Iowa CCI named to The Nation's Progressive Honor Roll of 2011
Congratulations! We are excited to report that your work has taken a slice of The Nation magazine's Most Valuable Progressive recognition for the third year in a row.
John Nichol's writes: "What a difference a year makes! ... This year we celebrate the remarkable movements that have arisen not just to stem the conservative tide but to build a new vision of progressivism for the twenty-first century. ... The events of 2011 did not transform America. But they did confirm that millions of Americans are ready to fight for the 99 percent."
Read The Nation's full Progressive Honor Roll of 2011 here.
Iowa CCI's recognition below:
MOST VALUABLE CONFRONTATION: Iowa CCI
When Mitt Romney came to the Iowa State Fair, he tried to peddle the fantasy that entitlement cuts are needed because the only alternative is to raise taxes on Americans. But his framing of a false choice failed when activists from Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement hollered that we should “tax corporations.” Unnerved, Romney shot back, “Corporations are people, my friend.” “No, they’re not!” shouted the Iowa CCI crowd. “Of course they are,” replied Romney, who didn’t seem to realize he was embracing his own stereotype. In 2011 conservative candidates thought they could use Iowa as a backdrop for their extremist pitches. Iowa CCI didn’t let them get away with it—providing a model for how grassroots activists can mic-check even the most powerful politicians.
We'd like to think The Nation feels this way because they know, like we do, that the history of significant change in this country is based on organized action. And organized action is what Iowa CCI does best.
Thanks to you our members and supporters for being a part of it. CCI allies made the Honor Roll, too!:
The New Bottom Line coalition, of which Iowa CCI is a member, was recognized as Most Valuable Coalition for their work to build a broad and powerful push for a "new bottom line that puts the economic interests and financial security of working American families first” -- before Wall Street profit that is.
And, Beat the Press, the work of populist economist Dean Baker, who spoke at our statewide convention in July was named Most Valuable News Source.