| Dear Katy, When our leaders fail us, it's our responsibility to hold them accountable and ask them to do better. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been a champion for women's rights and reproductive freedom. The Affordable Care Act would never have become law without her leadership. She has the power to lead the Democratic Party into a bright new future. But she is not using it. Instead, she is undermining the next generation of progressive leaders and choosing moderation over progressive values and policies. Speaker Pelosi's persistence and courage have made way for more women in Congress and helped Democrats take back the House. But voters elected Democrats to boldly lead, not head to the center and meter their power. We need to make sure Speaker Pelosi knows that progressives expect better and will have her back if she leads with courage now. Tell Speaker Nancy Pelosi: Lead the change Democratic voters want to see. Click here to sign the petition. Voters in November made clear that they want more from Democratic leaders. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib represent the future that we all want to see – a country where leaders put people and the planet before corporate interests and lead with urgency to make the promise of freedom and justice for all real for everyone. It is crystal clear that Donald Trump and his fellow Republicans are terrified by the power these women of color have and by the vision they hold for our country. Trump and his supporters know they lose when these leaders succeed. It's why they are relentless in their attacks. They need to divide Democrats and stir up fear and anger in their base so they can keep lining their pockets, undermining our democracy and promoting their white supremacist agenda. Unfortunately, Democratic leaders are playing right into their hands. Instead of embracing a bold vision which will inspire voters across the country, they continue to chart a course toward an imagined moderate voter who will somehow be inspired by watered-down policies and incremental change. Instead of embracing the leaders who are the future of the party, they are keeping their distance and contributing to the toxic environment that fosters vicious right-wing attacks. We need them to do better. Tell Speaker Nancy Pelosi: Lead the change Democratic voters want to see. Click here to sign the petition. Most Democratic leaders could be doing more, and better, but Speaker Pelosi's leadership is vitally important. She is a far stronger leader than Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who has failed to lead any resistance since Trump was elected and whose small bouts of courage since the midterms seem to be a direct result of Speaker Pelosi's control of the House. Having the majority in her chamber means she has the chance to organize her caucus in support of visionary legislation, call votes that define Democratic values for Congress as a whole and force Republicans to go on the record as the craven cowards they are. We need her to use her power and skill to promote and make possible a progressive vision for the Democratic Party. Instead, she has recently: - Failed to stand with Rep. Ilhan Omar. In March, Speaker Pelosi attempted to rebuke Rep. Omar for remarks that were taken out of context and shared by right-wing media and politicians to promote the idea that Rep. Omar is anti-Semitic.1 This weekend, Speaker Pelosi replied to Donald Trump's tweet tying Rep. Omar to the 9/11 attacks, which created a spike in violent threats, without defending Rep. Omar and with language that could have been construed as a critique of her.2
- Diminished freshmen women of color. Speaker Pelosi used her platform on "60 Minutes" this past Sunday to downplay the power of the progressive women of color in Congress who are leading the call to impeach Trump and pushing for bold progressive policies like Medicare for All and the Green New Deal.3
- Proposed moderation instead of visionary leadership. She recently presented her proposals for climate change and healthcare reform – incremental bills to keep the United States in the Paris accords and strengthen the ACA instead of support for the Green New Deal and Medicare for All.4 Recent reports indicate a top Pelosi aide has been actively fighting against Medicare for All.5
- Rejected impeaching Trump. The House has the authority and the responsibility to provide oversight of the executive branch but Speaker Pelosi has repeatedly refused to consider even opening an impeachment investigation. In March, she went even further, saying it's "not worth" the potential political risk to impeach the racist authoritarian occupying the Oval Office.6
Speaker Pelosi's lasting legacy should not be pushing for the same old centrist policies and failed compromises that are weakening the party and failing the country. We need to help make sure she leaves a legacy of leading into the future. Can you add your name today? Tell Speaker Pelosi: Lead the change Democratic voters want to see. Click the link below to sign the petition. https://act.credoaction.com/sign/pelosi-lead-now?t=10&akid=32292%2E12967895%2Ej8QvOI Thanks for standing up for progressive values, Nicole Regalado, Campaign Director
CREDO Action from Working Assets Add your name: References: - Sarah Ferris, Heather Caygle and John Bresnahan, "House Dems will take floor action to confront Omar's latest Israel comments," POLITICO, March 4, 2019.
- Rachael Bade and Paul Kane, "Liberals' frustration with Pelosi rises over her response to Omar dispute," The Washington Post, April 15, 2019.
- Chris Cillizza, "Nancy Pelosi just won't stop trolling Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez," CNN, April 15, 2019.
- Mike DeBonis, "Answering the liberal clamor, Pelosi rolls out limited proposals on health care and environment," The Washington Post, March 27, 2019.
- Adam Cancryn, "Progressive leader confronts Pelosi aide over 'Medicare for All'," POLITICO, April 2, 2019.
- Nicholas Fandos, "Impeaching Trump Is 'Not Worth It,' Nancy Pelosi Says," The New York Times, March 11, 2019.
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