Divergent Views in the Democratic Party
Dec. 11, 2013-An intra-party spat among two Democratic-aligned groups has generated some sparks.  The Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC, the "bold progressives") held a rally in front of the headquarters of Third Way, a centrist think tank, criticizing its "corporatist strategy."  In an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal last week, "Economic Populism Is a Dead End for Democrats," Third Way president Jon Cowan and senior vice president for policy Jim Kessler argued that, "Nothing would be more disastrous" than "adopting the economic populism of New York Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren."  Holding signs declaring themselves "from the Elizabeth Warren wing of the Democratic Party," PCCC activists presented petitions calling on Third Way to "reveal your corporated funders & stop attacking Elizabeth Warren's popular ideas."  Several leaders from Third Way came down and were allowed to present their views.  PCCC has recently been advocating for increasing Social Security benefits, an idea which Sen. Warren came out in support of in November.
Alex Lawson of Social Security Works, Adam Green, co-founder of PCCC, and Matt Bennett, co-founder of Third Way.
Caroline Rodgers-Stone, a retired schoolteacher from Durham, NC, spoke on the importance of Social Security to herself and her husband.  Earlier Jeannie Brown of Belgrad, MT (at left) addressed the importance of Social Security in taking care of her severely disabled granddaughter Lena.
Caroline Rodgers-Stone speaks on Social Security.
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