Mark Pera

Next to the Democratic Primary, the most exciting and important race of Super Tuesday is the IL-3 Democratic Primary. Our readers in Chicago and Cook County have a very real choice in this Congressional primary. This race pits an anti-choice, pro-Bush incumbent, Dan Lipinski, against a grassroots progressive challenger, Mark Pera.

Dan Lipinski has been a consistent opponent of a woman's right to choose, a consistent opponent of life-saving stem cell research, and a consistent supporter of Bush's Iraq quagmire. He votes more in line with Bush's agenda than practically any Democrat in the House. In fact, he has voted with Bush 50% of the time!

By contrast, Mark Pera is a true Democrat. He has been endorsed by the National Organization of Women, the Jewish Political Alliance of Illinois, United Muslims and Arabs for a Better America, NARAL Pro-Choice America, Citizens Action/Illinois, Democracy for America (DFA), Mexicanos for Political Progress, Planned Parenthood, United Citizens for a Better America, and Democratic Leadership for the 21st Century as well as a whole slew of local politicians. For Americans who want change, THIS race is critical.

Here is Mark Pera speaking about special interests:

Northside DFA Election Day Volunteering for Mark Pera (Chicago)
Start: 02/05/2008 - 4:30am
Group: Northside DFA
Cost: free
Address: Pier One Parking Lot, 5306 N. Broadway, Chicago

ELECTION DAY VOLUNTEERING!!!
- Tuesday, February 5th from 4:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- We need maximum coverage on election day at our precincts. We need to have nice friendly faces with Mark Pera buttons and palm cards at every polling place -- so we need you! Even if you can only do part of the day, sign up now so we can get you in the schedule.
- RSVP at: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=24781

Northside DFA Canvassing for Mark Pera (Chicago)
Start: 02/03/2008 - 12:00pm
Group: Northside DFA
Cost: free
Address: Pier One Parking Lot, 5306 N. Broadway, Chicago

NDFA Event: Go Door to Door for Congressional Candidate Mark Pera

Mark Pera is running against anti-choice, pro-war machine "Democrat" Dan Lipinski in the February 5th primary election. We will meet at the Pier 1 Parking Lot at 5304 N. Broadway and carpool to our assigned precincts. This is the ground work that gets progressive candidates elected! First timer? We will start with a brief training and the pair you up with an experienced person.

RSVP and get details at: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=26978

Americans like to complain. Grassroots progressives, myself included, in particular like to complain. Sometimes I have seen the complaints become almost an obsession, to the detrement of actually getting things done. Nader is a perfect example of this. I have seen progressive apathy or even antipathy sink some of the most progressive and honest candidates you could ever imagine. This is the danger of being on the forefront of progress. You can get ahead of yourself, ahead of everything and wind up all alone.

Impeachment, Iraq and winning elections. Right now these really are about the most critical things. And these three things are what we really need to work hard at if we want to be a significant force in politics...and in society. I want to discuss some specific examples of people who really need our help and they deserve it because they are taking strong stands for impeachment and/or against the Iraq war. We need them...but they also need us. They need our time and our money to win so that they can fight for what we think is right.

In 2006 an amazing coalition of mainstream moderates and grassroots progressives created a tidal wave of change in Congress. Many have complained that we didn't get what we expected from our new Congress...but don't let the complaints get in the way of appreciating that what we did was amazing.

It was a damned good effort and I am proud to have been a part of it.