CAFTA's Dem & GOP Sellouts Feel the Heat

The Los Angeles Times reports that organized labor is ramping up its efforts to unseat House Members who sold out their constituents and voted for the Central American Free Trade Agreement. In their sights already are two Democrats on my earlier list of those who are consistently selling out their party, Reps. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) and Greg Meeks (D-NY). And on the GOP side, Rep. Robin Hayes (R-NC) is flailing around trying to avoid what should be a serious challenge in 2006. Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch has a special site devoted to documenting how these and other lawmakers hurt their constituents with their vote.

This is a good development, even if these members don't get unseated. It shows that progressives are starting to organize around principles and ideology, and not just party labels. And in the long run that is good for both progressives and Democrats, because it will create a much stronger sense of identity on our side, helping us overcome the "they don't stand for anything" image that has plagued us for years.

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