'Pennsylvania State Rep. Harold James
Endorses LaRouche in April 27th Democratic Primary

Here is the transcript of the April 12, 2023 press conference of Pennsylvania State Rep. Harold James (D-Philadelphia), which he called to announce his endorsement of Lyndon LaRouche in the April 27 Pennsylvania Democratic Presidential primary. The Philadelphia press conference was chaired by local LaRouche in 2004 representative Steve Douglas. The press conference was concluded with the LaRouche Youth Movement singing "Oh Freedom" and "Jesu Meine Freude," in memory to internationally renowned bel canto voice teacher and Philadelphian, Sylvia Olden Lee, who passed away on April 10, 2023.

Steve Douglas: Good morning. I'd like to welcome you all to this press conference of the LaRouche Presidential campaign, in which State Rep. Harold James will be announcing his endorsement of Lyndon LaRouche for the Democratic nomination for President in the April 27 primary. There will be three features to today's press conference: I will be making some remarks about the strategic significance of Representative James's endorsement, in my capacity as Lyndon LaRouche's campaign coordinator in Pennsylvania. My name is Steve Douglas. Secondly, we will hear Representative James's endorsement itself. And thereafter, we will have several vocal offerings from the LaRouche Youth Movement, which has been so active in this campaign, and the campaign around the country.

The endorsement of Representative James could not come at a more crucial time, as the United States stands on the brink of the worst financial blowout in the last hundred years--not only the United States, but the world. Mr. LaRouche, the world's leading economic forecaster, has warned, time and again, over the past number of years, that unless steps are taken along the lines that he specified, to reorganize the international monetary system, that we will be plunged into an economic and financial holocaust that will lead to a Dark Age, in which as many as 5 billion people will be wiped off the face of the Earth.

We face, at the same time, the danger associated with this financial collapse, of being plunged into World War III. And certainly, the conditions which we see unfolding, especially in Iraq right now, bespeak the horror that is the impending Dark Age. We need the leadership of Mr. LaRouche. Only the leadership of Mr. LaRouche, as visibly inserted into policymaking processes in the Democratic Party, will be adequate to address the needs of this nation and the world, in this moment of crisis.

LaRouche is currently leading, according to the Federal Election Commission's statistic, in both depth and breadth of financial support, as that is expressed in terms of itemized individual contributions. He has more itemized individual contributions than Senator Kerry, or any other active candidate.

Now, Senator Kerry, who is currently a leading contender for the nomination, is an individual who, in normal times, according to Mr. LaRouche, would be a viable Presidential candidate. But, these are not normal times. Especially when you consider that our abnormal times, and our times of crisis, are complicated by the fact that we have arguably the dumbest President in history occupying the White House. "Dubya" Bush's only defense for all the crimes that are being committed in his name, is that he didn't know anything about them. This man is so dumb, that he represents a national security threat to the United States. We clearly can not afford for the policies of Dubya Bush, as they're orchestrated by Dick Cheney and others behind him, to continue to predominate in the United States, over the coming months, going into the Democratic Convention in Boston, let alone, beyond next November and the election.

So, the step that Representative James is taking, to endorse LaRouche today, is a rallying point for Democrats around the nation, who want to see peace, prosperity, and the tradition of FDR and Martin Luther King restored as the basis for policymaking in the Democratic Party. That's what Mr. LaRouche represents, and that's what Representative James is standing up to state. We need people, veteran Democratic leaders like Representative James, to insist that LaRouche be brought into the debate and the discussion process with Senator Kerry, now. If there is a discussion process, featuring LaRouche and Kerry, in which the vital issues of the day, on war, peace, financial reform, the fight against terrorism, are taken up; if there is a dialogue, an open, public dialogue and debate between LaRouche and Kerry, then the potential exists to shape the Democratic Party as an instrument for change, as an instrument for the revival of the efficient implementation of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.

Only if LaRouche is brought into that kind of process, however, can we expect that to occur. There is no plan, there is no gimmick, there is no "step 1, 2, 3, 4," that can be taken, to extricate ourselves from Iraq. There is no such plan that exists, in the abstract, that can lead to the establishment of a new monetary system. You need an understanding of the processes, and you need political leadership, that has the courage and the intellect, and the will, to implement them. Mr. LaRouche has proven himself uniquely capable in this regard, over the many years of his service to the United States.

So, it's from that standpoint that we look at the significance of Representative James's endorsement today. This is an endorsement that will be welcomed, not only by FDR Democrats, and Democrats who want to see the tradition of Martin Luther King revived in the Democratic Party of the United States; it's an endorsement that will be welcomed the world over: in Russia, in China, in Germany, in France, in Italy, in Spain, throughout Ibero-America, throughout Africa. Because, leaders around the world recognize--unlike the Democratic National Committee, who fears LaRouche--leaders around the world recognize that LaRouche represents the best hope for the United States, the best hope for the revival of the American System, and the best hope for them. If they see that LaRouche is on the ascendant in the United States, they will be emboldened to take additional steps, to work with the true United States--the United States of FDR, the United States of Martin Luther King, the United States that Lyndon LaRouche represents--they will be emboldened to work with the United States, to put the world financial system and the world economy back on a sound footing. They are looking to LaRouche. If they see LaRouche's forces expanding and emerging as decisive in policymaking in the United States, they will be emboldened to act more vigorously against the Clash of Civilizations policies of Dick Cheney and friends.

So, Representative James's endorsement today, means something not only for the United States, and for the constituents of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, but it means something for the citizens of the world. This is a global crisis. It's a global crisis that begs LaRouche's leadership, that needs LaRouche's leadership for its solution. And the essential question facing the American people now, and that the Democratic voters will take up in Pennsylvania in the April 27 primary, is sending a message to the Democratic leadership in Washington, and sending a message to the world, that the Democratic voters in Pennsylvania recognize the vital importance of LaRouche; and they're calling upon their Democratic leaders to include LaRouche, incorporate LaRouche, visibly, publicly, as the statesman, as the valuable national asset and Democratic asset, that indeed he is. Without LaRouche's leadership, there is no solution to this crisis.

So, we can send a message. The Democrats of Pennsylvania can make their vote count. And they can make their vote count, not only within their voting district, but around the world, by sending this message. Representative James will elaborate on this concept in his endorsement, but, just let me state, that we owe Representative James a great debt of gratitude for taking this step, that other Democrats have thought about doing, but haven't really demonstrated the courage to do. What he's doing, is taking a step to break the dam on the wall of containment and intimidation that's been thrown up around the LaRouche candidacy by the Democratic National Committee and their allies in the Synarchist International.

So, with his bold move, others are being moralized, others are being encouraged, others are being inspired, to take similar action. So, we look at this step today, as the beginning of a wave of developments which will reshape politics in the Democratic Party, and insert LaRouche and inject LaRouche into the proper, visible, policymaking position that the nation desperate needs for him to take in the subsequent Democratic primaries.

So, with that, it gives me great pleasure to introduce Rep. Harold James, as he endorses Lyndon LaRouche for President.

Rep. Harold James: Thank you, very much, and good morning to all of you, and welcome to the 186th Legislative District in South Philadelphia, which I represent.

You know, just a little bit of history: You're sitting in the Scottish Rite Tower building. When I was about 10-12 years of age, I used to come to this corner here, but this building wasn't here. What was here, was called the O.V. Catto Post, and I joined the marching band here, where we used to have marches and with drill teams--you remember that, Phyllis? So, that was a long time ago. And then, I came back here about eight or nine years ago, and I used one of those shovels there, as they built this building. It's going to house some of our finest seniors, who have led the way for us, and for me, to be here.

I guess, after listening to Steve say everything, there's nothing left for me to say, really--is there? [laughter]

But--but seriously, is that we need to send a message, and that's currently what I'm doing. I want people to stop taking our votes for granted: People, Democrats, Republicans, independents, and whoever else has been taking them for granted: Stop taking our votes for granted.

Currently, the Democratic Party has begun to rally behind the banner of Sen. John Kerry, who is no doubt a better man than what we have in there. However, the Democratic Party is continuing to take many of its leading constituent groups for granted, such as African-Americans, other minorities, labor, and others. Our concerns at this point are not being adequately represented by the Kerry campaign. We must remedy this problem, so that we can mobilize a massive turnout for the Democratic Party, and remove the Bush-Cheney Administration from power in November. [hearty applause]

For this reason, and after serious soul-searching and consideration, I have decided to extend my personal endorsement to the candidacy of Lyndon H. LaRouche, Jr., in the April 27 Democratic Presidential primary, here in Pennsylvania. Fifteen percent of the vote, or more, for Mr. LaRouche, in any Congressional District, will elect LaRouche delegates to the Democratic Party National Convention, and guarantee that our voices will be heard at the very highest levels of politics in this country.

Mr. LaRouche is one of three active candidates, that will be on the Pennsylvania primary ballot on April 27. And as of the Federal Election Commission February 2023 report, Mr. LaRouche leads all of the Democratic Presidential candidates in cumulative numbers of individual itemized contributions. LaRouche has 36,281 itemized contributions, as compared to 25,899 for John Kerry. By the time of the Democratic National Convention, Mr. LaRouche will have appeared on the ballot in 32 states and the District of Columbia. And also as of the February FEC report, Mr. LaRouche had raised $6,735,378, of which he qualified for matching grants.

Over the years, when I've asked Mr. LaRouche to become involved with issues that would improve the conditions of my community, he has responded--not with words alone, but with action. Several years ago, when it was revealed that black elected officials were being systematically targetted and harassed by the Department of Justice, Mr. LaRouche sponsored hearings and circulated crucial material exposing that horrible injustice. Those hearings were dedicated to the memory of our late, great State Rep. Dave Richardson, whose tragic, untimely death, precluded his planned participation in those hearings.

When the Democratic National Committee failed to sponsor hearings to establish a fair and just platform in the 2000 campaign--you know, that's the campaign in which the election was stolen--Mr. LaRouche called for Democratic Platform Hearings. My colleagues and I participated in those historic hearings, which addressed the critical issues of health care, jobs, economic injustice, and government harassment.

When I asked Mr. LaRouche to help, last fall, after it was discovered that Attorney General Ashcroft had authorized the wiretapping of the office of Philadelphia Mayor John Street, in an attempt to influence the outcome of the election, Mr. LaRouche responded. He personally supported Mayor Street, and unleashed an army of young people in Philadelphia in that election. That effort helped to ensure the Mayor's re-election by a landslide.

While I invited all of the Democratic Presidential candidates, at that time, to speak out against the injustice, here in Philly, only two candidates--Mr. LaRouche and former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun--responded.

Several years ago, when Washington, D.C. General Hospital was being shut down, as a prelude to the closing of trauma centers and full-service hospitals in urban centers across the country, Mr. LaRouche took up the challenge, to defend public health in the nation's capital. I joined that fight. Today, Mr. LaRouche has pledged to upgrade our health care, as a national security issue of the highest magnitude, and I salute him on that. Mr. LaRouche has championed the cause of universal health care. Health care is a right for all Americans, and not a privilege for some.

And in echoing the voice of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Mr. LaRouche has called for defending the rights of America's "forgotten men and women," and promoting the general welfare of the entire nation.

And moreover, he has fought vigorously on behalf of the rights of the "forgotten men and women" of the world. He has waged a relentless campaign against the silent genocide, which is ravaging Africa, while others have failed to adequately address this issue.

Without Mr. LaRouche's input and delegates, I'm concerned that these issues will not be adequately addressed or raised at the Democratic National Convention in Boston this summer. And that's why I urge you, to go out and vote, April 27; tell your friends; tell your family members: Take someone with you, and vote for Lyndon LaRouche. Send a message to the Democratic National Committee, and vote for Lyndon LaRouche for President on April 27.

Thank you. [applause]

And now, I'll take any questions that you may have. I'm sure that between Steve and I, we can handle them. Oh, I see that the other delegate is here, so I thought we ought to introduce the delegates. If they get the 15%, and everybody comes out and votes: The delegate from the 1st Congressional District, will you stand up and introduce yourself?

Delegate: Hi, I think almost everybody knows me. I'm Mary Woodward. I live in South Philly, unfortunately I'm just this side of Representative James's district. But, I am campaigning. And Representative James, we salute you. This is just--not only your telephone must be ringing off the hook, but your ears, too. Because, everybody's talking about your courage. And so, we salute you in this. [applause]

Rep. James: And we also have the delegate from the 2nd Congressional District.

Delegate: How're you doing, Representative James? My name is Dean Vance, I think most of you, or some of you know me. And the rest of you know me now. I take my hat off to you, Representative James, to show such courage--{coeur}, "heart" in French; {courage,} "heart-strength"--and surely you have that strength. What happens, is that, when you show that kind of courage, everybody around you, who doesn't have that, gets pissed off at you. "How dare you show me up?" So, I give you all the kudos, and all the praise that's due to you. And let's push out there, and let's have everybody vote April 27. Let's pull our neighbors, cousins, in-laws, everything else. [applause]

Question: Representative James, my name's Abdul Muhammad [ph]. What would you say to your friends, who would come out, probably after the press conference, and say, "Don't you know LaRouche is a racist? Don't you know LaRouche is this? Don't you know...?" What would you say to the "don't you know?" people, who are going to hog you, after this is announced, publicly?

Rep. James: Well, I would say to the "don't you know?" people, I would say, "Don't you know?"--no, I wouldn't say "don't you know." I would say, "Do you agree that your votes have been taken for granted by the Democratic National Committee, or Party? And what is your answer?" And the answer would have to be, "Yes."

Then, I would say, "Well, do you also agree, that the Democratic National Committee, or the Democratic Party, has not been adequately addressing our concerns and problems? And what is your answer to that?" And the answer would be, "Yes, they have not."

So, I would say, "Therefore, and do you also know, that in the institutional racism, that the first thing they do, is try to discredit you? And they come out with these rumors and stuff? Such as has happened to anybody who has stood up for justice, and stood up for right, and stood up for truth? As in the movie, `The Passion.'" So therefore, I would say, "So, make your vote count, and send a message on April 27."

Question: My name's Nick Feden. I heard some of your radio interview yesterday, on WURD. And, at a certain point, you were talking about the railroad idea, the maglev, and other ideas, that Lyndon LaRouche has brought up as an economic plan to save the cities, and save the physical economy of the nation.

Can you just briefly talk about what you see as the effect on the cities, the inner cities, and your areas with something like the maglev project that LaRouche has talked about?

Rep. James: Well, LaRouche has talked about maglev projects; he's talked about building, connecting rail systems from China, and all different countries, and then talked about it here. And what was surprising to me, was to hear our Governor, Rendell, talk about the fact that we need that maglev train, and talk about rebuilding the infrastructure. Because the infrastructure needs to be rebuilt.

If you look at my district, you will see that there are houses that are falling down. You know, once a month, or once every couple of months, you will see somebody's house has fallen down, because our infrastructure--a hole went into the street and has caved in. So, if we start rebuilding our infrastructure, and building those maglev train lines, you know, who's going to benefit? The people that live in the areas are going to benefit, because they're going to be able to have jobs. The unions are going to benefit; the economy is going to benefit. And I think that's what can happen, in terms of that.

Question: Mr. James, how do you go about mobilizing the unions, the churches, and all the other groups in your district? What is your strategy for that?

Rep. James: Well, I think the strategy is to make sure that we get the word out, and what I just said today. And I think the biggest mobilization comes from the youth. I mean, without those youth, we ain't going to do it! So, we need you guys to be out there, to do it!

And, I think that's what it is. Because, you know, when people, when they try to intimidate and when they try to discredit you, the first thing people say, is, "Why are you doing this?" Or, "What's wrong with this." But, when you're able to explain what happened, or why you're doing it, then everybody says, it makes sense.

Just yesterday, I had breakfast with Al Sharpton, who was here in the district, at the church, invited by Reverend Croft [ph] at the Redeemer Church in South Philly. And so, I had breakfast with him, and one of the discussions was that--someone asked him, "Your campaign is suspended?" He said, yes, he's suspended the campaign, but he's still getting delegates. And, I asked him, was he going to speak at the Convention. He said he would, and they just haven't come up with an agenda yet, and as to the day that he was going to speak. Which is great. And that's what we need to do. We need to make sure we get our delegates, so that LaRouche can speak, and the delegates can have a voice at the Convention.

Douglas: Also, in answer to that, we have a few Democratic activists here today, that will be helping in that. I'd like to recognize them. We have, a man representing the backbone of the Democratic Party, the Democratic Committee structure, with James Grant [ph] here, a longtime Democratic Committeeman.

Rep. James: Long time!

James Grant [ph]: I have to salute you. There are not very many men, in this United States, who would take the stand that you've taken. And I want to say, that we're not taking our vote for granted--we're not using them. I hear people every day, say, "I'm not going to vote! They're not doing anything for me; I'm not going to do anything for them!"

And, I get out on my horn, and I say, "How dumb that is! You're helping them out! Because if not but 10% of the people vote, they can buy them!"

And, it seems like to me, all the politicians that I know, and have dealt with, they're trying to load their pockets--and that doesn't help the people at all. I know a lot of good men, that I have helped to put in--I know they were good. But, as soon as they got in office, they turned politics--and the people didn't get anything. So, the people say, "I'm not going to vote!" But, let's try to get the people out, registered, and {vote}! And, we can do a little better than what we're doing. Because, the country is run by politics. The politicians run the country. And we, the people, the government, are supposed to run the politicians--and if we don't do that, we're in the shape we're in, now.

Thank you. [applause]

Douglas: We also have Reverend Allen.

Rev. Allen: Good morning to everybody, and I salute you, as well, Mr. James. My sister, Miss Butler, you know well, so you know we're solid in line. And, I want to say this, that it is hard to get people to understand. But, once the views hit them, like a lot of them in my area are unemployment, they're losing their homes, and the infrastructure is falling to the ground, we're going through that--so, they're coming now to understand that Mr. LaRouche is one of the answers for their future. So, I can say, they're coming closer. And a few, who I talked to, who under the cover are hiding, but I think they're going to open up in a minute. Thank you, for opening the door for them.

Douglas: Reverend Cathey.

Reverend Cathey:: Thank you, I'm Reverend Cathey, and I heard so much about Representative James, here, that I must congratulate you. I commend you for your courage, to stand up at a day and a time like this, when it seems like the politicians have a chokehold on people and they can't talk, or they're afraid to talk. I noticed, in the paper here, that Lyndon LaRouche calls a lot of people in D.C. "chicken-hawks"--and that's because they have a lot of chickens. If you have chickens, you will have little chicken-hawks.

But, it is encouraging to find any one person, today, who will take a stand, and speak out against the corruption that is going on in the world, today.

Now, what you said here, a minute ago, about, you hear so many people saying "I'm not voting"; I hear the same thing. Today, they tell me, "I'm not voting, because, uh, they're going to do what they want to do, anyway." And I tell them, "They do what they want to do, because you {let} them do it, by not voting." And I have changed some people's mind on that. They have seen in a different light. So, if we do the same, I think we can get more voters.

Now, I heard another thing--I think the question was, "What would you say, if they say, that the man is a racist?" Now, I've heard these things said myself, and I heard another man being built up, and heard some torn down. What I usually ask them, "How well do you know the person?" See? It's hearsay. Now, I've pastored a church for 36 years. I had to deal with many issues with people. I could not go to a person, just because I heard something, and accuse them. If I had to correct a person, I would always use this method, "This is hearsay. If I'm wrong, correct me." That's the way I did it, and I kept conflict down, and everybody got along just fine, for the 36 years that I pastored.

So, I'm glad to be here. I've been in a meeting before with you. You probably don't remember me, but I'm glad to see you again. God bless you, and keep up the good works.

Rep. James: Some of the people say, "Well, didn't you hear that Lyndon LaRouche was a racist? Anti-Semitic?" I say, "Well, tell me what he did, that was racist?" They said, "Uh." And they said, "Well, I heard...."

Then, I said, "Well, George Wallace, you heard of him. Lester Maddox, you heard of them. And they were racists, and they did things. And they call themselves, they changed. So, I mean, if that was true, why not this be a change?" But, that wasn't true. And I said, "I've been working with the Schiller Institute and LaRouche for 10 years." And I said, "You know me. You know my background: Would I be working with a racist?"

Any more questions? [laughter]

Question: My name's Brian, with the LaRouche Youth Movement? I just wondered, what would you say, maybe, to another committeeperson, or a reverend, or somebody in the community that is thinking about going and coming out and endorsing LaRouche, or supporting the campaign, and are maybe afraid of the kind of flak that they'll catch, for this?

Rep. James: Well, one of the things, is, we have to educate our public, and our voting public. Because, the Democratic Party says, "We're going to vote for Kerry. We want everybody to vote for Kerry." Well, so, it's our job to go out and educate the people, and say, "Look, we're all going to be for Kerry, when he comes out of the convention; because he's going to win the convention, because he's got the delegates, and he's passed the process. But, let's make our vote do something this time. Make your vote count for something. Because, it's not going to count if you vote for Kerry. But, it would count, and you are sending a message, if you vote for LaRouche. So, we can have some say, at the Democratic National Convention. The primary is set up, for the people in their respective parties, to take issue. So, the primary is there, so, if you got an issue with the general concept or the general purpose of the party, you're supposed to use that primary vote to make it count. And so, let's do that, this time." That's what I would say to them.

James Grant: Do you hear people say, "Oh yeah, no need for you to getting out there, worrying yourself about this. Because {they} are not going to do..." I like to tell people, "Don't worry about what they say they're not going to do. {You} do!" Whatever needs getting done, I get out there, and do whatever I can about it. I'm telling people to do. But, if they don't do, I'm not going to say, "Well, I ain't no need for me going out there, because they're not going to do."

This is what hurt the whole system, when people {excuse} themselves, by saying, "I'm not going to bother, because those folks out there are not going to do anything." And that kills the whole subject.

Rep. James: That's right. Every vote counts. Okay, again, so let's make it count. Let's get out there, and encourage people to vote for LaRouche on April 27. Thank you for coming.

Stop Taking Our Votes For Granted!
Send a Message -- Make your vote count on April 27th
by Pennsylvania State Representative Harold James
April 7, 2023

- 30 -