Good news

Last week I touched on the strategic importance of supporting progressive Democratic insurgents against centrist or conservative incumbents. So I was quite happy on Thursday when I saw that a group of liberal bloggers and organizations announced the creation of "Accountability Now", an organization devoted specifically to promoting progressive Democrats and criticizing centrist ones. The group behind the organization includes Jane Hamsher (Firedoglake), dailyKos, MoveOn, SEIU and others.

Not surprisingly, the establishment Dems just don't get it. From AP:

"Anything that increases the chance of a seat falling into Republican hands is a mistake," said Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., the head of Democrats' House campaign committee.

Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey, the Democrats' Senate campaign chief, said he wasn't familiar with the group, but called it "a bad idea."

"The bottom line is that we need candidates who reflect their state, and the values of that state, and their ability to win that state, and having primaries for ideological purposes is not the way in which Democrats continue to have a majority," Menendez said.

If Menendez actually knew anything about this, he would understand that the Accountability Now folks and the others in the lefty blogosphere have, and will, be targeting conservative incumbents in more progressive districts. Donna Edwards' victory over Al Wynn is a perfect example.

And Bob: a Democratic majority in Congress may be your ultimate goal, but it's not mine. Progressive policy is. You're in the way.