The GOP May Have A War Against Women But EMILY's List Is Fighting A War Against Men-- Progressive Men

Even if you don't remember EMILY's List's disgraceful foray into anti-Semitic politics in their ill-fated attempt, in 2008, to replace lifelong progressive-- and pro-Choice militant-- Steve Cohen (D-TN) with a conservative woman, Nikki Tinker, EMILY's List jihad against progressive males on behalf of conservative women has become more and more pronounced in recent years. Many idealistic EMILY's List donors assume EMILY's List only goes after anti-Choice men. Nothing could be further from the truth. Last week, our old friend, Anonymous Operative experienced the problem first hand and asked if he could do a post on it. Why not?A Bad Sign for Near-Future Democratic CampaignsBy Anonymous OperativeI was recently at a fundraiser held for an outstanding progressive. This individual is a proven progressive leader. He has campaigned and legislated-- in both cases, loudly-- on ideals and vision.He believes that voters-- especially in a midterm-- need a reason to vote. He understands the strategic importance of being the non-Alex Sink Democratic candidate. He understands that overwhelmingly, the voting population cares about what elected individuals can do for them and their families. He knows the senseless idea of centrist "moderation" is a losing tactic and a fool’s game.Everyone at this fundraiser gave substantial money to this progressive. And for a second, one would think that if such a substantial group of people were gathered to support a true, outspoken progressive, our party has hope of winning in the future. However, I heard a conversation that quickly subdued my hope.Two donors were talking to each other. The topic of EMILY’s List came up. One donor-- suspecting the other was also just as informed and progressive as he-- started discussing the Allyson Schwartz race.He was correctly chiding the organization (EMILY’s List) for spending money to attempt to smear front runner, progressive Tom Wolf’s campaign. Abrubtly, rudely, and forcefully, the other donor shot back, “how dare you say that!!! EMILY’s List would never take on another progressive.”So, this other donor was naïve, dumb, and uneducated on the issue of campaign committee politics. That’s not the biggest deal in the world. A lot of donors have career responsibilities that keep them away from educating themselves on internal campaign news.However, there was a bigger problem. As the donor who started the conversation attempted to educate the other on the many times Emily’s List has pulled this stunt-- wasting money and losing in the process-- the non-educated, lame donor wanted nothing of it.According to this donor, a mission statement alone is the be-all-end-all and the true purpose of an organization. The tale of Colleen Hanabusa’s conservative defense contract scheme and her race against one of the Senate’s leading progressives-- Brian Schatz-- couldn’t even do the trick to educate the donor. EMILY’s List, according to this individual, was the epitome of progressive politics and policy, and an organization that will help guide the Democratic Party back to power.Well, if even the basic facts couldn’t motivate this high dollar donor to think to research the facts, we better pick a good seat on the couch because it’s going to be a while until we retake the House-- and the Senate too, after the conservative/corrupt DSCC and their team of inept consultants lose the Senate in 2014.