Stand Up to Beltway Democrats (re: Cegelis)

[WilliamPitt]

Stand Up to the Beltway Democrats
March 14th, 2006
By Jonathan Tasini

If you are one of those Democrats like me who is completely fed up with the inside-the-Beltway party hacks who continue to lose elections because they have no spine and no vision, listen closely to a little something you can do this week to rap the knuckles of the Democratic Party machine.

Two years ago, Christine Cegelis took 44 percent from Henry Hyde, the arch conservative congressman and Congressional father of the anti-choice movement, in the suburban Chicago-area 6th District in Illinois. Her race pushed Hyde to announce he would retire. Cegelis, supported by a broad grass-roots network, decided immediately to run for the seat in 2006.

Rather than line up behind a candidate who was poised to capture the district, the Beltway Democrats recruited a primary opponent to take on Cegelis. Why? Because Cegelis is precisely the kind of progressive candidate the Beltway Democrats are afraid of: she is a progressive, anti-war, pro-choice, pro-renewable energy, pro-universal health care and opposes NAFTA-like trade deals. She’s called for a quick and safe withdrawal of troops.


The Beltway Democrats tapped Tammy Duckworth, a person who has never lived in the district. Her central asset: she is a member of the Army Reserves who lost both her legs in Iraq. She isn’t even running against the war–she is simply a symbol of patriotism. While her personal story is moving, she is also precisely the kind of candidate that the Beltway Democrats love–centrist and pro-business.

Indeed, the Beltway Democrats have pulled out all the stops to raise money for Duckworth: two emails from John Kerry, an e-mail and fundraiser courtesy of Hillary Clinton, an appeal from Nancy Pelosi. And Rahm Emanuel, the head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (and an advocate of so-called “free trade”), has crossed the line, mobilizing the official party machine into the primary fight on behalf of Duckworth.

Duckworth’s recruitment is a sign of a party driven by spin, political calculation and fear, not strength or vision. The Beltway Democrats, who relieve themselves in their pants every time Republicans question their patriotism, have decided that a winning political strategy rests on rolling out a large pool of candidates who are military veterans. Veterans or any new face in politics is great–but not if their candidacies are created to prove that Democrats care about the country and its security, even if we have no idea where the candidates stand on other issues or have no connection to the communities they seek to represent.

Arrayed on Celegis’ side are, among others, Progressive Democrats of America, Democracy for America and the machinists union (which represents tens of thousands of United employees who have been screwed by the very pro-business policies promoted by the Beltway Democrats). At a recent rally in the district, 150 activists packed a hall, ready to hit the streets and go door-to-door to talk to voters.

More: http://blog.pdamerica.org/?p=547

[tritsofme]

1. "Inside the Beltway hacks" seem to be doing pretty good

for the state of Illinois.

An Illinoisan is the #2 Democrat in the Senate, Speaker of the House, and running the DCCC, and a senator who is talked up by many as a future presidential candidate.

We have one of, if not the most powerful congressional delegation in the country, seems like the Beltway is doing good by us.

We hold every state-wide office, we control both chambers of the assembly, Democrats know how to win elections in Illinois, without outsiders interfering.

[wndycty]

2. The alleged "outsiders" are from Illinois and 3 of them. . .

Durbin, Obama and Quinn have won elections in the 6th CD and they know what it takes.

[tritsofme]

6. That's my exact point.

Illinois Democrats know how to win in Illinois.

Who knows what "PDA" is doing here.

[wndycty]

7. Haven't you heard?

Outsiders from AZ, MA, et al are OK as long as they come from PDA/DFA. Outsiders from other congressional districts in ILLINOIS and the state's two US Senators and Lt. Governor are BAD!!!

What are you are a DLCer or DINO?

LOL

[Gary Kleppe]

8. There's a difference...

...between outsiders who show up uninvited and try to take charge, and outsiders who show up because they're invited in by insiders.

This is especially significant if the reason the second group was invited in is to help counterbalance the unwanted meddling of the first group.

[Ken Burch]

13. It doesn't have to take a moderate conservative

and it doesn't have to take ganging up on the strong challenger from the previous year.

[mopinko]

4. you are proud of denny hastert?

wtf

[tritsofme]

5. If the GOP is going to control Congress

At least our state can get some benefit by the Speaker being from IL.

I have no love lost for him anyways, as he would be term limited as Speaker after 2008 anyways.

[madrchsod]

44. well i`m late to the dance mo

but you know my feelings about denny and the democrats..but i think denny is just grand because he gave my little town 2.5 million for a waterfront park....

[dogman]

3. Same tired line.

Always leading with the "Beltway Democrats" when it is the "elected Illinois Democratic Party leadership" that proposed Duckworth run. Why should we pay any more attention to a "New York" Democrat? What does he know about the 6th CD? If he was factual in his assessment of Duckworth he might have more credibility.

[Inland]

15. I want to know, who put those Beltway Democrats in charge!

Oh, that's right, WE ALL DID. We voted for them, we supported them, we asked for their support, and only when it doesn't show do they become evil outsiders. Obama's lived in DC for two months and he's Beltway Barack.

Well, who the fuck invited people who didn't live in the district to weigh in on the primary? Oh, that's right, the OP did. My guess is, if I don't support Cegalis, I'll have some sort of bad name attached to me too.

[Radical Activist]

19. Or an Arizona Democrat or a Boston Democrat

At least Rahm, Durbin and Obama are from Illinois. This line of attack isn't helping Cegelis.

[Radical Activist]

9. I live less than a mile from Dick Durbin's House in Springfield.

He's one of those "Beltway Democrats" supporting Duckworth. I have a hell of lot more respect for Durbin than anyone from PDA. I used to like Cegalis but I'm tired of this bullshit.

[Gary Kleppe]

10. Perhaps you could ask him...

...why he seems to feel the need to interfere in a local election, trying to push a candidate that the district doesn't want.

I'd like to think he had a good reason for doing that, but I can't fathom what it is and I'd really like to know.

The name is "Cegelis," by the way.

[Radical Activist]

11. Well, he's a statewide elected official

in Illinois and he deals with members of Congress from Illinois, so that's a good enough reason to get involved with Illinois Congressional races. I would find it odd if he didn't care about getting Democrats elected to Congress in his home state.

We'll find out who the district wants on Tuesday.

[tritsofme]

12. I really don't have a horse in this race,

Its not my district, and I don't particularly care one way or the other.

But I think district will make its choice, and I don't think it will be nearly as close as Cegelis supporters seem to think it will be, Duckworth will probably win by a very comfortable margin.

[Ken Burch]

42. You "don't have a horse in this race" and your spinning for Duckworth?

Yeah right.

I predict that it won't be close either, because Christine Cegelis, the DEMOCRATIC candidate in the race, will win solidly.

If the attacks on her by the Duckworth heavy hitters are used by Roskam in his ads in the fall, a Cegelis defeat will be Durbin, Obama and Emmanuel's fault.

I can forgive Durbin and Obama, because they are real Democrats on other issues, but it will make a strong case for dumping Republican Rahm.

[tritsofme]

43. It really doesn't bother me who is the candidate.

I'll let you voters in the 6th flesh it out.

I think both candidates are great Democrats, and I think the best woman will win.

Just looking at the race objectively, it wouldn't surprise me at all to see Duckworth get upwards of 65% of the vote in primary.

And when "Republican Rahm" turns out to be instrumental in delivering Speaker Pelosi, I don't think very many people will be thinking of "dumping" him.

[Ken Burch]

55. You're assuming nominating Duckworth is the ONLY way

to get Speaker Pelosi.

[Ken Burch]

14. you want to settle for a candidate that disagrees with you on everything

and will always vote against you and all important Democratic legislation, that's your call.
But I don't think Che would approve, companero.

[WilliamPitt]

16. Not very radical

for a radical activist.

*ducking, fleeing*

[Radical Activist]

18. Not very honest

to back up a blanket, unfounded statement like that for someone who I would think cares about his credibility on this site. On what basis am I supposed to believe Duckworth will vote against all important Democratic legislation? Oh Please. Her statements that I've read sound progressive.

You're asking people to judge Duckworth based on who is backing her. If you want me to judge her by her association with Dick Durbin and Barack Obama then she looks just fine to me.

[Ken Burch]

21. If Rahm dragged her in because "Cegelis is too liberal"

That's the proof right there that Duckworth can't be trusted.

You can't be progressive if your only comment on Iraq is "there's good and bad in everything".

Tammy would be a good vet center counsellor, but there was no reason to drag her into this race.

It wasn't even respectful to her.

[Radical Activist]

24. I thought it was Dick Durbin

who first started promoting her, and is there public record of them saying its because Cegelis is too liberal? I know there's a mentality that is developed because these things happen like this fairly often, but I don't see how its fair or accurate to blame the last 10 years of DLC meddling in the party on a woman who has made some pretty progressive statements. And honestly, who do you think will cary more weight in Congress if they speak out against Iraq? An anti-war activist or someone who has been there?

[mopinko]

31. is there a public record?

are you out of your fucking mind? or do you think we arae?

[Ken Burch]

53. a person who says "there's good and bad in everything" about Iraq

Will never be capable of speaking out against the war. If she's uncommittal now, she always will be.

And, as I've repeatedly pointed out, there is no polling information whatsoever to suggest that Duckworth is such in inherently more electable candidate as to justify the party boys ganging up on Christine Cegelis.

If there were, the boys would've shared it.

[Radical Activist]

17. I don't know what world you're living in

but here in the real world Duckworth is hardly a candidate that will disagree with liberal Democrats on everything. The fact that you would insinuate that is an ugly, and disingenuous campaign tactic.

[Ken Burch]

20. Oh come on R.A. I think we can assume that anyone Rahm drafts

into the race will be a waste of time. His track record proves that.

How can you not object to the heavy-handedness of the party leaders in this race?

[Radical Activist]

23. How about someone

Dick Durbin recruits into the race? Didn't we find out that Durbin approached her first? Isn't it fair to judge Duckworth on her own merits rather than trashing her based on wild assumptions?

[mopinko]

30. i do judge her on her merits.

i didn't say squat about her until she opened her mouth. do you listen to mike malloy? do you ever hear him go off on caller after they have uttered, like, 3 words? because those 3 words point to a whole right wing train of thought that you just can't mistake? well, that's how i feel about tammy. i read between the lines. which you have to do in this day and age when honesty doesn't stand a chance.
"there is good and bad in everything"? are dead people the good part or the bad part?
her first press release was about the alternative minimum tax. vote for me and i will cut your taxes. fucking un-american.

[tritsofme]

41. Eliminating the AMT should be a Democratic issue.

Or at the very least indexing it to inflation.

As wages inflate, the AMT is going to start taking huge chunks of money out of the pockets of middle class families, very soon.

[wndycty]

28. Is Nancy Skinner a waste of time. . .

. . .Rahm is very much supportive of her candidacy.

[mopinko]

34. what is she running for?

and what are her chances of winning? he never seems to mind sacrificial lambs.

[wndycty]

35. She is running for Congress in Michigan

http://www.skinnerforcongress.com/

http://dccc.org/races/candidates/MI_09_Nancy_Skinner.html

Now she has been considered a true progressive for so long, however since Rahm is in her camp I can see how there are those on the DU who will question her candidacy.

[Ken Burch]

54. It isn't the same situation.

It isn't a question of Nancy being drafted in in order to stop someone who did well the previous year.

Can you not understand that the issue is the heavy handedness?

[mopinko]

38. supportive meaning what?

all i know is that there are 4 candidates in this primary race.

[wndycty]

39. Just don't be surprised to see her get the Duckworth treatment. . .

. . .from the national Democrats.

[mopinko]

40. oh, well that's an answer.

[mopinko]

22. ugly? as in ought to be out of bounds?

as in, "let's try not to elect any more boot licking ass wipes" is a bad discussion for democrats to have? as in "can we recognize this stench by now?" is a question that we ought not ask? hello? oh, i forgot, it's not fair to ask "who's your daddy"??
only one side of this debate has tried to shut the other side up. y'all know who you are.

[Radical Activist]

25. I don't know what "point" you're trying to make

by putting things in quotes. Calling Duckworth some kind of conservative who will always vote against Democratic interests is a very serious and ugly claim to make. If you're going to say something like that then you should back it up with real evidence. I've seen statements from Duckworth that look very progressive. Moaning about how someone dared to recruit her to run against St. Cegelis does not meet the burden of proof. Focusing on this meme of Duckworth being evil because she dared to (gasp!) give voters a choice is a pathetic attack that doesn't give people a reason to vote for Cegelis. The fact that they're still using this ugly attack after months of campaigning tells me that the people running her race are real amateurs. I offered to help Cegelis months ago but I don't want anything to do with this race now.

[mopinko]

26. how's this?

rahm emanuel. voted for the war, voted for the bankruptcy bill, voted to reauthorize the patriot act. he supports tammy. that's all i really need to know.
but wait, there's more. she speaks bush speak about having to stay until the iraqi's are ready, same plan lbj had- the vietnamization of the war. american boys should not be over there doing what vietnamese boys should. now, how am i supposed to give her credit for her intimate knowledge of national security matters, when she does not even know the military history of the fucking vietnam war?
if the rank and file of this party cannot learn to recognize the smell of bullshit, this whole planet is fucked. so, i take that as my little job- to shout bullshit in a crowded theater. that's what a real radical activist would do.

[Radical Activist]

27. Ok, let's shout down some bullshit

Rahm Emanuel is not up for election in the 6th district. Duckworth was recruited by Dick Durbin. Durbin opposes the war and is very liberal. So by your own logic we could just as easily assume that Duckworth is as liberal as Durbin and Obama. Are you beginning to see the logical flaw in that argument yet?
How do you know she isn't liberal? You don't, you're just angry that someone is running against your candidate. Well guess what, that's how elections work. Deal with it. If Cegelis is really a better candidate then she'll find a way to win. Real activist find a way to win instead pissing and moaning about how unfair it is that they have someone running against them.

Who do you think is going to get more attention and will have more credibility when they talk about the war in Iraq? Obviously Duckworth will. Maybe sending her to Congress will help the anti-war cause more than you think.

[mopinko]

29. rahm was out to dump christine a long time before tammy

came along. and did it in what i consider to be a dirty way. so, yeah, durbin found her, and if the plan had not already been in place to beat christine, maybe they would have put her in a race against a republican, eh? it is one thing to put up a challenger, it is another to sabotage a candidacy. and roll over grassroots that are just starting to grow. to me, this is about coming along, and scooping up the low hanging fruit, nurtured by someone else, instead of growing your own.
but, let me ask you this, are you happy with your party? got enough spine for you?

[Radical Activist]

32. The party?

There are a lot of things I don't like about the Democratic Party leadership at the state and national level. But, I'm not about to take it all out on one candidate, who seems like a pretty good candidate, and make her out to be some kind of devil woman. Its ugly and unfair and it makes Cegelis look bad.
If Cegelis truly did such a great job developing grass roots support then she shouldn't have anything to worry about. If she can't beat Duckworth in the primary then she wasn't as strong as her supporters hyped her up to be.

I'm helping out a local candidate who is opposed by the conservative leaders of the local party. We stated our objections and moved on to talk about other issues and show why my candidate is better. Making the entire campaign theme about how unfairly she was treated by party leaders makes Cegelis look like she's weak, a sore loser, and has nothing else to talk about. Its a dumb, dumb theme to run a campaign on.
I voted against every single candidate endorsed by my local party. But you know what, I'm also working to change that leadership at the local level and I don't waste any time badmouthing them since its easier to say why progressive candidates and ideas are better.

[mopinko]

33. well, you are in the boonies, i am in the center

of a lot of power. my local IS national. rahm is rosty's predecessor. the gatekeeper for the big banks and exchanges, insurance companies, etc. now he even has boeing. oh, goodie, the war machine comes to middle america.
wake up. this is not about who runs for the city council in your little town. this is about who makes war. who lives, who dies, and who gets rich doing it.
and if you think that it speaks well of your candidate to mind your manners, and speak only of the public record, well, good luck with that. i intend to win.

[Radical Activist]

36. cute.

The people who hold city council seats are the ones who determine who gets elected to Congress from their little town. Maybe one problem with many progressive activists right now is that they think they're too big to get involved in local races where they can make a real difference and build up a strong organization for the future. For someone who intends to win you sure don't talk like it.

[mopinko]

37. maybe our candidate

is the one who, this time, like last time, has reached down ticket to support candidates for state senate, judge, etc. while tammy supports tammy. christine didn't stand ON the dupage democrats, she stood WTIH them. you really don't know what you are talking about.
and fyi, you must be joking if you think someone from chicago doesn't know how local and national fit together.

[Ken Burch]

57. I agree with your points about Rahm...but

I think you meant to say Rahm is Rosty's SUCCESSOR.

[mopinko]

58. doh! yes i did.

i did keep looking at that word, going, what is wrong with that sentence? i think i was tired.
never the less, all you have to do it look at his fec report. the hubby works in the financial industry. they are a testosterone soaked but of greedy guys.

[WildEyedLiberal]

62. Your elitism is disgusting.

"Boonies"? "Little town"? You can stop with the elitist bullshit right the fuck now. You intend to win? On a national level? By openly patronizing the entire non-Chicago part of this state? Good luck when you start campaigning for statewide candidates outside your little Chicago bubble.

You have proved Radical Activist and wndycity and Inland right - you are an arrogant elitist who can't tolerate dissent and stoops to insults and smears when you don't get your way. I don't live in the 6th, but if I did, I'd vote for Duckworth today because her supporters are the most grating, whiny immature children on this website.

[countmyvote4real]

64. big progressive outsider kiss for you on that one.

*smack*

Today I got a thany you letter from Cegelis for my really small contribution to her campaign via the ActBlue site. And I even checked a box during the donation process that I did not require any follow-up. I sorry it's not looking good at this point for Cegelis, maybe it will be close enough for a runoff.

[Inland]

45. Fuck YEAH, that's a bad discussion to have! Holy shit.

Calling democrats bootlicking asswipes for no other reason than they oppose your candidate in the primary is a "discussion" that normal, not insane democrats can do without any time of the day. That's not a "debate", and yeah, you SHOULD shut up if that's what you've got to offer.

[mopinko]

46. NOT FOR NO REASON!

this is a fight for the soul of our party. are we the party of grassroots, or the corporations? that is what is at stake in this primary, and anyone who tries to say otherwise, or tries to take this issue off the table, is a neocon who ought to be chased out of our party NOW.

[Inland]

47. Yeah, there all ASSLICKING NEOCONS because they TRY to disagree with you.

I just found a really good reason to vote against Cegalis. You gotta be put on the bench.

[mopinko]

48. it is your side

that is recommending people be "put on the bench" for disagreeing with you. i have never made any such statement. but i have been told such things repeatedly.
the thug party is on both sides of the aisle. we all need to learn to recognize the smell of tyranny. it starts with telling the opposition to leave the field. telling people to shut up. calling candidates incompetent boobs. talking about anything but issues.
guess what? we are not leaving. we are not shutting up.

[Inland]

49. I recommend putting you on the bench because your statement

alienating, out of control, partisan, and not just wrong. I bet that there's a lot more people who "agree" with you in being Cegelis supporters who think you should be benched.

Thugs, tyrants, neocons. For having the gall to disagree with you.

Good luck with the general. My guess is that nobody is going to be this hateful towards the republican majority in the district, because your sort of fervor is saved for those perceived as apostates, the ones that are close. In that twisted way, actual neocons and actual thugs and actual tyrants aren't in your sights. Good freaking luck.

[mopinko]

50. do you know kkkarl well?

or is this just a distant, unrequited love?

[Inland]

51. I know him by his tactics. Karl, you old kidder, pretending to be a dem

and bringing that whacky way of hate and smearing to anyone who dares oppose you.

Go chill out, dude. You're not doing your candidate any favors here. You just won yourself ten bucks to Duckworth's campaign.

[tritsofme]

52. The cognitive dissonance involved in your support of Daley

and you absolute hatred toward the "DINO" Duckworth is amazing.

I say this as a Daley supporter as well.

[Padme Amidala]

56. The Patrick Henry Democrats have also endorsed her

I posted their endorsement list above.

[Freddie Stubbs]

63. They have also endorsed a Republican in Texas

http://patrickhenrythinktank.org/endorsements.html

[tritsofme]

59. Its no surprise to me

that some conservative pundits are urging Republicans to take Democratic ballots and vote for Cegelis today...

[wndycty]

60. You are making this up. . .

Right?

:kick:

[Gary Kleppe]

61. No

See Dennis Byrne's column in the Tribune.

It might be a ploy to get moderates away from voting in the Republican gubernatorial primary so that his boy Oberweis ("Got homophobia?") has a better shot at it.