When Woolsey went ahead with the Harman event, there was scant significance to the modest amount of funds raised. (Money is not a problem for Harman, one of the richest members of Congress.) What Woolsey's appearance conferred on Harman's campaign was the imprimatur of a political embrace from a longtime peace advocate who co-chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
As the winter went on, progressives in California hoped that such maneuvers would not be repeated. But the care and feeding of a Blue Dog is apt to be habitual.
*****
On Friday, April 16 - just before the opening of the state Democratic Party convention that would decide whether to endorse Congresswoman Harman for re-election - the delegates received robo-calls from a heavyweight member of Congress. "I'm Henry Waxman, and my congressional district is right next to that of Jane Harman, who I'm proud to support for re-election," the message began. It concluded, "We need to keep effective leaders like Jane in Congress."
On Sunday morning, I was one of more than 1,000 delegates to enter the convention hall and find a four-page glossy flier that had been placed on every chair. Most of the first page was a picture of Harman and Woolsey, standing together in front of the Capitol.
The photo caption was a quote from Congresswoman Woolsey: "Jane has proven herself to be a leader on Capitol Hill, and I join other Congressional progressives like John Conyers, Jim McGovern and Henry Waxman in endorsing her candidacy." The second page was devoted to a letter from Woolsey extolling Harman.
When delegates voted later that morning, Harman won endorsement, 599-417.
Harman had to go to extraordinary lengths to win a party endorsement that is usually automatic for incumbent Democrats in Congress. She was able to do so largely because one-third of state convention delegates are appointed by elected Democrats - incumbents who are very rarely willing to support any primary challenge to an incumbent.
It's one thing to support a Blue Dog Democrat in a general election against a Republican. It's quite another thing for members of the Progressive Caucus to defend a Blue Dog Democrat against a primary challenge from a genuine progressive Democrat.
In the case of the Harman-Winograd race, the best grassroots response from progressives around the country will be to strongly support the Winograd campaign between now and Election Day, June 8.
*****
Soon after visiting Afghanistan last summer, I went to Capitol Hill and met with a few House members and staff. All of them were "antiwar" and involved with the Progressive Caucus. Yet, the extent of insularity and the lack of urgency were stunning. Official Washington was numb.
What's propelling the Winograd campaign - with its passion, commitment, fearlessness and antipathy toward the corporate warfare state - is exactly what Congress and the country need.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
