How many socialists sit in Congress today? 1 group boasts 70, but see what WND survey suggests

© 2010 WorldNetDaily


WASHINGTON – The Democratic Socialists of America boasted in a newsletter to insiders 70 of its members currently serve in Congress, but an independent survey by WND suggests the number of actual avowed or semi-secret socialists in the House and Senate is considerably higher – at least 82.

The DSA is a political action committee and bills itself as the heir to the defunct Socialist Party of America. It's chief organizing objective is to work within the Democratic Party as the primary, but not sole, method of achieving public ownership of private property and the means of production.

"Stress our Democratic Party strategy and electoral work," explains an internal organizing document obtained by WND. "The Democratic Party is something the public understands, and association with it takes the edge off. Stressing our Democratic Party work will establish some distance from the radical subculture and help integrate you to the milieu of the young liberals."



In October 2009, the DSA newsletter reported that 70 congressional Democrats are active members.

The group also claimed 11 socialists sit on the House Judiciary Committee, including Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich.

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But, according to an independent investigation by WND, the number of those sympathetic to the socialist goals of the DSA is substantially higher than 70.

In 1998, WND reported the close association between the DSA and the Congressional Progressive Caucus. At that time, the caucus website was actually hosted by the DSA. Following the revelation in WND, the Progressive Caucus website became an official U.S. government website as it remains today.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus website boasts 81 members as well as resource links to numerous openly socialist publications and organizations, reports WND Editor Joseph Farah in his column today. Farah first broke the story of the DSA-Progressive Caucus link 12 years ago in a series titled "Congress' Red Army Caucus." (here and here)

Those links include Mother Jones magazine, Moveon.org, OneWorld, The Nation magazine, ACORN and the Institute for Policy Studies.


Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy, D-Ohio

Last week, WND reported that Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy, D-Ohio, is a member of the DSA. She is not, however, listed on either the Progressive Caucus website as a member or on the list of members published by the DSA last year.

"By my count, Kilroy would make at least 82 members of the House and Senate who are avowedly socialist," Farah concludes.

The DSA makes clear its preference for working within the Democratic Party for the change it seeks.

"Many socialists have seen the Democratic Party, since at least the New Deal, as the key political arena in which to consolidate this coalition, because the Democratic Party held the allegiance of our natural allies," the group states in the "Where we stand" section of its website. "Through control of the government by the Democratic Party coalition, led by anti-corporate forces, a progressive program regulating the corporations, redistributing income, fostering economic growth and expanding social programs could be realized."

In addition to a national program of "massive redistribution of income from corporations and the wealthy to wage earners and the poor and the public sector," the DSA also calls for a breaking down the American-style notions of nationalism and national sovereignty.

"A program of global justice can unite opponents of transnational corporations across national boundaries around a common program to transform existing international institutions and invent new global organizations designed to ensure that wages, working conditions, environmental standards and social rights are 'leveled up' worldwide," the group says on its website. "The basis of cooperation for fighting the transnationals must be forged across borders from its inception. Economic nationalism and other forms of chauvinism will doom any expanded anti-corporate agenda."

It also states in the group's mission statement: "A democratic socialist politics for the 21st century must promote an international solidarity dedicated to raising living standards across the globe, rather than 'leveling down' in the name of maximizing profits and economic efficiency. Equality, solidarity, and democracy can only be achieved through international political and social cooperation aimed at ensuring that economic institutions benefit all people. Democratic socialists are dedicated to building truly international social movements – of unionists, environmentalists, feminists, and people of color – that together can elevate global justice over brutalizing global competition."

While the DSA tries to paint distinctions between its brand of socialism and communism, before scrubbing its website following the WND expose 12 years ago, the site included a song list that included:

"The Internationale," the worldwide anthem of Communism and socialism.

"Red Revolution" sung to the tune of "Red Robin," with these lyrics: "When the Red Revolution brings its solution along, along, there'll be no more lootin' when we start shootin' that Wall Street throng. ..."

"Are You Sleeping, Bourgeoisie?" Lyrics included: "Are you sleeping? Are you sleeping? Bourgeoisie, Bourgeoisie. And when the revolution comes, We'll kill you all with knives and guns, Bourgeoisie, Bourgeoisie."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is a longtime member of the Progressive Caucus and served on the executive committee. She was not, however, listed last year as a member of the DSA.