If the purpose of DKos, and for progressives everywhere, is to win elections, and once elected, to enact progressive legislation, to achieve progressive goals-- to make the US more just, more equitable, more peaceful for all its inhabitants— then we need leadership that reflects and defends core progressive values, has fought for them, and has served to make the Democratic Party more progressive.
We need leadership that is fierce in fighting for social and economic justice, recognizing they are intertwined (discrimination is always economic in nature, and fighting discrimination means fighting for economic equity for all Americans). We also need leadership that is willing to confront the right-wing, and call out the crimes and lies of the GOP, every day.
One person demonstrates all of these qualities, lives and fights for progressive values, and has been doing this for nearly thirty years in Congress:
Rep. Maxine Waters.
She the ranking member of the House Committee on Financial Services, with a legislative history of protecting consumers, students, borrowers, and workers.
She is a tireless advocate for women, for People of Color, for the LGBT community, immigrants, and religious minorities.
She has consistently fought oil and coal interests, and worked to protect the environment from the local to the international level.
Where does she stand on the full spectrum of progressive issues? See for yourself:
- Voted NO on banning federal health coverage that includes abortion. (May 2011)
- Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Jan 2007)
- Voted YES on allowing human embryonic stem cell research. (May 2005)
- Voted NO on restricting interstate transport of minors to get abortions. (Apr 2005)
- Voted NO on making it a crime to harm a fetus during another crime. (Feb 2004)
- Voted NO on banning partial-birth abortion except to save mother’s life. (Oct 2003)
- Voted NO on funding for health providers who don't provide abortion info. (Sep 2002)
- Voted NO on banning Family Planning funding in US aid abroad. (May 2001)
- Voted NO on banning partial-birth abortions. (Apr 2000)
- Voted NO on barring transporting minors to get an abortion. (Jun 1999)
- Endorsed Recommended by EMILY's List of pro-choice women. (Apr 2001)
- Rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record. (Dec 2003)
- Rated 0% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-choice stance. (Dec 2006)
- Ban anti-abortion limitations on abortion services. (Nov 2013)
- Ensure access to and funding for contraception. (Feb 2007)
- Voted NO on prioritizing spending in case debt limit is reached. (May 2013)
- Voted NO on terminating the Home Affordable mortgage Program. (Mar 2011)
- Voted YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending. (Jul 2009)
- Voted YES on modifying bankruptcy rules to avoid mortgage foreclosures. (Mar 2009)
- Voted YES on additional $825 billion for economic recovery package. (Jan 2009)
- Voted YES on monitoring TARP funds to ensure more mortgage relief. (Jan 2009)
- Voted YES on $15B bailout for GM and Chrysler. (Dec 2008)
- Voted YES on $60B stimulus package for jobs, infrastructure, & energy. (Sep 2008)
- Voted YES on defining "energy emergency" on federal gas prices. (Jun 2008)
- Voted YES on revitalizing severely distressed public housing. (Jan 2008)
- Voted YES on regulating the subprime mortgage industry. (Nov 2007)
- Get minorities into home ownership & global marketplace. (Jan 2001)
- Member of House Banking Committee. (Mar 2011)
- Ban abusive credit practices & enhance consumer disclosure. (Feb 2009)
- Voted YES on reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act. (Feb 2013)
- Voted YES on prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation. (Nov 2007)
- Voted NO on Constitutionally defining marriage as one-man-one-woman. (Jul 2006)
- Voted NO on making the PATRIOT Act permanent. (Dec 2005)
- Voted NO on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage. (Sep 2004)
- Voted NO on protecting the Pledge of Allegiance. (Sep 2004)
- Voted NO on constitutional amendment prohibiting flag desecration. (Jun 2003)
- Voted NO on banning gay adoptions in DC. (Jul 1999)
- Voted NO on ending preferential treatment by race in college admissions. (May 1998)
- Ending racial profiling is part of fight for justice. (Jan 2001)
- Constitutional Amendment for equal rights by gender. (Mar 2001)
- Rated 93% by the ACLU, indicating a pro-civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002)
- Issue a commemorative postage stamp of Rosa Parks. (Dec 2005)
- Rated 88% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance. (Dec 2006)
- Rated 100% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance. (Dec 2006)
- ENDA: prohibit employment discrimination for gays. (Jun 2009)
- Constitutional Amendment for women's equal rights. (Jun 2011)
- Prohibit sexual-identity discrimination at schools. (Mar 2011)
- Endorsed as "preferred" by The Feminist Majority indicating pro-women's rights. (Aug 2012)
- Enforce against anti-gay discrimination in public schools. (Apr 2013)
- Enforce against wage discrimination based on gender. (Jan 2013)
- Recognize 1961 Freedom Riders against segregated buses. (Feb 2014)
- Re-introduce the Equal Rights Amendment. (Mar 2007)
- Honor the 100th anniversary of the NAACP. (Jan 2009)
- Supported legislation on violence against women & safety. (Jul 1999)
- Supported funding for women's and disadvantaged businesses. (Jul 1999)
- Voted NO on workforce training by state block grants & industry partners. (Mar 2013)
- Voted YES on letting shareholders vote on executive compensation. (Jul 2009)
- Voted YES on more funding for nanotechnology R&D and commercialization. (Jul 2009)
- Voted YES on allowing stockholder voting on executive compensation. (Apr 2007)
- Voted NO on replacing illegal export tax breaks with $140B in new breaks. (Jun 2004)
- Voted NO on Bankruptcy Overhaul requiring partial debt repayment. (Mar 2001)
- Rated 17% by the US COC, indicating an anti-business voting record. (Dec 2003)
- Expand lending caps for credit unions to small business. (Nov 2011)
- Rated 100% by UFCW, indicating an anti-management/pro-labor record. (May 2012)
- Voted NO on military border patrols to battle drugs & terrorism. (Sep 2001)
- Voted NO on prohibiting needle exchange & medical marijuana in DC. (Oct 1999)
- Legalize medical marijuana. (Jul 2001)
- Rated +25 by NORML, indicating a pro-drug-reform stance. (Dec 2006)
- Allow rehabilitated drug convicts get student loans. (Jan 2008)
- Rated 50% by NORML, indicating a mixed record on drug reform. (Jan 2014)
- Distribute sterile syringes to reduce AIDS and hepatitis. (Jan 2009)
- Voted YES on $40B for green public schools. (May 2009)
- Voted YES on additional $10.2B for federal education & HHS projects. (Nov 2007)
- Voted YES on allowing Courts to decide on "God" in Pledge of Allegiance. (Jul 2006)
- Voted YES on $84 million in grants for Black and Hispanic colleges. (Mar 2006)
- Voted NO on allowing school prayer during the War on Terror. (Nov 2001)
- Voted NO on requiring states to test students. (May 2001)
- Voted NO on allowing vouchers in DC schools. (Aug 1998)
- Voted NO on vouchers for private & parochial schools. (Nov 1997)
- Voted NO on giving federal aid only to schools allowing voluntary prayer. (Mar 1994)
- Rated 100% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes. (Dec 2003)
- Comprehensive sex ed for sexually-active adolescents. (Feb 2013)
- Supported funding for teacher training & other initiatives. (Jul 1999)
- Voted NO on opening Outer Continental Shelf to oil drilling. (May 2011)
- Voted NO on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases. (Apr 2011)
- Voted YES on enforcing limits on CO2 global warming pollution. (Jun 2009)
- Voted YES on tax incentives for energy production and conservation. (May 2008)
- Voted YES on tax incentives for renewable energy. (Feb 2008)
- Voted YES on investing in homegrown biofuel. (Aug 2007)
- Voted YES on criminalizing oil cartels like OPEC. (May 2007)
- Voted YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies. (Jan 2007)
- Voted YES on keeping moratorium on drilling for oil offshore. (Jun 2006)
- Voted NO on scheduling permitting for new oil refinieries. (Jun 2006)
- Voted NO on authorizing construction of new oil refineries. (Oct 2005)
- Voted NO on passage of the Bush Administration national energy policy. (Jun 2004)
- Voted NO on implementing Bush-Cheney national energy policy. (Nov 2003)
- Voted YES on raising CAFE standards; incentives for alternative fuels. (Aug 2001)
- Voted YES on prohibiting oil drilling & development in ANWR. (Aug 2001)
- Voted YES on starting implementation of Kyoto Protocol. (Jun 2000)
- Regulate wholesale electricity & gas prices. (Mar 2001)
- Preserve Alaska's ANWR instead of drilling it. (Feb 2001)
- Establish greenhouse gas tradeable allowances. (Feb 2005)
- Rated 100% by the CAF, indicating support for energy independence. (Dec 2006)
- 50% clean and carbon free electricity by 2030. (Mar 2016)
- Voted YES on environmental education grants for outdoor experiences. (Sep 2008)
- Voted YES on $9.7B for Amtrak improvements and operation thru 2013. (Jun 2008)
- Voted YES on increasing AMTRAK funding by adding $214M to $900M. (Jun 2006)
- Voted YES on barring website promoting Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump. (May 2006)
- Voted NO on deauthorizing "critical habitat" for endangered species. (Sep 2005)
- Voted NO on speeding up approval of forest thinning projects. (Nov 2003)
- Prohibits commercial logging on Federal public lands. (Apr 2001)
- Rated 95% by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
- Rated 25% by HSLF, indicating an anti-animal welfare voting record. (Jan 2012)
- Require labeling genetically engineered food. (Jul 2013)
- Strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting. (Jan 2007)
- Voted NO on reducing Marriage Tax by $399B over 10 years. (Mar 2001)
- Rated 16% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-Family-Value voting record. (Dec 2003)
- Sex Ed including both abstinence and contraception. (Mar 2009)
- More funding & services for victims of domestic violence. (Jan 2013)
- Fund 2,500 Boys and Girls Clubs in underserved areas. (Dec 1997)
- Supported funding child care, child health, & child housing. (Jul 1999)
And she has been the most consistent Democratic voice in confronting Trump, and the depravity of conservatives and the GOP:
“The President is a liar, his actions are contemptible, & I'm going to fight everyday until he's impeached.”18 Apr
"I don't respect this president... I don't think that he deserves to be president."—Maxine Waters on @Morning_Joe http://on.msnbc.com/2pKQJOv
“Nothing in the past two weeks has changed anything about what we've learned about Manafort, C. Page, & the rest of Trump's #KremlinKlan” 18 Apr
“Regarding the news on O'Reilly, a day will come when rich men won't be able to buy their way out of criminal conduct & they will go to jail.”
That’s how it’s done.