"PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS OF AMERICA" SUPPORTS HOWARD DEAN FOR DNC CHAIR
Yesterday Howard Dean announced his candidacy for Chair of the Democratic National Committee. The PDA Leadership believes this is a critical moment for the progressive reform community, a chance to take the energy and idealism stoked by the Kucinich & Dean campaigns, and use them to energize the entire party on behalf of progressive values. There is a new essay, "Dean for DNC", setting out some of the history of the growing PDA relationship with the Dean movement, and making a case for Dean's election. Ultimately, we believe we can help elect as Chair a leader who will standup for "the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party," as Paul Wellstone used to say.

As stated in the essay: "This will be a victory for reform, for the internet, for small donor fundraising, for volunteer action, for anti war politics, for standing up and fighting back, and for progressive values. Howard Dean is the only one running who is a progressive reformer, opposed the war in Iraq [ie: so did Congressman Kucinich], has raised millions and millions from small donors, has held both executive office and practiced internet-based 'netroots' activism in his campaign, and believes in change from the grassroots/netroots up." While Howard Dean has not been as progressive on a number of issues as we hope he will become in time, we believe that supporting him for DNC Chair in February is in the interests of the Democratic progressive movement.

PDA will be advocating useful and strategic steps that its members can take to help this cause over the coming month. In the meantime, if you live in the St. Louis area, you might want to attend the Midwest Regional Caucus this Saturday, January 15, in St. Louis, MO (at the Airport Marriott, as posted by Jerome Armstrong at www.mydd.com; the contact is: cdillon@missouridems.org). On Saturday the 22nd, the Western Regional Caucus will be held in Sacramento, CA; and the Eastern Regional Caucus follows after that, on January 29, in New York City. (The Southern Regional Caucus was held in Atlanta last weekend.) PDA believes that grassroots action (gentle but firm personal and email contact of key decision-makers) will play a large role in helping the 447 DNC Members, who make the decision, to choose Dr. Dean next month. Stay tuned-we're ready to roll.