Minn. Congressman Keith Ellison stands with Occupy Wall Street protestors

http://www.flickr.com/photos/keithellison/

As co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep. Keith Ellison (D. Minn.) has some worthwhile insights to offer on the demands of Occupy Wall Street, and the powers that be – as well as our perpetually uniformed media - would be wise to lend an ear:

Occupy Wall Street activism is gaining strength daily, but pundits and politicians are struggling to understand the emergence of this movement. The reaction in Washington says more about us -- the political insiders -- than it does about the thousands of participants. Almost as soon as it formed, the protesters were criticized for not having concrete demands. No one could identify the group's "leader." Even the media didn't take the New York occupation seriously until YouTube videos showed people being arrested. Now in their fourth week, the protests are proving that it is not the concreteness of their demands but the staying power and resonance of their anger that have caught our attention.

The Occupy movement is attracting ordinary Americans through concrete action that conveys a clear message. The message is that working Americans want Wall Street to be accountable. The message is that working Americans want a fair tax system. Americans want the Congress to pass legislation that produces jobs.

Read more:

Rep. Keith Ellison (D. Minn.) reports from Washington on the debt limit debate

Photo from Keith's website

A letter in my inbox this morning from Rep. Keith Ellison describing the ongoing debt limit debate in Washington featuring extremist Republican attempts to slash Social Security and Medicare:

Virginia --

I’ve never seen anything like this.

House Republicans are so desperate to placate the Tea Party fringe and right-wing radio talkers like Rush Limbaugh that they keep walking away from the negotiating table, putting America on the brink of a catastrophic default on our debt.

Their demands? Cut benefits to Social Security and Medicare but protect tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires, and Big Oil companies.

As a Progressive Member of Congress, let me be clear: we will not support benefit cuts to Social Security or Medicare while letting Big Oil and the ultra-wealthy keep their tax cuts. No way, no how.

Contribute $3 or more today to help us send a $100,000 message to Tea Party Republicans: Grassroots Democrats will fight any plan that slashes Social Security and Medicare while letting billionaires keep their tax cuts.

With time running out, we most hold House Republicans accountable for their reckless priorities. Your dollars will be used immediately to take the fight to Tea Party Republicans in their home districts.

As we've seen in poll after poll after poll, voters will not stand for deep cuts in the benefits that seniors have earned. We need your support to organize, mobilize, and expose Republicans' radical agenda before it’s too late.

Please chip in today to help us save Social Security and Medicare.

Rep. Keith Ellison

Contributions or gifts to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee are not tax deductible.

Paid for by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee | 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003 (202) 863-1500 | www.dccc.org | Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Minnesota’s Keith Ellison: Wisc. Governor Walker acting like a “dictator”

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.)

 

 

Politico reports:

Progressive Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) said Wednesday that Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is acting like a “dictator.”

Ellison said that Walker, a Republican, should negotiate with union workers, who have agreed to pay more for health benefits as long as they can keep collective bargaining rights.

Walker is “basically taking on the position of a dictator,” he told reporters. “Because he says he won’t negotiate. That is something that is not in the spirit of a public servant, who just won’t even talk. He is putting himself in a position of being extreme, radical and reckless. And he’s going to fail.”

Read more: