For a few years my wife and I have supported a group called Progressive Majority. Feeling helpless at the lack of candidates that I could fully support that could also beat the Republicans, I was drawn to this group. They focus on down-ballot races, recruit true progressives and provide training, some funding, and lots of encouragement - exactly what the Republicans have been doing for years.
Today, I received this email:
I only need two words to describe why America needs Progressive Majority now more than ever: Sarah Palin.
Did you see last night how Sarah Palin fired up the conservative crowd at the Republican convention? Did you notice that she was poised, strong and clear?
It was no coincidence. While many are mocking the "Mayor of What?" who became governor and now VP pick, we here at Progressive Majority understand Sarah Palin's rise to power - and why the right wing has responded to her so well.
Sarah Palin is a GOPAC graduate.
This connection was made yesterday, but I think it's worth repeating and making the connection to our side's answer to GOPAC. Take a gander at their website: www.progressivemajority.org, look at their candidates, and see if you feel as moved as I do by their work. They currently are only working in eight states, but doing great things and have plans to expand.
Here is the rest of their email:
GOPAC is the leading candidate recruitment and training operation for the conservative right - and our direct competitor when it comes to who controls government.
GOPAC was founded in 1978 by conservatives who knew they were going to have to work outside the Republican Party to take it over. They knew they would have to recruit their own kind to run to wrest control of government from the Democrats. They knew they needed a long-term plan to build their "farm team".
They went to work and Newt Gingrich took over the organization in the 1980s. You see, Gingrich wasn't satisfied with the election of Ronald Reagan. He wanted to see conservatives in control at the local, state AND national levels - even if it took a generation. Under Gingrich's leadership, GOPAC stepped up its candidate recruitment efforts, sought out "movement conservatives" and taught them how to run campaigns and talk about issues in a way that galvanized the far right base while not completely alienating moderate voters.
It worked. During the next 20 years, they took over the majority of state legislatures and governors. They singlehandedly led the "Republican Revolution" that took over Congress in 1994. They elected George W. Bush.
And, yesterday, one of their own accepted the Republican nomination for vice president of the United States.
If you're a conservative, that's how you go from being mayor of a small town to governor to the very top of the ticket.
Don't think for a moment, despite Democratic victories in 2006 and a good climate for 2008, that they are finished.
Today, GOPAC is the sixth largest national political organization in the country. It is three times larger and 26 years older than Progressive Majority.
But, we're hot on their trail.
Progressive Majority is the only national organization focused on recruiting, training and electing progressives to run for state and local office.
We're good at it. Since 2004, we have recruited more than 1,000 progressives to run for office. We've elected 272 candidates. We've helped flip control of four state legislatures, 30 local governments and three statewide positions. And, we have 506 candidates in our own farm team getting ready to run in 2008, 2009, 2010 and beyond.
We are a powerful antidote to GOPAC.
And, while we weren't around to stop the rise of Sarah Palin, you can count on us to be there next time.
We have nearly 200 candidates on the ballot this November. And, with your help, they can win. Every penny we raise will be used between now and Election Day to push these candidates over the top.
Can you give $25, $50, $100 or even more to help us build the progressive farm team for the future?
I just made my own contribution to Progressive Majority, and I hope you'll do the same. Our country deserves no less.
Thanks for all you do to elect progressives.
Gloria