Rep. Baldwin of Wisconsin voices Iowa Democrats’ newfound unity

CEDAR RAPIDS — Just a few years ago, even as national Democrats continued to bask in the glow of the 2008 election, progressive Iowa activists were already coping with the ill effects of a nearly three-year-long, hard-fought presidential contest and general malaise toward politics. As a result, many local Democrats — most affiliated with other progressive causes ranging from labor to the environment — took a pass on attending local party fundraisers.

It appears, based on a Linn County Democratic Party event held Saturday night, the fog has lifted as the multi-faceted interests that have, at times, resulted in the splintering of progressive politics hone in on what they perceive as a common enemy.

“Believe it or not, I am going to say something nice about the Republicans, both those in Wisconsin and those in Washington,” said keynote speaker U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (R-Wisc.) at the Linn County Hall of Fame event. “They really have given us a great gift because they have brought us all together. … They’ve given us a moment of clarity.”

And, looking around the room, Baldwin’s observations rang true. Labor union activists, previously chilled from party politics by former Democratic Gov. Chet Culver‘s veto of a labor bill, were scattered throughout the audience. Stonewall Democrats — perhaps the interest group that sustained the highest level of political activity due to the 2009 Iowa Supreme Court decision that struck down a state ban on same-sex marriage — occupied two of the event’s 20 tables. Of course, long-time party activists were present, but they sat beside individuals who seek to protect reproductive rights, veterans who question how military men and women are being treated and environmentalists who focus on clean energy alternatives and pollution in local waterways.

Organizers had planned space for 200 dinner guests and the tables were nearly full. Among the roughly 180 people who paid a $50 cover were parents with young children in tow, teachers, law enforcement officers, veterans, college students, health care workers, farmers, postal workers, retirees, business owners and, of course, local politicians.

“We once again recognize what brings us together and what binds us together — Midwestern values, workers’ rights, a commitment to the education and health of all of our people, honesty, transparency and respect for one another and respect for our democracy,” Baldwin said. “They are bringing us together and we are drawing a line in the sand while saying that we solve problems by working together and not by silencing the voices of working men and women. … We are saying that we are standing together in solidarity and working for the common good.”

Speaking exclusively with The Iowa Independent following her public remarks, Baldwin elaborated on what she termed as the “profound bait and switch” by Republicans that has led to so many in Wisconsin and around the nation having “buyers’ remorse” following their 2010 votes.

“I find this even more disturbing than when the Republicans controlled last time,” said Baldwin, who has served during four years of Democratic control and the reminder of her time since 1999 as a member of the minority party.

“[Republicans] ran on a platform of healing the economy and creating jobs, [but] we’ve seen no jobs plan from them. What we’ve now seen is what their two plans really were.”

The first item on the GOP agenda, according to Baldwin, was to simultaneously add to the deficit by making tax breaks for the nation’s most wealthy permanent while attacking women.

“First out of the gate was plans to curtail women’s reproductive choices and to deny women the opportunity to get private health insurance with their own money that would have comprehensive coverage, and then zeroing out family planning and the attack on Planned Parenthood that provides preventative primary health care to millions of American women,” she said.

“This feels like a war on women, and I think it is a war on women. It is deeply disturbing.”

One of the reasons that Republicans have been so successful, she said, was because they implemented a strategy of divide and conquer. That is, she believes that they sought to turn specific demographics against one another.

“They have literally tried to pit working person against working person. What happened in Wisconsin is that it didn’t work. All of the sudden people realized what was happening, and joined together with a belief that they had to fight together,” Baldwin said.

“You have to sort-of lift the veil and see what is actually motivating [Republicans]. I referenced protecting the tax breaks for the very wealthy. Those who have amassed incredible power and fortune are invested in dividing working people against each other, but it is not the working people who caused the problems our country is facing.”

Audio of Baldwin’s public remarks is embedded below: