DLC's Ed Kilgore says keep perspective on Lieberman

[quaoar]

He is a guest blogger today on talkingpointsmemo. CNN read from his posts today on Inside Politics as an example of opinion "from the left."

While I seriously hope Lieberman stands by his party and does the right thing on Social Security, I don't support purging him. But if he can't support Democrats on something as fundamental as Social Security, then he deserves a major challenge in the Democratic primary.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/

Let me be clear about this: I see no political or substantive justification for Lieberman offering to reach agreement with GOPers on Social Security, particularly at this moment. It's a very bad idea. And this pains me far more, I am sure, than it pains guys like Atrios who've probably wanted to throw Joe off a cliff for years now. And if the reports are true, it represents the sort of pattern of misjudgment (e.g., the framing of the homeland security debate, and, in tandem with Dick Gephardt, the quick embrace of Bush's version of the Iraq war resolution) that led a sizeable number of New Dems to support other candidates for president (some for Edwards, some for Clark, some for Dean, some, like me, for Kerry) in the 2004 primaries.

< snip >

Look, I've tried to be a Party Unity Eagle Scout since starting my own blog, despite a lot of provocation to get into fights over stereotypes about the DLC held by people who aren't much interested in reading what I have to say unless it reinforces those stereotypes. So I understand the need for unity on Social Security and other topics right now. But unity is a means to an end--beating Bush on the dangerous things he's trying to do to our country, and working towards a strong, alternative progressive message for Democrats that expands our base. It shouldn't become a complete end in itself.

Right now the blogosphere is full of talk about litmus tests and purges, whether or not they contribute to either of those goals. And if the email I'm getting about Lieberman is any indication, we're getting close to litmus tests and purges about litmus tests and purges ("Are you now, or have you ever been, opposed to kicking Joe Lieberman out of the party?").

So let's keep a little perspective about what's primary and secondary in the fights just ahead. Maybe the hellish pressure on Lieberman to step back from a bogus deal will work, maybe not. If he goes ahead, let's make it clear he does not speak for other Democrats, and minimize the potential damage instead of acting like Bush has already won. And after we win, there will be plenty of time to play back the tapes and pin the tail on errant donkeys, in a calmer climate.

-- Ed Kilgore

[Jim Sagle]

1. Ed Kilgore is a fat, mouthbreathing, unintelligble, mumbling slobbermouth.

Fuck'm.

[democrank]

2. Lieberman should

take a long vacation with Zell Miller.

[Zenlitened]

3. Wow! That was quite a masterful display by Kilgore...

... of covering every possible base!

Lieberman shouldn't break ranks, this is too important an issue, but if he does let's put it in perspective, bashing Joe is a victory for the Republicans, blah blah blah. Sheesh.

And he misses the larger issue, which is Joe's penchant for making smoochy-smooch with Bush. It's one thing for Lieberman to vote as he pleases on this or any other issue. But by being so public about it, he undermines the party position as a whole. That matters.

Litmus test? On this issue, why not? This debate could very well mark one of the biggest milestones in American history, if Bush gets his way and tears down the New Deal. If this isn't worth demanding we all band together to fight, what issue is?

Plus, is there even a MECHANISM for "purging" someone from the party? I can't imagine there is, if Zell Miller is still walking around calling himself a Democrat. Sure the blogosphere is full of talk about purges -- but that's all it is, talk. It's one of the ways people are blowing off steam: "Kick him out of the party!"

[RealDems]

4. Kilgore was not a Lieberman supporter in the Primary

He was with Kerry from the beginning. Bruce Reed was with Edwards, and Al "reject Michael Moore and MoveOn" From was a Lieberman guy.