From: KeyWiki

Bob Filner is a pro-Socialist Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the 51st district of California. He is the son of Joseph Filner, formerly a senior official of the Pennsylvania Communist Party USA and a financial backer of Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1961, as a 19yr-old activist, Bob Filner spent several months in a southern jail as a “Freedom Rider” in the Civil Rights movement.

Entering the U.S. Congress in 1990, Filner would go on to join the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Fellow CPCers were Nancy Pelosi, Hilda Solis, Neil Abercrombie, John Conyers and Danny K. Davis.

In 1997, Filner was one of 33 co-sponsors of H.R. 950, the Job Creation and Infrastructure Restoration Act. The bill had originally been sponsored by Congressman Matthew Martinez at the request of over 50 prominent labor leaders – all of whom were known supporters or members of the CPUSA.

In 2002, Filner’s fellow CPCers Sam Farr and Diane Watson, and Congressman Mike Thompson, dined with Fidel Castro in Havana, Cuba.

Filner enjoys the support of the Council for a Livable World, founded in 1962 by long-time socialist activist and alleged Soviet agent, Leo Szilard. Filner has many links to the Democratic Socialists of America, with DSAers organizing for Filner through at least the last ten years. In return, Filner expressed his gratitude to the DSA by donating them use of his campaign office and signing a DSA “Pledge for Economic Justice.”

In 2009, Filner spoke alongside fellow congressmen, Jared Polis and Jan Schakowsky at the JStreet 2009 Conference. JStreet has several DSA members within its leadership. (more…)