Progressives set sights to ‘Take back America’

Robinson’s friend, Republican state Rep. Dale Swenson, a laid off Boeing worker from Wichita, says its time to “galvanize progressive ideas. Both parties should take on the causes of working-class Americans. Put country ahead of party.”

Robinson and Swenson were both at Campaign for America’s Future “Take Back America” conference here June 13.

In its fourth year, the annual Take Back America conference opened with 2,000 attendees. Representatives from progressive, liberal and labor movements, like Biko Baker, organizer for the National Hip-Hop Convention, rubbed shoulders with Lynn Williams, president of the Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees.

Senate Democrat Minority leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) surprised the conference with a call to start the troop withdrawal from Iraq. “Iraq is not a matter for future presidents, as President Bush has said,” he charged. “It’s his war and it’s his responsibility.” He warned attendees of the Bush administration’s campaign of “distort, distract, divide” to continue their right-wing stranglehold on power as the November state and congressional elections inch closer.

Former presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry drew numerous standing ovations after beginning his speech with, “I was wrong to vote for this war.” He called for renewed courage and dissent from Bush policies in the halls of Congress and in the streets, saying, “It is our right and obligation to stand up to the president. It is immoral to be silent.” He announced that he was starting a floor fight in the Senate next week to set a date to bring the troops home.

Showing differences within the Democratic Party, the next day, Sen. Hillary Clinton received a notably cooler reception, including some boos, when she spoke about her opposition to a “date certain” for withdrawal from Iraq. Robinson welcomed Kerry’s and others’ condemnation of the war. “They [conference organizers] finally condemned the war. It had been the 800-pound gorilla sitting on the sofa.” Robinson, who had been to last year’s conference, said he saw greater confidence and excitement this year because “people are more focused on Katrina and global warming.”

Robert Borosage, co-director of the Campaign for America’s Future, told the conference that the country is at a “tipping point” but warned that doesn’t necessarily translate into changing the occupants of Congress.

CFA polling indicated the majority of voters want national security based on building allies; that the government should regulate corporations, free scientific and medical research from right-wing religious restrictions, guarantee national health care, develop energy independence and invest in public education.

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