Like Obama, 21st Century Democrats believe in progressive Southerners
In today's New York Times, they highlight that the Obama Camp Thinks Democrats Can Rise in South. This isn't a surprise to us here at 21st Century Democrats. We believe that not just any Democrat can get elected in the South, but that progressive Democrats can be elected at all levels of government in the South.The article questions how serious Democrats are at campaigning in the South. At 21st Century Democrats we have put our money where our mouth is. We already have folks helping on the ground in North Carolina and are working toward putting people on the ground in Central Florida and Miami. Consider helping us with your expertise or your financial support.
Here are the Southern candidates we are excited about:
| Mike Smith | US Congress 8th District | Florida |
| Larry Kissell | US Congress 8th District | North Carolina |
| Suzanne Kosmas | US Congress 24th District | Florida |
| Wendy Davis | State Senate 10th District | Texas |
| Adam M. Fetterman | State House 81st District | Florida |
| Michael Calderin | State House 119th District | Florida |
| Anton Gunn | State House 79th District | South Carolina |
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July 1st, 2008 at 08:37 PM
How could you call Suzanne Kosmas a progressive? She is the furthest thing from a progressive. A millionaire real estate agency owner/land developer that co-sponosored a bill in the Florida House supporting Bush and the war? She has voted against working families and voted against the environment. Now how can you call that being a progressive? Maybe you should take your back.
July 2nd, 2008 at 01:49 AM
Um... Mike, let me get this straight. You're calling Suzanne Kosmas a "progressive democrat"? Seriously? Oh, brother. With respect, that is what we commonly refer to as "a load." Let's set the record straight, shall we? 1) Kosmas is a Pelosi-following status quo corporate millionaire DINO (Democrat in Name Only) hand-picked by the DCCC to run against Tom Feeney. 2) The entire time she was in the Florida state legislature, she did nothing... oh, wait. She did cosponsor FL House Resolution HR 9033, PRAISING GEORGE BUSH FOR (ILLEGALLY) INVADING IRAQ. The bill "commends and supports the efforts and leadership of the President, as commander in chief, in the conflict against Iraq." Seriously. 3) She has the same ethical issues Tom Feeney does. According to The Orlando Sentinel, In 1998, Kosmas was part of a 2-member board that recommended Volusia County purchase a $25,300 sculpture for a library for more than twice the county’s allocated budget. The artist was in fact a friend of Kosmas and contributed $1,000 to her campaign. ++++++ OK. So let's please dispense with any nonsense about Kosmas being "progressive," unless we're suddenly defining a progressive as a pro-war, pro-cronyism. That's likely how unctious, anti-Constitution Neocon enabler Speaker Pelosi defines progressive. Not me. The REAL progressive Democrat running in FL-24 is election integrity expert Clint Curtis, who has drawn *national* support because in 2000, he was (allegedly) asked by Feeney to develop vote-flipping software to steal elections. When Curtis learned Feeney planned to steal the vote in South Florida, he turned whistleblower and testified before Congress, who--naturally--did absolutely nothing. Unlike the limp-wristed corporate Dems/Neocon enablers who sell us out every day in Congress, Curtis is anti-war, pro-accountability, pro-Constitution, pro-NASA and pro-Florida. He's as honest as the day is long and has the friggin' STONES to speak out on blacked out issues like election manipulation--unlike the corporate Dems who keep their heads in the sand on this issue so critical to our very democracy. It was partly due to Curtis' efforts and advocacy that Florida actually uses paper ballots now. So, with all due respect, who's the *real* progressive here?
July 2nd, 2008 at 01:23 PM
Wow what a bad idea! I would never support a person who is just as corrupt as the person they are running against. Ms. Kosmas will never gain my vote. Clint Curtis is the only person in this race that I will be voting for. If he were to lose the primary then I will have to decide to vote for Feeney or be an undervote. I cannot in any way vote for another corporate millionaire democrat. This is why we all suffer. They get all the money and I struggle to put gas in my car so I can put bread on my table.
July 2nd, 2008 at 03:43 PM
Thank you for your feedback.
We are endorsing Suzanne Kosmas because she has progressive positions on issues like increasing medical access for all and protecting the environment.
And we aren't alone. Both Emily's List and the AFL-CIO have endorsed Kosmas for being a leader in the Florida House.
While you might like to cherry pick Ms. Kosmas' vote on HR 9033, the entire bill (http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h9033e1.doc&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=9033&Session=2003) has more than just endorsing the war.
"(3) Commends and expresses the gratitude of the state and nation to the family members of soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and civilians serving in operations against Iraq who have borne the burden of sacrifice and separation from their loved ones;
(4) Expresses its deep condolences to the families of brave Americans who have lost their lives in this noble undertaking, over many years, against Iraq;
(5) Joins all Americans in remembering those who lost their lives during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm in 1991, those still missing from that conflict, including Captain Scott Speicher, USN, and the thousands of Americans who have lost their lives in terrorist attacks over the years, and in the global war on terrorism;"
As you can see, there was more to the House Resolution than you lead on and plenty to support.
Suzanne Kosmas spoke out against the war before and after we invaded Iraq, so she has a progressive record there.