November 1, 2007 3:22
The Netroots vs. Nancy Pelosi: Who Will Raise More?
It looks like a fundraising smackdown is in the works. For the past few days, liberal bloggers have been complaining about Nancy Pelosi attending a fundraiser this Saturday for Maryland Congressman Al Wynn, who is facing a Democratic primary challenge from Donna Edwards.
Edwards came surprising close to knocking off Wynn the last time around, in large part because the Congressman from the suburban D.C. area has alienated many on the left. Their objections to Wynn have centered primarily on the fact that he voted with Republicans on some issues, including the Bankruptcy Bill and the 2005 Energy Bill.
Now comes word that they are organizing a fundraiser of their own, aiming to drum up $100,000 from 1,500 internet contributors for Edwards. Earlier today, bloggers Jane Hamsher and Matt Stoller sent out an e-mail announcing that their effort has put together a formidable coalition in the liberal blogosphere:
Over the next four days, Color of Change, MyDD, Swing State Project, Americablog, Dailykos, Atrios, Crooks and Liars, and DownwithTyranny are coming together to work towards that goal. On Saturday, during the Pelosi/Wynn fundraiser, we'll cap it off with a Donna Edwards live-blogging session at many of the sites listed above.
Pelosi's spokesman Brendan Daly is unfazed. "He's an incumbent. That's what we do," he told me when I asked him about Pelosi's appearance for Wynn. "We help our incumbents."
About Swampland
Ana Marie Cox is the founding editor of Wonkette and the author of the novel Dog Days. Read more
Joe Klein is TIME's political columnist and author of six books, most recently Politics Lost. Read more
Karen Tumulty is TIME's National Political Correspondent and has also covered the White House and Congress. Read more
Jay Carney is TIME's Washington bureau chief. He has covered the Clinton and Bush 43 White Houses as well as Congress. Read more
Jay Newton-Small has covered the Bush 43 White House and Congress since the DeLay era. Read more
Michael Scherer is a TIME Washington bureau correspondent covering the 2008 presidential campaign. Read more
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Reader Comments (17)
"That's what we do, we help our incumbents."
He should have added, "other than that we fold up like an old accordion every time Bush says Boo."
Posted by Derek | November 1, 2007 4:09 PM
Pelosi's spokesman Brendan Daly is unfazed. "He's an incumbent. That's what we do," he told me when I asked him about Pelosi's appearance for Wynn. "We help our incumbents."
which is as clear an indictment of the leadership of the Democratic Party as you will find....
Congress is now little more than an incumbency protection racket. Serving the people is secondary to holding your seat and maintaining power. Pelosi knows that if she campaigns for Wynn, he'll be a vote she can count on if her leadership is challenged....
... but Pelosi may be on the wrong side this time. Last year, Donna Edwards was a virtual unknown, and almost unseated Wynn. With her no longer having to build name recognition, Edward can concentrate on beating Wynn this year...
Posted by p_lukasiak
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November 1, 2007 4:11 PM
Wynn doesn't share the values of his constituents.
A seat in congress shouldn't be considered a fiat.
Posted by trifecta | November 1, 2007 4:48 PM
Thanks so much for reporting on this, Karen.
While I don't consider myself one of those "alienated many on the left", I do consider this one of the most reprehensible, irresponsible statements of policy coming out of both parties in quite some time.
I have no idea who Donna Edwards is...but I'm just two clicks away from PayPal-ing her $50 just for this insult.
This isn't the left's problem.
This is America's problem.
I'm going to make it Pelosi's problem ASAP.
I suppose we have Brendan Daly to thank for his inadvertent honesty, and you for doing a great job.
This is the kind of thing we really need to find out about.
Cheers, Karen.
Posted by stuart_zechman | November 1, 2007 5:12 PM
p_lukasiak: Congress is now little more than an incumbency protection racket. Serving the people is secondary to holding your seat and maintaining power.
Right on. I remember reading something several years ago that the founders ideally intended our elected representatives to serve their term and then return to private life. I wholeheartedly agree. It's a fantasy of mine to see every Representative and Senator to be term-limited. It would pave the way for more people to get involved in representing their community or state, decrease the influence of special interests, and get things moving.
Essentially: Use your time in Congress wisely. Get your job done and go home.
Posted by Dave | November 1, 2007 5:43 PM
To paraphrase George Wallace, we accept your nomination!
Posted by J.J.
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November 1, 2007 6:05 PM
Good to see that they support their incumbents, considering that we have a 90%+ retention rate. Sounds like incumbents don't need all that much help.
You should kind of worry about whether or not you're actually doing the damn job you were elected for instead, you hacks. But I guess this explains why so many Dems supported Lieberman over Lamont last year. Because he's 'one of them'. Mendacious hacks.
Posted by Kryptik | November 1, 2007 7:29 PM
stuart_zechman:
You don't have to pay-pal it. Just follow the link in Karen's story. It takes you to FDL, which will take you to a page where you can donate. Anything you give will be greatly appreciated. Getting rid of Wynn is just a small step in making our Representatives more accountable.
Posted by Joe Klein's guilty conscience
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November 1, 2007 7:36 PM
Joe Klein's guilty conscience:
You're right; I'm there!
Posted by stuart_zechman | November 1, 2007 10:03 PM
I also support Donna Edwards because she supports Net Neutrality, while Al Wynn opposes Net Neutrality.
More on Net Neutrality at Save the Internet.com.
Website owners will probably have to pay new fees to companies like AT&T unless we get people like Donna Edwards into Congress.
Posted by EricJaffa
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November 2, 2007 12:45 AM
I moved into Wynn's district last year from Chris Van Hollen's, along with my Maryland-based siblings, to my everlasting dismay. We are dedicated to getting rid of that corporate whore, however long it takes. Last year we wrote in Edwards in the general rather than give our votes to Wynn or his equally repellent repug foe. This election cycle we have a really good chance of disposing of our repugnant rep because Donna Edwards is far better known and Wynn's thuggish behavior and Bush Dog leanings have alienated so many people.
Wynn is the worst fit imaginable for our deep-blue district. He championed the bankruptcy reform bill (aka the Indentured Servitude Act), voted for the repugs' intervention in Terri Schiavo's case, voted to authorize bush's illegal war and can generally be counted on to support any anti-consumer, pro-corporate bill that comes before him. Wynn supports his big business cronies so that he can continue to fatten himself at their lobbyists' troughs, to the tune of millions in tainted donations. It is abundantly apparent that Wynn considers his corporate donors to be his real constituents, rather than the people in his district. He is going to do whatever he can to hang onto his lucrative congressional office for that reason alone; service to the constituents who elected him is the least of his concerns.
This isn't a fight between the Netroots and Pelosi. It is a fight between Wynn and the constituents he has consistently sold out and betrayed to corporate interests for his entire career. The Democratic establishment might be able to save him from our wrath for a time, and he may be able to use criminal tactics to manipulate the ballot, but we will get rid of him. Count on it.
Posted by Xeno | November 2, 2007 3:09 AM
Al Wynn rides right along with the status quo. He votes for, and gets money from Pharma, even though we have the FDA right in our district. Numerous phone calls and emails to his office about this have never been returned.
You see, my son was killed by the Eli Lilly drug, Zyprexa. Ten states have brought civil suit against Lilly. I hope Maryland is next but it will help if our new representative, Donna Edwards, who has already taken on the industry, was on board.
I can't believe that this blue district has gotten stuck with Wynn. Donna has everything we need for this District, and represents the change we need in Congress. What a lucky opportunity we have to be able to vote for her, and send Wynn packing.
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