Progressive Group: Rahm's A 'Cancer On The Democratic Party,' Should 'Flatly Go Away'

[IndianaGreen]

Progressive Group: Rahm's A 'Cancer On The Democratic Party,' Should 'Flatly Go Away'

Sam Stein
First Posted: 09- 7-10 06:33 PM | Updated: 09- 7-10 06:36 PM

News that Chicago Mayor Richard Daley would not run for reelection produced almost instantaneous speculation that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, not shy about his ambitions to be Chicago's mayor, would make a run for the post.

It also quickly produced the reflexive Rahm-bashing that has become a staple of the progressive community, which increasingly views him as the point person for the ills that have beset this White House.

"Rahm is unfit to represent Democrats in office," Progressive Change Campaign Committee co-founder Adam Green said. "He's a cancer on the Democratic Party. Democrats' current 2010 situation is due to a weak Rahm Emanuel mentality that says water down real reform at the urging of Republicans and corporations, thus making Democratic reform less popular with voters than the real deal would have been. If Democrats had passed the overwhelmingly-popular public option and broken up the big banks when they had the chance, they'd be cruising for a landslide victory right now."

Over at Salon, Dave Weigel makes the argument that the PCCC statement is primarily a fundraising venture. And, indeed, Green's first push was a petition, already signed on its release by more than 1,700 people pledging not to support Emanuel for any run for political office.

But the crux of Rahm-hatred is not simply institutional benefit. There is a genuine sense that the White House Chief of Staff took the euphoria of the Obama brand and whittled it down into something more compromised and corporate. With that in mind, it would seem to make sense for the PCCC to cheer Emanuel's departure from the administration, not to lash out against a move to Chicago.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/07/rahm-emanuel-cancer-on-democratic-party-pccc_n_708106.html

[NYC_SKP]

1. Sounds like "Huey Long" is at it again.

:evilgrin:

[depakid]

2. Rahm and "mayor of Chicago" are an excellent match

[rhett o rick]

5. I would like to see him out of the White House but wouldnt wish him on Chicago or my worst enemy. nm

[Chisox08]

10. We don't want him as Mayor

His hand picked candidate to replace him in the House was came in a distant third place.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mitchtv]

4. watch what you post

getting a bit crazy here, unless you praise the president

[Jefferson23]

6. Perhaps if Rahm departs it will then be clear what Obama

wants to accomplish when we see who will take his place.

Rahm may very well end up being cleared as the man who helped disappoint a nation.

[yurbud]

7. rec & wish I could kick Rahm

[Demeter]

8. Let Rahm Run for Mayor

and lose in a landslide.

[Chisox08]

11. My sources within a few unions here in Chicago tells me that they are

gearing up to defeat him at all cost. Bob Fioretti and Tom Dart seems like the front runners for their support.

[The Wizard]

9. I believe he'll

get a nice contract with Pox News for scuttling the Democratic Party.

[indepat]

12. If a cancer, did I miss the chemo?

:)