Dumb question: are there DLC bloggers? trolls on DU say so

[yurbud]

I'm wondering why someone would bother and who the hell the possible audience could be.

It's one thing to be a more moderate Democrat, but it's something else to get excited about a group that exists to ignore core Democratic constituencies--and even less plausible that someone would get excited enough about it to read a blog.

[punpirate]

1. Aren't you saying...

... who the fuck cares?

I don't. I know the DLC message, and don't agree with it. If there are bloggers dedicated to furthering that message, should I be concerned? Nah. Nah, not at all.

That's the beauty of free speech--I can ignore idiots on soapboxes as I choose.

Blogs are soapboxes.

[yurbud]

2. I'm wondering if they are lying or if it's astroturf

I can't believe someone would care enough about the DLC position to advocate it unless they were paid--just like the DLC pols themselves.

[tx_dem41]

3. So you find it impossible to believe that someone could sincerely...

be a moderate Democrat? They have to be paid? Interesting.

[Clark2008]

4. DLCers aren't moderate Democrats.

DLCers believe in the corporatization of America while a moderate Dem may believe in things that don't fall squarely on the left (some Southern Dems, for example, don't support gun restrictions, but they still believe in the majority of the Dem platform, such as workers rights and choice).

What we need to do is separate the term "DLC" from the term "moderate." They're not one in the same.

I'm a moderate Dem on certain issues, but I can't stand the corporate-blowing bent of the DLC.

[cascadiance]

5. BINGO!

It's not impossible to be a moderate in the Democratic Party. It's also not impossible to be a moderate and feel like the DLC DOESN'T represent moderates too!

[tx_dem41]

6. I respect your distinction, and agree.

Also, recognize that some moderates are more "pro-business" in areas of regulation and trade than liberal Democrats.

[yurbud]

8. the fundamental issue on trade is who benefits

Do American citizens and the citizens of the country on the other end benefit, or just the companies?

We can have trade agreements that would do justice by all parties.

Most of us--even righties, think we don't have that now.

[yurbud]

7. difference between DLC and moderate Dem

a moderate Dem might differ on abortion or some cultural issues, and maybe even economic issues, but can be swayed by evidence.

On the other hand, I think it was Sinclair Lewis who said you can't convince someone of something they are paid not to believe.

[charlie]

9. Yeah

Ed Kilgore and Marshall Wittman.

[bemildred]

10. Blogs and the internet are important forums of public debate.

Public relations and "controlling the terms of the debate" are
big business, lots of money flows.

Any serious public relations organization or effort would be
remiss - incompetent - if it did NOT have a web strategy and and
efforts in place to "control the terms of the debate". What you
would expect to see are coordinated efforts to get preferred ideas
out there and to defend them, and that is what you do see.

I particularly like the variations on the "circular firing squad"
meme that pop up regularly when "the left" does something effective
or in a united way, the suddenly popular ANSWER debate that pops up
only when there are effective war demos, and the various episodic
red-herrings that come and go on this board.

The goal is as often to prevent coherent and cogent thought as to
produce anything in particular, i.e. the intent is obstructive, not
constructive, you can see the same thing in corporate PR campaigns
on environmental issues, the intent is to stall and cast doubt.