Democrats' Solidarity Fades

[truthpusher]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/07/29/opinion/lynch/main712741.shtml

Democrats' Solidarity Fades
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WASHINGTON, July 29, 2005
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(snip)

This week the floundering gave way to open warfare. The labor movement broke in two, the battle between the left and centrists flared up again and Democrats in Congress imploded over a consultant who has been working pro-bono for two years trying to re-brand the party. Americans Coming Together, the Democratic front group that massively organized the grassroots in 2004 now looks more like Americans Coming Apart, downsizing its operations and concentrating on research until money and support can be found.

Hillary Clinton put on her best her school-marm-in chief persona in a speech to the centrist Democratic Leadership Council on Monday and set off a firestorm by telling the kids to stop the fighting. "Now, I know the DLC has taken some shots from some within our party and that it has returned fire, too. Well, I think it's high time for a ceasefire; time for all Democrats to work together based on the fundamental values we all share, values violated every day in Washington by the ideologues of the Republican right."

Even though she was chastising the centrists, liberals got mad the she would even associate with the group Jesse Jackson once referred to as the Democratic Leisure Class. Roger Hickey from the liberal Campaign for America's Future told the Washington Post, “There has been an activist resurgence in the Democratic Party in recent years, and Hillary risks ensuring that there's a candidate to her left appealing to those activists who don't much like the DLC."

(snip)

But it is the lack of message more than the fighting that is really creating stress inside party circles. Democrats know they need one but can't figure out what it is. One guru, former Madison Avenue ad guy Peter Yanowitch, has now been demoted from his pro-bono job in favor of political consultants who Democratic officials maligned a few months ago. Many were hoping that a good fight over a Supreme Court judge might unify the unhappy campers, but so far Judge Roberts is not giving them the fodder they were hoping for. Attacking Bush, Karl Rove, John Bolton and Social Security makes them happy, but deep down they long to be positive. If only they could figure out what to be positive about.

They seem to be in the market for answers, but if you offer any you better duck. The fur is flying.

complete story: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/07/29/opinion/lynch/main712741.shtml

[Brooklyn Michael]

1. Oh look...

Democrats being Democrats again....:sarcasm:

[MrBenchley]

3. That is our strength,...and why we truly represent Aemrica

We aren't marching around behind a little tin fuehrer, making people sign loyalty oaths before they can hear what we've got to say....

[tmorelli415]

2. DU is a good example

the regular childish factions are digging in their heels and demanding things are only to be one way or nothing - interesting how they accuse Bush of the same thing they do.

Compromise? Don't even suggest it! You'll get bitch slapped in a NY minute.

Comes a time when Dems are going to have to decide if they want to win elections and accomplish things by compromising with one another, or just make demands and argue.

Don't blame anyone but yourself if we're the minority party for another 10 years, kids.

Make a personal commitment to change or accept the status quo.

[renaissanceguy]

4. DLCers ARE the status quo.

The problem is not the diversity of opinion. Many of us are on board to make change. But it's the minority DLCers in the party who screw things up by bending over and compromising NOT with the base of the Democratic party, but with the base of the fascist party.

[yurbud]

6. DLC is not moderate--if they have to hurt someone, it's us not corporation

Hillbilly Hitler art:



Blog:

[Solo_in_MD]

7. Hear, Hear!

I'm new here and have already seen some of that at DU. Truely unfortunate that the repukes seem to be outdoing the progressives on the big tent thing.

[cornermouse]

8. Compromise is one thing.

An outright giveaway on the things the democrats stand for is something else.

Some of these people have got to find themselves facing serious challengers in their next primaries.

[WhiteTara]

9. over one million women marched together

last year in the biggest march on Washington ever. It included women of all political persuasions and coalitions from many groups. Just because there are very strong opinions here doesn't mean there will be no coalitions. We will form coalitions over issues, not just sit around and say "yes massa" to anyone who decides they want to be the leader. The DLC is filled with sellouts as far as I'm concerned. They want to take the power away from the party and our party leader, Howard Dean.

[HereSince1628]

5. Gee, maybe the Dems are at a cusp. Can you grok?

Having unity means a mix of liberals _and_ conservatives in the party.

I can understand why the R's would want the Democrats to have that sort of unity.

Political polls show the population of the country is polarized. Under the circumstances the parties probably should be, too.