The group's D.C. conference included
Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe;
Ralph Neas, president of the liberal watchdog group People for the American Way;
Kate Michelman, president of NARAL;
Ellen Malcolm, president of Emily's List;
House Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt, Missouri Democrat;
former Clinton administration officials James Carville, Paul Begala and Joe Lockhart;
former Gore 2000 campaign manager Donna Brazile; and representatives of several labor unions.
Mr. Lux said Republicans have been successful for years by "moving money" to groups such as the National Rifle Association and the Christian Coalition.
The Progressive Donor Network's goals also include forming "rapid-response teams" to plant news stories critical of Republicans and the Bush administration. Its leaders cited several negative news stories recently about the collapse of Enron, the Texas-based energy giant with ties to the White House.
Mrs. Boxer said the organization's real value for Democratic candidates could come from its grass-roots efforts.
"They can help get out the vote, organize, register," she said. "Progressives need to have, just as conservatives have, a really good grass-roots network. And I think we've fallen down on that job.
My (Sacramento area)Tom Sullivan is covering this evil Poli-thug syndicate on Rush now.
See his site at www.tomsullivan.com