I spent this afternoon in Brooklyn with Kevin Powell, primary challenger to corrupt Democrat Ed Towns. I first noticed Towns as one of five Democratic members of the Energy and Commerce committee who pushed the COPE Act gutting net neutrality and handing control of the internet to telecom and cable interests. Fortunately he was stopped, and now one of his five colleagues, Al Wynn, is a lobbyist. Powell is 42, a charismatic presence, and a great organizer. I went with him to a senior citizens center on North Portland avenue, a project-type area situated on 12 acres of increasing gentrifying and expensive real estate. And then I sat down with him to talk politics.
One thing I noticed about Powell, having seen him at a fundraising event with a bunch of celebrities, was that he has a keen appreciation for multi-racial dynamics and what it takes to build a political movement. He talks in movement terms, and is willing to criticize Democratic leaders that sell out core progressive principles. Not one Democratic candidate for Congress or current member of Congress - save Russ Feingold - would lay the blame for the FISA debacle where it belongs, not just with Bush but also with the House Democratic leadership. Powell would, and did, and did it in movement terms, bringing this debate back to the Democratic capitulation to the right starting with Reagan.
Here's the invitation to a fundraiser for Congressman Ed Towns, headlined by JC Watts and his lobbying firm, Watts Partners.
Watts Partners includes the former executive director of the Republican Conference and chief of staff to Pete Hoekstra, ranking member on the House Select Committee on Intelligence. It has the former legislative director for Mel Martizen and direct of Senate relations with the Heritage Foundation, Former Bell company officials, and former PAC directors for major DC law firms. It is literally the embodiment of the corrupt piece of the CBC and Republican party, in the form of conservative business interests funding both Republicans and conservative black Democrats.
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