Stop Being Distracted by Loudmouths Like Limbaugh: The Real Problem = Lousy Democrats Like Evan Bayh

[marmar]

via AlterNet:




Stop Being Distracted by Loudmouths Like Limbaugh: The Real Problem Is Lousy Democrats Like Evan Bayh and Ben Nelson

Posted by Chris Bowers, Open Left at 3:27 PM on June 10, 2009.

Republicans are not the obstacle to progressive governance. Instead, Democrats who refuse to support a public option are the obstacle.



Sign up now to fight for the public option

Here is a message that progressive organizations and media outlets need to start sending to all Democratic party committees and members of Congress:

We are done attacking Republicans until you pass a public option for health care.

Until a public option is passed, I don't want to hear about the latest hate and idiocy spewing from Limbaugh, or Tancredo, or Palin, or Gingrich, or whoever. And to tell you the truth, I don't want to attack them for it, either. Because, right now, Republicans are not the obstacle to progressive governance. Instead, Democrats who refuse to support a public option are the obstacle.

More in the extended entry.

As I wrote last week, passing a public option is the lowest bar for Democrats to cross in passing major progressive legislation right now:

Real health care reform--aka, a public option--is the lowest bar for progressives to clear with the current Congress. It has the most lobbying behind it, bringing in not only health care reform groups, but also unions and mutli-issue groups like MoveOn. It only requires 50 votes in the senate, whereas Republicans will force 60-votes on virtually everything else. It is a very popular, not only in absolute terms (60%+), but also relatively popular compared to other major Democratic agenda items like climate change. And President Obama won't have a 60%+ approval rating forever, either.

The bottom line is this: if we can't get our most popular major agenda item, during the peak in Democratic popularity, when we need only 50 Senate votes, and on the issue where we have given our strongest lobbying and activist efforts, then we aren't going to pass meaningful progressive legislation on anything else.

Stop telling me how bad Republicans are--we don't need a single one to pass the public option. In fact, not only do we not need any Republicans, but a public option can become a reality even if nine Senate Democrats, and 39 House Democrats, defect. This should be a slam dunk. ........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/140570/stop_being_distracted_by_loudmouths_like_limbaugh%3A_the_real_problem_is_lousy_democrats_like_evan_bayh_and_ben_nelson/

[Somawas]

1. Exactly. We make up, in our own party, for the Republican shortage.

[nradisic]

2. I totally agree...

It is the so called "Blue Dog" Democrats like Bayh and Schuler. They are the real problem....and not real Dems.

[progressoid]

3. Lousy is right. eom

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. If you all kick the posers out of your party...

...people like me would gladly replace them.

[Captain Hilts]

5. CORRECT. It wasn't Limbaugh that hog-tied Bill Clinton, it was Sam Nunn, Jim Cooper, etc. nt

[Senator]

6. K&R

[pleah]

7. K&R

[Kolesar]

8. Great excerpt

It inspired me to write to the President. :applause: for the author.

[patriotvoice]

9. Kick and freaking recommend. EOM

[rhett o rick]

10. We need a list of top ten worstest Democrats that need to be targeted

for unelection.

1 Alan Specter

2 Landrieu

3 Ben Nelson

4 Baucus

5

[Uncle Joe]

11. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, marmar.

[flamingdem]

12. k+r

[Dragonfli]

13. Agreed - The "False Flag Democrats" (AKA Stealth Republicans) Are the Current Pressing Problem

We have to start treating them like what they are, not what they pretend to be.

They are Moderate Republicans that have burrowed into our party to help enable the sale of policy to various corporations.

Until we rid ourselves of them we will only have a majority in name only.
The end result will continue to be largely corporate friendly compromise legislation too watered down by the profit needs of special interests to accomplish what is in the best interests of the citizens that help elect these false Democrats.

IMO This False Flag Operation is destroying a great deal of faith in our party as well.

[Just-plain-Kathy]

14. So many here are missing/ignoring the real problem...They're so in LOVE with a very personable POTUS

Our dems aren't doing the jobs we elected and supported them for.

Wars continue, corporate bailouts on our watch as well, and worst of all, -Bush and Cheney will walk.

[Dragonfli]

15. kick

:kick: