Republicrats in Liberal's Clothing for the Demo Primaries

[cryofan]

A blogger has some interesting comments on how certain Republicrat...ahem....centrist/moderate....presidential candidates are trying to portray themselves as liberals for the Democratic primaries:

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Is Dean trying to "out-red" Kucinich among us pinko libruls? It's a strange tactic for a candidate whose public record squares him as a solidly moderate Democrat slightly to the left of Joe Lieberman. Of course, it's primary season, so while Republicans tend to play to the conservative base, Democrats play to the liberal base, then both nominees fight for the middle after Labor Day.

Even so, the use of socialist realist imagery and invoking terms like "revolution" amuses me—not only because it's a bit incongruous given the candidate, but what it says about modern politics. After all, Kucinich, who has far greater claims to such radicalism, would prefer much more "patriotic" imagery (see his banners): the flag, stars and stripes, the Statue of Liberty, et cetera.

This difference in image tactics shows just how relative politics can get, even among the so-called "Left" of the Democratic Party. Kucinich has to fight against appearing too "fringe" while Dean has to work at appearing too "mainstream." Yet the use of socialist realism by Dean, even in this minor instance—and probably without his knowing it, because that's what campaign managers and ad teams are for—reveals how casually we reflect our past. ....

Dean would no doubt like to take on the Roosevelt mantle, to appear as a political savior during these hard economic times. Yet I question its efficacy. We live in a different context, when FOXNews dominates, when right wing radio daily denounces any government involvement in the lives of the citizenry as "interference" at best and "socialism" at worst. Libertarianism, both real and trendily adopted, has gained theoretical currency among both Left and Right—certainly with Dean himself, a New Democrat of the 90s. Perhaps there is a backlash, as so many pundits surmise from the bestseller lists and from the "anger" Dean has "tapped into." .....

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The rest is here:
http://www.incontemptcomics.com/blog/