Ilya Sheyman's Progressive Run(from The Nation)
http://www.thenation.com/blog/166654/ilya-sheymans-progressive-run(snip)
The fight to win back the House—just like the fights to hold the White House and Senate—will not be easy. In order to not only win but to move any kind of agenda that addresses tax equity, environmental policy, immigration reform, housing, you name it, simply reinforcing the current Democratic narrative while being pulled further to the right by the Blue Dogs just isn’t enough. We need a more democratic—note small “d”—House.
We need to elect progressives.
Former Senator Russ Feingold recognizes that need and was moved to make his first endorsement in a Democratic primary since leaving the Senate. On Tuesday, Feingold pledged his support and that of Progressives United—his recently formed group focused on opposing corporate power—to Ilya Sheyman, a 25-year-old community organizer running in Illinois 10th District for a shot at the incumbent, Republican Representative Robert Dold.
While some Democratic candidates might look to co-opt the spirit and convictions of the Occupy movement, Sheyman is authentically of, by and for the 99 percent, ready to go to Washington and work with a strong grassroots to rebuild economic opportunity and fairness.
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Ken Burch
(50,254 posts)The March 20 primary is shaping up to be a real bellwether for what happens when a truly progressive candidate runs against a so-called “moderate” Democrat endorsed by the party establishment. In this case, Sheyman’s main competition is businessman Brad Schneider, endorsed by House minority whip Steny Hoyer.
Schneider is struggling mightily to re-brand himself as “a solid progressive” after giving thousands of dollars to Republicans including Illinois Senator Mark Kirk, Nebraska Senator Mike Johanns, Utah Senator Robert Bennett and Representative Mark Kennedy of Minnesota.
But according to Daniel Mintz, national director of coordinated campaigns for MoveOn.org Political Action, that record of supporting “hard core Republicans” hasn’t stopped Schneider from sending a slew of direct mail to voters showing “picture after picture” of the candidate with tags like “progressive,” or “experienced progressive” or “progressive Democrat.”
Ken Burch
(50,254 posts)Sheyman and his family came to Illinois from the former Soviet Union as Jewish refugees when he was 4 years old. His family worked its way up from living in a motel on the north side of Chicago, to eventually owning a home in the town of Buffalo Grove. His dad worked as a pizza deliverer before finally starting two small businesses with Sheyman’s mom.
In high school, Sheyman became involved in progressive politics. He was an outspoken leader against the war in Iraq from the outset. He led a walk-out from his school and founded a local chapter of Patriots for Peace.
After college he worked as a community organizer to address a broken public education funding system and help citizens gain access to government and social services. He later served as the national mobilization director at MoveOn, where he led their campaign for healthcare reform with a public option.
