Centrist Democrats hit anti-Bush tactics

[ECH1969]

Some centrist Democrats say attacks by their party leaders on the Bush administration's eavesdropping on suspected terrorist conversations will further weaken the party's credibility on national security.

"I get nervous when I see the Democrats playing this issue out too far. They had better be careful about the politics of it," said Mr. O'Hanlon, who says the Patriot Act is "good legislation."

These Democrats say attacks on anti-terrorist intelligence programs will deepen mistrust of their ability to protect the nation's security, a weakness that led in part to the defeat of Sen. John Kerry, the Democratic presidential nominee, last year. "The Republicans still hold the advantage on every national-security issue we tested," said Mark Penn, a Democratic pollster and former adviser to President Clinton, who co-authored a Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) memo on the party's national-security weaknesses.

"In shaping alternative policies -- particularly on national security, terrorism and Iraq -- Democrats have to be extremely careful to avoid reinforcing the negative stereotype that has cost us so much in the last two national elections," the recent DLC memorandum said.

http://www.washtimes.com/functions/print.php?StoryID=20051228-122207-1549r
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Sure its WT, but the quotes from these wimpy DLC dems show their true nature.

[mikehiggins]

1. Arrrgghhh!!! This makes me so mad I can't even post about it! n/t

[Warpy]

2. Stop calling these people centrists.

They're conservatives.

They need to explain to us why we should listen to a word they say, since they've so effectively lost all 3 branches of government.

[JeffR]

4. Stop calling these people Democrats

IMHO.

[zanne]

46. I second the motion!

Do we hear a third?

[Sadie5]

9. Kerry was a Diebold casualty

In my opinion. No one in their right mind would believe this article. It is as plain as the nose on your face that it is a bought and paid for article.

[Hardrada]

3. I wish the entire DLC (fascist wing of Democratic party)

were put in protective custody until after 2008.

[tnlefty]

16. Do they have to be released after '08?

I say let them out only after they plead guilty to being GOP moles, which validates that any position that they took while claiming to be Dems is nullified, along with their affiliation with the Dem party. How's that for stratergizing?

[radio4progressives]

31. LOL! I Second the Motion!

:applause:

[stepnw1f]

5. Centrists My Ass... Nice Try Though, TOOL

Fuckin propaganda from the right spin machine.

[Kierkegaard]

6. Yep. Dems need to be extremely careful...

otherwise, they may actually WIN AN ELECTION OR TWO! WTF is wrong with these people?

[PunkPop]

7. Republican moles.

Nothing more. Makes sense that they're using the moonie times to get exposure.

[Vincardog]

8. Oh I get it the NeoConvicts shit on the constitution and if we complain

the Denial Lepers Colony tells us that makes us weak.


Did you see the :sarcasm: ?

[OneBlueSky]

10. there's only one response to these morons . . .

"Fuck 'em!" . . .

[htuttle]

11. F*ck those Petains and Quislings in the DLC!

I plan on shaving ALL their heads by the time this is over...

[buddysmellgood]

12. Centrist Republicans call for Bush impeachment. Where's that headline?

[AntiCoup2K4]

25. Ironic isn't it?

Holy Joe Lieberman had no problem jumping aboard the "Bash Clinton over a blow job" express a few years ago, but he and his friends remain silent and downright apologetic for Bush committing actual crimes and treason against this country.

[buddysmellgood]

38. It's criminal.

[Don1]

47. Great point.

[catnhatnh]

13. Which part of "Opposition Party" do they not get???

...which parts of the constitution do they think are SUGGESTIONS....In the end, is there ANYTHING they will oppose???

[Hell Hath No Fury]

14. I'll let my signature line....

speak for me.

[melody]

15. These are undercover Pugs, not Democrats n/t

[Totally Committed]

17. F*CK the DLC. n/t

TC

[gulliver]

18. Washington Times folks. Disregard. n/t

[ECH1969]

19. Did you read what I said above?

Sure its the WT, but the quotes from the DLC losers show exactly what kind of whimps they are.

[gulliver]

20. Missed that, but maybe it could use reemphasis.

I disregard anything the Washington Times reports exclusively. It is on the same list as Fox News, Al Jazeera, Pravda, etc.

If WT says someone from the DLC said something, it is prima facie evidence they didn't.

[AntiCoup2K4]

27. Not neccessarily so.

While it's true that the Washingmoonie Times loves to distort anything published about actualDemocrats, they also love the fact that the Delusional Lying Criminals are on their side, and willingly aid the Moonies, NeoCons, and Criminal Bastards in destroying the Democratic Party.

So they, like the rest of the corporate media, are than more than happy to take a DLC quote and run with it, usually misrepresenting it as the opinion of a "mainstream Democrat", knowing full well it is anything but.

[radio4progressives]

33. Hey! Don't lump Al Jazeera with these State Propagandists! N/T

:hi:

[Connie_Corleone]

21. Forget about looking weak on fighting terrorism...

With these centrist idiots, the Democrats look weak fighting republicans.

Why don't these idiots concentrate on what's right for a change, instead of worrying about what's politically expedient.

They're a bunch of fools. The only reason the DLC was successful with Clinton was because of Clinton's personality and common sense approach, as well as Perot being in the 92 race.

DLC stands for Democrats Losing Constantly.

They need to get over themselves.

[Dr Fate]

22. Can someone give me a single example of how going along w/ Bush lies...

...has helped Democrats?

Please- just one single example.

[gulfcoastliberal]

36. Exactly! Hello DLC, how has appeasing Bushco helped dems, anywhere?

Please, show us the great results of this!

[Andromeda]

23. They are NOT Centrist or Moderate Democrats...

I don't even know who that person is and he certainly doesn't speak for me and everybody else.

They are self-serving opportunists who use their party as a cover for their own agendas. They are wrong on the issue of national security and the fact that Kerry lost had nothing to do with Democratic "weakness" on security.

Everybody has a right to their own opinions but I don't want Centrist Dems smeared by association with a Conservative Democrat who is a Bush shill.

He's right in one respect. Democrats are seen as weak on national security. That just shows how well the Republicans spin the facts on this issue and if we keep reinforcing that misconception by repeating it over and over again we'll always be perceived as weak on national security.

I don't like it when Democrats bash other Democrats. THAT'S what's wrong with our party.

[mmonk]

24. Yes, you can't help the party by attacking our opponents.

IS THERE ANY DUMBER LOGIC THAN THAT?

[IndianaGreen]

26. The Bush enablers are out in force!

Let's talk national security, shall we?

Who is the biggest threat to our safety? A tall man on dialysis that is hiding in the caves of Pakistan, or a President that has taken Fuhrer-like powers to use against his enemies, foreign and domestic?

Defending the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights of which it is part, is the primary mission of national defense. When one takes the military enlistment oath, it is an oath to defend the Constitution, not an oath to defend the President or Congress.

Those that want to give Bush a pass on the basis of national security are themselves a threat to the security of the American people.

[LittleClarkie]

28. Kerry was strong as hell in national security

He did not reinforce the "negative stereotype"

Who IS this putz.

[LittleClarkie]

29. Brookings Institute, can anyone tell me more about them?

That's where this guy is from. Seems to me they are right wing.

[radio4progressives]

34. Brookings Institute is always referenced as a "Liberal Think Tank"

but the favorite columnists most often invited to appear on tv news shows to spin from the point of view of a "Centrists", is David Brooks.

[LittleClarkie]

35. Eh, yer kidding.

He's had some good columns lately, but by no stretch of the imagination is he "centrist". He's conservative as hell.

[jonnyblitz]

40. they consder david brooks a centrist?

holy crap....:wow:

[TheFarseer]

48. Don't you know, if you have ever disagreed with Bush

you are a moderate? Disagree with him twice and you are a liberal bomb-throwing loon.

[radio4progressives]

30. Please Please Please , Just Say it Ain't So!

please tell me this is just a bad dream!

:banghead:

[ProSense]

32. RW pushing buttons. Biggest inaccuracy : Bush's approval is 56% n/t

[RandomKoolzip]

37. Any DLC defenders care to address this?

[SaveElmer]

42. Look below...

No defense is needed IMO, because the Times cherry picked quotes from a DLC memo that did not criticize Democrats in the way the article implies, and in fact if you read the entire memo is a very upbeat look at Democratic prospects.

[NJmaverick]

39. COWARDS! IF they had the balls to stand up to bush on Iraq

We would have control of Congress and the WHite House.

[SaveElmer]

41. This is the Washington Times...

Anything they report needs to be taken with a grain of salt...

Let's look at the Democrats quoted in the article and what they said

First, Michael O'Hanlon of Brookings, as far as I can tell not a member of the DLC.

He says:

"I think when you suggest that civil liberties are just as much at risk today as the country is from terrorism, you've gone too far if you leave that impression. I don't believe that's true," said Michael O'Hanlon, a national-security analyst at the Brookings Institution who advises Democrats on defense issues.
"I get nervous when I see the Democrats playing this issue out too far. They had better be careful about the politics of it," said Mr. O'Hanlon, who says the Patriot Act is "good legislation."

Clearly wrong, and a defense of the Patriot Act.

Second, Mark Penn, well known Democratic Pollster, in a memo to the DLC

"The Republicans still hold the advantage on every national-security issue we tested," said Mark Penn, a Democratic pollster and former adviser to President Clinton, who co-authored a Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) memo on the party's national-security weaknesses.

This is an accurate statement.

Third, also from the above memo

"In shaping alternative policies -- particularly on national security, terrorism and Iraq -- Democrats have to be extremely careful to avoid reinforcing the negative stereotype that has cost us so much in the last two national elections," the recent DLC memorandum said.

In my view sound political advice. No information on what the authors think of the patriot act. In fact if you read the entire memo, there is no mention of the patriot act, no criticism of the strategy Democrats have pursued up to now, no support for Bush and his spying. The thrust of the whole memo reinforces the trouble Bush is in and offering political advice on how to take advantage of it. In fact noting that "Democrats cannot win unless they build a coalition of all liberals and most moderates. "

The Washington Times, in their usual way has cherry picked these statements to support an already derived thesis. Neither quotes they used, nor the memo they took it from criticizes Democratic strategy, or in any way supports bush's policies.

[robbedvoter]

43. Moonie times elevating some no-names - same way Hoffa Jr is "Unions"

Donna Brazille is "blacks" and Lieberman "Democrats". They wave the bait in front of you and you dutifully jump.
I was happy not to see anyone relevant in that piece of yellow journalism.(as I am compiling a naughty/nice list)

[SaveElmer]

44. Not only that...

With the exception of the guy from Brookings, none of them were making the points the article implied. They took two quotes from a DLC memo offering political advice to Democrats for 2006 in which they did not make the criticisms the article said they did..

Selective journalistic cherrypicking from a right wing rag

[xchrom]

45. if you will compromise or otherwise get in bed with extremists

how are you not an extremist yourself?

in this freshly post millenial time -- if you are moderate or centrist -- you are extremist.