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Robert Creamer
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Robert Creamer has been a political organizer and strategist for four decades. He and his firm, Democracy Partners, work with many of the country’s most significant issue campaigns. He was one of the major architects and organizers of the successful campaign to defeat the privatization of Social Security. He has been a consultant to the campaigns to end the war in Iraq, pass universal health care, pass Wall Street reform, change America’s budget priorities and enact comprehensive immigration reform. He has also worked on hundreds of electoral campaigns at the local, state and national level. Creamer is married to Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky from Illinois. Arianna Huffington calls his book, Stand Up Straight: How Progressives Can Win, a master’s class in electoral politics.

Blog Entries by Robert Creamer

Why the War on Birth Control Is a Political Disaster for the GOP

580 Comments | Posted February 20, 2012 | 02/20/12 10:27 AM ET

From the point of view of a partisan Democrat, I can only think of one thing to say about the Republican Party's escalating opposition to birth control: go ahead, make our day.

You have to wonder if the political consultants advising the Republican presidential candidates have lost their...

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Protecting Access to Birth Control Does Not Violate Religious Freedom -- And It Is a Moral Imperative

409 Comments | Posted February 8, 2012 | 02/08/12 10:21 AM ET

In many respects it is amazing that in 2012 there is a controversy over women's access to birth control.

Let's be clear, the current controversy over the Obama administration's rules that require all employers who provide health insurance to provide birth control without a co-pay to its women...

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Last Friday the GOP Had a Really Bad Day

207 Comments | Posted February 5, 2012 | 02/05/12 10:57 PM ET

Last Friday the GOP had a really bad day. It didn't come in the form of new polling results -- or some new political scandal. It was delivered to them by the economic statistics:

  • Private sector jobs up 243,000 -- almost 100,000 more than expected.
  • Unemployment rate down...
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Why Character and Core Values Could Prove Decisive in Battle for Presidency

562 Comments | Posted January 29, 2012 | 01/29/12 11:00 PM ET

More than most elections, the contest for President this fall is likely to be decided less on "wedge issues" -- or even candidate positions that are symbolic of who is on whose side -- and more on the character and core values of the candidates -- and for that...

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Why The Bain Capital Controversy Is So Damaging To GOP Chances This Fall

449 Comments | Posted January 16, 2012 | 01/16/12 10:22 AM ET

The last few weeks of the Republican Presidential road show has been dominated by discussion of Mitt Romney's career as head of a Wall Street private equity firm -- Bain Capital. Most people who enter politics have some previous career in the private sector -- especially if they're wealthy....

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Munoz Appointment to Head White House Domestic Policy Council Is an Inspired Choice

5 Comments | Posted January 10, 2012 | 01/10/12 01:30 PM ET

President Obama's announcement that Cecilia Munoz will be appointed to lead the White House Domestic Policy Council is great news for Progressives - and especially for advocates of immigration reform.

Munoz is a passionate advocate of the interests of everyday working people and defending the embattled American middle...

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Iowa Results Bad News for GOP

543 Comments | Posted January 4, 2012 | 01/04/12 09:37 AM ET

To maximize their odds of reclaiming their hold on the White House, the Republican establishment believes they need two things:

• To nominate Mitt Romney;
• To effectively end the Republican nominating process as soon as possible.

Last night's results from Iowa lower the odds they will...

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Why GOP Collapse on the Payroll Tax Could Be a Turning Point Moment

204 Comments | Posted December 23, 2011 | 12/23/11 10:34 AM ET

In recent American politics, every major shift in political momentum has resulted from an iconic battle.

In 1995 the tide of the 1994 "Republican Revolution" was reversed when Speaker Newt Gingrich and his new Republican House majority shut down the government in a battle over their attempts to cut...

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Willard Mitt Romney Rails Against "Entitlement Society" -- That Takes Chutzpa

Posted December 22, 2011 | 12/22/11 07:40 AM ET

Earlier this week, Republican Presidential candidate Willard Mitt Romney delivered a speech framing the 2012 presidential election as a choice between an "entitlement society" and an "opportunity society."

It really takes chutzpa for a guy who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth to rail...

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The Real Attack on the Spirit of Christmas Comes From the Right Wing

Posted December 20, 2011 | 12/20/11 09:10 AM ET

Every year about this time the gang at Fox News and others in the Right Wing blogosphere get on their high horse about the "liberal attack on Christmas" -- or President Obama's "attack on Christmas."

Of course all you have to do is have a look at...

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New Ryan Proposal Still Aims to Eliminate Medicare, Replace With Voucher Plan

Posted December 15, 2011 | 12/15/11 10:13 AM ET

Today, Republican House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan will present his new "bi-partisan compromise" plan to a meeting of an outfit known as the "Bipartisan Policy Center."

Ryan's latest proposal would allow individuals to choose between traditional Medicare or vouchers that provide "premium support" for private insurance plans....

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The Iraq War Is Over... Lesson for Progressives: Yes We Can.

Posted December 14, 2011 | 12/14/11 10:32 AM ET

Sometime in the next 15 days, the last American troops will leave Iraq -- and the War that began almost nine years ago will finally come to an end.

Today, President Obama addresses some of those returning troops at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The big difference between...

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Newt Threatens Mitt's Position as Top Banana in Republican Nomination Circus

Posted December 5, 2011 | 12/05/11 08:16 AM ET

Last week, after yet another episode of bizarre behavior on the Republican campaign trial, one of my partners -- political consultant John Hennelly -- came into my office and asked, "Next, will all eight of these guys ride into the arena piled into a VW Beetle and pile out...

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Does GOP Really Want to Increase Taxes on the Middle Class?

Posted November 30, 2011 | 11/30/11 08:25 AM ET

As the Senate considers an extension of the payroll tax holiday, the big question is: why in the world would Republicans in Congress consider raising middle class taxes by $1,000 to $1,500 per household in the midst of an economic downturn and an election year?

This is a...

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Democrats Refuse to Buckle to GOP Demands for Huge Cuts in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid

Posted November 21, 2011 | 11/21/11 09:31 AM ET

Inside-the-beltway pundits have already begun to decry the so-called "failure" of the super committee to hammer out an agreement that would have almost certainly resulted in huge cuts in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits for ordinary Americans.

Those ordinary Americans should applaud the Democrats' refusal to buckle...

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Mayors Who Attempt to End Occupy Protests Are on the Wrong Side of History

Posted November 16, 2011 | 11/16/11 11:10 AM ET

Over the last few days there has been what appears to be a coordinated attempt by many of the nation's mayors to end the Occupy Wall Street protests that have swept the country -- and much of the world.

Many justifications have been given: concerns about "sanitation," drug overdoses, the...

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Why the United States Is Not Greece or Italy -- and Shouldn't Act Like It

Posted November 15, 2011 | 11/15/11 11:14 AM ET

In the run-up to the Super Committee deadline, the news is filled with headlines about the potential default of Greece and Italy on their government debts.

Some might think that these developments highlight the need for draconian austerity measures in the U.S. to prevent us from suffering...

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Progressive Victories in Ohio, Mississippi, Maine, Arizona Provide Seven Key Lessons for 2012

Posted November 9, 2011 | 11/09/11 02:44 PM ET

A year ago the Empire struck back. Right Wing money capitalized on anger at the economic stagnation that their own policies caused just two years before. They brought a halt to the hard-won progressive victories that marked the first two years of Barack Obama's presidency.

Last night the...

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"Do-Nothing Republican Congress" Could Sink GOP In 2012

Posted November 7, 2011 | 11/07/11 10:15 AM ET

The Republicans in Congress have made a wager. They've bet the political ranch that they will destroy Barack Obama's chances for re-election if they can block his proposals to produce jobs.

In fact, it's the GOP that could lose big when the votes are counted a year...

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Three Reasons Why It's Better for the Economy if the Super-Committee Fails to Get a Deal

Posted October 25, 2011 | 10/25/11 09:41 AM ET

Last Thursday's Washington Post headline blared: "Debt panel's lack of progress raises alarm on Hill."

In fact it is far better for everyday Americans if the so-called Super Committee fails entirely to get a deal.

The overarching reason is simple: any deal they are likely to...

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