Congressman Cao Breaks from Republican Ranks Even Before Election

Polidoc interviewed Representative Cao (R-LA) on the day of his election last December and snatched a quick interview with him in this video. (this is a revised video from one posted earlier today)

Joseph Cao, Congressional Representative from Louisiana has an independent streak and won’t buckle down to Republican Party rhetoric. As seen in this video on the day of his landmark election in December 2008, this lawyer hopes to represent his community even in areas that aren’t considered Republican today.

On November 7, 2009, Cao, a lawyer and the first Vietnamese Representative in the history of the United States, demonstrated his willingness to break from the Republican Party rhetoric by voting for a landmark healthcare reform bill. While progressives suspect the bill will be a boon to the healthcare industry rather than the reform it had hoped, Cao’s break sharpens points of difference between the teabagging Constitutionalist Party leaning Republicans from more moderate voices who might be willing to consider a different definition of conservative.

Cao, who ran as independent in a previous election, was the first Republican to win this district since Reconstruction. As the Representative of a majority black community, Cao had asked to join the Black Caucus but was denied.

Eco-Savvy Storytellers watching the greening of politics.

Fair Elections Now Act in Deliberation

Americans have lost faith in the political system because of the influence of big money. An elected freshman spends 20 per cent of their time trying to raise money for the next election, rather than doing their job of legislation.

The Fair Elections Now Act is currently being deliberated in both houses. In a citizen-funded “Fair Elections” system, qualified candidates who take no contributions larger than $100 can run for Congress on a blend of small donations and public funds.

The system has been tested with great success in three states: Arizona, Maine, and most recently Connecticut. Altogether, seven states have implemented Clean Elections for some of their statewide offices.

For decades, big business money fawned over Republicans. Democrats raised money from ordinary voters and labor. However, after the Democrats lost both the Presidency and the majority in the Senate in 1980, the DNC opened the way for big PAC money to waltz in. Since then, campaigns have gotten longer, more expensive and less substantive, offering fewer and fewer truly liberal candidates and pulling the center more to the right.

References:
Common Cause
Open Congress

Eco-Savvy Storytellers watching the greening of politics.

Homestretch for Illinois Congressional Seat Election

Candidates for Illinois' 5th Congressional District Seat

Article and Photo by Kevin Gosztola

On February 23, 2009, the 5th District of Illinois held al candidates’ forum which included more than 20 people vying for the Congressional seat vacated by Rahm Emanuel who took the post as President Obama’s White House Chief of Staff early this year. This special election has been a circus, with Democrats, Greens and Republicans eagerly jockeying for the coveted office. And while Democrats presumed to battle between themselves, it was the “fringe candidates” who offered a breath of fresh air from the conventional wisdom.

Organizers separated the forum into two segments: the first featured only Democrats; the second included Republicans and Greens. Despite this segregation of parties, it proved suprisingly effective in highlighting the key issues and solutions that differentiate them from one another.

It was Green Party candidate Matt Reichel’s response to a question on Section 8 housing during which the forum took a spontaneous turn. Reichel suggested that domestic issues could be solved once we end the wars and cut the military budget. This was the first time that the Middle East Wars had been brought up. The audience broke out in uproarious applause while the moderator struggled to regain control by asking  Reichel to “answer the question.”

Fellow Green Party candidate Deb Gordils seconded Reichel’s answer and added that it was time that people suspend their loyalties to the Democratic Party and vote Green. She too was told by the moderator to “answer the question.”

During the course of the forum, the independent Republican Jon Stewart (no relation to Comedy Central), had surprised listeners with his support for untraditional Republican solutions, including amnesty for illegals and single-payer health care. When he also agreed with Reichel and said you can take care of domestic problems by ending the killing of people, the crowd applauded loudly. Ironically, the moderator’s efforts to gain control and stifle the enthusiasm only instigated further laughter.

Other Green candidates in attendance were Matt Fredrickson and Simon Ribeiro; other Republican candidates included Greg Bedell, Tom Hanson, and Daniel S. Kay.

Kevin Gosztola studies documentary filmmaking at Columbia College in Chicago and is a YP4 2009 Fellow. He is an At-Large Senator for the Student Government Association and is working to create a Student Civic Collective and increase funding and resources for political and social student organizations on campus. He has also served as a researcher and Production Assistant on several documentaries during the course of the 2008 election, including Polidoc Productions’ “Seriously Green.”

Just Another Brick in the Wall of Underfunded Education

The U.S. Senate has moved along in shaping the stimulus bill which President Obama urged naysayers to accept in all due haste. However, getting those needed votes has required cuts coming mostly from budgeted school construction, teacher funding and higher education. More cuts to come. That said, a $15,000 tax credit for new home purchases proposed by Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) remains in the measure.

Republicans Adjust Brand to Absorb Alienated Moderate Conservatives

Is Black the new Black?

When Barack Obama won the Presidential election, a shift occurred around the world. Suddenly, a black man attained the highest position of power in the United States and arguably the world. People across America said they had not believed that they would live to see the day when a “black man” would win the Presidency.

In response to President Obama’s surprising and effective campaign, delegates of the Republican National Committee selected former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele as its new chairman, hoping to change its brand from that of extreme white-loving Limbaugh loving conservatives to that of minority embracing pro-economic moderates.

Former RNC Chairman Mike Duncan responded to the news by declaring, “Obviously the winds of change are blowing.” Duncan had hoped to have been re-elected.

“It’s time for something completely different,” Steele said at his acceptance speech. “We are going to bring this party to every corner, every board room, every neighborhood, every community, and we are going to say to friend and foe alike, we want to be a part of us. We want you to work with us. And for those of you who want to obstruct, get ready to get knocked over.”

“The RNC isn’t diverse yet,” said CBS News chief political consultant Marc Ambinder. “When people speak of broadening the party’s geographic diversity, they are speaking in code. They mean that the party needs to welcome more moderates; needs to be more forgiving of departures from orthodoxy; needs to be less antagonistic to pro-choicers and gays.”

Progressives Wear Lite Shades in the Obama Glow

Bill Moyers provides a Progressive critique of the fledgling Obama Administration in this post-inauguration show. David Sirota, author of “The Uprising” and Wall Street Journalist Thomas Frank describe their excitement over the new administration but also their caution. While President Obama has privately indicated progressive values, , both these writers contend that the reaching across the aisle has gone further than necessary.

The second segment features a discussion with Columbia law professor and Nation columnist Patricia Williams and Princeton politics and African American studies professor Melissa Harris-Lacewell. They discuss the ramifications for the nation in electing its first President of color. While the world hangs on to the hope, the pundits variously push and praise Obama’s seizure upon this opportunity.

Sarah Palin Stands Up to a Punch from Saturday Night Live

Governor Sarah Palin launches a new career in this Saturday Night Live skit. Don’t be surprised if after November 5, she co-hosts Bill O’Reilly’s show.

Experts Warn of Potential 2008 Election Cyber Heist

Ohio attorneys, pushing to convince a federal judge to lift the stay on a case alleging Republicans and Bush loyalists cyber-rigged the vote in Ohio in 2004, filed affidavits on Wednesday from two experts.

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Secret Service and Police Stage Pre-emptive Attacks on Protestors

Polidoc heads into Minneapolis where we will catch up with Green Party Vice-Presidential candidate Rosa Clemente who attended the Monday protest against the Republican National Convention (RNC). While we haven’t had the time to update our blog, we will do a significant wrap-up next week. Until then, here’s a press release from the Green Party of United States.

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DESPITE POLICE RAIDS AND ARRESTS, MINNESOTA GREENS JOIN ANTIWAR, ANTIPOVERTY PROTESTS AT RNC

Greens have been among those targeted for harassment and intimidation by police in a wave of pre-emptive actions taken before the Republican National Convention in St. Paul.

On Saturday police surrounded the home of Michael Whelan, a long-time Green Party supporter, whose Arise Bookstore at one time housed the party’s office. He was host to a group of independent journalists. The police broke down doors and subjected occupants to house arrest. “You figure this would be going on in South Africa, or Russia, not in St. Paul,” Whelan said. “St. Paul is nice.”

The previous night, police had invaded a meeting space in St. Paul rented by the anarchist RNC Welcoming Committee. They seized equipment and subjected some fifty people to handcuffing and search. Next day Monica Bicking, a leading member of the organization, was jailed along with three friends, and her home in Minneapolis was boarded up for alleged violation of city codes.

Meanwhile, the group’s nonviolence consultant and trainer, Betsy Raasch-Gilman, expecting arrest, took “sanctuary” at the meetinghouse of Twin Cities Friends (Quakers). As of this morning Bicking had been released, but those arrested with her and several others remain in custody. Both Bicking and Raasch-Gilman are daughters of former Green Party candidates and present spokespeople.

According to Minnesota poet and writer Richard Broderick, who is a member of the Green Party and has also been one of its candidates, “The erosion of civil liberties and constitutionally guaranteed rights in this country makes all the eloquent calls we heard from Denver for unity and restoring the American Dream little more than hollow rhetoric.”

Despite the efforts at intimidation orchestrated by federal authorities and carried out by DFL administrations in both Hennepin and Ramsey counties, Minnesota Greens have united to bring their VP candidate, Rosa Clemente, to the Twin Cities. She addressed the antiwar marchers in St. Paul today and tonight appeared with the National Truth Commission on Poverty. She will be participating in the Poor People’s march from Mears Park tomorrow.