Rep. Ro Khanna speaks at a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, January 30, 2019. (Photo: Andrew Harnik/AP)
Mar 28, 2019
Leaders of the Congressional Progressive Caucus Wednesday condemned the DCCC's new policy of cutting off funds to primary challengers, saying the rule will shut down "competition of ideas" and alienate the party's grassroots base.
"Primaries are often the only way that under-represented and working class people are able to have a shot at pursuing elected office."
--Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez"This unprecedented grab of power is a slap in the face of Democratic voters across the nation," Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), the first-vice chair of the CPC, said in a statement to The Intercept after a closed-door meeting with DCCC chair Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.).
According toPolitico, the meeting--also attended by CPC co-chairs Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Mark Pocan (D-Wis.)--became "heated" as the progressive leaders said the DCCC's rules would "blackball" important progressive vendors and strategists.
"It's something even [former DCCC chair] Rahm Emanuel would not have done and is totally tone-deaf to the grassroots activists across our nation," Khanna said. "Let's be clear. If this policy remains in place, it will mean that we will not allow new Ayanna Pressleys or AOCs to emerge. It's simply wrong."
\u201cWe need to fight until the DCCC reverses it\u2019s policy to stifle a competition of ideas and have an unfair restraint of trade. It\u2019s a terrible policy and out of touch with voters. https://t.co/KDraUZyfHm\u201d— Ro Khanna (@Ro Khanna) 1553723507
Progressive organizations responded with outrage when the DCCC unveiled the new rules last week.
The policy states that the DCCC "will not conduct business with, nor recommend to any of its targeted campaigns, any consultant that works with an opponent of a sitting member of the House Democratic Caucus."
Despite pushback from lawmakers and the grassroots, Bustos reportedly has no plans to reverse the new standard--which could deprive progressive primary challengers of millions of dollars in funds.
"I still think it's an open conversation," Pocan told Politico following the meeting with Bustos. "I don't think it's done. I left it thinking there's more to come."
Progressive advocacy groups said they will not cave to the party establishment, vowing to continue challenging conservative Democrats even it means being blackballed by the DCCC.
\u201cWe see exactly what you're doing @dccc. \n\nDon't think for 1 second that it'll stop us -- or the grassroots army we stand with -- from backing bold, inclusive populists who will better represent their districts in Congress over neoliberal corporate Dems. \n\nhttps://t.co/l6AADku3Pa\u201d— Democracy for America (@Democracy for America) 1553268237
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.)--who unseated Wall Street-friendly Rep. Joe Crowley in a primary last year--urged the DCCC to scrap the policy in comments to reporters on Wednesday.
"Primaries are often the only way that under-represented and working class people are able to have a shot at pursuing elected office," Ocasio-Cortez said. "I think that it can reduce the odds of us getting really strong representation. We need to have kind of a farm system for the next generation."
Khanna told The Intercept that "many progressives in Congress will fight until this rule is changed."
"The DCCC is acting as a monopoly by saying that anyone who does business with them can't do business with any competition," Khanna said. "We stand for reform in Congress and reform of the Democratic Party machinery to make sure they prioritize our voters and the grassroots."
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. Join with us today! |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Leaders of the Congressional Progressive Caucus Wednesday condemned the DCCC's new policy of cutting off funds to primary challengers, saying the rule will shut down "competition of ideas" and alienate the party's grassroots base.
"Primaries are often the only way that under-represented and working class people are able to have a shot at pursuing elected office."
--Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez"This unprecedented grab of power is a slap in the face of Democratic voters across the nation," Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), the first-vice chair of the CPC, said in a statement to The Intercept after a closed-door meeting with DCCC chair Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.).
According toPolitico, the meeting--also attended by CPC co-chairs Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Mark Pocan (D-Wis.)--became "heated" as the progressive leaders said the DCCC's rules would "blackball" important progressive vendors and strategists.
"It's something even [former DCCC chair] Rahm Emanuel would not have done and is totally tone-deaf to the grassroots activists across our nation," Khanna said. "Let's be clear. If this policy remains in place, it will mean that we will not allow new Ayanna Pressleys or AOCs to emerge. It's simply wrong."
\u201cWe need to fight until the DCCC reverses it\u2019s policy to stifle a competition of ideas and have an unfair restraint of trade. It\u2019s a terrible policy and out of touch with voters. https://t.co/KDraUZyfHm\u201d— Ro Khanna (@Ro Khanna) 1553723507
Progressive organizations responded with outrage when the DCCC unveiled the new rules last week.
The policy states that the DCCC "will not conduct business with, nor recommend to any of its targeted campaigns, any consultant that works with an opponent of a sitting member of the House Democratic Caucus."
Despite pushback from lawmakers and the grassroots, Bustos reportedly has no plans to reverse the new standard--which could deprive progressive primary challengers of millions of dollars in funds.
"I still think it's an open conversation," Pocan told Politico following the meeting with Bustos. "I don't think it's done. I left it thinking there's more to come."
Progressive advocacy groups said they will not cave to the party establishment, vowing to continue challenging conservative Democrats even it means being blackballed by the DCCC.
\u201cWe see exactly what you're doing @dccc. \n\nDon't think for 1 second that it'll stop us -- or the grassroots army we stand with -- from backing bold, inclusive populists who will better represent their districts in Congress over neoliberal corporate Dems. \n\nhttps://t.co/l6AADku3Pa\u201d— Democracy for America (@Democracy for America) 1553268237
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.)--who unseated Wall Street-friendly Rep. Joe Crowley in a primary last year--urged the DCCC to scrap the policy in comments to reporters on Wednesday.
"Primaries are often the only way that under-represented and working class people are able to have a shot at pursuing elected office," Ocasio-Cortez said. "I think that it can reduce the odds of us getting really strong representation. We need to have kind of a farm system for the next generation."
Khanna told The Intercept that "many progressives in Congress will fight until this rule is changed."
"The DCCC is acting as a monopoly by saying that anyone who does business with them can't do business with any competition," Khanna said. "We stand for reform in Congress and reform of the Democratic Party machinery to make sure they prioritize our voters and the grassroots."
Leaders of the Congressional Progressive Caucus Wednesday condemned the DCCC's new policy of cutting off funds to primary challengers, saying the rule will shut down "competition of ideas" and alienate the party's grassroots base.
"Primaries are often the only way that under-represented and working class people are able to have a shot at pursuing elected office."
--Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez"This unprecedented grab of power is a slap in the face of Democratic voters across the nation," Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), the first-vice chair of the CPC, said in a statement to The Intercept after a closed-door meeting with DCCC chair Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.).
According toPolitico, the meeting--also attended by CPC co-chairs Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Mark Pocan (D-Wis.)--became "heated" as the progressive leaders said the DCCC's rules would "blackball" important progressive vendors and strategists.
"It's something even [former DCCC chair] Rahm Emanuel would not have done and is totally tone-deaf to the grassroots activists across our nation," Khanna said. "Let's be clear. If this policy remains in place, it will mean that we will not allow new Ayanna Pressleys or AOCs to emerge. It's simply wrong."
\u201cWe need to fight until the DCCC reverses it\u2019s policy to stifle a competition of ideas and have an unfair restraint of trade. It\u2019s a terrible policy and out of touch with voters. https://t.co/KDraUZyfHm\u201d— Ro Khanna (@Ro Khanna) 1553723507
Progressive organizations responded with outrage when the DCCC unveiled the new rules last week.
The policy states that the DCCC "will not conduct business with, nor recommend to any of its targeted campaigns, any consultant that works with an opponent of a sitting member of the House Democratic Caucus."
Despite pushback from lawmakers and the grassroots, Bustos reportedly has no plans to reverse the new standard--which could deprive progressive primary challengers of millions of dollars in funds.
"I still think it's an open conversation," Pocan told Politico following the meeting with Bustos. "I don't think it's done. I left it thinking there's more to come."
Progressive advocacy groups said they will not cave to the party establishment, vowing to continue challenging conservative Democrats even it means being blackballed by the DCCC.
\u201cWe see exactly what you're doing @dccc. \n\nDon't think for 1 second that it'll stop us -- or the grassroots army we stand with -- from backing bold, inclusive populists who will better represent their districts in Congress over neoliberal corporate Dems. \n\nhttps://t.co/l6AADku3Pa\u201d— Democracy for America (@Democracy for America) 1553268237
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.)--who unseated Wall Street-friendly Rep. Joe Crowley in a primary last year--urged the DCCC to scrap the policy in comments to reporters on Wednesday.
"Primaries are often the only way that under-represented and working class people are able to have a shot at pursuing elected office," Ocasio-Cortez said. "I think that it can reduce the odds of us getting really strong representation. We need to have kind of a farm system for the next generation."
Khanna told The Intercept that "many progressives in Congress will fight until this rule is changed."
"The DCCC is acting as a monopoly by saying that anyone who does business with them can't do business with any competition," Khanna said. "We stand for reform in Congress and reform of the Democratic Party machinery to make sure they prioritize our voters and the grassroots."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.