. The victims are blamed and called terrorists. The world politely wrings its hands, takes some symbolic action and goes about its business.

It's Tibet in 2008, but it was also Afghanistan in 1979, when the Soviet Union sent its legions of tanks across the Oxus River to crush Afghan independence. And the U.S.-Afghan experience can teach us a lot about how the United States should deal with China.

Initially, the United States did little to help Afghanistan during the years immediately following the Soviet invasion besides offering some paltry aid and a boycott of the 1980 Olympics. Meanwhile, the Soviets sent in their troops and their helicopters and slaughtered whole villages of Afghans.

But Rep. Charlie Wilson (D-Texas) changed that. As chronicled in George Crile's extraordinary book "Charlie Wilson's War" (and the eponymous movie starring Tom Hanks), Wilson saw what few others did: that the mighty Soviet empire could be beaten with a little serious American help.

And so Wilson obtained billions in funding for arms and training for the Afghans, and soon enough the Afghan freedom fighters were downing Soviet helicopters, ultimately forcing the Soviets to withdraw. Suddenly, the myth of Soviet invincibility had been destroyed -- and the USSR was no longer able to contain its citizenry's longing for liberty.

1995 Obama Speaks

- April 29, 2008 6:48 PM

In a just-unearthed 1995 interview, Barack Obama describes America as "a land of strangers" where, despite all the rhetoric about the "browning of America," the melting pot remains a far-off dream for most -- with different communities as foreign to one another as distant countries. He discusses how white executives and inner-city residents alike must take more responsibility for themselves and each other.

But the truly amazing moment comes when Obama discusses his belief that his own personal salvation is inseparable from the redemption of the whole nation. You can hear Obama already fusing the personal and political into a spiritual mission like no other in modern politics. He's a man on fire.

The prolific veteran journalist Bill Thompson of Eye on Books has given my readers the first chance to hear this extraordinary interview.

Listen here.

Bill McCamley (NM-02) Donates $47.50 to Himself

- April 29, 2008 6:43 PM

New Mexico congressional candidate Bill McCamley (who's running for Steve Pearce's seat), just came up with a very creative idea for taking the rug out from under self-financing candidates, in this case his oil executive primary opponent Harry Teague (who's hardly a loyal Democrat, having donated $1000 to Pearce's race in 2004). Other grassroots challengers should repeat it.

From the AP:

A Democratic candidate for New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District has written a $47.50 check to has campaign.

Bill McCamley of Las Cruces staged today's event to contrast his opponent's campaign loans worth $475,000.

A Friend For Mr. Square Pants

- April 29, 2008 6:40 PM

Greenpeace recently announced the discovery of a new species of sponge, Aaptos kanuux, as a result of its deep explorations of the Bering Sea last summer. Here's a video of the sponge from Greenpeace, and more info from my fellow Green Corps alum, Greenpeace Oceans Campaigner John Hocevar:

The New York Times's Political Suicide Pact

- April 23, 2008 2:31 AM

I love The New York Times, and I love its usually brilliant, moving, and occasionally hilarious editorials. And I love Barack Obama, and spent the last two days in PA turning out the vote for him.

But tonight's New York Times trashing of Hillary Clinton was, to use The Times's own words, "mean, vacuous, desperate, pander-filled." It also represents a political suicide pact for Democratic politicians.

Bush's "Bread Man"

- April 21, 2008 9:27 AM

Last week, The New York Times's David Streitfeld told the story of one JR Paterakis, a Baltimore "baker" who opposes the Conservation Reserve Program which provides incentives to farmers to set aside their land for wildlife, clean water, and (incidentally) massive carbon sequestration. Seemed like an opportunity to deploy my rye wit.

The program has been a huge success - protecting 35 million acres of land and partially restoring the "duck factory" of the Upper Midwest that fills the skies of North America with quacks and hunting opportunities - so why has Mr. Paterakis put this great environmental success story in his sights?

Read more blog entries by Glenn Hurowitz.

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Before his election-eve death in a plane crash in 2002, Paul Wellstone was by far the most courageous voice in the U.S. Senate, leading fights for the environment, workers, and progressive values when no one else would. Wellstone didn't just win elections--he built a movement that outlives him. Learn how to practice politics the Wellstone way at Wellstone Action.

Before the Storm: Barry Goldwater and the Unmaking of the American Consensus

Book Author Rick Perlstein's book should sit on the shelf of every aspiring progressive activist working to take over the Democratic Party. The book shows how a small, committed band of extreme right-wingers were able to take over a weak, divided Republican Party by articulating their values and working hard to mobilize people behind their candidate. When they were done, these right-wingers controlled the Republican Party and had transformed it from permanent minority status into the juggernaut that elected Ronald Reagan, Newt Gingrich, and George W. Bush. To purchase the book, click here.

After a difficult 2007, Nancy Pelosi has once again found her groove and her backbone. I was really blown away by her show of support for the Dalai Lama - given all of China's economic power, it would have been easy to avoid the meeting or just say something tepid.

But that's just the beginning. She also refused to give President Bush the power to wiretap Americans without a warrant and passed an energy bill that will significantly reduce oil usage and global warming pollution, standing up to several powerful Democrats still toadying up to the auto industry. She's found her courage and she's using it to get results.

Luis Lula Da Silva

Known universally as Lula, the President of Brazil was elected in 2002 on a pro-worker, pro-environment platform. He even imposed a ban on logging in the Amazon rainforest. But then right-wing loggers and ranchers threatened to poison the Amazon's rivers with pesticides if they weren't allowed to continue destroying the rainforest. Instead of sending the Army in to arrest the right-wing thugs, Lula started acting like a spineless Democrat and gave in allowing the destruction to resume.

Paid for by Democratic Courage PAC (www.democraticcourage.com), and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.