What ever happened to the Democratic Agenda?

[plantwomyn]

Those of us here in Northern Indiana are screwed. It seems that the National and State Party have acquiesced to the idea that only “Blue Dog Democrats” can win here in Indiana. Well those of us who live here know what that means in the real world is Republican light. Looking at my “democratic” representatives in Indiana, my State Senator Jim Arnold, my Congressman Joe Donnelly and the hack they want to run for Sen. Bayh’s seat Brad Ellsworth, I could just scream.

I went to the opening of the Democratic Headquarters for LaPorte County Indiana this evening. This was the first “strategy” meeting for “Organizing for America”. I don’t know if you all are aware of this but I was told tonight that 50% of what Obama collects goes to this “organization”.
Well to say that I was “unique” among the gathered group would be understated. Picture an olive skinned Dyke with a camo cap, green Carhartt and steel toed boots. There were many grey haired ladies there. To my surprise they listened when I talked to the DNC rep. and even agreed with me! I went there to confront the “Blue Dogs” and those who dared to tell me that President Obama’s Agenda was worth voting for in 2010. What I came away with is that 50% of the finances will be concentrated on getting 2008 first time voters to vote in 2010 for the same agenda! Well as a Dyke who has voted during every election since 1978 I guess they don’t think they have to address my agenda. Don’t get me wrong, there were some great young kids there that could advance the Party.

I sat there as a Lesbian who had to leave my home state and travel to Iowa,thank you Iowa!, to marry my wife. We came home to Indiana, see everywhere else where we have no rights, and we were expected to accept that our marriage and our family would not be recognized. Well yes, I knew that going in, but I never will accept it.

In the last year, I’ve read over and over that our time will come. Well let me tell you that this year has been too long for me to wait. I voted for a man that promised me that he would acknowledge that I am a first class citizen. I demand that he and anyone running for office to represent me tell me why they feel they have the right to ask me to wait for my equal rights under the Constitution. I will vote for anyone that promises to vote to acknowledge my rights and who will truly fight for my full citizenship.

We need candidates that are not afraid of standing up for the rights of the LGBT community and for a woman's right to choose. No candidate should be chosen that does not agree with the Democratic Agenda which states "Democrats will fight to end discrimination based on race, sex, ethnicity, national origin, language, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, and disability in every corner of our country, because that's the America we believe in." We must have candidates who promise to live up to this agenda.

[Skittles]

1. that agenda was an election strategy

[saracat]

2. The only agenda they now have is to WIN. They don't care what they win or how.

That is why they don't vote for what was the party platform. The platform doesn't matter anymore. i do not accept such people as democrats. I am told it is "purist to expect our party to satnd for our values.

[flyarm]

3. heck we don't have hardly anyone anymore that will fight for the constitution in any way.nor

the bill of rights.

That has been proven with FISA and now the re-signing of the Patriot Act!

No one has done a damn thing about those who have taken us to war based on nothing but f'ing lies..or torture or renditions.

But we have had the acceleration of the war in Afghan.

The health reform Bill is nothing but a bail out of AHIP and Big Pharma and the hospital conglomerates..and Dem's have made excuse after excuse of the secret meetings Obama had with said group.

We have had our tax dollars bail out Wall Street and the banks.

We have record unemployment ..the worst consumer confidence in my entire 58 year life.


oh I could go on and on..he has fucked educators..

and Unions..

and Union workers ..with a tax now on their health care

and he has done nothing for gays..

Hell where I am Dem's are dropping like flies..

His cabinet has insulted Liberals and progressives..

so who is left but young people who have little democratic party History , values and principles?

I sure am in no mood to work for the party of "whatever"..but certainly not democratic principles.

They will not see another dime from me..

And I most likely will be sitting this next election out..since the dem party didn't want my vote in the primaries in 2008..they were so happy to steal my states votes..they can go kiss..well lets just say..I would like to tell Rahm about an ass........

and the people he called a "F#@king" challanged group of people in this nation ...

He apologized to challenged people..but he has never apologized to me.

[upi402]

4. When it's just our fundraising team vs. theirs

it's a just party without a plank to stand on, in their platform. Useless to have a "D" in office if the "D" is really an "R" in practice.

[BeFree]

5. Sadly

America just isn't ready yet.

It may be some time before it is.

Thing is, if any of it is ever going to get done, it will be the democratic party that does it. And it's good that you are in there and working for the changes. That's how changes happen, the only way; from the bottom up.

I've seen real simple common sense items take years to begin to move and even more years before completion. Hang in there and keep fighting for what's right.

[plantwomyn]

6. Sadly

I believed him when the man I voted for said "Yes We Can". He did not predicate his promise with "I will work toward a time when Americans will accept LGBT citizens as full Americans." He made promises to all of us. He said that he was going to set right the injustices of DADT and DOMA. He spoke over and over about the FACT that he was going to get it done.

Until November 4th we weren't sure that America was ready for a black President.

I'm not a one issue voter. I'm equally pissed about the "Patriot" Act, John Yoo, "Judge" Jay Bybee, the firing of Bunny Greenhouse, the outing of Valerie Plame, GITMO, Bush tax cuts for the rich, the bailout of the elite on wall street, I could go on and on. And as posted above, the promise to right these wrongs have not been kept either.

As I said in my original post, there is only one person running for the 2nd congressional District in Indiana who has stated that he would protect a woman's right to choose, repeal DOMA and DADT. He is retired Navy Intelligence and against the very idea of the "torture memos". These stands are not exactly the "party line" for Republicans, so he isn't saying this to appease the base and "get elected".

The Democratic Party has installed "conservative Democrats" into seats all over the country. Too many of them are Democrats in name only and they are the reason that HCR has been impossible to pass. With "friends" like Rep. Stupak and Sen. Nelson, why do we see the Republicans as the enemies of reproductive rights? The Blue Dogs are not just "fiscally conservative". They vote for the "social" agenda of the religious right.

The Republicans vote in lock step. I'm sure there are some that hate the crap that has been going on but they vote with their leadership. The Democrats on the other hand are like a pack of petulant children that say "Give me give me, I want I want". Not for the good of the Nation but for the good of their ego and their wallet.

I'm not there working for changes. I already worked, donated and voted for change. I will be there to confront their "motivate the grassroots" speeches and demand ACCOUNTABILITY for promises unfulfilled. I will not let them divert my attention with the man behind the curtain. The Wizard and his party have some explaining to do.

[BeFree]

8. heh, you be bad...

..what is good for the nation? What, iyo, is the nation?

You wrote:
"The Democrats on the other hand are like a pack of petulant children that say "Give me give me, I want I want". Not for the good of the Nation but for the good of their ego and their wallet."

[blm]

7. 1992 happened.

.

[troubledamerican]

9. Identity politics & Vietnam fragmented the New Deal Coalition, Clinton held the fire sale,

Gore didn't ask his supporters to march into the streets to stop the ballot coup, 9/11 & Ft. Detrick Anthrax hoodwinked the nation, Obama was installed as the Scapegoat President to try to extinguish the arson, and Congress will choose Hillary in a repeat of the Election of 1824, as the last President. When the USAF plane crashes into the Capitol Dome on 4/4, Palin will be sworn-in by NSDAP J. Roberts, and the "Democratic Agenda" will finally decide it's time to pour into the streets. Ha ha ha. Too late.

[western mass]

10. we fell for the "but a republican is worse!" fear mongering

I'll happily see Dems lose in the short run, if by losing it makes Dems understand that they can't ignore their Democratic constituents. And if they still don't learn after losing elections, then I don't want them as my representatives.

And please don't give use crap like "we can't survive another 4 years of Bush." Democratic collaborators made those years possible.

[plantwomyn]

11. This is really for the last 4 posts

#7&9
I'm not talking about "historically". I'm talking about the stated Agenda of today's Democratic Party.

"Democrats will fight to end discrimination based on race, sex, ethnicity, national origin, language, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, and disability in every corner of our country, because that's the America we believe in."

This is quoted from the Party Platform. I assume that the platform will change very little for 2010 or 2012. BTW above this statement they show a photo of those present, including MLK, for Pres. Johnson's signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. So it seems the party is equating their "fight" and expectations for success, to the hay days of the Civil Rights Movement. Or so they wanted and want us to believe.

#8
"heh, you be bad...what is good for the nation? What, iyo, is the nation?"
I believe that delving into the minutiae of my post to ask me to define a concept is counterproductive. Everyone has their own definition for what "the nation" means to them. It doesn't matter if our definitions are different, what matters is that our leaders are keeping their promises to "fight" to ensure that most of us can be proud that our nation has not gone so far astray that it can no longer be recognized by any of us. I don't believe that the Obama Administration has corrected our course far enough away form the injustices of the Bush Administration. They have not addressed FISA, The Patriot Act, Rendition, etc, etc, etc.

#10
Your post summarizes what I tried to get across to the OFA cheerleaders on Tuesday. My Rep. Joe Donnelly has not proven himself to be better than a Republican. He wants to keep DOMA, DADT, and is against EDNA. His name is on the list of Reps that have stated that they will not vote for the Senate Health Care Plan unless Stupak's anti-choice wording is in the bill. This anti-choice crap is a red herring. They could have easily just dropped in the Hyde wording. But no, the "status quo" isn't good enough. They want to make abortion virtually unavailable, uninsured and therefore unaffordable.
As a Dyke, why do I care? Because it's a "slippery slope" to these guys taking more control over MY body. It does not affect these MEN at all. This will not affect woman who can afford to pay out of pocket. They always have and always will be able to get an abortion. This affects middle class and poor women . And these rich white men don't seem to care one way or another as long as it gets them votes and allows them to take communion.

Again from the Part Agenda:
"We are committed to ensuring full equality for women: we reaffirm our support for the Equal Rights Amendment, recommit to enforcing Title IX, and will urge passage of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women."

There is no specific wording in either bill about male reproductive "rights".
I demand a amendment stating that there will be not federal funding for "male enhancement" or "erectile dysfunction". Maybe then these old white guys will get it. I still have my doubts.
Oh and don't give ME any of this crap that erectile dysfunction is a medical condition, so is pregnancy. DUH!