Just Whose Party is it?

(Thanks to Carol Cates for the updates on this important issue)

As many of you know, I have a strong sense of rejection toward the policy of the Democratic Party (at both the state and national levels) interfering with the recruitment of local candidates for elective office unless they have been asked to help by the local party offices. In our own state, we have the example of the 8th CD race of 2004. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and the state party chair, Paul Berendt, recruited a last minute candidate after two other candidates had invested time and money (in one case, at the behest of Mr. Berendt himself and certain members of our own congressional delegation) to challenge for an open seat. It is my opinion that this act of outside interference directly impacted the outcome of that race. (I am pleased to note that our entire Democratic Congressional Delegation is standing up to the DCCC this year by putting their full support behind Darcy Burner who appears to have strong local grassrtoots support in the 8th CD.

This year's outrage is taking place in Illinois' 6th CD; home of the retiring Henry Hyde of "Clinton Impeachment Fame." In 2004, DFA endorsed and grassroots supported Christine Cegelis ran a spirited, if underfunded, race against Hyde; garnering over 40% of the vote in an obviously republican district. In 2006, with the retirement of Mr. Hyde, one would think that Christine Cegelis would have an absolute lock on the Democratic nomination for that seat. Enter Rahm Emanuel and the DCCC.

In a move that defines the identity crisis the Democratic Party is suffering, Mr. Emanuel and the DLC influenced DCCC have determined that it would be bad form to endorse and support the Progressive home-grown candidate. So you would think that they would have a more "centrist" local candidate in mind. Not so fast. This is 2006 and the DLC mantra is "Democrats - Image is Everything - Message gets in the Way". To challenge Christine Cegelis, the DCCC has gone outside the district to recruit Iraq Invasion Veteran and double amputee, Major Tammy Duckworth.

Major Duckworth certainly has an inspirational story and deserves the respect of a grateful nation but I think it is fair to ask what gives her the edge over a candidate with previous experience, local name recognition, and overwhelming grassroots support. The answer is, the full and unabashed support of the National Democratic Machine. What follows is an exchange between a local Cegelis supporter and (are you sitting down?) Senator John F. Kerry. :

"Dear CXX,
The johnkerry.com community has done it again. 48 hours ago, I sent an urgent appeal asking our johnkerry.com community to rally behind three brave Iraq war veterans running for Congress.

Thousands of you answered the call, raising over a quarter of a million dollars to help Illinois veteran Tammy Duckworth and two veterans running vitally important campaigns in Pennsylvania.

Keep the momentum going...."

"Today, we're adding two more veterans to our campaign - one who deployed in support of the war in Afghanistan and another who saw duty in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. And we're pressing for even more support for Tammy Duckworth, who is only 18 days away from a general election campaign in which the GOP will throw everything they have at her...."

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Senator Kerry,
I was very upset when I received your first e-mail asking for donations for
Tammy Duckworth's congressional campaign. While I am grateful for the great personal sacrifice Major Duckworth made in service to our country, her campaign is doing a great disservice to the people of Illinois' sixth district.

The people in this district already had a great candidate - Christine Cegelis
- before Congressman Emanuel, in his "infinite wisdom," recruited Major Duckworth. Ms. Cegelis is smart, capable, hard working, and caring. She also comes from a union household. In a district which had been written off a solid Republican, Ms. Cegelis had the courage to stand up against a major Republican leader like Henry Hyde and inspire others to stand with her. Considering that she had absolutely NO name recognition before she ran in '04, Ms. Cegelis did very well against Hyde.

Now that Hyde has announced his retirement, Ms. Cegelis deserves a clear shot
at the seat, or at least a shot without you Washington insiders getting in the way. Instead, however, you folks, thinking that you know better than the people on the ground in the district, have recruited a candidate who doesn't even live in the district, and who's only qualification seems to be her military service in Iraq.

While all of this is upsetting enough, what really motivated me to write to
you is that you chose to use false and misleading information in the e-mail below, in an effort to get people to donate to Major Duckworth.

You stated, "And we're pressing for even more support for Tammy Duckworth, who is only 18 days away from a general election campaign in which the GOP will throw everything they have at her."

What is the matter with you? There is no general election on the 21st! That is a primary election, and Major Duckworth will be facing fellow Democrat Christine Cegelis, NOT THE GOP!! Are you so afraid that Ms. Cegelis might win that you raise a false threat in order to motivate people to donate to your candidate? This is absolutely shameful. Your arrogance is the reason that the Democratic Party keeps losing election after election.

Please, for the sake of Democrats everywhere, and in Illinois' sixth congressional district in particular, mind your own business!

Cxxx Jxxx,
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If you care about the Democratic Party, please write to the DCCC (dccc@dccc.org) and let them know you will not stand for the continuing interference and influence of the DLC. Tell them that this is the Democratic Party and they should let the people decide.


Peace,

Chad (The Left) Shue