Progressive Democrats Of Massachusetts Goes Deep with Deval Patrick
One of the most remarkable political documents you will see this year was recently sent to the statewide membership of Progressive Democrats of Massachusetts (PDM).
"We are," writes state chair Peter Dolan in his cover letter, "nearing a decision to endorse Deval Patrick for Governor. Before we make our final decision, we want to share with you the process and the thinking that are leading us to this decision, and hear your thoughts."
"Over the summer, the SCC [State Coordinating Committee] developed a set of PDM endorsement criteria," Dolan continued. "We wouldn't expect any candidate or campaign to measure up perfectly on all these criteria, but a statewide candidate endorsed by PDM should strongly exhibit a majority of these characteristics and positions, and not actively oppose or reject any of them."
What follows Dolan's letter is a ten-pager on why Patrick is a compelling, principled and viable democratic candidate for governor. I can't think of any other organization that has produced such a thoughtful and detailed rationale for supporting a candidate for any office. As a member of the PDM State Coordinating Committee, I suppose it figures I would say something like that. But I would not go to the trouble of telling you about it if I didn't think it was really good stuff. You can read some excerpts below, and you'll have a chance to check out the whole document for yourself when it is posted on the PDM web site in about a week.
One of the distinctives of PDM's approach was to develop a set of criteria for endorsement that was not merely a checklist of issues:
1. Does the candidate support the basic tenets and spirit of the Democratic
Party platform -- especially on critical, in-play issues?
2. What is the endorsement benefit to PDM?
3. Is the candidate an agent for changes PDM is working for?
4. Does the candidate's vision support PDM's strategic vision?
5. Is the candidate viable (i.e. has a clear strategy for winning and a compelling and well articulated message)?
6. Is the candidate making an effort to reframe issues in a progressive context?
7. Does the candidate embody the value of fairness?
8. Is the candidate a person of principle?
The PDM evaluation was based on discussions with Deval Patrick and his senior campaign staff, as well as a review of the campaign's website and the texts of Patrick's recent speeches.
When PDM leaders went to interview Patrick, they selected Health Care, Education, Economic Issues, and Labor to zero in on. It is worth underscoring on this Labor Day weekend that in his interview, Patrick supported, among other things, the right of workers to organize; and he opposed the "dirty tricks" sometimes employed by management, among other unfair impediments labor organizing.
Here are some excerpts from PDM's evaluation and rationale for endorsing Devel Patrick for governor:
"I respect the right of workers to choose third-party representation, and it makes good business sense for companies to negotiate in good faith. Dirty tricks to undermine the unions are never a good idea."
"I have always worked to create more inclusive, more effective work environments. I believe that the right to organize must be respected. That is a judgment and chance that workers get to make.... that workers have to be able to make openly and freely."
"I am in favor of a simplified card check process." He favors expedited union representation elections without employer interference. If a majority of employees in a given work site sign cards clearly expressing their desire to join a union (not just to hold an election) he feels the employer must honor those wishes.
"I am in favor of increasing the minimum wage although I don't yet have a point of view on indexing." He shared a concern that indexing (i.e. automatic cost of living adjustments) may mask the underlying issue that the minimum wage is not a "living wage". "The 'living wage' concept is closer to what I'm interested in -- for everyone, [union and non-union]." He noted that while some of these issues are questions of legislation, some really are issues of leadership. It's about using the bully pulpit of the governor to create an environment in which these issues are raised and become part of the political discourse. He said: "Opportunities for public leadership are broader than a Governor's enumerated powers."
Patrick resigned from Coca Cola when the company decided not to support an independent investigation of the deaths of several union leaders in Columbia. He agreed to return to the company as a legal consultant only after new company leadership agreed to support the independent investigation. This is a compelling story that indicates at a deep level his commitment to fair treatment of workers and unions.
Patrick knows that he cannot run a traditional Democratic campaign. He will be running a very deep grassroots campaign, bringing in large numbers of people to actively participate in their democracy, and the Democratic Party. This supports one of PDM's goals: a revitalized Democratic Party that takes its lead from the broad party membership.
His willingness to draw in people who hold divergent views on critical issues will also go a long way to changing the nature of the political dialogue in Massachusetts -- a specific goal of PDM. In his speech on August 3rd marking the 40th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act he said: "Why have we worked so hard to make voting easier and failed so miserably at making voting more meaningful? Fewer citizens care. And I think that has much to do with politics itself."
"Increasingly, the political class is insular. We have perfected a conversation with ourselves about how elections get won, while everyone else wants to know why it matters.... while insiders and political 'wags' focus on who votes, where they live, how the hot-button issues move that vote, what time of day they vote, etc., most people see that the game is not about principle but power and too many just check out."
Patrick supports PDM's strategic vision in several ways: he is bringing many new people into the political dialogue and process, he expresses in many contexts a progressive view of the role of government, his commitment to civil rights and non-discrimination, and his very candidacy (bringing new leaders into the public arena)....
"I like Barney Frank's definition of government -- It is the name we give to the things we choose to do together. And I emphasize 'together'. It's about community. Government is not a bad thing. It's an essential for any successful society. I have lived in the Sudan where there was no government. There was rampant poverty, no safety, no services...." He lamented that people don't connect up what they get, to what they have to give. Government is both the basis of society and the means of achieving the dreams of society.
His campaign manager, John Walsh, also spoke of the campaign's inclusive approach -- "bringing people back into the system -- people who don't think politics has something to do with their lives."
"People want to talk about why Democrats lose elections. I think it is because we spend too much time focusing on how to win elections and not enough time talking about why we should."
Patrick's whole career shows evidence of having successfully integrated acting on principle and effectively getting the job done. His reputation is that of a problem solver and as someone who is always part of the solution. His career with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and as head of the Civil Rights division of the U.S. Department of Justice in the Clinton administration (in charge of among other things, enforcing the [Americans with Disabilities Act], his reputation as a creative problem-solver as well as his resignation in protest from Coke indicate his ability to marry principles with getting things done.
"I have helped lead two of the largest companies in the world, and I am just as proud of that as I am of my service in the Clinton Administration, the NAACP LDF and in private law practice. Because I get hired to be a change agent, and in every one of those jobs I've done my level best to leave the organization better than when I arrived. I have never been willing to check my conscience at the door, and never had to."
-------------------------
To read the whole thing, you will have to wait a few more days. (It may be tweaked a bit before we publish a final version.) But in the meantime, I just want to say few words about PDM:
PDM is a statewide organization founded in the wake of Robert Reich's 2002 Democratic primary campaign for governor. We have, among other things, sought to build a network of dedicated, knowledgeable and capable electoral activists to provide a base of support for a progressive, democratic reform candidate in the 2006 gubernatorial race. So far, we have developed seven chapters and chapters-in-formation, and a network of smaller organizing committees and individual activists. We have been involved in a number of state and local races, including the special elections for state representative and state senate this year. We have greatly increased our knowledge about electoral politics, built lasting political relationships, and honed our skills. The PDM network is in place -- and it is growing -- and now it looks like we have a candidate.
"We are," writes state chair Peter Dolan in his cover letter, "nearing a decision to endorse Deval Patrick for Governor. Before we make our final decision, we want to share with you the process and the thinking that are leading us to this decision, and hear your thoughts."
"Over the summer, the SCC [State Coordinating Committee] developed a set of PDM endorsement criteria," Dolan continued. "We wouldn't expect any candidate or campaign to measure up perfectly on all these criteria, but a statewide candidate endorsed by PDM should strongly exhibit a majority of these characteristics and positions, and not actively oppose or reject any of them."
What follows Dolan's letter is a ten-pager on why Patrick is a compelling, principled and viable democratic candidate for governor. I can't think of any other organization that has produced such a thoughtful and detailed rationale for supporting a candidate for any office. As a member of the PDM State Coordinating Committee, I suppose it figures I would say something like that. But I would not go to the trouble of telling you about it if I didn't think it was really good stuff. You can read some excerpts below, and you'll have a chance to check out the whole document for yourself when it is posted on the PDM web site in about a week.
One of the distinctives of PDM's approach was to develop a set of criteria for endorsement that was not merely a checklist of issues:
1. Does the candidate support the basic tenets and spirit of the Democratic
Party platform -- especially on critical, in-play issues?
2. What is the endorsement benefit to PDM?
3. Is the candidate an agent for changes PDM is working for?
4. Does the candidate's vision support PDM's strategic vision?
5. Is the candidate viable (i.e. has a clear strategy for winning and a compelling and well articulated message)?
6. Is the candidate making an effort to reframe issues in a progressive context?
7. Does the candidate embody the value of fairness?
8. Is the candidate a person of principle?
The PDM evaluation was based on discussions with Deval Patrick and his senior campaign staff, as well as a review of the campaign's website and the texts of Patrick's recent speeches.
When PDM leaders went to interview Patrick, they selected Health Care, Education, Economic Issues, and Labor to zero in on. It is worth underscoring on this Labor Day weekend that in his interview, Patrick supported, among other things, the right of workers to organize; and he opposed the "dirty tricks" sometimes employed by management, among other unfair impediments labor organizing.
Here are some excerpts from PDM's evaluation and rationale for endorsing Devel Patrick for governor:
"I respect the right of workers to choose third-party representation, and it makes good business sense for companies to negotiate in good faith. Dirty tricks to undermine the unions are never a good idea."
"I have always worked to create more inclusive, more effective work environments. I believe that the right to organize must be respected. That is a judgment and chance that workers get to make.... that workers have to be able to make openly and freely."
"I am in favor of a simplified card check process." He favors expedited union representation elections without employer interference. If a majority of employees in a given work site sign cards clearly expressing their desire to join a union (not just to hold an election) he feels the employer must honor those wishes.
"I am in favor of increasing the minimum wage although I don't yet have a point of view on indexing." He shared a concern that indexing (i.e. automatic cost of living adjustments) may mask the underlying issue that the minimum wage is not a "living wage". "The 'living wage' concept is closer to what I'm interested in -- for everyone, [union and non-union]." He noted that while some of these issues are questions of legislation, some really are issues of leadership. It's about using the bully pulpit of the governor to create an environment in which these issues are raised and become part of the political discourse. He said: "Opportunities for public leadership are broader than a Governor's enumerated powers."
Patrick resigned from Coca Cola when the company decided not to support an independent investigation of the deaths of several union leaders in Columbia. He agreed to return to the company as a legal consultant only after new company leadership agreed to support the independent investigation. This is a compelling story that indicates at a deep level his commitment to fair treatment of workers and unions.
Patrick knows that he cannot run a traditional Democratic campaign. He will be running a very deep grassroots campaign, bringing in large numbers of people to actively participate in their democracy, and the Democratic Party. This supports one of PDM's goals: a revitalized Democratic Party that takes its lead from the broad party membership.
His willingness to draw in people who hold divergent views on critical issues will also go a long way to changing the nature of the political dialogue in Massachusetts -- a specific goal of PDM. In his speech on August 3rd marking the 40th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act he said: "Why have we worked so hard to make voting easier and failed so miserably at making voting more meaningful? Fewer citizens care. And I think that has much to do with politics itself."
"Increasingly, the political class is insular. We have perfected a conversation with ourselves about how elections get won, while everyone else wants to know why it matters.... while insiders and political 'wags' focus on who votes, where they live, how the hot-button issues move that vote, what time of day they vote, etc., most people see that the game is not about principle but power and too many just check out."
Patrick supports PDM's strategic vision in several ways: he is bringing many new people into the political dialogue and process, he expresses in many contexts a progressive view of the role of government, his commitment to civil rights and non-discrimination, and his very candidacy (bringing new leaders into the public arena)....
"I like Barney Frank's definition of government -- It is the name we give to the things we choose to do together. And I emphasize 'together'. It's about community. Government is not a bad thing. It's an essential for any successful society. I have lived in the Sudan where there was no government. There was rampant poverty, no safety, no services...." He lamented that people don't connect up what they get, to what they have to give. Government is both the basis of society and the means of achieving the dreams of society.
His campaign manager, John Walsh, also spoke of the campaign's inclusive approach -- "bringing people back into the system -- people who don't think politics has something to do with their lives."
"People want to talk about why Democrats lose elections. I think it is because we spend too much time focusing on how to win elections and not enough time talking about why we should."
Patrick's whole career shows evidence of having successfully integrated acting on principle and effectively getting the job done. His reputation is that of a problem solver and as someone who is always part of the solution. His career with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and as head of the Civil Rights division of the U.S. Department of Justice in the Clinton administration (in charge of among other things, enforcing the [Americans with Disabilities Act], his reputation as a creative problem-solver as well as his resignation in protest from Coke indicate his ability to marry principles with getting things done.
"I have helped lead two of the largest companies in the world, and I am just as proud of that as I am of my service in the Clinton Administration, the NAACP LDF and in private law practice. Because I get hired to be a change agent, and in every one of those jobs I've done my level best to leave the organization better than when I arrived. I have never been willing to check my conscience at the door, and never had to."
-------------------------
To read the whole thing, you will have to wait a few more days. (It may be tweaked a bit before we publish a final version.) But in the meantime, I just want to say few words about PDM:
PDM is a statewide organization founded in the wake of Robert Reich's 2002 Democratic primary campaign for governor. We have, among other things, sought to build a network of dedicated, knowledgeable and capable electoral activists to provide a base of support for a progressive, democratic reform candidate in the 2006 gubernatorial race. So far, we have developed seven chapters and chapters-in-formation, and a network of smaller organizing committees and individual activists. We have been involved in a number of state and local races, including the special elections for state representative and state senate this year. We have greatly increased our knowledge about electoral politics, built lasting political relationships, and honed our skills. The PDM network is in place -- and it is growing -- and now it looks like we have a candidate.
4 Comments:
How...transparent of them to share their process with us!
Oh no, someone call an ethics panel on blogging, quick! (Sorry, Atrios joke.)
Fred, as one of the authors of the document you praise, I am naturally pleased that you find it as extraordinary as it truly is.
I would like to point out to any of your readers who may not be familiar with the PDM process that we did also consider the track record, background, statements, and other info about Deval Patick's only announced rival in this race.
I'm sure that anyone who is taking the time to read this post will be, like me, totally taken up in grief and concern around the devastation that has been wreaked by Hurricane Kristina. At a time when national leadership is so desperately needed and so glaringly lacking, the moral character and leadership ability of Deval Patrick is a welcome balm.
Thanks, Michael.
You -- and everyone involved in this process -- did a great job.
We are inventing new ways of doing politics in the 21st century, and I think this document is a benchmark -- the influence of which will be felt for a long time to come.
When we are involved in the details, sometimes we lose sight of the historic nature of what we are doing. I think when we step back and look at the whole endorsement process and the remarkable document that has emerged, we will see that something historic has occurred, and that everyone associated with this should be rightfully proud of thier work.
Fred and Fred's readers:
Although I am a member of the Statewide Coordinating Committee of PDM, I am not an author of the detailed endorsement document about which Fred was so eloquent. Like Michael, I want to make a further point about PDM and Deval Patrick:
PDM is committed to a political vision and discourse which helps many disaffected citizens and progressives recognize that they can make a difference. A constant refrain from those who choose not to participate and not to vote is that the candidates are all the same, hence their vote doesn't matter. Five minutes' exposure to Deval Patrick should convince such people--good people who are understandably tired of being treated like consumers of commodities instead of principled citizens who care about their lives and the lives of others--that he is truly different and supporting him CAN make a difference.
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