TPMCafe, Ed Kilgore(DLC) and his take on The Dean Flap

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

My basic take on Howard Dean's DNC chairmanship is simple. After the 2004 elections, Dean had a choice. It would have been the easiest thing in the world for him to have assumed leadership of an abrasive and divisive faction of the Democratic party, as a proto-candidate for the 2008 presidential nomination. But instead, he chose to pursue the difficult and often thankless job of party chairman, building on the aspects of his 2004 candidacy that virtually all Democats appreciated: small-dollar fundraising, and grass-roots efforts to expand the ranks of party activists. For all my differences of opinion with Dean's 2004 campaign, his self-sacrificing choice afterwards earned my respect, and my loyalty.

http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/6/11/194416/914

The DLC speaks.

On edit: Dean's Dem critics are starting to show their shelf life.

[quaoar]

1. Here's a bit more of the post

I've been reluctant to weigh into the latest media fluff-up about Howard Dean for two reasons: a reluctance to give this essentially silly "story" more credence than it's due, and a hard-earned knowledge that anything anybody from the DLC says about the Doctor will somehow be interpreted as an "attack," even if it's decidedly not.

But the "story" isn't dying, and Josh has encouraged me to say my piece. Moreover, the DLC's total silence about Dean hasn't kept a lot of people from, hilariously, suggesting we are scripting Rahm Emanuel, Joe Biden and (sic!) Barack Obama in their criticisms of the Doctor. So here goes:

My basic take on Howard Dean's DNC chairmanship is simple. After the 2004 elections, Dean had a choice. It would have been the easiest thing in the world for him to have assumed leadership of an abrasive and divisive faction of the Democratic party, as a proto-candidate for the 2008 presidential nomination. But instead, he chose to pursue the difficult and often thankless job of party chairman, building on the aspects of his 2004 candidacy that virtually all Democats appreciated: small-dollar fundraising, and grass-roots efforts to expand the ranks of party activists. For all my differences of opinion with Dean's 2004 campaign, his self-sacrificing choice afterwards earned my respect, and my loyalty.

< snip >

So I think the media treatment of his remarks is unfair, and moreover, misses the legitimate thrust of his basic argument: the GOP leadership does indeed favor wealth over work, and is indeed divisive and exclusive on issues of culture, ethnicity and religion. Sound-bites aside, Dean is right, and you can count me out of any campaign to get him to resign for saying the right thing in a way that is being wilfully misrepresented.

[stickdog]

3. DLCYA (nt)

[Writer]

2. So the DLC supports Dean and isn't conspiring to undermine him?

Hmmm... is that so?

Writer.

[Writer]

4. I find it interesting that this thread has received such little attention.

I have read so many posts accusing the DLC of undermining Dean, how they're putting together an "insider" conspiracy to destroy him, etc.

Now this. And... nothing. No response.

Interesting.

Writer.

[jmaier]

6. Never poke a hole in a cherished conspiracy theory

Even when you're part of the "reality-based" community. Do some Democrats who happen to be DLC have issues with Gov Dean, personal or professional. Probably.

Well, here is support from Kilgore, Pelosi was actually supportive and not attacking Dean, as Harry Reid has been. Obama isn't a DLCer. The term DLC is pretty much used as a synomym from the more aggressive left for anyone claiming to be a Democrat who doesn't feel like they do.

[Writer]

8. Right. But normally a post like this lights up like wildfire

with much discussion. Yet there is no capitulation, no further consideration of the matter, to indicate that those who believe that some conspiracy exists understand that, at times the DLC will mirror them, and other times they will not.

This whole PNAC deal... honestly, it doesn't surprise me that there's a little overlap between the DLC and PNAC. Politics is much, much more messy and grey than even we understand currently. It doesn't fall along partisan lines, nor do the players always strictly play one note on the fiddle at all times.

But here's my bottom line: I dislike PNAC completely, and I don't always agree with the DLC. But the DLC has a right to exist. They are a part of what compromises this party. If we toss them out, that would only weaken our reach.

[KoKo]

7. Because the DLC is not trustworthy.

:P:

[wyldwolf]

10. Writer - any disagreement with Dean or his more passionate supporters...

...no matter how minor, IS underminging Dean and is an insider conspiracy to destroy him.

[Writer]

12. I know (as I sit here with an ice pack to my eye - tough to type)

and I'm getting very, very concerned because there seems to be a type of cultishness developing around Dean with SOME (I did say "some") individuals. There simply doesn't seem to be any room for question and those who do are immediately branded a "traitor."

This is so much like the cultishness surrounding Bush, and I know we're better than that.

[wyldwolf]

13. one reason these threads don't have the shelf life they used to have is...

...before, the allegations and phobias exhibted here against the DLC went unchallenged. It was typically regurgitation of of the same old same old with the usual participants patting themselves on the back for it.

But then paid DLC experts infiltrated DU and challenged the allegations.

[Writer]

14. Right. And i'm glad they did.

Otherwise, the message would never have made it through. money worth spent, I say.

[wyldwolf]

15. of course, the "paid DLC experts" is sarcasm

Because that is what we've been accused of being (afterall, who would possibly defend and set the record straight on the DLC unless they were paid to to it?)

[Writer]

5. Tandalayo, I absolutely disagree with you.

The DLC didn't like Dean as a presidential candidate, but they support him as Chair.

Little snarky comments like their "showing their shelf life" completely distracts from the fact that the article shows that THE DLC SUPPORTS DEAN.

I wish more could capture the nuance of this.

Writer.

[Rainscents]

9. If they supported Dean as Chair, why do most of them trash Dean?

I'm not saying all of them... Most of them.

[wyldwolf]

11. most of them? Name them