Heh. At least they aren't shy and coy about it.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Larry Farnsworth
January 24, 2007 (202) 232-6574

Progressives Steer Congressional Democrats To The Left

Left-Wing Caucus Wields Influence in the House and Finds New Home in the Senate

Washington D.C. - Democrats are not alone in reaping the benefits from the power shift in Congress this month. The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), founded by self-described socialist, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), has greatly increased its influence over Congress. The CPC represents the most left-leaning members of the House of Representatives, and their control of major committees and subcommittees of the House may help it dominate the nation’s political agenda.

CPC is eager to violate House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) pledge that Democrats in Congress will focus on a mainstream agenda. Instead, the CPC can be expected to work with left-wing advocacy groups to organize attacks on corporations, “the rich,” and the Bush Administration. The CPC is not afraid to promote socialist public policies and ignore Pelosi’s promise to govern from the center.

The January 2007 issue of Foundation Watch, a publication of the Capital Research Center , reports on the Congressional Progressive Caucus’ leadership, activities and likely influence. At least seven members of the CPC will chair powerful committees (e.g. Charles Rangel—Ways & Means; Barney Frank—Financial Services; John Conyers—Judiciary, Henry Waxman—Government Reform) and a dozen more CPC members will chair important subcommittees (e.g. Pete Stark, Maxine Waters, Sheila Jackson Lee).

Terrence Scanlon , President of the Capital Research Center , said of the report, “The Congressional Progressive Caucus’s unapologetic and partisan track record speaks for itself. The public already has a poor opinion of this Congress, and the CPC will only chaperone liberal members of Congress down a self destructive path.”

About 69 members of the House and two U.S. Senators (Sanders and Ohio Democrat Sherrod Brown) are in the Congressional Progressive Caucus this term, an increase from 59 members during the 109th Congress. Despite the President’s conciliatory State of the Union address this week, the CPC is likely to aggressively push Congress to adopt radical social and economic policies—no matter what Speaker Pelosi says.

Keep that in mind when the next election rolls around. I'll have to keep this handy.