Activism Started with Tim Carpenter - Now It's Your Turn
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The Progressive movement in America has lost one of its greatest fighters. Each night when I close “The Big Picture,” I tell you that democracy begins with you, and encourage you to get out there and get active. Tim Carpenter was the living embodiment of those words. Yesterday, Carpenter, co-founder of the Progressive Democrats of America and a tireless political and social activist, passed away after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was only 55-years-old, and leaves behind his wife, Barbara, and two daughters.
Tim was a graduate of Cal State Fullerton University, where he earned Bachelors Degrees in History and Political Science, and a Masters Degree in History. After leaving CSUF, Tim went on to teach U.S. History and Government at the high school and community college levels in California. Tim played a central role on the Rev. Jesse Jackson presidential campaign in 1988, and again played a key role on Governor Jerry Brown’s 1992 presidential bid campaign.
That same year, he was a DNC delegate, and even addressed the Democratic National Convention. Tim was also the Deputy National Campaign Manager for the 2004 Kucinich for President campaign. In 2007, Tim was honored as “Progressive Activist of the Year” by The Nation Magazine.
During the 2004 Democratic National Convention, Tim helped found the Progressive Democrats of America. His unique “inside-outside” strategy helped to grow the influence of PDA, on the streets and at the ballot box. Since then Tim, and PDA, have fought tirelessly to strengthen the voice of progressive ideas both inside and outside of the Democratic Party.
PDA strongly opposed wars and occupations, and fought for political and diplomatic solutions to global crises, and promoted nuclear disarmament and a cutback in wasteful military spending. The group has also played a major role in the fight for healthcare for all Americans. Tim worked for an improved Medicare for All national healthcare program, and had his sights ultimately set on a single-payer health care system.
He also spent a lot of his time fighting for social and economic justice. PDA pushed for a rollback of George W. Bush’s tax cuts, while encouraging progressive taxation policies, and an end to so-called free-trade deals that devastate American workers and the economy. Meanwhile, PDA has also fought for comprehensive election reform in America, including things like restoring voting rights for convicts, ending the use of privatized electronic voting machines, and stopping nationwide voter suppression efforts.
Tim and PDA have also done a lot in the fight to save our planet, and the human race, from the devastating effects of climate change. PDA supports a carbon tax, and support policies to protect Americans from the dangerous effects of “fracking” while fighting for a cleaner and greener America. Tim Carpenter spent over 35 years fighting for the American people and for an America that worked for everyone.
As Congressman Jim McGovern put it, “He was a passionate fighter for peace and justice and all causes that are good. He was a remarkable person with a spine of steel and a heart of gold.” And when President Obama learned Tim was sick, he sent a handwritten note cheering him on and saying how important and his activism has been for our nation.
While Tim may be gone, both PDA and his legacy of tirelessly fighting for social and political change will live on. Democracy begins with all of us, as Tim’s life so vividly shows us. Now, it’s time for all of us – and that means you, too! – to hop on board, get over to PDAmerica.org or any other activist group of your choice, and get active.
Tag – you’re it.
Comments
![Aliceinwonderland's picture Aliceinwonderland's picture](https://www.thomhartmann.com/sites/default/files/pictures/picture-73703.gif)
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Check this article about Clive Bundy out http://www.thedemocratictruth.com/civil-liberties/conservatives-begin-backing-away-after-cliven-bundys-remarks-disparaging-the-negro/
![DAnneMarc's picture DAnneMarc's picture](https://www.thomhartmann.com/sites/default/files/pictures/picture-75067.jpg)
Quote Aliceinwonderland:I find it a little ironic that Obama would cheer on an activist working so tirelessly to counter policies (like the TPP for example) that Obama supports. - AIW
Aliceinwonderland ~ Ironic, indeed!! It is also quite a coincidence that such an activist with such a high level education in history and politics would come down with incurable cancer at such an early age, isn't it?
![Aliceinwonderland's picture Aliceinwonderland's picture](https://www.thomhartmann.com/sites/default/files/pictures/picture-73703.gif)
Marc, in our pay-or-die system of healthcare delivery, such fatal conditions often go undetected until too late. Factor in pollution from the fossil fuel industry and other industries, and the crap that gets in our food... it's a miracle any of us live much past age forty in this banana-republic shithole. - AIW
![Palindromedary's picture Palindromedary's picture](https://www.thomhartmann.com/sites/default/files/pictures/picture-52437.jpg)
You can't even eat the foods in the US anymore without getting cancer from them. Here's an example of "an apple a day will expose you to cancer causing chemicals". The Europeans won't even let American apples into their country ..they are banned for exceeding their acceptable limits by over 100 times their limit they consider dangerous levels.
"A chemical called diphenylamine, or DPA, applied to apples after harvest has been troubling the European Food Safety Authority since 2008. The substance is used to keep apples from getting those aesthetically displeasing brown spots, but has “the potential to break down into a family of carcinogens called nitrosamines.”
Our EPA (Eat Poison Administration) has no problem with such high levels of this dangerous substance sprayed on our apples.
http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/you_can_no_longer_eat_americ...
![DAnneMarc's picture DAnneMarc's picture](https://www.thomhartmann.com/sites/default/files/pictures/picture-75067.jpg)
Quote Aliceinwonderland:Marc, in our pay-or-die system of healthcare delivery, such fatal conditions often go undetected until too late.
Aliceinwonderland ~ Interesting thought! Nevertheless I have to wonder what the Progressive Left lifespan is as opposed to the Reich Wing. Seems like a lot of Left Wing activists have a short life expectancy. The more successful the shorter lived. Maybe I'm imagining things. However, I wouldn't discount the possibility of foul play so easily. Especially with all the depleted Uranium laying around... Just saying.
Palindromedary ~ You're the conspiracy guru here. Help me out.
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Marc, I'm not about to dismiss your speculation regarding foul play, or its conventional manifestations. But is it unreasonable to suggest that pay-or-die healthcare is another kind of foul play? - AIW
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Quote Aliceinwonderland:But is it unreasonable to suggest that pay-or-die healthcare is another kind of foul play? - AIW
Aliceinwonderland ~ Absolutely not. It is very reasonable to suggest that as well. Most unfortunate too. However, it just really rubs me the wrong way how the best amongst us always seem to die so young. I guess I'm just getting tired of that trend.
![Palindromedary's picture Palindromedary's picture](https://www.thomhartmann.com/sites/default/files/pictures/picture-52437.jpg)
DAnneMarc: That Tim Carpenter had terminal cancer is not a sudden surprise...it was mentioned in a public forum last year. I would imagine that if any kind of radioactive poisoning were the cause then we would have heard about it. Short of actually getting his medical report, or an autopsy report, I think we have to just conclude that he just naturally got cancer...unfortunately, that can happen to any of us at any age. It is just a pity that he had to die so young and a real pity that we lost such a great activist for the progressive cause. Now, if he had died with two gun shots to the back of the head, as some outspoken-against-the-right-wing have then I'd have to conclude there was foul play.
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Quote Palindromedary:Now, if he had died with two gun shots to the back of the head, as some outspoken-against-the-right-wing have then I'd have to conclude there was foul play.
Palindromedary ~ I'm sorry. I thought that was one gunshot to the back of the head and one from inside the mouth.
Of course, anytime there is a suicide with more than one gunshot to the head it is obviously going to raise eyebrows. (No pun intended!)
I find it a little ironic that Obama would cheer on an activist working so tirelessly to counter policies (like the TPP for example) that Obama supports. - AIW