The Progressive Caucus in Congress, has decided to endorse a corporate
Democrat in Ohio's 11th District in her bid for re election.
And if you're familiar with Progressive politics, you probably already
know that Nina Turner, is the Progressive challenger in that primary race.
And the Progressive Caucus,
has decided to endorse the corporate Democrat over her challenger, Nina Turner.
The PAC, according to a press release that they put out, also announced
a new slate of Congressional Progressive Caucus incumbent endorsements.
Representatives Jimmy Panetta, Melanie Stansbury, Nikema Williams,
Shontel Brown, that's the individual that we're talking about here.
Andy kim, Katie Porter, love Katie Porter, Mike Levin and Stephen Horsford.
They say quote, we're proud to support and endorse this group of bold progressive
leaders, that are fighting for working people in their communities.
And across the country said, CPC PAC, Co -Chairs Mark Pocan,
Pramila Jayapal and Jamie Raskin.
Each and every one of them,
is working every day to take on corporate special interests.
I mean, what a joke fight for economic and social justice, universal healthcare,
climate action, and bold solutions to the urgent crisis facing our country.
We are thrilled to support their campaigns, and look forward to continuing
to build the progressive movement alongside them in Congress.
Now, why would the Progressive Caucus choose,
to endorse the incumbent corporate Democrats, Shontel Brown over Nina Turner?
Well, it could be that Shontel Brown who is backed by corporate interests,
decided to join the Progressive Caucus.
Which tells me that, the Progressive Caucus has no standards like
if Matt Gaetz wanted to join the Progressive caucus tomorrow.
I feel like Pramila Jayapal would be come on home, but give me a hug.
Yeah, for sure we have no freaking standards.
None, zero anyone can join, because let me tell you something,
Shontel Brown, not in any way a Progressive.
And I want to make my case, now Daniel Maran's is a great reporter and
he let everyone know about this story.
He says, for context,
Brown officially joined the Progressive Caucus in January, wow!
In January a few months ago, she must be such a wonderful Progressive fighting for
things, like Medicare for all except she's not.
And she had previously joined a different group of people
a couple of days ago, the business friendly New Dem Coalition.
Welcomed Representatives, Shontel Brown in Ohio and
Nikema Williams of Georgia to their bloc.
Brown is not a member of the Progressive Caucus, Williams is.
So this was before, she had decided to join the Progressive Caucus in January.
Regarding Brown, this is not surprising, the new Democrat Action Fund endorsed
her in mid July, while the Progressive Caucus had endorsed Nina Turner.
Those are previously, these are older tweets, but
I give you that context because clearly the New Dem Coalition.
The New Democrat Action Fund is a pro business, pro corporate group
of individuals, and Shontel Brown is simultaneously part of that mess.
Well also, having the ability to present herself as a Progressive,
because she was accepted into the Progressive Caucus in January.
That's all you need to do, just join a group of people who have no standards, but
like to use a label that they have no business using.
So, what has Shontel Brown done in Congress so far?
Now, her stint in Congress has been short, but if you look at her record,
of course there are already some red flags.
So she has no problem with the military spending, easily voted in favor of
the National Defense Authorization Act, which every year for the most part.
Increases funding to the Pentagon, so typical corporate Democrat behavior there.
Then, you also have her willingness to vote
in favor of the corporate backed Bipartisan Infrastructure bill.
She voted for that, knowing full well that Biden, and
everyone basically broke their promise.
And did not have a path forward for the build back better agenda,
which included all the social spending that people actually want.
That was the initial deal, Shontel Brown is like, who cares about that deal?
We want to make sure our corporate buddies are super happy,
with us passing legislation that privatizes public infrastructure.
It's awesome, let's do it, that's who Shontel Brown is and
who backed her campaign?
Let's see, what kind of Progressive support Shontel Brown has had.
This is a piece from the intercept back in July of 2021 titled,
In The Race Against Nina Turner GOP Donors.
Republican donors, fund Shontel Brown with one week left in the Ohio primary.
Republican donors have picked their Democrat, and
the pro- Israel PAC supporting her, okay.
So, they're specifically talking about a PAC, that is like the one and
only issue is support Israel, no matter what.
Even if, it has a right wing government that does terrible things,
you just support, no matter what, don't ever criticize.
The most notable among them by the way,
in terms of donors to Shontel Brown is New England Patriots owner, Robert Kraft.
A close ally of Donald Trump, who donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration, and
has supported a slew of Republican candidates.
Kraft has individually donated the election maximum of $5800
to Brown's campaign, and with his family contributed more than $20,000.
Homeboy donated a million Bucks to Trump's inauguration, and he supported
Shontel Brown, who has now been endorsed by the congressional Progressive Caucus.
When she is running against Nina Turner.
There are more, I mean, please read this intercept piece,
because we don't have time to get through all of the right wing donors,
who funded Shontel Brown's campaign.
But I wanna note a few others, you have Steven Fishman, who donated over
$10,000 in campaign contributions to Republicans running in 2020.
Including Lindsey Graham, Jim Risch, Mike Rounds, and Michael McCaul,
he also donated $1800 to Shontel Brown.
You have David Heller, a Cleveland-area real estate executive,
nothing more Progressive than taking money from a real estate executive.
He donated $2,800 to Brown, Heller,
who has been an avid supporter of Republicans in Congress and in Texas.
Donated over $13,000 to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine in 2020 as well as,
$5,000 to Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan.
And who led by the way, the push to restrict voting rights in that state.
The Congressional Progressive Caucus, stands for nothing at this point.
Their willingness, with the exception of the squad, I wanna be clear about
that their willingness to help pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure bill.
Which again, is just a corporate giveaway,
already revealed how low their standards really are.
And what they really stand for?
And now you have this, you have them laundering the image,
the reputation of a clear corporate Democrat.
And they're doing so, against Nina Turner,
who actually is a Progressive, who is a fighter, who does speak her mind.
Who is not willing to be censored by corporate interests, or
corporate Democrats and maybe that's what they're afraid of.
Maybe that's what they're afraid of, because within that Caucus,
you've got a whole bunch of folks who are not Progressive at all.
Are not supportive of a single payer healthcare system, who went along
with the plan to essentially pass a corporate backed infrastructure bill.
Without securing a path forward for the social spending bill,
that Biden allegedly wanted, didn't fight for, but allegedly wanted.
No, I mean how.
The fact of the matter is, why would they care?
Why would these members of the Progressive Caucus care, about us being upset?
If we're not organized, and if we don't have the means necessary,
the organized effort necessary to apply pressure from outside Congress.
I think that's where our focus needs to be.
And I do wanna end this story with a little bit of an upside,
with a little bit of optimism.
Because, the only area where I've seen a little bit of accountability in this
country lately, has been with efforts to unionize.
I've seen that happen with efforts to get better working conditions by striking, and
that happens with workers,
who are lucky enough to already have that union protection.
Because, let me tell you something, if we're sitting around waiting for
the congressional Progressive Caucus to save us.
Man, we are in for just one disappointment after the next.
That's not to say, there aren't wonderful Progressives within that Caucus, but
I would venture to say that there's only a handful of them.
Because, again, if Shontel Brown can be part of that Caucus.
If someone funded by Republican donors, and Trump supporters can be part of that
Caucus, that Caucus don't mean a damn thing.
And I feel so terrible that Nina Turner, is dealing with this kind of gross
betrayal, from individuals who love to use the Progressive label.
But, actions speak louder than words, and this promoting Shontel Brown is,
the last thing a true Progressive would do.