Pa. Progressives Sandwiched A Lot Into Their Summit

BY HAL ROSENTHAL/ Assembled like a hoagie, a statewide gathering of progressive political activists and union members this past weekend was topped by a Pennsylvania Attorney General candidate debate and bottomed by Auditor General candidates debating at the three-day Progressive Summit 2012 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

Sandwiched in between, and served to more than 600 attendees, were some 76 workshops; lunch at the Reading Terminal; a Comedy Night; an evening of karaoke; late-night parties; and lots of interaction with elected officials and hope-to-be-elected political types.

The “chef” was the Keystone Progress organization, which constructs these annual events. The first was in Harrisburg, last year in Pittsburgh and next year, back to the main burg not ending with an “h”, Harrisburg.

Progressive Summit 2012’s attendees, who came from 30 Pennsylvania counties, gathered in small workshops to consider such things as running a political campaign, how to select judges, restoring prosperity, opposing the attack on public education and colleges, and closing corporate tax loopholes.

The opening debate was between Kathleen Kane, Lackawanna Co. District Attorney, with more than 3,000 criminal trials notched on her belt, and Patrick Murphy, former Congressman and Army veteran who served two deployments to Iraq and, as an attorney, tried military cases and taught constitutional law at West Point.

 “My husband and I,” Kane reported, “are funding my campaign.” Murphy said he has so far raised $1.5 million from contributions of some 2,500 people and with no corporate money. The straw poll held among those who heard the debate gave the win to Murphy.

Participants in the Summit were Commissioners Stephanie Singer of Philadelphia and Joshua Shapiro of Montgomery Co. Also involved were State Sens. Vincent Hughes, Stewart Greenleaf, Daylin Leach and Judy Schwenk as well as State Reps. Jim Roebuck, Mark Cohen and Tony Payton. Slices taken from some of the workshop sessions include:

Singer reported a main duty of her Registration Commission is to protect voters on election days from illegal activity. Because a higher-than-usual vote turnout is expected in the 2012 elections, finding and training those necessary to staff the polls is a priority. The Commissioner asked anyone who is interested should call (215) 686-3460.

“Billboards as an election tool are expensive lawn signs without a lawn,” claimed Kendra-Sue Derby of Democracy for America. “If even looked at as one drives by,” she said, “most who see them are probably not your voters.” Derby claims robo-calls are “evil” and studies show they turn voters against your candidate. The most effective retail campaigning, she said, is door-knocking and phone-canvasing.

Tony May, former State Democratic Party Executive Director and public-issues consultant, discussed a plan for more recognition of the popular vote in presidential elections as opposed to that of the Electoral College. His example of problems caused by the present Electoral College vote was the Bush Jr.-Gore presidential election, which Bush lost by 500,000 votes. However, the Electoral College gave Bush the majority he needed to become President.

The Summit ended with a debate between Eugene DePasquale and Devon Cade, both of whom are vying to be the Democratic Party candidate for Auditor General.

There were lighter moments at the Summit. At Comedy Night, Leach was master of ceremonies. With his usual quick wit, he satirized that Speaker Gingrich is “fighting for the sanctity of open marriage.” The rest of his satirical humor and that of the other comedians presented would get a grumble, not a laugh, from a Tea Party member. The comedy was strictly for the progressives who were both drinking and in fine spirits.

Keystone Progress, the sponsoring organization, was founded in 2008. Its goals are using the internet and new media strategy to promote a progressive agenda. “In its short life,” Michael Morrill, its executive director and founder, said, “it has built a network of over 260,000 online activists who have collectively taken over 750,000 actions.” Keystone Progress works on issues. It does not endorse nor work for candidates. Fifty organizations aided in sponsoring and convening this year’s Summit.

2 CANDIDATES for Auditor General, Gene DePasquale, left, and Devon Cade, flank founder of Keystone Progress Michael Morrill.

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