DLC: Democrats Love Corporations?

[madison2000]

http://www.alternet.org/election04/20774/

D.L.C.: Democrats Love Corporations?
By David J. Sirota, The Nation. Posted December 17, 2004.

The Democratic Leadership Council's addiction to contributions from Philip Morris, Texaco, and Merck is proof enough that its "centrism" is really a naked corporate agenda.

Looking out over Washington, DC, from his plush office, Al From is once again foaming at the mouth. The CEO of the corporate-sponsored Democratic Leadership Council and his wealthy cronies are in their regular postelection attack mode. Despite wins by economic populists in red states like Colorado and Montana this year, the DLC is claiming like a broken record that progressive policies are hurting the Democratic Party.

From's group is funded by huge contributions from multinationals like Philip Morris, Texaco, Enron and Merck, which have all, at one point or another, slathered the DLC with cash. Those resources have been used to push a nakedly corporate agenda under the guise of "centrism" while allowing the DLC to parrot GOP criticism of populist Democrats as far-left extremists. Worse, the mainstream media follow suit, characterizing progressive positions on everything from trade to healthcare to taxes as ultra-liberal. As the AP recently claimed, "party liberals argue that the party must energize its base by moving to the left" while "the DLC and other centrist groups argue that the party must court moderates and find a way to compete in the Midwest and South."

Is this really true? Is a corporate agenda really "centrism"? Or is it only "centrist" among Washington's media elite, influence peddlers and out-of-touch political class? The American Heritage Dictionary defines "centrism" as "the political philosophy of avoiding the extremes of right and left by taking a moderate position." So to find out what is really "mainstream," the best place to look is public polling data.

Let's start with economic policy. The DLC and the press claim Democrats who attack President Bush and the Republicans for siding with the superwealthy are waging "class warfare," which they claim will hurt Democrats at the ballot box. Yet almost every major poll shows Americans already essentially believe Republicans are waging a class war on behalf of the rich – they are simply waiting for a national party to give voice to the issue. In March 2004, for example, a Washington Post poll found a whopping 67 percent of Americans believe the Bush Administration favors large corporations over the middle class.

[IrateCitizen]

1. Very interesting article -- dispels many myths...

I especially like the way it doesn't engage in hyperbole -- it just point out many of the funding sources for the DLC, and goes on to demonstrate how it is really out of touch with most voters on core issues.

It should be noted that the author of the article, David Sirota, was an advisor to Mark Schweitzer's successful bid for Montana Governor in the recent election.

[ConservativeDemocrat]

2. On the contrary, it creates them...

Largely, by cherry-picking the most extreme positions by a half dozen politicians who are members of the DLC, and claiming that's all the DLC is about.

I could do a similar thing to The Nation if I chose, by finding the most out-of-touch ex-Socialist comments that they print to "prove" the Nation is just a 1930's style "Communist" paper, except that - like this anti-DLC hit piece, it wouldn't really "prove" anything at all.

Sirota, the author, also cherry picks his polling data as well. Sure, it's easy - without opposition - to get the public to say they're in favor of something, like single-payer health care. Ambush someone on the street, and he'll likely agree with you on just about anything. It's quite another to actually pass such a thing in the face of withering attacks from the Republicans. Even Hillary's half-nod in that direction went down in utter flames, and that was with all the vaunted Clinton charisma behind it.

In case you're interested in what the ACTUAL DLC is talking about, I'll give you a list cut right from the top of their website.

The Shrinking Dollar
While the declining value of the dollar is not a cause to panic, and even has some potential benefits for exporters, it also reflects a negative international judgment on the debt-ridden fiscal policies of the Bush administration.

Idea of the Week: A Reform Insurgency
Democrats need to embrace the "outsider" status to which they have been consigned, and treat it as an opportunity to get on the offensive again as true progressives.

At the Summit of Economic Incoherence
An administration with no economic strategy and no economic strategists is spending two days this week celebrating its incoherence and promoting an agenda that bears little relation to the economic challenges facing the country.

They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
Earlier this fall, Congress designated today, December 13, as the "Day of the Horse." Shortly thereafter, Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT) added an amendment to an omnibus appropriations bill which allows the slaughter of "excess" wild horses and burros. Congress should act to reverse this injustice.

PPI Unveils Blueprint to Jumpstart Lagging Environmental Modernization Leadership
The Progressive Policy Institute today released an environmental briefing book outlining four challenging areas in environmental policy and offering solutions to shape a national environmental and energy agenda for the next four years and beyond.

Note something: the DLC concentrates its fire on Republicans. Maybe you should too.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[Jason Bradfield]

3. Focus on the Positive

while it is important for Democrats to understand how the funding sources of various groups might affect that group's policies, we should be focusing more on the positive. The DLC does not seem to have much support at the grassroots level. It is pretty important for any future candidate to be able to fire up the base while simultaneusly appealing to reform-minded swing voters.

I'd be interested to hear people's thoughts on Russ Feingold:
http://www.commondreams.org/views04/1216-24.htm

He is someone who is solidly liberal (appeal to the anti-DLCers) but is also positively associated with reform-minded citizens (might appeal to the DLCers).

Jason Bradfield
jaybradfield.blogspot.com

[IrateCitizen]

4. Feingold is quite intriguing...

He certainly has broad appeal in his home state of Wisconsin, where he won re-election by a 10-point margin (Kerry conversely won WI by only 1%). Of course, Wisconsin has a legacy of electing mavericks and reformers, going back to the days of Robert "Fighting Bob" LaFollette.

People seem to respect him for his integrity and principled stands, even if they disagree with his politics. He reminds me a lot of Paul Wellstone in that regard -- he's able to draw people in from all parts of the political spectrum while championing liberal and progressive positions.

I've seen him interviewed before, and he comes off as very "regular guy-ish" and plain spoken.

I think he's possibly the best Senator we have right now. However, it's hard to tell how a Feingold candidacy in 2008 would play out on a national stage. It would be somewhat difficult for him, I think, to use the "common touch" he so clearly has in a national race. Furthermore, there might be parts of the electorate that would balk at a Jewish nominee, as much as I hate to say it.

[Jason Bradfield]

5. feingold

that's a good point. I don't know how he would play nationally,but I am not sure how any progressive would play out nationally.

as for the anti-semites...I don't think that is too important an issue...they will probably keep voting Republican.

One thing is for sure though...Feingold or any other liberal would be doomed unless liberal leaders can start reframing the political debate so people start thinking about issues in a way that is favorable to a progressive candidate.

The DLC's heartland strategy is geographically correct, but I think they may reject the very issues that could win heartland voters, in particular the DLC seems to embrace corporate trade over fair trade.

[IrateCitizen]

6. Actually, I wouldn't classify Feingold as a liberal...

I'd classify him more as a maverick, which would work out more to his advantage in the electoral process. He's kind of like the Democratic version of his co-sponsor in campaign finance reform, John McCain.

WRT the "heartland strategy" and the DLC, I agree completely. I think that it's important to note that even with the Democrats' insane adoption of "free" trade, they STILL win in the upper Midwest. By changing this part of the platform to fair trade, they could win by larger margins. They're also making significant inroads to the Mountain West, as evidenced by state races in CO and MT this year, not to mention the NV minimum wage hike.

As for the South, I'm afraid we have to largely write it off. We should certainly run candidates there and get our message out, but the negative concessions we'd have to make to have any kind of immediate, broad success down there are just too costly. We've got the Northeast and the GOP has the Southeast, and that's how it looks things will play out for the foreseeable future.

[reprehensor]

7. Al From, CEO of the DLC...

Under the leadership of founder and CEO Al From, the DLC seeks to define and galvanize popular support for a new public philosophy built on progressive ideals, mainstream values, and innovative, non bureaucratic, market-based solutions.

----------------------------

NO MORE MOORE the DLC Joins the Witch Hunt

"We've got to repudiate, you know, the most strident and insulting anti-American voices out there sometimes on our party's left... We can't have our party identified by Michael Moore and Hollywood as our cultural values."

—Al From,
CEO, Democratic Leadership Council

----------------------------

Screw you, Al. Your out of touch perceptions and corporate coziness are "leading" the DLC and the Democrats that follow it into oblivion.

Sit there and whine about Michael Moore while John Conyers fights like a brave in Ohio.

What a joke. An unfunny joke.