An Exclusive Interview With Will Bower, Co-Founder of PUMA (Party Unity My A**)

Nice interview.

I'm pretty skeptical of the legitimacy of PUMA, their tactics strike me as Swiftboating.

I could understand the 3rd party aspect, I don't think that anyone should be held hostage by party loyalty and I'd be lying if I claimed that Obama is perfect. I understand writing Clinton's name in (although I think it's stupid) as a protest vote. But I can't for the life of me figure out the logic of "teaching Democrats a lesson" by supporting McCain and by extension, the failed policies of the Bush administration over the past 8 years.

Okay, so Obama isn't the perfect ideal on issues like gay marriage because he's not making it the forefront of his campaign and is for civil unions instead of actual marriage, so let's teach the Democrats a lesson by voting for the guy that's against both and had to hide his meeting with the Log Cabin Republicans from his own party and instead panders to them under the table? Okay, some Obama supporters are sexist and used misogyny against Clinton, so let's teach those sexists a lesson by voting for the guy that is against reproductive freedom and equal pay for women? Okay, we don't like Obama as a person, so let's vote just based on that for a guy that's going to be appointing conservative judges and political positions that will have a large sway over civil and constitutional rights? Okay, there has been a violation of voting rights because we didn't allow Clinton to get all the delegates from a state where Obama supporters had no voice because Obama wasn't on the ballot?

So at face value, it doesn't compute. Then there are the odd little inconsistencies. For all the publicity and 15 minutes of fame that Bower has received, he's allegedly donated very little to Clinton's campaign. There is no record of him ever having donated on the Federal Election Commission database, you'd think for someone that was so passionate about Clinton being the next president and the knowledge of Clinton's lag behind Obama in fund raising, that would be the most direct support one could give.

Interestingly enough, what some have found is a donation from PUMA PAC's treasurer, back in the year 2000, to John McCain. Hell of a coincidence, there. Apparently she claims that it was strategic, that somehow donating $500 bucks to McCain and donating nothing to Al Gore was supposed to help Al Gore win in 2000.

I also find it interesting that they are getting much coverage and hype from Republican and conservative media. Attacking the messenger is a bit dishonest, I know, but when it's only Republicans talking about how awesome this movement to divide the Democratic party is, particularly given the current split in major, party-defining issues within conservatives and the GOP love of projection in talking points, it's a bit of a red flag.

They also tend to exaggerate their numbers, and swear that tons and tons of people are on board. But I have yet to see a prominent political or media figure support them. I also have yet to see a prominent feminist support them, even though half their cause is centered around the stereotype of those angry, bitter middle-aged women that are pissed at the sexism in the Democratic party.

So I don't know. Maybe the cause is genuine, I'm sure for some PUMA supporters, it is. But overall, being that Clinton and Obama did not differ greatly on most issues (so a lot of this "outrage" is fitting into the same meme as the right-wing attack machine - it's over character instead of issues) and those devoted to Clinton won't accept that she has made her peace with Obama and encouraged her supporters to support him, I'm a little suspicious as to why this movement is supposedly so major to the election this year.

Unfortunately, third parties never seem to work. if you care enough, you must grit your teeth and vote for the lesser of two evils. This happened to the Repubs in 2000 and i think it is happening to both parties this time around.

New Political Parties have been formed over less important issues. I say go PUMA.

I have been so inspired by Will Bower and what he has sacrificed in speaking truth to power. Everyday, I wake up to thousands of emails that flood the Just Say No Deal inbox stating their utter disgust with the nomination process staged by the Democratic Party. These are good people - people who believed in their party - thinking 'it' was comprised of the good guys. No one person is responsible for the mess this year...but it sure is gonna take a village to fix it -- a PUMA village.

We may be 'anger-shakers' as the Washington Post wrote - but we are also 'democracy-movers'...

Thanks Will!!!!!!
You speak for millions of us.
Puma Pac

Regardless of who may or may not have started the effort. I believe that there are a lot of Americans that believe in their cause.

I agree, there probably are more than 2 million members of the coalition.

For instance, I have been following the PUMA movement for weeks now but haven't officially joined.

For the doubters: its wishful thinking to dismiss PUMA as a GOP invention. These are hardcore Dems that are very passionate about standing up for democratic principals and taking back our party. Many have come directly from liberal blogs and pro-Hillary forums that I frequented before PUMA's existance.

I'm still on the fence, but now read several blogs on the Just Say No Deal site daily for comfort. I've really been struggling to accept the way this primary went down. Well, actually, I don't accept it... but I am still very conflicted about voting for McCain or sitting it out. I will make my decision after the convention.

That's an old chestnut that PUMAS are really McCainites in disguise. It's been deliberately spread by Donna Brazile (remember the momma don' cheat lady at the RBC meeting) (the one who denied Hill TWO States right from the start). She sent out 100s of thousands of emails to Dems saying PUMAS were all McCain dogs.

That's funny, because a month ago, she was saying that her candidate could easily win without Hillary voters (Who were all Appalachian old farts, bitter knitters or six-pack Joes, anyway). She, Dean, and Pelosi were aiming for the Republican centrist vote and a NuDem Party. I guess they've been less successful than she thought with youth Evangelicals, and the Republican "creative class" in general. (Creative class = youthful, college educated, progressive, green, enlightened, well paid, upwardly mobile, not boomers, usually male, etc)

Those are real Party Unity tactics-(my ass!)

Throw the Big Tent under the bus-that's a good girl, then blame it all on McCain.

BRIAN FORD (Wed Jul 2, 2008 7:48 PM EDT) SAID:
#2.3 "...I too, find this a bit suspicious, for the reasons Stacy lays out but also because a group that is allegedly supporting Clinton chose to go with PUMA rather than the far more hilarious COUGAR..."

MY RESPONSE:
It is okay for you to think that the PUMA movement is underwhelming. However, Democratic Party leaders like Ed Rendell are not taking the movement for granted (see internet link below).

Multi-Cultural PUMA NY . . . JustSayNoDeal.com . . . Clintons4McCain.com

I just heard about the PUMA PAC, and I can think of 4 reasons why lifelong Democratic "Clinton supporters" would vote for McCain over Obama. The first would be feminists who are nearing the end of the line, and are very bitter about it "not happening within their lifetime". This makes sense but I would imagine the vast majority would shift to Obama after the pain subsides. The second are "rebels without a cause" or people with a pathology where rational thought is difficult. The third would be Repugs who are trying to use any dirty trick they can think of to Swift Boat McCain over the top. The fourth one I haven't seen mentioned but it involves racism, including people who deny it, but could never envision themselves voting for an African-American. The prior critical comment regarding Donna Brazile, who is African-American, is very suggestive.

You Democrats are still "not getting" what just happened. Bush/Rove just rigged the Democratic Primaries for Obama. Where did all this Republican cash for Obama come from? Republicans being led by Bush/Rove to force Democrats to nominate a certain loser. Why the hundreds of thousands of Republicans crossing over to the Democratic primaries to vote for Obama? The Bush/Rove team knows Obama will get ZERO electoral votes out of the south.

The southern white family voted AS A BLOCK against northerners McGovern, Mondale and Dukakis. Once that happened the races were over! Democrats lost by landslide margins. What will this southern white family voting block do with a northern black? No chance for Barack in the south!

Once we Democrats get swept in the South, the Republicans can concentrate on the hundred or so votes they still need to reach 270. The Democrats will still need 270 votes out of what is left. Bush/Rove can concentrate all their cash and efforts on the rest of the country. The south becomes an easy and CHEAP Republican "lock" with Obama as our nominee.

The Republicans have used this racist "Southern Strategy" for years. The Republican owned media has been kissing Obama's backside for a reason. George Bush and his Halliburton "owned" press is trying to carry Obama on their backs to the nomination. Then just watch as the Republican support for Obama (financial and otherwise) dries up.

Hillary has got a chance at winning Arkansas and Florida. Barack does not! Hillary ran well in the key up for grab states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Barack did not! Once you understand that Bush/Rove know all of this, you see why the Republican leadership has foisted Obama on the Democratic Party. After all the illegal garbage the GOP has pulled over the last 8 years, unless they DICTATE the Democratic candidate they will LOSE! If they lose they believe some of them may have to go to jail. They will cheat "all day long and twice on Sunday" in order to prevent that.

So by stuffing the absentee ballot boxes, changing the totals at the network tote boards, sending hundreds of thousands of Republican "turncoats" to vote for Obama and sending millions of dollars of donations to Obama, the GOP hopes to stick us with a sure loser.

You remember what Bush/Rove cheating did to us in 2000 and 2004! An Obama nomination sticks us with a candidate with cocaine use and a couple of wacko ministers to apologize for. Do you remember Willie Horton in 1988. We were coming off of 12 years of Republican mean-spirited ineptitude and we still couldn't win over "stupid Willie Horton commercials." If you invite the Republicans to play "the white racist card," they will! And they WILL win with it.

Ironically, who is punished most by an Obama nomination and the inevitable defeat that will ultimately ensue? That would be the African-American population of the United States. They know what happens when a Republican steals the White House. War, Poverty, Katrina! They KNOW what happens.

Billy Joel said it best with the lyrics to Angry Young Man a song about a rebel without a clue. It sums up PUMA and its members pretty well. Where is Ralph Nader when disaffected people whose team has lost need a place to flush their vote. If PUMA truly believes in Hillary, as I do, they would listen to what she said at the convention and get behind Barack Obama 100%! Hillary is absolutely right, Barack Obama MUST be the next President of the United States and Hillary and her supporters will help make that a reality.

As a side note, we stand at the dawn of a new day in America. The Republican stranglehold on the country is losing its grip and we have the opportunity to take it back now. Will we let the political pundit talking heads convince us that we have irreconcilable differences, or will we rise above their worthless rhetoric and achieve our potential. John McCain and Karl Rove certainly hope that we behave like idiots and pave the way for yet another Republican victory. It is up to us to focus on our common ground and to move forward. History will be the judge.

The following material is copy written and belongs to Bill Joel...

There's a place in the world for the angry young man
With his working class ties and his radical plans
He refuses to bend, he refuses to crawl,
Hes always at home with his back to the wall.
And hes proud of his scars and the battles hes lost,
And he struggles and bleeds as he hangs on the cross-
And he likes to be known as the angry young man.

Give a moment or two to the angry young man,
With his foot in his mouth and his heart in his hand.
Hes been stabbed in the back, hes been misunderstood,
Its a comfort to know his intentions are good.
And he sits in a room with a lock on the door,
With his maps and his medals laid out on the floor-
And he likes to be known as the angry young man.

I believe Ive passed the age of consciousness and righteous rage
I found that just surviving was a noble fight.
I once believed in causes too,
I had my pointless point of view,
And life went on no matter who was wrong or right.

And there's always a place for the angry young man,
With his fist in the air and his head in the sand.
And hes never been able to learn from mistakes,
So he cant understand why his heart always breaks.
But his honor is pure and his courage as well,
And hes fair and hes true and hes boring as hell-
And hell go to the grave as an angry old man.