Additional Information on Progressive Democrats of America

Additional Information on Progressive Democrats of America

Overview


* Several of PDA’s closest allies are Hollywood actors. Actor Ed Asner, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and an outspoken advocate for socialism, has been an active supporter and fundraiser for PDA. Another PDA supporter is David Clennon, best known for playing Joshua Nankin in the anti-CIA TV series The Agency. Another is James Cromwell, known for his roles as the crooked police captain in L.A. Confidential and as President Bob Fowler in the Tom Clancy nuclear terrorism movie The Sum of All Fears.

* On July 29, 2004, PDA national director Tim Carpenter moderated a gathering of approximately 1,000 progressives at Roxbury Community College in Massachusetts. Titled “Beyond Boston: Building the Progressive Wing of the Democratic Party,” this event featured such guest speakers as Tom AndrewsMedea BenjaminJohn ConyersHoward DeanTom HaydenJesse Jackson, Jr.Jesse Jackson (Sr.), Dennis KucinichBarbara Lee, and James Zogby.

* In December 2004, PDA joined forces with Rep. John Conyers, Jesse Jackson and other progressives in challenging the Ohio vote count that, by a margin of more than 100,000 votes, re-elected Republican President George W. Bush.

* PDA sharply criticized DNC Chairman Howard Dean for telling an American Civil Liberties Union gathering in Minneapolis on April 20, 2005 that, with regard to U.S. forces in Iraq, “Now that we’re there, we’re there and we can’t get out. The President has created an enormous security problem for the United States where none existed before. But I hope the President is incredibly successful with his policy now that he’s there.” PDA’s Tim Carpenter urged Dean to reverse his statement and call for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. To this end, Carpenter announced that PDA would work with United for Peace and Justice to flood congressional offices with telephone calls during the week following Memorial Day 2005.

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