After Howard Dean’s candidacy was eradicated in large part by the Democratic powers-that-be, I was despondent. Unable to bring myself to do any more than vote for Kerry, I looked around for a candidate I could believe in. I didn’t have to look very far. One congressional district away from mine, a smart, progressive ballsy woman had the audacity to challenge Henry Hyde for the congressional seat in the 6th District. This woman had great ideas about energy, about workers, about foreign policy. She opposed the war when 70% of the public supported it. She was unbought and unbossed. She was Christine Cegelis and she got almost 45 per cent of the vote against a 30 year incumbent. She did this with a small army of passionate, progressive volunteers with minimal political experience.
There’s more…
Chris knew she was fighting an uphill battle, but she knew it was a battle worth fighting on principle. She gave up her nice suburban life and threw herself into the political fray. She also made a commitment to her district and to her supporters to run a second time if necessary.
One would think that the Democratic Party of Illinois would have been thrilled. A smart, committed courageous candidate with a passionate cadre of supporters was in place and ready to go. So did the beltway crowd support her? Nope. They discouraged regular donors from donating to her. They then accused Christine of being unable to raise funds and they recruited a woman from outside the district to run against her. It is truly disappointing to see the darlings of the progressive movement in Illinois, (Obama, Durbin, Schakowsky) dancing to the tune of the decidedly unprogressive Rahm Emmanuel and the DCCC.
One of Christine’s hardest working supporters, Sandra Verthein, described the situation in Il-06 most eloquently.
This is an area that has been written off for decades as “solid Republican.” They really do run rampant out here, and Christine’s campaign was the first little flowering of a true,grassroots, Democratic organization in this area. All the local
township organizations and other local activist groups are behind her. They have put their own blood, sweat and tears into this effort. And again, this is an area were just a few short years ago Democrats were
afraid to march in parades because they would be jeered at by the crowd. But Christine stood up, and inspired people to stand up with her, and what was their reward? The local groups are completely
ignored, marginalized, and trivialized. That is NOT how you build a party, that is not how you restore people’s faith in the political process, and that is not how you help people realize that “they have
the power.”
I know the treatment Christine has received is not unique to her. The DLC and DCCC types are pouring herbicide on the grassroots in state after state. Kerry and Clinton are out raising money for Christine’s anointed opponent. Why? Why is Casey the fair-haired child in Pennsylvania? Why does the Democratic Party fear us so much?
Could it be that they are more concerned with keeping their power rather than using it in a beneficial way? Could it be that they have forgotten what it means to take a principled stand? Could it be that they are just pissed as hell that we haven’t kissed the rings (or their butts) and asked permission to be involved in politics?
I don’t know. What I do know is that we are at a turning point and we need to stand up for the candidates we feel most passionate about. For me, Christine heads the list. No matter who it is for you, please take this seriously. The DLC would like to prove that we are nothing more than annoying gnats and that they can ignore us at will. Donate your time, your money, your talent to a good progressive candidate. This is our short term priority. After the primaries, we need to develop long-term strategy. Some groups such as PDA and DFA are already working hard to reform the Democratic Party. In the short term, though, do everything you make the great progressive candidates successful in their primaries. Do it for them. Do it for the grassroots. Do it for your country.
p.s. http://www.cegelisforcongress.com
