Progressive Democrats of Cambridge - DFA

There's a forum coming up for the Democratic candidates in the special election to replace Sen. Travaligni. The forum's May 8; the primary is May 29. Details below.

Cambridge, we've got some great events lined up for you tonight:

Drinking Liberally Boston hosts Dianne Wilkerson and Sonia Chang-Diaz as they explain to Second Suffolk voters why they should be the Democratic nominee for the Senate seat there. Our group has not endorsed anyone in the race. DL Boston will also show the Democratic gubernatorial debate on the big screen.

Drinking Liberally Boston
Every Wednesday, 6 pm onward
Globe Bar and Cafe, 565 Boylston, Copley Square, Boston
Wilkerson speaks at 6:30
Debate at 7
Chang-Diaz speaks at 8:30

When the Levees Broke, Spike Lee's documentary on Hurricane Katrina, will be showing at the Democracy Center tonight:

WHAT: When the Levees Broke" Parts 1 & 2 Viewing Party
WHEN: Wed / Sept 13 / 6PM
WHERE: The Democracy Center / 45 Mt. Auburn Street / Cambridge

"When the Levee's Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts" is a documentary by director Spike Lee. The film tells the story of Katrina's landfall, the aftermath, and the continued struggles survivors face --- all through the voices of survivors, government officials, and others who were involved.

Lee's film makes it clear that the real catastrophe of Katrina was not created by Mother Nature, it was created by people --- through neglect, politics and incompetence. We can see clearly how our government is failing the people of New Orleans and the Gulf coast. We all need to see this film for its comprehensive view of the human cost* of this tragedy that never needed to happen.

From now through September, "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts," will air on HBO. Lots of folks who want to see it don't have HBO, so MoveOn.org Civic Action and ColorofChange.org partnered to set up screenings throughout the country so everyone has a chance to see this important film.

Come to The Democracy Center on Wednesday, September 13th at 6PM to see the film and talk about it with others.

RSVP here.

* The film includes interviews and graphic images that may elicit emotional responses.

And don't forget: our monthly meeting is tomorrow night!

In light of recent reports posted at Blue Mass Group, it appears I was wrong all along: Dianne Wilkerson is in fact out of touch, and just doesn't care about her constituents:

For four and a half hours Wilkerson spoke passionately about the people she represents and how they are dying from the environmental pollution in their communities. It was a remarkable speech, where she appealed to her colleagues to represent those people who can't afford lobbyists and have no one to speak for them on the Hill. She said: "we're supposed to be their lobbyist, that's what we're here for."

Speaking out against a sinister and often invisible problem that affects disempowered people disproportionately: check.

Four and a half hours filled with stories about her constituents: check.

A deep belief in fighting for her constituents, motivating a passionate speech delivered into the wee hours of Friday night: check.

Yep, sounds like someone who's deeply out of touch and needs to be unseated right away! A purely lazy and uncaring official! Go get her!

For a while now I've been pointing people who recite the standard "legal and ethical problems" line at this very long piece in Boston magazine which examines each of these problems in turn. Read that piece, and tell me that it's not a bit plausible that she is being subjected to a simple witch hunt.

I'm not saying that we have a clear case of conspiracy here; there's no evidence of that. On the other hand, something short of outright conspiracy can still have devestating impacts. Around Wilkerson, investigator smell blood, and when investigators smell blood, they attack. When someone is in a position of power and has poor personal finances, as Wilkerson does, there's blood in the water. (The whole string of issues appears to have begun in 1991, when Wilkerson did not have enough money to pay her income taxes.) Progressive leaders stretching back to Martin Luther King, Jr. and beyond have experienced just this problem in the past. While I don't necessarily think that anyone is out to "get" her, I do think the cumulative impact of all these investigations is simple: if you lack a lot of personal wealth, and get into power anyway, you're liable to get burned.