“We shouldn’t be punishing people for bringing new ideas to the forefront.”
By Branko Marcetic
In These Times (5/16/19)
NORMAL, ILL.— On May 5, newly elected Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) chair Cheri Bustos faced a surprisingly chilly reception at this year’s College Democrats of Illinois Convention, which is typically a chance for participants to hone organizing skills and hobnob with elected officials. Bustos’ appearance quickly turned into an interrogation.
The College Democrats questioned her about the DCCC’s new policy of refusing to hire consultants and vendors who work with any challenger to a Democratic incumbent. The policy is widely perceived as a broadside against the party’s insurgent progressive wing and its enthusiastic younger voters.
Afzal sees it as hypocritical for the party to lean on young Democrats’ electoral work but ignore their policy preferences. And yet, she says, “They’re always, ‘Woe is me, why don’t we have more young people voting’.”
“How does the DCCC intend to win congressional seats while weakening youth support?” College Democrat Victoria Koffsky asked Bustos.
“Wow, um, I would not say we’re weakening youth support,” Bustos replied, saying that the policy exists to protect current House members, who pay dues to the DCCC.
“We won on our message of healthcare in 2018, and I’m wondering why the DCCC is trying to protect a candidate who isn’t on board with that,” asked Hadiya Afzal, referencing incumbent Daniel Lipinsky (D-Ill.), a conservative Democrat who opposed the Affordable Care Act and now faces a primary challenge.
Defending pro republican dem
While waving away concerns about Lipinsky (“you could look at any member of our caucus and there would be something that we don’t all agree about”), Bustos emphasized again and again that the DCCC’s “first priority” was to hang onto the “fragile majority” in the House that Democrats achieved in 2018. “We are an incumbent-friendly organization,” she stressed.
Bustos’ explanations, however, did not convince her critics. …
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DCCC Leader Bustos To Hold Pricey Fundraiser For Pro-Republican Corporate Dem Rep. Lipinski Next Month
By Tal Axelrod
Politico (5/15/19)
Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.), the chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), will host a fundraiser for Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D-Ill.) next month in a move likely to anger abortion rights advocates.
Lipinski has drawn the ire of the party’s base over his opposition to abortion, narrowly winning his primary by 2 points against a pro-choice progressive in last year’s midterm race.
The fundraiser will be held on June 6 in Chicago, with tickets ranging from $1,000 to $5,600, according to an invitation that was first obtained by Chicago Business. …
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Don’t Donate A Dime To The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC).
Instead, donate directly to progressive reformers like Marie Newman, running to unseat pro-republican Illinois corporate dem Rep. Dan Lipinski.
Link to Newman Campaign Website
