Thursday, July 23
Joint Statement from Progressive National Organizations:
Vote on Pentagon Budget Shows Divide Between Top VP Contenders
Three prominent national progressive organizations -- Our Revolution, Progressive Democrats of America and RootsAction.org -- released the following joint statement Thursday evening:
This week's congressional vote on an amendment to cut the bloated Pentagon budget by 10 percent and reallocate the money to poor and working-class Americans revealed the sharp divide between the centrist and progressive wings of Democratic Party, and between some of the top contenders who are reportedly on Joe Biden’s short list to be his running mate.
According to a poll by Data for Progress, 56 percent of Americans supported the measure while only 27 percent opposed. Among Democrats the result was even more of a landslide, with 69 percent support versus 19 percent opposing.
Yet four of the members of Congress being vetted by Joe Biden as a potential vice-presidential nominee voted against the wishes of the vast majority of Democrats: Senators Kamala Harris, Tammy Duckworth and Maggie Hassan, and Representative Val Demings.
In sharp contrast, the three progressives on Biden's short list stood up to the military industry and voted in harmony with the views of a strong majority of Americans. Those three were Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Tammy Baldwin and Representative Karen Bass.
The progressive wing of the Democratic Party has the overwhelming support of Democrats on this issue -- and on many others as well, such as healthcare, environmental, economic and racial justice policies.
Clearly, Senators Harris, Duckworth or Hassan or Rep. Demings would be the wrong choice for vice president.
Senators Warren and Baldwin or Representative Bass would help unify the party, as well as attract swing voters who want a Democratic ticket committed to the interests of the American people.
Joint Statement from Progressive National Organizations:
Vote on Pentagon Budget Shows Divide Between Top VP Contenders
Three prominent national progressive organizations -- Our Revolution, Progressive Democrats of America and RootsAction.org -- released the following joint statement Thursday evening:
This week's congressional vote on an amendment to cut the bloated Pentagon budget by 10 percent and reallocate the money to poor and working-class Americans revealed the sharp divide between the centrist and progressive wings of Democratic Party, and between some of the top contenders who are reportedly on Joe Biden’s short list to be his running mate.
According to a poll by Data for Progress, 56 percent of Americans supported the measure while only 27 percent opposed. Among Democrats the result was even more of a landslide, with 69 percent support versus 19 percent opposing.
Yet four of the members of Congress being vetted by Joe Biden as a potential vice-presidential nominee voted against the wishes of the vast majority of Democrats: Senators Kamala Harris, Tammy Duckworth and Maggie Hassan, and Representative Val Demings.
In sharp contrast, the three progressives on Biden's short list stood up to the military industry and voted in harmony with the views of a strong majority of Americans. Those three were Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Tammy Baldwin and Representative Karen Bass.
The progressive wing of the Democratic Party has the overwhelming support of Democrats on this issue -- and on many others as well, such as healthcare, environmental, economic and racial justice policies.
Clearly, Senators Harris, Duckworth or Hassan or Rep. Demings would be the wrong choice for vice president.
Senators Warren and Baldwin or Representative Bass would help unify the party, as well as attract swing voters who want a Democratic ticket committed to the interests of the American people.
