Jane Harman is the current office holder for the 36th Congressional District in California. She is no friend to progressives and people that care about protecting our privacy rights. And she has a primary challenger in June by the name of Marcy Winograd.
Like many here, I am not a happy camper in regards to Jane Harman holding a seat in the House. Because she voted for the Iraq War in 2002, because she tried to block the New York Times from disclosing that our government was wiretapping people without warrants domestically, (and if the New York Times had released the story earlier, it could have changed the outcome of the 2004 election) and her many, many votes that don't reflect the will of more progressive Democrats. In the 1998 Gubernatorial race in California, Jane Harman called herself "the best Republican in the Democratic Party." That says it all right there.
Protecting warrantless domestic wiretaps did come back to haunt Jane when she her self was captured in a warrantless wiretap in 2005...trying to trade her help to reduce espionage related charges against 2 officials from AIPAC in return for the chair of the House Intelligence Committee when the Democrats regained control. Jon Stewart explains it well back in April 2009 in an episode of "Your Government...Not At Work."
Prior to this, Jane Harman had supported domestic warrantless wiretapping. But when she was herself a victim, her attitude changed:
"I will not quit on this until I am absolutely sure this can never happen to anyone else," Harman told the AIPAC audience, which warmly applauded her. She said the incident was having "a chilling effect" on members of Congress who "care intensely about the U.S.-Israeli security relationship . . . and have every right to talk to advocacy groups."
Talking to advocacy groups is one thing. That is not what Jane was doing, however, no matter how she spins it.
But we already know why we want Jane Harman gone. Why should we want Marcy Winograd?
I was more excited than ever when I heard that Jane Harman would have a primary challenge this year. And even though I do not live in Jane Harman's district, I wanted to get involved.
So I eventually started following posts about Marcy Winograd, and joined her Facebook group to get more info on the primary ahead. I signed-up for a meet and greet for Marcy Winograd hosted by Bree Walker in Venice, Ca. For March 8, 2010. (Last night)
I don't get a chance to go to these events too often. I have generally lived in safe Democratic districts without primary challenges, so this was a new thing for me and it was within driving distance.
Bree Walker gave an impassioned introduction to the candidate, speaking towards her anti-war stance, her progressive work in California and her desire to make life better not only for her district, but the country as a whole.
I had a vague awareness that Jane Harman had primary challenge in 2006...but there was this whole Democratic primary for President and the Presidential election thingy going on at the same time that took a bit of my attention. But Marcy did challenge Jane Harman in 2006. And with only 3 months of prep time, managed to garner 38% of the vote in the district (and 50% in Venice itself) This year, Marcy has more time. And I want to help her succeed. And I am not the only one.
I am no expert on Marcy Winograd, having only met her for the first time last night. But I did learn that she has a longtime background in progressive politics in California, and she will be another voice added to the Congressional Progressive Caucus when she is elected. (I was more than a little upset that another member of the CPC, Henry Waxman, decided to voice support for Jane Harman in this primary)
Marcy Winograd founded the Los Angeles chapter of Progressive Democrats of America and is a co-founder of LA Jews for Peace. Marcy also has experience in education, being a teacher at Crenshaw Highschool as one example (although that has been put on hold for this election).
Some of the reasons that I am supporting Marcy Winograd are her stances on Net Neutrality, support for single payer healthcare (and her working hard for it in California....which won't occur until a Democrat is Governor), her support for ending the US involvement in wars of occupation (her campaign credo is Jobs not Wars), her stance on promoting alternative energy and the jobs that can be created from this, her support for equal marriages for all at the Federal level...I could go on and on.
Here are some of her websites that go into more detail:
http://www.WinogradForCongress.com
http://www.Facebook.com/...
http://www.Twitter.com/...
http://www.youtube.com/...
http://www.flickr.com/...
http://www.meetup.com/...
Jane Harman is currently the second wealthiest member of Congress. And she will have no trouble getting bundled and corporate donations for this primary. Marcy will be relying on small donations from many people. Marcy has already received donations from many parts of the country, and has some phone bankers working to get her elected via virtual phone banking in many states. Raising money for getting the word out to the voters is needed. Marcy estimates that because primaries tend to draw less voters (and more so this year rather than in 2006), she will only need 27,000 votes to win the primary. (but shooting for more would be nice) Jane Harman may have more money and corporate donors (who will benefit if she stays in office)...but corporations can't vote (yet). So getting the people in the 36th district excited about Marcy and getting them to the polls is imperative. Marcy has sought to debate Jane Harman so the voters can see how the candidates differ. The Jewish Journal and Rabbi Dan Shevitz of Temple Mishkon Tephilo had offered to host the debate in his temple's sanctuary with an 800 seat capacity for free. But Jane has thus far declined through her staff. I have to ask Jane why this is, but apparently she feels that she does not need to as her views are well known. Well, they are well known to me, and that is why I want her gone! ;)
Again, Marcy managed to get 18,000 votes in 2006 with only a 3 month campaign. And that was BEFORE it came out that Jane Harman was taped trading her help for 2 spys against the US in return for a chairmanship in the House. This can be done, people.
Marcy's campaign has already started walking the neighborhoods of her district, getting the word out one on one, and more are planned. Her official campaign office is opening this coming Sunday, March 14th in Marina del Rey (Free parking! Lol)
If you are in the area, please visit it. If you are nowhere near the 36th District...please consider helping get the word out or donating time or money. I learned that the campaign has virtual phone banking so you could help out from wherever you are. Or call up people you know in her district...or write editorials or comments that might be seen by people in the 36th District. It all helps.
When Marcy wins, we lose a Blue Dog and gain a Progressive. It is win/win. For the 36th Congressional District and for the U.S.