The Progressive Democrats of America, a liberal grassroots organization, are invading Santa Ana on Monday, Oct. 21, 2013, from 6 pm to 8 pm, at the home of Sara Chesters and Frank Barbaro (the former Chairman of the Democratic Party of Orange County).
Their guest speakers include John Nichols, Robert McChesney, Mimi Kennedy, Tom Hayden and Tim Carpenter. Nichols and McChesney are going to “explain how American democracy is declining as the range of debate is increasingly controlled by big-money campaign contributions, wall-to-wall lobbying, and media more inclined to repeat spin than to dig for the truth.”
That message is rather ironic as the Host Committee for this event, besides Barbaro, includes Larry Agran, who like Barbaro is infamous for winning with the help of thousands of dollars of Independent Expenditures put up by all sorts of shady Political Action Committees (PACs).
Other Host Committee Members include Bonnie Prouty Castrey, Maya Dunne and John Dombrink, John Hanna, Karen Hinks, Carrie Honigman, Jennifer Keller, Don McCanne, Melahat Rafiei, Marti Schrank, David Sonneborn, Christopher Townsend, and Angelo and Marilyn Vassos. (Note – Rafiei is a political consultant who used to run the DPOC).
If this event sounds like something you want to attend click here. Be a SPONSOR – $75.00. Or a SUPPORTER – $50.00. Attend as an ACTIVIST – $35.00. No freebies!
Here is additional information about the other guest speakers:
- Mimi Kennedy has been PDA’s Advisory Board Chair since our founding in 2004, and hosted countless PDA events, actions, and receptions. An expert on election integrity and other issues, she is a co-coordinator of PDA’s Election Issues Team. Born in Rochester, NY, Mimi has spent her life performing, writing, and working to promote peace and progress. Mimi was a key supporter of Dennis Kucinich’s campaigns. and has traveled from coast to coast, organizing street heat and meeting elected officials with PDA.
- Tom Hayden helped launch PDA at Roxbury in 2004, and is a founding member of the PDA National Board. He has participated at several PDA events including Progressive Central in Denver (2008). He writes for The Nation magazine, and is the author of 18 books and hundreds of articles at TomHayden.com. He teaches and leads workshops frequently on the history and nature of social movements.
- Tim Carpenter, Co-Founder and National Director, is a social and political activist who has worked for peace, nuclear disarmament, single payer health care, campaign finance reform and more for more than 35 years. Tim is a regular guest on TV and radio, appearing on: CNN, MSNBC, Democracy NOW!, The Big Picture, The Thom Hartmann Show, Fox News, and many other local, state, and national radio and television programs.
About PDA:
Progressive Democrats of America was founded in 2004 to transform the Democratic Party and our country. We seek to build a party and government controlled by citizens, not corporate elites-with policies that serve the broad public interest, not just private interests. As a grassroots PAC operating inside the Democratic Party, and outside in movements for peace and justice, PDA played a key role in the stunning electoral victories of November 2006 and 2008. Our inside/outside strategy is guided by the belief that a lasting majority will require a revitalized Democratic Party built on firm progressive principles.
For over two decades, the party declined as its leadership listened more to the voices of corporations than those of Americans. PDA strives to rebuild the Democratic Party from the bottom up-from every congressional district to statewide party structures to the corridors of power in Washington, where we work arm in arm with the Congressional Progressive Caucus. In just a couple of years PDA and its allies have shaken up the political status-quo on issues from ending the Iraq war, voter rights, protecting Social Security, a full employment economy, national healthcare and economic justice.
