21st Century Democrats
| 21st Century Democrats | |
|---|---|
| Type | Political action committee |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. |
| Executive Director | Crystal Plati |
| Key people | Tom Harkin, Jim Hightower, Lane Evans, founders |
| Website | Official site |
21st Century Democrats is a political organization founded by Senator Tom Harkin, commentator Jim Hightower and Congressman Lane Evans to help elect "progressive" or "populist" candidates.
Contents |
[edit] Background
21st Century Democrats started out relatively small but has quietly grown in size and significance in the last few election cycles."[1] In 2004 election cycle, according to the Political Money Line, it was the 13th largest Political Action Committee (PAC) in the United States raising nearly $7 Million. Among progressive ideological PACs, it ranked fourth behind America Coming Together, EMILY's List, and MoveOn.org.
Unlike traditional PACs, 21st Century Democrats focuses on recruiting, training, and hiring field organizers to organize grassroots campaigns on behalf of candidates for local offices, statewide office, and even targeted presidential swing states.[2] The group has ties to Democracy for America, which grew out of Howard Dean's presidential campaign.[3]
[edit] Partner Organizations
In 2009, 21st Century Democrats joined Service Employees International Union, MoveOn.org, and Daily Kos in a new effort called Accountability Now PAC. This new Political Action Committee promised to use party primaries to challenge Democratic incumbents that PAC members do not support.[4]
[edit] Religious discrimination lawsuit
In November 2007, 21st Century Democrats was sued in United States federal court by their former communications director, Kenneth Goldman.[5] The lawsuit stated that three workers were fired in 2006 for refusing to attend "religious events," referring to the Landmark Forum.[5] A formal complaint was filed in a Washington, D.C. court, stating that Landmark Education has "religious characteristics and theological implications."[5] The lawsuit also stated that Landmark Education's influence could be felt in the 21st Century Democrats' "mission, business structure ... and communications."[5]
The executive director for 21st Century Democrats stated he believed the lawsuit had no merits, and called it "frivolous."[5] A spokesman for Landmark Education stated that the San Francisco, California based company "is in no way religious in nature and any claim to the contrary is simply absurd."[5] Goldman stated that two other employees of 21st Century Democrats regularly discussed their unease with him over Landmark Education's influence over the company, and believed that former executive director Kelly Young treated the Landmark Forum seminars like a "religion."[5] Landmark Education and the two other employees who were fired are not a party to the lawsuit between Goldman and 21st Century Democrats.[5]
[edit] See also
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Goldman v. Twenty-First Century Democrats, et al. |
[edit] References
- ^ Attlesey, Sam; Stahl, Lori (January 23, 1996). "New Group Seeks to Re-Focus Democratic Message.". Local News (Dallas Morning News). http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DM&p_theme=dm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0ED3D675C2AB2952&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM.
- ^ Garofoli, Joe (September 22, 2004). "Attention overwhelms tiny slice of swing state" (Article). News. The San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/09/22/MNGLM8SQOI1.DTL. Retrieved December 22, 2008.
- ^ staff (2008). "Governor Howard Dean, Founder". About us (Democracy for America). http://democracyforamerica.com/about. Retrieved December 22, 2008.
- ^ Robert Schlesinger (February 27, 2009). "Progressive Acccountability Now PAC Will Target Wayward Democrats in Primaries" (Article). U.S. News & World Report. http://www.usnews.com/blogs/robert-schlesinger/2009/2/27/progressive-accountability-now-pac-will-target-wayward-democrats-in-primaries.html. Retrieved March 11, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h McElhatton, Jim (November 27, 2007). "Democratic PAC faces lawsuit for employee 'religious events'". Nation/Politics (The Washington Times). http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071127/NATION/111270023/1002. Retrieved November 27, 2007.
