Matthew Hallinan Candidate Statement

I have seen America go through a lot of changes. I grew up in a leftist family during the Mc Carthy Era. I became an activist and an organizer during the 1960's and 1970's, saw an old, white, conservative power structure give ground to a new generation armed with a different vision. And then I saw this country elect Ronald Reagan and begin to systematically dismantle the gains we had made during 1960's.

We progressives complained and wrung our hands. But it took the Bush Administration to really shake us up. A frightening cabal of right-wing foundations and think tanks pulled together an un-Holy Alliance of Wall Street, the Christian Right, the White Southern Establishment, Neo-conservative intellectuals, and old-line Republican libertarians. United by the common goal of redistributing more wealth to the rich, they began to lay out a strategy of perpetual war and Imperial expansion. In the name of a War against Terror, they launched an all-out assault on our constitutional liberties. They sought to blur the lines between Church and State, create an Imperial Presidency, undermine democratic checks and balances, and turn America into a nightmare for all but the wealthiest.

In 2003, I decided it was not enough for progressives to simply complain to each other and let Fox News and right wing Talk- Radio talk to the people. At that point, a number of us formed the Wellstone Democratic political stranglehold of the Republicans. Our club registered 2/3rds of all new Democratic voters in Alameda County, raised $270,000 for ACT, and played a major role in the victory of Congressman Jerry McNerney over right-winger Richard Pombo.

The pendulum is beginning to swing back in our direction. The disaster in Iraq and the growing hardships of working people have opened up a lot of minds. Conservative policies have failed and people are looking for new approaches. This is an important time for KPFA. I want to see this station grow from a progressive voice that speaks mainly to the left into a beacon that can reach all those who are looking for new ideas.

We need to get KPFA up to speed: modernize its equipment, encourage the highest standards of quality and professionalism, and provide programs that are a 'must hear.' We have to get past the self destructive infighting and sectarian squabbles that have dogged this station and are the bane of the left. Northern California has the largest and most diverse progressive community in the whole country. We have a talented and dedicated staff and a hard-working volunteer crew. If we can take a card from the conservatives and learn to pull together, we can make this station a factor in pushing the political pendulum back to the left.

Endorsers: Mal Burnstein- Co-chair, Progressive Caucus, California Democratic Party; Mayme Hubert- Co-chair, Progressive Caucus, California Democratic Party; Jerry Fillingin - Political Organizer, SEIU 1021; Vicki Cosgrove- Co-founder Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club; Reese Erlick- Journalist and Reporter