Democratic Party Progressive Caucus Forms in Greensboro By Kathleen McFadden One week before the event, organizers of the founding convention for the Progressive Caucus of the North Carolina Democratic Party expected about 75 people to show up. On the day of the convention last Saturday, however, more than 200 people piled into the New Garden Friends Meeting Hall in Greensboro. By the end of the day, they had not only formed a caucus, but also a political action committee (PAC). The point of the caucus is to gain recognition by the state Democratic Party and thereby gain representation on the executive committee to promote four key issues within the party: sustainability (meeting the needs of the present without compromising future generations’ ability to meet their needs), economic justice (viewing the economy as serving people rather than people serving the economy), social justice (preventing human rights abuses and discrimination) and environmental justice (promoting the protection of human health and the environment). The point of the PAC is to provide a mechanism for identifying and supporting progressive candidates. Among those who assembled in Greensboro were individuals from Watauga and Ashe, one running for the North Carolina Senate, some running for caucus or PAC offices and others simply there to participate in the process and witness the formation of two new political organizations. Several Fifth District Democrats gathered in Greensboro last Saturday to participate in the formation of the Progressive Democrats of North Carolina Caucus. During the breakout session, they discussed a local organization plan. From left front are some of the participants — Miranda Burgin, Jasmine ShoShanna, Susan Reed, Jeff Boyer and Lou Zeller. Photo by Kathleen McFadden In her opening remarks, facilitator and organizing committee member Cynthia Brown called for working together in unity and seeing the day’s work as part of a larger picture. Brown said, “We are joining with progressive movements all across the country. We are not doing this alone, but are part of a mass movement across the country to take this country back.” Facilitator Pete MacDowell explained why the Progressive Democrats are nicknamed the “green dogs.” MacDowell said, “We’re tired of voting for yellow dogs in the Democratic Party. One reason we’re green is because we’re grassroots.” The term “yellow dog Democrat,” which denotes a staunch party loyalist, arose during the 1928 elections when an Alabama senator — a Democrat — declined to support the Democratic nominee for president and instead supported Republican Herbert Hoover who won the office. The senator’s unpopular decision gave rise to the expression, “I’d vote for a yellow dog [over a Republican] if he ran on the Democratic ticket,” and a new term was born. According to the articles of organization and bylaws, the purpose of the Progressive Democrats is to promote its agenda within the state Democratic Party and to grow party membership by tapping into pro-environment, pro-labor and social justice supporters, to act as a liaison between grassroots efforts and Democratic Party leadership on sustainability, labor and social justice issues and to strengthen support for those issues within the party platform. Forming the caucus took up the morning session as numerous participants weighed in with comments on the proposed mission statement and action plan. While some participants expressed some frustration with the slow process, facilitator Brown called for patience. “We’re trying to acknowledge that people are putting things out there that they’re passionate about,” she said, and she asked those assembled to trust the to-be-elected executive committee to incorporate the suggestions and changes in the mission statement, the vision, the priorities and the bylaws. “If we don’t listen to people at the founding convention,” Brown said, “we set a tone for the future. Every opinion is important.” Elected caucus officers are Mischi Binkley as president, Garry Wadell as first vice president, Jim Thompson as second vice president, Jim Cain as treasurer and Joy Cagle as secretary. Boone resident Susan Reed was elected Peace & Justice Chair for the PAC. After the election of officers, Brown said, “I don’t see our work ending in November. Our work is just beginning. We have to work with people who are not in this room. Our strength on the state level will depend on our strength at the local level.” Additional information on both the caucus and the PAC is available at www.greendogs.org.