Progressive Democrats of America hosted a Grassroots Leadership Conference the weekend before the Inauguration, January 17-18, 2009, at the University of District Columbia. The conference was attended by two co-founders of Progressive Democrats of Genesee Valley, Nicholas and Robin Wilt.

On Day One, January 17, Kimberly Buchan presented information on PDA's structure and finances, and advised that local PDA chapters should create state PACs if they implement a formal fiscal entity. Activities supporting a federal candidate can be directed through PDA's federal PAC, as PDA-GV did with our fundraisers for Eric Massa.

Later in the day, conference attendees were treated to appearances by Barbara Lee, Congressman of Ohio (CA-9), who spoke and signed copies of her book "Renegade for Peace and Justice: Congresswoman Barbara Lee Speaks for me" and staunch progressive Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-03). Finally, in an unexpected and welcome surprise, John Conyers (MI-14), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and architect of H.R. 676 ("The United States National Health Insurance Act"), arrived at 8:00pm and hosted an hour-long roundtable discussion. We went back to the hotel exhausted but very happy.

On Day Two, January 18, attendees were treated to two panel discussions.  The first was on single payer activism and featured Donna Smith, whose tribulations with the health insurance industry were among the stories featured in Michael Moore’s documentary SiCKO.  With her were Chuck Pennacchio, a progressive candidate for Senate from Pennsylvania who made single payer the cornerstone for his campaign; Katie Robbins, who coordinates the grassroots coalition Healthcare-NOW! (an organization that was just asked to consult with Obama’s transition team on health care issues as a result of electorate feedback on change.gov); and Michael Lighty, the lobbying coordinator with California Nurses’ Association, the nation’s largest RN union and staunch single payer advocates.  The discussion was moderated by Tim Carpenter, PDA’s national coordinator.

The panelists had some good reflections on what we could do as progressive activists and the interplay between all of the priority issues (ending militarism, environmental sustainability, social justice, election reform, and universal single payer health care) in a progressive platform.  They noted that we are at a crossroads for single payer advocacy right now, and encouraged activists to host town hall meetings in their districts, inviting their representatives to listen to listen to constituents’ health care experiences and concerns.  Our goal right now is to shift the dialogue from center left to left center, and to frame the issue in terms of our public officials making a choice between the people they represent and the health insurance industry lobby.  California Nurses’ Association has provided a compelling lobbying tool in the form of a report that demonstrates that single payer health care reform would represent a major economic stimulus package for the nation.  Check it out on their website:  http://www.calnurses.org/media-center/press-releases/2009/january/first-of-its-kind-study-medicare-for-all-single-payer-reform-would-be-major-stimulus-for-economy-with-2-6-million-new-jobs-317-billion-in-business-revenue-100-billion-in-wages.html..

Speaking of expanding the dialogue, that was the focus of the afternoon panel discussion for the conference.  Featured panelists included august progressive political thinkers:  Steve Cobble, a longtime political strategist and onetime consultant to Jesse Jackson’s rainbow coalition campaign; labor strategist Bill Fletcher, co-founder of "Progressives for Obama" and executive editor of Black Commentator; and John Nichols, The Nation magazine’s Washington Correspondent and progressive political commentator.  They offered their reflections on what progressive activists should be engaged in this year, in light of Obama becoming President.  John Nichols advocated that instead of “pulling” Obama to the left, or “pushing” him on issues where he and progressives might not agree (and potentially pushing him straight into the arms of the conservative elite that are trying to woo him), instead we ought to exert our efforts toward expanding the political dialogue in the country outward, toward the left, so that Obama is given room to migrate to the left, where his natural tendencies lie.  That is not to say that progressives ought not to oppose wrongheaded policy, but since Obama has demonstrated some left-leaning sympathies (like participating in the grassroots anti-war movement in Chicago and attending a New Party endorsement event) along with the recent political pragmatism we are seeing with his cabinet selections, the panelists believe that if given the opportunity and the political capital from grassroots feedback, we may be able to help Obama become the President we want him to be.

Medea Benjamin of Code Pink was in the audience (having just arrived from an Emily’s List function with Nancy Pelosi and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton).  As a result of their peace activism, John Nichols revealed that he will select Code Pink as The Nation’s most successful Progressive Organization at shaping Bush Administration policy.