Wanna know why the Democratic Party is a joke?

[iconoclastNYC]

Three words : Democratic Leadership Council.

The DLC is a group of "centrist" (read: far-right) "Democrats" who have close ties to Corporate America and the PNAC (Project for a New American Century) crowd.

The DLC says the only way Democrats can regain power is to move away from our Progressive-era roots and embrace pro-corporate domestic policy and neo-con foreign policy.

Do you know anyone who votes Republican because Republicans are more pro-corporate? Nearly all of the Republican voters I've ever met did so because of Abortion, Church and State issues, Bigotry, or because they've been brainwashed to think Democrats are communists, traitors, or elitists who hate thier "red state" values.

But the DLC says: "Ignore all that. The reason these people vote Republican is because the Democrats are too mean to Exxon, JPMorgan Chase, and General Electric."

These same DLC interlopers helped kill the candidacy of the only Democratic candidate in 2004 that had any sort of popular gras-roots support within the party by bashing him in the press as an "unelectable far-left liberal." Have you wondered how we ended up with milquetoast automotron Kerry as the candidate? Blame the DLC.

Now the DLC braintrust is telling the party that we must unite. And by unite they mean around thier agenda. Here is the DLC's bold vision they think will unite our party and position us for victory:

1. Cheerlead the Iraq war (DLC Hillary says : Send More Troops!)

2. Drink the "War on Terror" flavored Cool-aid. Do not oppose the rollback of Civil Liberites - That's being "weak on terror"

3. Do not challenge Corporate America's relentless undemocratic power grab. Thats being "anti-growth"

4. Abandon any hope for an economy that enriches more than just the top 1% - that's "class warfare"

The DLC are wolf in sheeps clothing who wish to transform the Democratic party into the GOP's Junior Varsity squad.

[Acebass]

1. Leadership

I agree but it's the human factor. It's the leadership thats screwed not the party. We need to take the party back, it's the best bet we have for defeating the fascist regime in power now!

[derby378]

3. Welcome to DU, Acebass!!

Enjoy your stay!

[derby378]

4. "Fuck the DLC" (Oh, no, not again...)

In case you missed it earlier...

Fuck the DLC
They wrecked our party system
They don't give a damn 'cause they're
Career politicians
They trashed Howard Dean
They cost Kerry the election
It's time we kick them out and
Take the Dems in new directions

BAYH and TAUSCHER - time to clean your fuckin' desks
LIEBERMAN and LANDRIEU - selling out has made you lame
HILLARY and BYRON - last chance to jump the ship
So CONYERS and BOXER can live in peace without these dicks

(Sung to the tune of Fuck the Middle East by S.O.D. Sing it in the car, in the shower, at your next Democratic Party meeting, or anywhere you feel like singing!)

[bloom]

57. replace the fascist regime

with fascists that have different names? Corporatists are corporatists.

Maybe they would be a little more subtle. :eyes:


I want someone who will represent people.

[paineinthearse]

59. Acebass

Welcome to DU (your "handle" is familiar) :hi:

p.s. This certainly balances the Hillary Clinton "let's all be friends" post.

[aquart]

2. I don't like them either.

[blm]

5. You call the man who investigated and exposed more government corruption

than any lawmaker in modern history a "milquetoast" then you are certainly not competent to tell anyone who is qualified.

You also have no clue on the dynamics of the DLC, since Dean was the DLC star for many years, while Kerry was always the one loathed by From. Dean governed as a centrist while Kerry maintained a strong left record.

Dean allowed himself to be portrayed as far left because it was gaining him that grassroots support, but, he was never comfortable with that description. He could have done something about it early on, but, he didn't.

From had to be dragged kicking and screaming to get behind Kerry. His choice was Lieberman and Reed sided with Edwards.

Kerry also NEVER ACCEPTED corporate pac money in any of his senate races and has advocated for public financing of campaigns since 1985.

Sorry, but you needed to be told the facts. Spreading disinformation is harmful and needs to be corrected.

[lojasmo]

13. Please tell me about where dean was the "Star" of the DLC

Please?

In fact, if you can document his membership, I'll send you a cookie!

[blm]

30. Here's from a Dean site.....Dean Nation...this wasn't exactly a secret

http://dean2004.blogspot.com/2003/05/will-real-dlc-please-stand-up.html



From the Dean Campaign...

For Immediate Release

May 16, 2003

Will the Real DLC Please Stand Up?

BURLINGTON, VT - On Wednesday, May 14th, the Democratic Leadership Council released a memo that dismissed Governor Howard Dean as an elitist liberal from the "McGovern-Mondale wing'" of the Democratic Party. It wasn't so long ago that the DLC was praising Howard Dean as an exemplar of moderate, centrist Democratic positions. Governor Dean's record hasn't changed. What changed at the DLC?

10.27.00- The DLC praises Governor Dean's prescription drug plan as the "Idea of the Week."

"Governors Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Howard Dean (D-VT) and Angus King (I-ME) jointly announced their three states would come together to create a regional purchasing pool for prescription drugs... Best of all, the regional plan will rely on market mechanisms"

11.8.96- The DLC posts a memo on their website Claiming Dean's re-election victory as Governor of Vermont was evidence of the success of New Democratic leaders.

"State election results provide additional evidence of Democratic resurgence under New Democratic leadership. Centrist Governors Howard Dean of Vermont... won re-election comfortably."

11.4.96- The DLC posts a memo on their website praising Dean as a Centrist, popular Democratic Governor, and predicts he will win re-election easily.

[FreedomAngel82]

35. Very interesting

Maybe his stance on Iraq or something. I don't know. I like how Dean does things though and does grassroots and all that. I think he's perfect for the chair.

[blm]

36. That's the rub. I'm not antiDean at all. I'm anti-disinformation from his

supporters who have a double standard for Kerry when Kerry governed well to Dean's left his entire career.

[iconoclastNYC]

70. This post isn't about Kerry it's about the DLC

And the only rub I have against Kerry is that he didn't inspire or excite the base. I never said the DLC gave him the nomination. I only implied that the DLC cut Dean off at the knees because they fear what effect he might have on the party.

[blm]

73. When the base can't get excited by a solid liberal who has exposed more

government corruption than any lawmaker in modern history, and whose efforts helped end three wars, then there is something wrong with the MEDIA who has led these people into ignorant states. There is also something wrong with those few vocal base members who insisted that Kerry was Republican-lite out of their own stubborn ignorance or petty selfish political gamesmanship.

Kerry DID excite those members of the base who cared the most about good, HONEST governance and accountability, competence and vision.

Facts matter.

And it was your original post that attacked Kerry as a milquetoast politician. Since when did any milquetoast rack up a record like Kerry's?

[lojasmo]

39. but not a member of the DLC, Ergo, not the "star" EOM

[blm]

41. AHAHAHAHA....nice try.

.

[lojasmo]

46. What?

Your post intimated that Dean was a member vis-a-vis "a star"

Misleading....no surprises, though.

[blm]

47. New Democrat is what the DLCers called themselves back then.

Surely you knew that.

[lojasmo]

61. Of courseI did. The point remaiins: DEAN WAS NEVER A DLC MEMBER!!!!!!

If you want to make that claim, I challenge you to prove it.

[bvar22]

18. Kerry was forced into an unholy alliance with the DLC...

...to ensure his Primary Victory. Neither party was really happy with the other. For accepting the money and backing from the DLC, Kerry was forced to run on their Platform.

[blm]

24. Untrue. Kerry developed his plans before the DLC got behind him.

And the only reason DLC did line up BEHIND him is because Clinton told them that they had better for the good of the party.

[bvar22]

25. Sure Kerry had "his plans",

but the DLC wrote the Party Platform, not John Kerry. John Kerry is much more Liberal than the 2004 Platform. The DLC didn't have all their eggs in one basket. They had at least 2 known candidates in the Primaries (and I suspect one hidden joker). Shortly before the Primaries, the DLC gave up on Lieberman (their 1st Choice), Kerry made his deal with the Devil, and the DLC's contacts in the CorpoMedia torpedoed DEAN.

I can't prove ANY of this. It is only my opinion as an observer, but it works for me. You are more than free to disagree.

I firmly believe the DLC Marketers and Packagers wrote the 2004 Platform. I would like for experts to examine the NDOL (DLC) Website and compare it to the 2004 Platform for style, content, syntax, vocabulary, structure, thematic development, and general construction. I bet they would find a perfect match.
Compare the two yourself.

[blm]

26. The DNC wrote the platform. Not the DLC.

.

[AntiCoup2K4]

28. And who did Terry McUseless work for?

The DLC controlled the DNC under the Clinton/McAwful regime.

[blm]

32. Painting Kerry with the whole DLC brush is ignorant. And show me the parts

of the Dem platform that Dean disagreed with or even fought.

Kerry governed to Dean's left.

Do any of you really want ALL the lefty politicians to leave the centrists as the ONLY voices in the DLC?

The problem with alot of you is that you don't see that your argument is as legitimate as a Green saying that Dean is a Democrat and a centrist so he's no different than Bush.

[FreedomAngel82]

37. I thought they were close but wasn't sure

McAullife was also close to corporations right? I've heard he mostly did a lot of lobbying with them and the like. Probably made some promises and the like. Since Dean obviously made the DLC angry I don't think we'll have to worry about them getting involved. I remember being worried Dean wouldn't get the chair and that guy from Texas would. I remember feeling iffy about him. He said "some friends" encouraged him to run but never said who and he said we should talk more about religion and be like the republicans. I didn't like that at all and it felt weird. I think maybe the DLC put him in there possibily to still run the DNC. With Dean he is leaving all the money donating to the people which I like (I love the "Democracy Bonds" idea) and he is going around all over the country and talking about basic values of the party that we all agree on (such as health care issues and balancing the budget etc). I think it's clear that the DLC is trying to be seperate from the DNC and democratic party in general but still being called democrats to win elections.

[bvar22]

43. At the time the platform was written, the DLC ran the DNC.

Terry Mc was a HUGE CorpoWhore and co-conspirator with the DLC.
Terry Mc easily whipped the DNC into line.

That is one reason the DLC is so hostile to Dean. The grassroots and InterNet forced the DLC to concede the DNC Chair. The DLC lost their stooge.

[Eloriel]

27. Maybe you slept thru a decade or two. Is that it?

Edited to add: But why the hell are you defending the DLC? It's VERY unbecoming.

"You call the man who investigated and exposed more government corruptionthan any lawmaker in modern history a "milquetoast" then you are certainly not competent to tell anyone who is qualified."


You keep bvringing this up as if it's something that MEANS a hill 'o beans anymore (if it ever did, which I'm frankly beginning to doubt). NOTHING EVER CAME OF IT. The same bastards are in power again only more so and not only has kerry not DONE anything about that, he's not even SAID anything about it. It's a dead issue to him -- why do YOU keep bringing it up?


Sorry, but you needed to be told the facts. Spreading disinformation is harmful and needs to be corrected.

Hmmm. Kettle. Pot. Black. I've never seen anyone on "our" side -- IOW, anyone not purposely trying to WRECK "our" side -- distort facts like you do, blm.

You also have no clue on the dynamics of the DLC, since Dean was the DLC star for many years, while Kerry was always the one loathed by From. Dean governed as a centrist while Kerry maintained a strong left record.

Three things. Dean was hardly a "star" except to Clinton who said some complimentary things about him that one time; second, the DLC may not be what it once was, but even if it was the same then as it is now, we all KNOW better by this time; and, third, he and the DLC parted company BIG time during his campaign if not well before.

Dean allowed himself to be portrayed as far left because it was gaining him that grassroots support, but, he was never comfortable with that description. He could have done something about it early on, but, he didn't.

That's an untruth to start with, and a mean spirited one. Further, you can't look into his heart and soul to determine his motivation. But in any case, Dean always, always, always described himself as a centrist whenever the subject came up. Always. That hardly makes for "allowing hismelf" to be portrayed as "far left." It's just not true, and you know it. You've said it again and again and again, and you've been corrected again and again and again. By this time, when Dean is NOT a competitor to your hero but is instead trying to build this party, the meanness or repeating untruths takes on more importance and has more impact.

From had to be dragged kicking and screaming to get behind Kerry. His choice was Lieberman and Reed sided with Edwards.

And they ALL did the bidding of the Clintons and others among the Party Elite. Don't kid yourself. Doesn't matter who From may have wanted, he wanted Kerry plenty fine once their masters' preferences were known.

[blm]

34. Gee, if I'm lying then why did Dean's campaign agree with me?

(linked in the post above)

and, btw, El....part of the problem for you is that you read my posts and interpret them as defense of the DLC. They are not. I am just glad that there are still some lefties IN the DLC to pull leftwards while the centrists are pulling right. That has ALWAYS been my position and it hasn't changed in the last 3 years you and I have been battling here.

From the Dean Campaign...

For Immediate Release

May 16, 2003

Will the Real DLC Please Stand Up?

BURLINGTON, VT - On Wednesday, May 14th, the Democratic Leadership Council released a memo that dismissed Governor Howard Dean as an elitist liberal from the "McGovern-Mondale wing'" of the Democratic Party. It wasn't so long ago that the DLC was praising Howard Dean as an exemplar of moderate, centrist Democratic positions. Governor Dean's record hasn't changed. What changed at the DLC?

10.27.00- The DLC praises Governor Dean's prescription drug plan as the "Idea of the Week."

"Governors Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Howard Dean (D-VT) and Angus King (I-ME) jointly announced their three states would come together to create a regional purchasing pool for prescription drugs... Best of all, the regional plan will rely on market mechanisms"

11.8.96- The DLC posts a memo on their website Claiming Dean's re-election victory as Governor of Vermont was evidence of the success of New Democratic leaders.

"State election results provide additional evidence of Democratic resurgence under New Democratic leadership. Centrist Governors Howard Dean of Vermont... won re-election comfortably."

11.4.96- The DLC posts a memo on their website praising Dean as a Centrist, popular Democratic Governor, and predicts he will win re-election easily.

[FreedomAngel82]

33. I agree

Last year I did all types of research on Kerry and looked at various records etc. and you're right blm. Also not long after last November earlier this year a survey was out about who in politics was where and Kerry was very liberal. He was in the top ten right behind Kennedy. He's not number one (someone with an "A" is) but he's no DLCer. I remember reading an interview last year with his ex-wife Julia. She was saying how he really wanted to attack the SBVT group but the DNC wouldn't let him. He also wanted to bash Bush at the convention (and others as well) but they had a "No bashing Bush" rule for whatever reason. Wasn't McAullife in good ties with the Clinton's? My dad once made a comment about something that got me thinking (he's a republican but not a freeper nor a fundie just your old school type) and he was saying that maybe they set Kerry up to take the fall so Hillary can run in 2008. Didn't Bill give Kerry some bad advice too about gays and stuff? I think what Kerry said was just right. I've also heard that Kerry had a republican on his law team. Did he set up the law team or did the DNC?

[BamaBecky]

48. ok......so what needs to happen to rally folks like me

back into the fold........folks like me who don't see them fighting the Republican corporate war minded fascist......(Sure Kerry fought BCCI....a long time ago)

really the only one up there making any noise is Conyers.....

Why don't the rest of them S P E A K ** O U T ** M O R E ?????

Why aren't they fighting to uncover the truth of 911 ?????????

I think the democrat party will gain it's heart and spirit back when they get back on track........

I'm very disillusioned with the democratic party....very......

and disgusted with the Republicans.........

The democrats act like they are afraid of bucking the "cabal system"....afraid that their plane will crash....or something...

[iconoclastNYC]

71. Mike explained why the other day

The American people will not accept that thier government is corrupt enuf to do Y or Z. You have to expose a little scandal, create a narrative of a culture of corruption, and then move up the scandal food chain.

America is not read to examine what really happened on 911.

The food chain:

PLAME > LIES TO GO TO WAR > STOLEN IRAQ MONEY FUNNELED TO BUSH CAMPAIGN > ELECTION FRAUD > 911 > NATIONAL SECURITY APPARATUS

[iconoclastNYC]

69. I'm not attacking Kerry.

Why don't you focus on my words. The DLC saw a threat in Dean in that he wasn't pro-corporate enough and he would have taken the party in the "WRONG" direction...populist.

The DLC wants two corporatist parties and will try to destroy any Democratic leader who will not go along.

What disinformation was I spreading? Be specific please.

[blm]

74. Dean governed as a pro-business centrist for 11 years. DLC did NOT attack

him for being anti-business. A few INDIVIDUALS in the DLC, like From, attacked Dean as being too far left because they saw Dean was no longer articulating the same message that he used to govern.

They were petty and got pissed that he was playing up to the left so they retaliated by exaggerating his leftiness. They played a dumb game of "Hey, you want to swim in the left waters now, well, we'll push you into the deep end." They figured that Dean, the centrist, wouldn't be as comfortable swimming in the deeper left part of the lake.

Dean played it wrong when he switched his positions on DLC issues in such an abrupt way at the start of the primaries, and DLC played it wrong in their eagerness to attack him back.

They both could have shown more integrity.

You are wrong about Kerry who governed way to Dean's left. From didn't choose Kerry because he was a corporatist - Dean fit that mold as governor way more than Kerry ever could - From had no choice left but to allow the DLC to back Kerry after his preference for Lieberman, and Reed's preference for Edwards had no momentum on the ground at the time.

It's a nice fairytale that some like to tell, that the DLC turned on Dean because he wasn't corporate enough for them, but, even the pro-business CATO Institute was a bigger fan of Dean's when he was governor than any other Dem in office. And CATO's pro-business stance DWARFS the DLC's in comparison.

Try researching CATO and Dean and their past positions on his governance.

[Emendator]

6. As long as

they are perceived as the high tax party, they are going to be in trouble. You can still have social programs, but growth must precede them as the priority.

[Robbins]

7. Great

You hit It right here. Dean has been saying(as I agree 100 percent)
Dems can't win by being Repubs lite. Roosevelt,Truman,Kennedy,and
even Johnson would be attacked by the DLC.

Compare Dean,Kerry,Edwards,and Hilary

1:Dean went after Bush on Iraq while Hilary cheer leads for Bush.
While I disagree with Kerry and edwards for voting to give Bush the
authority,and not saying they were wrong they are both better on this
than Hilary.

2:Again here Dean,Kerry,and Edwards are all better than Hilary. Kerry
will fight to amend the Patriot act while Hilary will go along with
how It Is.

3:Dean Is leading the fight away from the party being controlled by
the DLC,and their corporate masters and back to the grassroots. Hilary would ensure the DLC way is done. Kerry Is a true Liberal(he just needs to not run away from it) and Edwards too Is not corporate enough for the DLC

4:Dean is a real moderate(he actually balanced the budget as Governor of Vermont) and had the guts to say the entire Bush Tax Cuts should
be repealed. Kerry,and Edwards didn't go far enough In my oporion
but we know Kerry wouldn't be going for more Bush style tax cuts that favor the rich,and Edwards has never forgotten his roots. Hilary would keep us on the path of only the top 1 percent getting richer.

The DLC today Is the best friends the Republicans have.

[meganmonkey]

9. Welcome to DU, Robbins!

:toast:

And careful when you use colons - they turn into smilies when you least expect it ;)

[bvar22]

19. "Dems can't win by being Repubs lite."

"Roosevelt,Truman,Kennedy,and even Johnson" would be EMBARRASSED by the today's Democratic Party , and would drive out the DLC faster than Jesus drove the money changers out of the Temple!

[bvar22]

21. Welcome to DU.

Love your enthusiasm. You will find many like thinkers here.

I am no Hillary fan, and I absolutely OPPOSE HER as the 2008 candidate.
However, I DO respect her for the strong, dignified and classy way she behaved during the 8 year sliming assault she endured as 1st Lady. For THAT reason, I will remind you that her name has 2 "L"s (Hillary). We do OWE her the respect of spelling her name right.

I HATE it when the freeps spell it Hitlery, or even Hillery.

See ya! :hi:

[FreedomAngel82]

40. I agree

I like Hillary and agree with her on some issues and all that but I just don't think our country would do well with her as our president. Not because she has bad policies or anything but we need someone who will REALLY clean up in ALL areas after Bush. Democrats have always done that. That is why I think we need someone who is pretty left who can help us progress over the years of Bush who has really took us very back. Hillary might change some things and help balance a budget and whatnot (and maybe give us national health care) but I don't think, because of her being a centrist, she would forward us too much. Not enough after all the damage. But if she does some how run in 2008 and makes it through the primaries I will vote for her. Especially over John McCain or any other republican.

[Cha]

72. Welcome to DU,

Robbins!

I just read an article in the ..

washington post, national weekly edition, on Dean by Sally
Jenkins..
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/sports/columns/jen... /

There is no online link that I can find..but it was the July
18-24, 2005 issue, Volume 22. NO.39

In this long article on Dean's early life, accounts of his
service as Governor of Vermont, his run for the Dem
nomination, and the DNC run and subsequent win.. there was
this "summary".

"Christopher Graff, AP bureau chief in Mountpelier who
covered Dean throughout his tenure, summarized his record this
way in 2003, "He defies labels, following a pragmatic not
partisan path..He hates dependency--whether it is drinking or
drugs or welfare--and abhors debt..He is, by his own
admission, 'an odd kind of Democrat'"

[bvar22]

8. I'll put this on "The Greatest Page".

I thought you were too soft on the DLC.

No! REALLY!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1957681&mesg_id=1957681

[emulatorloo]

10. Maybe I'm dumb, but I think DU overestimates the power of the DLC

Some Dumb Thinktank, spinning its wheels and making pronouncements.

But when I read DU it seems it is apparently as powerful as the GOP and the mafia or something.

[bvar22]

16. MONEY

Lots and Lots of Corporate Money PLUS inside links to CorpoMedia outlets. The DLC would like you to believe that they are "just a think tank." They are actually the conduit through which the Corporate funds flow. The DLC has NO GRASS ROOTS (NONE ZILCH). They are a wholly owned subsidary of their Corporate Backers.

If you want their money, you get with their program.

If you don't want to see an extremely well funded challenger in your Primary, better get with the DLC program!

Get it?

[emulatorloo]

17. thanks for explaining -- i get the concept now. . .

gotta dig in w some research then. . .

[Eloriel]

38. Here's some research for ya

or feel free to do your own digging:

DLC
The best way to control the opposition is to lead it ourselves. -- Lenin

How the DLC Does It, Robert Dreyfuss, TAP
http://www.prospect.org/print-friendly/print/V12/7/dreyfuss-r.html

Democrats for Wolfowitz
(see esp. post #20) http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1687818&mesg_id=1688529 )
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1687818&mesg_id=1687818&page=

LINKS - What every DUer and every Dem needs to know about the DLC
http://www.democraticunderground.com/cgi-bin/duforum/duboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=4443&forum=DCForumID22&archive=

Let's be REALLY honest about the DLC
http://www.democraticunderground.com/cgi-bin/duforum/duboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=23262&forum=DCForumID60&archive=


Outing the "New Democrats" -- Pukes in Progressive Clothing.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/cgi-bin/duforum/duboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=1435&forum=DCForumID34

Everyone who is a fan of the DLC, needs to read this post,
(Devils Advocate NZ's post is included)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/cgi-bin/duforum/duboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=11323&forum=DCForumID60#114

Kerry, the New Democrats, and American Military Hegemony
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=326015#326061

Ask the questions NOW of the DLC and Clinton. Corporate funding.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1372759#1373432

New Dems formed to get corporate donors, be free from party base ideology.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1346735&mesg_id=1346735


(OMG! The PNAC/DLC Connection!)No More Moore: DLC Joins the Witch-Hunt
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=2784312
Link: http://nypress.com/17/48/news&columns/taibbi.cfm

"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

"You know, let's let Hollywood and the Cannes Film Festival fawn all over Michael Moore. We ought to make it pretty clear that he sure doesn't speak for us when it comes to standing up for our country."
— Will Marshall, President of the Progressive Policy Institute, the think-tank of the DLC

>snip<

In addition to his duties as the president of the PPI, Marshall kept himself busy in the last few years. Among other things, he served on the board of the Committee for the Liberation of Iraq, an organization co-chaired by Joe Lieberman and John McCain whose aim was to build bipartisan support for the invasion of Iraq.

Marshall also signed, at the outset of the war, a letter issued by the Project for the New American Century (PNAC) expressing support for the invasion. Marshall signed a similar letter sent to President Bush put out by the conservative Social Democrats/USA group on Feb. 25, 2003, just before the invasion. The SD/USA letter urged Bush to commit to "maintaining substantial U.S. military forces in Iraq for as long as may be required to ensure a stable, representative regime is in place and functioning."

One of just a handful of Marshall's co-signatories on that letter was Bruce Jackson, who also happens to be the head of the PNAC (whose letter Marshall also signed) and the founder of the aforementioned Committee for the Liberation of Iraq. Jackson is not only a neo-con of high rank and one of the chief pom-pom wavers for the war effort. He was also a vice president in the weapons division of Lockheed-Martin between 1993 and 2002—meaning that he was one of the implied targets of Bowling for Columbine, which came out in Jackson's last year with the company.

Clearly, Marshall was thinking about the good of the Democratic Party, and not the integrity of his grimy little network of missile-humping cronies, when he and Al From made the curious—and curiously conspicuous—decision to denounce Moore, Hollywood and France at the DLC meeting in early November.


RIGHT WEB: http://rightweb.irc-online.org/org/ppi.php

Overview of DLC
http://rightweb.irc-online.org/ind/marshall/marshall.php

PPI
http://rightweb.irc-online.org/org/ppi.php

=====================
Simon Rosenberg, the former field director for the DLC who directs the New Democrat Network, a spin-off political action committee, says, "We're trying to raise money to help them lessen their reliance on traditional interest groups in the Democratic Party. In that way," he adds, "they are ideologically freed, frankly, from taking positions that make it difficult for Democrats to win."
http://www.prospect.org/print-friendly/print/V12/7/dreyfuss-r.html


===================================================
WILL MARSHALL: http://rightweb.irc-online.org/ind/marshall/marshall.phpAlthough



Marshall calls himself a "centrist," he has associated himself with neoconservative organizations and their radical foreign policy agendas. At the onset of the Iraq invasion, Marshall signed statements issued by the Project for the New American Century calling for the removal of Saddam Hussein, advocating that NATO help "secure and destroy all of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction," and arguing that the invasion "can contribute decisively to the democratization of the Middle East." (7)

Marshall's credentials as a liberal hawk have been well established by his affinity for other PNAC-associated groups, including the U.S. Committee on NATO and the Committee for the Liberation of Iraq. Marshall served on the board of directors of the U.S. Committee on NATO alongside such leading neocon figures as Robert Kagan, Richard Perle, Randy Scheunemann, Paul Wolfowitz, Stephen Hadley, Peter Rodman, Jeffrey Gedmin, Gary Schmitt, and the committee's founder and president Bruce Jackson of PNAC. (8) At the request of the Bush administration, PNAC's Bruce Jackson also formed the Committee for the Liberation of Iraq, which, with DLC chairman Joseph Lieberman serving as co-chair together with John McCain, aimed to build bipartisan support for the liberation, occupation, and democratization of Iraq. Marshall, together with Robert Kerrey (who coauthored Progressive Internationalism), represented the liberal hawk wing of the Democratic Party on the committee's neocon-dominated advisory board. (9) Other advisers included James Woolsey, Elliot Cohen, Newt Gingrich, William Kristol, Jeane Kirkpatrick, Joshua Muravchik, Chris Williams, and Richard Perle.

On February 25, 2003, Marshall joined an array of neoconservatives marshaled by the Social Democrats/USA-a wellspring of neoconservative strategy-to sign a letter to President Bush calling for the invasion of Iraq. Marshall and others asked the president to "act alone if that proves necessary" and then, as a follow-up to a military-induced regime change in Iraq, to implement a democratization plan. The SD/USA letter urged the president to commit his administration to "maintaining substantial U.S. military forces in Iraq for as long as may be required to ensure a stable, representative regime is in place and functioning." Others signing the SD/USA letter included Hillel Fradkin, Rachelle Horowitz, Bruce Jackson, Penn Kemble, Robert Kagan, James Woolsey, Nina Shea, Michael Novak, Clifford May, and Ben Wattenberg. (10) (11)

[BamaBecky]

49. Thank you very much! It will take some time to read through

it......thanks!

[emulatorloo]

11. and another thing - P.I.A.J.K (O.O.G.D).D.N.I.M

Petty Ill-Informed Attacks on John Kerry (Or Other Good Dems) Do Not Impress Me

[Clark2008]

12. Just a note.

Dean wasn't the only Democrat with a strong grassroots following.

Clark did, as well.

Otherwise, I agree with your points.

[chimpymustgo]

45. Kerry had the most grassroots support: he got the most votes. Edwards 2nd.

Really nothing to add to that.

[Humor_In_Cuneiform]

14. We WON the election in 2004, but it was stolen from us

We won. We won.

So much fraud, so much vote interference and corrupt partisan manufacturers of voting machines which are demonstrably easy to sabotage.

Exit polls were not wrong.

Things can always be improved.

But we won.

Attack the real reason we aren't in power: corrupt elections.

[AntiCoup2K4]

29. Perhaps, but how much stronger a win if the DLC had not run the campaign?

Even Kerry, who obviously wasn't my first choice as a candidate, would have done much better if the DLC hadn't forced him to hold back. A candidate NOT restrained by the DLC at all (i.e Dean or possibly Clark)could have done even better. So while fraud is a very real problem, so is a watered down pussifed neocon driven platform/campaign.

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

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

[Burried News]

20. So the big Bucks have a problem. They backed Bush and he has

been a disaster for them as well as us. They are in bed with the crazies and realize like the corporations in 1930's Germany that they could be in big trouble if they can't get some balance in the political system.

And fat cat Dems see a chance to woo them.

Well after the wooing we get screwing. No thanks - stay with the crazies big shots. And if you can't put America first let's discuss Nationalization of Strategically Important Industry. After all we are in a war which you at the very least enabled.

[McCamy Taylor]

22. Why will the Dems win it all in 2006 and 2008? DLC.

:dem:

[Dr Fate]

60. Right- they were sooo spot on in 2000, 2002 & 2004.

There "Lets be nice and work with Bush" attitude was a REAL winner the past 3 times, huh?

I guess 4 & 5 times is the charm with the DLC.

I think the DLC "strategists" who lost the last 3 elections for us are STILL out of touch.

[rman]

66. that remains to be seen

-

[Walt Starr]

23. Can't deny what you're saying

It's sad but true, and is in a big part more responsible for the mess we're in than the Republican Party.

[FreedomAngel82]

31. My belief is

if you don't believe in the coor democratic values you shouldn't call yourself a democrat. I understand there's moderate, far left etc. but what Hillary and the gang are are NOT democrats. Sure on a few issues we may agree but other wise no. They should form their own party. From watching the polls since the Terri Schavio ordeal it appears that the public is tired of republican politicians running the show now so why would they want a republican-lite? :eyes: Give me a break. We need to get back to our core values. The party of FDR, Kennedy etc.

[sweetheart]

42. It is cynicism lite

Republican government is entirely cynical. IT exists to destroy itself,
to bankrupt itself and destroy all goodwill in government. This is
instituitonal to the war on terror and the "wars" in general.

Because the democratic party is as well purchased in to the policies
of these wars, all goodwill is squandered, and no party has any moral
authority to reflect a citizens' wish for truth and goodwill.

Rosebud.

[LittleClarkie]

44. Blaming others is so much easier than coming up with one's own strategy

Just what we need. Another "Oh, and by the way, I hate the DLC" thread.

That's nice dear.

So what CONSTRUCTIVE thing are you doing to change things?

Or is complaining about the DLC about it?

Btw, your assessment of Kerry and your labeling of the centrist DLC as far right (then what is the far right then, "the uber monster really, really far right"?) tells me that you are standing so far to the left everything looks Republican.

Because Kerry was far from bland. He was a very qualified candidate that the Democratic Party as a whole let down. That includes the DLC, and also you and me, assuming you're in the party with me and not criticizing from the outside. He would have made one hell of a president, something I'm still hoping to see.

And, damn it, he may have one foot in the DLC, but for the most part, he's too liberal for them.

[bvar22]

50. The Whole Democratic Party let Kerry down???!!!

That is a bit much.


I agree that John Kerry is too liberal for the DLC. Unfortunately, he had to DEAL with the DLC for the nomination and they saddled him with a Conservative Anti-Labor platform (same as Gore). Both of them were incredibly relieved to get out from under those platforms. Rember the relief on Al's face when he conceded and threw off that horrible platform. He RAN back to being an Environmental Activist and Renaissance Man. Kerry was also noticably relieved and happy to get back to his liberal Mass constituency.

If you want "Constructive" go here:

http://www.pdamerica.org/


or here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1957833


BTW: I consider exposing the Anti-Labor malignancy and the Corporate Money addiction of the DLC to be distasteful, but constructive. First step in the right direction.

[LittleClarkie]

51. I'm just saying we're all in this together

and finger pointing without also looking one's self in the mirror seems too easy to me. Maybe we didn't ALL let him down. But the blame game isn't getting us anywhere.

[bvar22]

53. I'm talking about

Conflicting Issues and the Direction of the Party, not finger pointing.
I would be happier if the whole of DU stuck to ISSUES!
For instance:

1)"I hate the DLC for their continued support of NAFTA inspite of the Undeniable Proof that NAFTA has been a DISASTER for LABOR both in the US and Mexico."

Is much more preferable than:

2)"I hate the DLC because they are Repug Lite."



I am very serious about my sig line. It is IMPOSSIBLE to go both directions at the same time. The DLC has openly acknowleged that their PRIMARY GOAL is to INCREASE the POWER and INFLUENCE of Corporate Money in the Democratic Party. I'm going in the other direction and I will drag the Party with me kicking and screaming if I have to, or drive a stake through its heart!


"Man cannot serve two masters, for he will love the one and hate the other!"

[LittleClarkie]

54. Then I see those who complain about being ATMs

and wonder why the party turns to that corporate money.

[rman]

67. There are other strategies but those have no podium

because the podium (the MSM) is taken by corporate interests, supported by the DLC and Repubs.

[Jacobin]

52. Yep. Billmon nails it today if anyone is interested

www.billmon.org

I mean he fucking nails it.

[Robeson]

58. Thanks. Nice read....

...:thumbsup:

[LittleClarkie]

55. The DLC is not the Dem Party

The DLC may or may not be a joke, but as a Dem, I resent the implication that we are ALL a joke because of one faction. Nice broad brush there.

[rman]

65. well, you're not a party official are you?

so i don't think you need to feel spoken to.

[bloom]

56. The DLC

gives people no reason to vote for them over Republicans. They are traitors in my book.

[chaumont58]

62. Hear, hear, well said, or written!

*

[Spiffarino]

63. DLC: Go join your natural allies and leave us alone

Urge the DLC'ers to absorb into the Republican Party. After that, we'll go and focus on the small stuff like personal freedom; good jobs; a higher standard of living; a cleaner, safer and more prosperous world; a thriving middle class; good government; privacy rights; liberty...

[Robbie Michaels]

64. I'm no fan of the DLC

They are the main reason why, as of last November, I'm a registered Independent. I think this group is doing more to divide the Democratic Party more than the NeoCons could ever dream of.

I will still ask for a Democratic ballot next election, but I won't rejoin the DNC unless the "old guard" gets behind Howard Dean and gives him the support he needs to do his job.

[bejammin075]

68. DLC = Republican wing of Democratic party?

If Hillary is in the DLC, doesn't that make her a questionable candidate for 2008?

Anyhow, as a moderate (that is, no party affilitation, yet) it seems to me the DLC is holding Dems back. I want to vigorously, loudly oppose Bush's lies that got us into war. I would gladly register Dem if there were more like Conyers and Boxer. What Dems need to do is FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!!! Fight everything. Roberts nomination? Fight the fucker's nomination. Bush would only nominate someone evil enough for his tastes.

The "be nice" DLC approach is not working. OBviously.
Republicans aren't afraid to lie.
Democrats are afraid to tell the truth.

WTF is up with Leiberman on TV all the time? Can't somebody shut him up?

[dolstein]

75. George McGovern, Jimmy Carter, Walter Mondale, Michael Dukakis

I could go on. Look, the Democratic Party dug its own grave when it embraced the counterculture and nominated George McGovern, who was political disaster of epic proportions. He was a lousy candidate and run an abysmal campaign.

Jimmy Carter's failed presidency didn't help matters much either. Carter's ineffective response to the Iran hostage crisis cemented the impression among voters that the Democrats were weak on foreign policy.

Mondale and Dukakis were also disasters.

And hey, I'm not going to spare Clinton either. His personal behavior while in office reinforced the view of many voters that the Democrats couldn't care less about matters of personal morality. His affair with an intern gave the Republicans the opening they needed. If Bill Clinton hadn't been such a lecherous creep, Al Gore would have won easily.