This press release was just sent out by DebtSlavery.org. It looks like the online activism actually did result in some switched votes. There's a dkos diary about the aftermath where this can be discussed. Some recommendations would help give it visibility.
Progressive Leaders say Bankruptcy Bill Battle is Just the BeginningBankruptcy Bill Opponents Thank Congress Members Who Voted No, Promise to Hold Accountable Those Who Voted Yea, and Prepare for Upcoming Battles
Following Senate passage of the bankruptcy bill on March 10, Democrats.com and Progressive Democrats of America created a coalition at www.DebtSlavery.org to work against passage in the House.
Today that effort fell short by a vote of 302-126. But compared to the 90 Democrats who voted for a nearly identical bill in 2003, only 73 Democrats voted Yes this time. Of the 22 Democrats who campaigned for the bill and whom DebtSlavery.org targeted to change their votes, three reversed their positions and voted No - John Larson (D-CT), Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Adam Smith (D-WA) - while a fourth, Shelley Berkley (D-NV), did not vote.
When Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) proposed to return the bill to committee to make it less horrendous, her motion failed narrowly by a vote of 200- 229. The Democratic vote on that motion was 198 to 1, with only Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA) joining Republicans.
"Working Americans owe a debt of gratitude to Rep. John Conyers and Rep. Barbara Lee for their leadership in this struggle," said Bob Fertik, President of Democrats.com. "We also thank Rep. Lynn Woolsey for speaking against this bill in Wednesday's Democratic caucus, and Rep. Jim McDermott for speaking so eloquently against this outrage on the floor of the House. Those who rose to speak against the bill on Thursday deserve our thanks, including Rep. Bill Pascarell, who said he was switching from a Yea vote to a No, and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi."
"But still we must ask: Where was Rep. Pelosi before today? Why did Minority Whip Steny Hoyer support this outrageous bill? Why did Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid even try to take credit for this Republican bill?" Fertik said.
"And why did 'New Democrats' Ellen Tauscher, Ron Kind, Artur Davis, and Joe Crowley push this bill on their colleagues? What party do they imagine they belong to? Who do they think elected them to Congress?" Fertik asked.
"DebtSlavery.org is just getting started. In three short weeks, we built a broad and determined coalition of progressives who will fight for economic justice and will fight against Republican class warfare from above. We have served notice to 'New Democrats' in the House and Senate that we will hold them accountable for selling their votes to Big Business and selling out America's working families," Fertik said.
"We will move on to new bread-and-butter battles, including the Paris Hilton Estate Tax Cut battle in the Senate, the Loan Shark Predatory Lending Act in the House, and the Gasoline Price Gouging Energy Bill. We will unite the Democratic base and reach out to grassroots Independents and Republicans who want to end Republican class warfare from above. We will give hardworking Americans a voice - and a choice," Fertik concluded.
"We will remember who voted against the Democratic base," said Tim Carpenter, Executive Director of Progressive Democrats of America. "Those 73 House Democrats and 18 House Senators have a year in which to try to make up for this. It's hard to see how they'll be able to do it, but we'll be watching and remembering, and we'll be ready to promote challengers in 2006."
CONTACT:
David Swanson, Coordinator of www.DebtSlavery.org 202-329-7847, david@davidswanson.org
Bob Fertik, President of www.Democrats.com 718-424-7772, bob@democrats.com
Kevin Spidel, PDA Political Director, www.pdamerica.org 602-373-6990, kevin@pdamerica.org
The DebtSlavery.org coalition includes:
Democrats.com, Progressive Democrats of America, AFL-CIO, The Nation, National Organization for Women, American Progress Action Fund, National Community Reinvestment Coalition, People's Email Network, Public Citizen, Democracy Week, Black Commentator, Thom Hartmann Show, Milwaukee Labor Press, Politology, Fly By News, Billionaires for Bush, Evans Media USA, Take Back America, United Progressives for Democracy, Rapid Response Network, Public Campaign Action Fund, Progressive Populist, ACORN, Drum Major Institute, Campaign for America's Future.
Posted by tunesmith at April 14, 2005 03:01 PM
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://politology.us/mt/zxcv.cgi/70
Well, the first time I ever saw a glimmer of hope is when I saw Congress' approval rating.
Also the polls from the Evangelicals saying it was wrong to congress to run over other parts of our system of government.
What you witnessed was too much poison swallowed and they finally puked it out. They're all awake now, its just a matter of what they do next.
Posted by: TalkieToaster at April 17, 2005 02:09 PM
As a center-rightist, I find it hard to believe that once the "my w, right or wrong" sentiment wanes in 2007 or so, that this isn't going to come back and bite the GOP in the butt, big time.
I'm shaking my head wondering why so-called strict constructionists don't understand that a bill that raises revenue, as this one does, has to have started in the House, according to the Constitution they supposedly so dearly love. Since it started in the Senate, it's unconstitutional on its face.
I guess the good news is that if I'm right (no, not IF I'm right, because I am, more like "if the courts do their job and nullify it"), a lot of people in the grass roots on both sides of the aisle will laugh their asses off (crossing fingers).
Posted by: Thomas Blumer at April 14, 2005 04:37 PM