Understanding our hollow centrists--Joe Conason

[Louisiana1976]

The puzzling thing about politicians of either party who claim to be “centrist” or “moderate” is how much they sometimes sound like party-line right-wing Republicans. Distinguishing among these species of politicians can be almost impossible during the current struggle over health care reform, especially when a senator like Blanche Lambert Lincoln of Arkansas tries to explain herself.

Like so many of the Republicans they try to emulate, the conservative Democrats claim to worry about spending and deficits—except with respect to programs that benefit them, their favorite constituents or the lobbyists who pay their campaign expenses.

Facing re-election and plummeting poll numbers, Lincoln voted to commence debate last weekend. But then she turned around and warned that she would probably join a Republican filibuster against the Democratic health reform bill. Why? Because the Democratic legislation, favored by a clear majority, is likely to include a public option.

snip

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/understanding_our_hollow_centrists_20091125/?ln

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Joe Conason is always a pleasure to read...or hear. He used to be on

Al Franken's show when he was on Air America.

[donco]

2. Good

beef up the public option,put it on the floor and let them suffer the conscienceless of their actions.My money says when that happens they will change their minds.

[struggle4progress]

3. "Honest. Independent. Moderate. Vote for Attila Hun." Everybody always a frickin centrist.

"Vote for me: I'm a crooked extremist" usually doesn't win elections :shrug:

And since the 1972 election, the corporate media has interpreted every Democratic defeat as evidence the Democrat was "too liberal." Of course, Nixon's dirty tricks contributed to the defeat of McGovern, just as Reagan's dirty tricks contributed to the defeat of Carter, and Bushista dirty tricks contributed to the defeat of Gore -- but the constant refrain has been "McGovern was too liberal; Carter was too liberal; Gore was too liberal"

[bjobotts]

4. Nice revelation on Lincoln. Getting richer off the government tit