Momentum building for ‘progressive Contract with America’

In addition to the 10 original cosigners, seven more Democratic congressional candidates from around the nation have signed on to the Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq.

The Responsible Plan, touted as a progressive Contract with America, was unveiled this week at the Take Back America conference in Washington, D.C. The plan includes several components focused on ending U.S. military action in Iraq and refocusing America’s military and energy policy.

The original sponsors include Netroots favorite Darcy Burner, who lost a close race in Washington’s 8th district in 2006 and is back for a second run against incumbent Dave Reichert this year, and Donna Edwards, who recently defeated Blue Dog Democrat Al Wynn in Maryland’s solid-blue 4th district’s primary.

Now the rush appears to be on, with more Democratic candidates signing up.

Continued: Click “Read more” Joining as signatories are Democrats from Larry Grant in Idaho to Dennis Shulman and Tom Wyka in New Jersey. Jeff Merkley and Steve Novick, who are squaring off for the Democratic nomination in the Oregon Senate race, both endorsed the plan within 24 hours of its release.

Traditionally, congressional candidates do not engage in detailed policy pushes like this one, but the Responsible Plan is being touted as a win-win for Democratic candidates and the progressive movement as a whole: end the war responsibly, elect Democrats in a policy-platform wave as the Republican Contract with America did in 1994, and move the proverbial ball down the field on important legislation already before Congress. The plan (pdf) highlights several bills, along with their current cosponsors, that would serve as components of a successful execution of the plan. Notable among them is H.R. 4102, the Stop Outsourcing Security Act, sponsored by Rep. Janice Schakowski (D-IL) and 24 cosponsors, which would end the use of private military contractors like Blackwater in conflict zones such as Iraq.