Campaign for America's Future

Campaign for America's Future (CAF) is an American nonprofit progressive political advocacy organization. Founded in 1996, the organization bills itself as "the strategy center for the progressive movement."[1]

Campaign for America's Future
Founded1996
FounderRoger Hickey
Robert Borosage
TypeNonprofit 501(c)(4) advocacy group
Location
WebsiteOfficial website

Within the Democratic Party, it often serves as a counterweight to the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC).[2] CAF argues that the Democratic Party should draw sharp contrasts with the Republicans and advance a progressive agenda, while the DLC argues that the party should pursue a centrist policy. CAF is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization. It has a sister organization called the Institute for America's Future, which is a 501(c)(3) think tank "devoted to shaping a compelling progressive agenda and message."[3][4]

The Nation editor Katrina vanden Heuvel, former AFL-CIO president John Sweeney, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa serve on its board of directors.[5]

Organizational overview

The founder and current president of Campaign for America's Future, Robert Borosage, first registered the organization in 1990. The organization did not reach non-profit status until 1994 and formally launched in 1996. At its launch, the Campaign for America's Future listed 130 co-founders representing a variety of liberal and progressive organizations.[6]

The Campaign for America's Future does not disclose its donors. In the past, it has denied requests for a list of top donors and a spokesman said the group "discloses exactly what is required."[7]

In 2016, Campaign for America's Future combined their operations with People's Action but continues to operate as its own organization.[8]

Activities

"Take Back America" conference

CAF holds an annual "Take Back America" conference, bringing together progressive activists, elected officials, bloggers, left-leaning media outlets, and others.

At the 2006 conference, Senator Hillary Clinton was booed for her stance on the Iraq War.[9] In 2007, she was similarly booed, but not as loudly, as she had ostensibly "modified" her position on the war.[10] The Politico sponsored a straw poll which Senator Barack Obama won with 29 percent of the vote.[11]

The 2007 conference honored "progressive bloggers" with the Paul Wellstone Award. The once anonymous blogger Digby accepted the award, and in doing so, revealed her true identity as woman named Heather Parton from Santa Monica, California.[12]

CAF is supportive of the Occupy Wall Street movement and has assisted in organizing protests.[13][14]

Apollo Alliance

The Institute for America's Future and the Center on Wisconsin Strategy sponsor a joint project called the Apollo Alliance, a coalition of environmentalists and labor unions, which seeks to commit the United States to energy independence while providing opportunity for new green-collar jobs in the energy sector. It is named after John F. Kennedy's Apollo program.[15]

References
  1. "Campaign for America's Future's file". PolitiFact. Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  2. Milbank, Dana (2005-06-02). "Bush as a Uniter - of Diverse Democrats". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
  3. "Institute for America's Future". Institute for America's Future. Archived from the original on 26 December 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  4. Smiley, Tavis (November 1, 2011). "Institute for America's Future founder Robert Borosage". PBS. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  5. "Forward Together: Campaign for America's Future and People's Action".
  6. Campaign for America's Future details, undueinfluence.com; accessed October 4, 2015.
  7. "Groups that bought DeLay ads shield donors". 26 January 2006.
  8. "Forward Together: Campaign for America's Future and People's Action". Campaign For America's Future. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  9. "Liberal Activists Boo Clinton". washingtonpost.com. 2006-06-14. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
  10. Healy, Patrick (2007-06-20). "Clinton Gets Better Reception on Iraq". Thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
  11. "Obama wins Politico.com Straw Poll - Ben Smith". Politico.com. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
  12. Walsh, Joan (June 20, 2007). "The hullabaloo over Digby". Salon. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  13. Robert Borosage on OWS, cbsnews.com; accessed October 4, 2015.
  14. Coverage of CAF, cbsnews.com; accessed October 4, 2015.
  15. About the Alliance Archived 2007-06-23 at the Wayback Machine, June 20, 2007; retrieved June 23, 2007.
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