Steve Harrison

Democrats.com Endorses Steve Harrison in NY13

Bob Fertik — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:06:45 -0400

Our first endorsed candidate of 2008, State Senator Regina Thomas (GA-12), gave incumbent Bush Democrat John Barrow a good scare in July's primary. Despite being outspent 40:1, Thomas won 24% of the vote. Better yet, Thomas promised to primary Barrow again in 2010, which might scare him into voting with Democrats instead of Republicans. You contributed over $25,000 to Thomas, and that money was very well spent!

Today we are endorsing our second candidate, Steve Harrison (NY-13). Why Harrison?

Steve Harrison is an "aggressive progressive" who supports all the issues we care about: immediate withdrawal from Iraq, no war with Iran, single-payer health care, stopping global warming, and protecting abortion rights. Compare Harrison and McMahon on the issues. Watch Harrison discuss these issues with voters.

Harrison is endorsed by Progressive Democrats of America, Democracy for NYC, Down With Tyranny, Stonewall Democrats, the National Organization for Women, and Gloria Steinem. Harrison earned the right to be the Democratic candidate in his 2006 campaign, when he won 43% against Republican incumbent Vito Fossella, the best showing ever for a Democrat in the district.

Unfortunately BushDemocrats like Steny Hoyer and Rahm Emanuel are supporting Harrison's opponent, Mike McMahon, because he will be another BushDemocrat. McMahon supported the invasion of Iraq and is so conservative that he ran on the Conservative Party line in past elections.

Also this race is a great opportunity to turn a red district blue. NY13, which covers Staten Island and part of Brooklyn, is the last red seat in blue New York City. The seat is open because Fossella was caught driving drunk to his second family in Virginia, much to the horror of his first family in Staten Island. Republicans couldn't find a decent candidate and got stuck with someone they hate. According to experts, this is the 3rd most likely district to go from red to blue.

The primary is just 15 days away, so we're trying to raise enough money for Harrison to mail his message to every primary voter in the district. He needs $16,000 today and we can reach that goal if 640 of you contribute $25 each. Can you help?
http://www.actblue.com/page/bushdemocrats

Adam Sullivan Endorses Steve Harrison for Congress

Bob Fertik — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:35:18 -0400

Impeachment supporter Adam Sullivan challenged Jerrold Nadler in the Democratic primary in NY08, but was thrown off the ballot on a technicality. Today he endorsed Steve Harrison for Congress in NY13 over Mike McMahon, Rahm Emanuel's chosen candidate.

Entrenched, well-financed (DLC-type) Democrats say they believe that moderate or right-leaning Democrats are the best option for winning an expanded Democratic majority in congress. They are wrong, wrong, wrong. National polling shows that the People are far to the left of Congress on nearly every issue, in every state, almost without exception. Run a centrist, you get tepid turn-out at the polls. Combine that with GOP attack ads, and you get Harold Ford losing in Tennessee. Why is the Democratic party afraid to back progressive candidates?

In other words: Why is Jerrold Nadler backing McMahon, instead of Steve Harrison, for the Democratic party nomination in the 13th CD of New York?

I found myself talking about Harrison's primary challenge, and getting angrier and angrier. The problem with Congress is not that they won't impeach. The problem with Congress is damned near everything! McMahon is on the record as being pro-Iraq war and anti-choice. This is the guy the NY Dems want to run to capture a long-held GOP congressional seat? I know it's a fairly conservative district, but try polling them on what they think of McMahon's stance on the war. I doubt they'll be sympathetic. But because the Dems want someone in the seat who'll help them consolidate their power for some invisible long-term goal that helps the Party and not the people, they'll run a candidate who has little name recognition and dubious Democratic credentials. Even if he wins, what have progressives gained?

Why would Nadler endorse McMahon? Because he'll play ball, and because he seems to be able to raise money. Old-style, ugly politics-as-usual. Thanks, Jerry. Thanks a lot. What a progressive you are.

When I went to a Harrison fundraiser in June, I heard him speak about his commitment to working for people instead of for institutions. (Institutions like the Democratic Party, for instance!) It struck me that that was what we were doing, with our campaign. The people want this president held accountable, but the institutions which hold and consolidate power--corporations, political parties, etc.--feel that the cost was too high. The cost to THEM, mind you. The cost to the people and to the principles on which our nation was founded are not considered.

We need Harrison in Congress, and more like him. If the House and Senate are to do the People's business, then the seats must be occupied by true representatives and statesmen. If you feel that you have time and energy to work on a primary campaign this year, I would suggest this one. I have met Steve: he is intelligent, well-spoken, quick-witted and generous, in the broadest sense. Plus he is committed enough to be running for the second time: in 2006 he received 43% in the general. Against a then-very-popular incumbent, Vito Fosella, this is no small potatoes.

Some of you will prefer to pick other battles, I'm sure. Harrison's is not an impeachment fight like ours was. But as we take small steps toward a real and lasting progressive democracy, we will be aided by having true progressives in Washington, and representing New York. Also, this is one more way to show Jerry that he cannot take his constituents for granted. If McMahon loses in the primary, it will be largely because of New Yorkers in districts like Nadler's and Moloney's.

Food for thought, anyway. Feel free to let me know if you agree or disagree, and also what else you plan to do in these next crucial months. Frankly, I miss working more closely with all of you, and look forward to hearing about what you're doing.

Power to the People,
Adam

DCCC Opposes Progressives in Upcoming Primaries

Bob Fertik — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 19:25:50 -0400

In the next few weeks, we'll have the final round of Democcratic primaries for Congress. And Howie Klein is rightfully outraged that the DCCC is endorsing rank mediocrities instead of talented progressives, all of whom we endorsed on our Replace Bush Democrats Actblue page.

AK00: Ethan Berkowitz over Diane Benson
AZ01: Ann Kirkpatrick over Howard Shanker
FL24: Suzanne Kosmas over Clint Curtis
NY13: Michael McMahon over Steve Harrison

[When] Chris Van Hollen first took over the chair of the DCCC from Stalinist Rahm Emanuel he promised-- in accord with democratic norms and Party rules-- to allow hotly contested primaries to play themselves out and not take sides the way Emanuel had done. Emanuel, you may recall, backed reactionary Establishment candidates in tough primaries against dozens of progressive and grassroots Democrats. In some cases his shills won and we wound up with pseudo-Democrats who vote with the GOP, like Tim Mahoney in Florida, or with a victorious Republican, like Vern Buchanan, who was able to beat a weak, vacillating me-too-Democratic who stood for nothing. In other cases the grassroots beat back Emanuel's anti-democratic strategy and that is why we now have progressives in Congress like John Hall (D-NY), Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH), and Jerry McNerney (D-CA). Van Hollen promised to not follow the Stalinist path Emanuel had lain out. But he has.

4 of the 5 endorsed candidates still contesting primaries [see list above] are conservative, Establishment hacks fighting progressives. The DCCC's strategy of funneling money and the sense of inevitability into the candidacies of the conservatives makes it extremely difficult for the grassroots candidates to tap into traditional sources of Democratic funding. Even unions-- and not just notorious Democratic Party lap dogs like AFSCME-- often succumb to DCCC pressure to support candidates whose election is not in the best interest of progressive goals.

Recently I saw Ann Kirkpatrick speak at a Red to Blue event. My heart sank. With an outstanding, brilliant and articulate candidate like Howard Shanker in the race, the DCCC is backing a card board cutout of a candidate who stands for nothing whatsoever and is as inspiring as a potato. Better than the neo-fascist Republican running in AZ-01 (Sydney Hay)? Yes, but a C is always better than an F. What about going for an A+? Standing in front of an audience of Democrats Kirkpatrick was unable to make the case of why anyone should even bother to go out and vote. The Republican brand is so damaged in AZ-01, after the indictment of Congressman Rick Renzi, that it will be hard for the Democrats to lose the election. But if anyone can do it, it is Ann Kirkpatrick. The primary is on September 2.

Michael McMahon is so reactionary that his races for New York City Council have been endorsed by the Conservative Party-- which is to the right of the Republican Party. The Staten Island Conservative Party was about to endorse him for Congress-- they love his pro-war approach to Iraq-- when the state party jumped in and forced them to toe the line and endorse whichever Republican was the nominee that particular week. Steve Harrison is a far better choice and an actual progressive. It is unconscionable for the DCCC to try to swing the primary to someone who, of he is elected, will oppose Democratic Party positions for as long as he's in Congress. The primary is on September 9.

Similarly, In Florida's 24th CD Clint Curtis is the grassroots candidate and the DCCC shill, Suzanne Kosmas, is just some rich person who promises to be easily led around by the nose. In Alaska Ethan Berkowitz is the Rahm Emanuel establishment candidate who is running against a grassroots independent-minded progressive, Diane Benson.

If you're outraged that the DCCC is trying to keep progressives out of Congress, please support the progressives on our Replace Bush Democrats Actblue page.

Steve Harrison for Congress

davidswanson — Fri, 09 May 2008 16:58:40 -0400

I'm not going to join in promoting the idea that drunk driving and adultery are political positions worthy of voters' endless scrutiny and titillation, but as long as a congress member as disastrous in his policy positions as Vito Fossella is on the ropes for some dumb reasons, it's worth noting that we have the opportunity to replace him with someone who actually shares our beliefs and might even act on them.

Steve Harrison is a Democrat challenging Republican Fossella in New York's 13th district. Harrison supports single-payer healthcare, opposes further funding for the occupation of Iraq and would bring the troops safely home, would end NAFTA/WTO, supports marriage equality, would abolish the death penalty, and would impeach Cheney and Bush. He has the national endorsement of Progressive Democrats of America.

In fact, Harrison is so good that the Democratic Party leaders in Washington are fishing around for someone less progressive they can run against him. Let's nip that idea in the bud:
http://www.steveharrisonforcongress.com