Clinton and the DLC/ Lieberman connection

[johnlal]

It seems as if everybody is trying to jump on the candidates for having connections to controversial groups or people/ no matter how tenuous. However, I haven't seen anybody in the MSM making an issue about Senator Clinton's ties to the DLC. It seems like this should come up. After all, Al From, the founder and CEO of the DLC worked hard help Lieberman defeat Democrat Ned Lamont in the 2006 election. Lieberman was a prominent figure in the DLC. We now see that the DLC's Senator Lieberman has endorsed John McCain, and will give the keynote speech at the RNC's convention.

Senator Clinton is the chairperson of the DLC "American Dream Initiative". She is featured prominently on their website, and she is a contributor.

The press has been hounding Obama to dissassociate himself from William Ayers because they both served on a board of directors for a foundation. Why aren't we demanding that Hillary Clinton denounce Joe Lieberman, or Al From, or the DLC? It seems that these entities are more relevant to today's politics than Mr. Ayers.

[NYCGirl]

1. Because the MSM doesn't see anything wrong with the DLC? NT

[Lerkfish]

2. transitive property: Corporations to Corporate Media to Corporate think tank to Corporate candidate

what is the common denominator?

[MADem]

4. Lieberman-DLC? Lieberman-Obama?

Ooopsie...

http://www.boston.com/news/local/connecticut/articles/2006/03/31/obama_rallies_state_democrats_throws_support_behind_lieberman?mode=PF

[johnlal]

7. That was the primary, not the general election.

Ned Lamont, a Democratic activist and anti-war candidate from Greenwich, is challenging Lieberman for the party's nomination this year. Legions of supporters of Lieberman and Lamont both attended the dinner.

The article you provide is evidence that Obama supported Lieberman when Lieberman was still a Democrat.

I criticized Al From in my original post for supporting Lieberman after Lamont received the party's nomination. He worked against the Democratic nominee and for the "Lieberman for Lieberman" candidate. Can you understand the difference?

[MADem]

8. Yeah....SO???

Lieberman-DLC, Lieberman-Obama.

Lieberman's not a Democrat now--you said it. So why would he continue to associate with the

Democratic

Leadership Council, there, Skippy?

You brought this shit up, to try to make some sort of crazed, disordered point....and now you're WHINING about it?

Not the sharpest knife, are ya?

:rofl:

[johnlal]

9. Alright, let me try to explain it to you in simple terms

Senator Obama backed Joe Lieberman in a primary race between two democrats. Joe Lieberman lost the nomination,left the party, and started running against the Democratic Party. (You do understand that don't you?) There's nothing in the information you provided that indicates that Obama continued to support Lieberman's independent bid. He supported one Democrat over another.

On the other hand, Al From, the founder and CEO of the DLC, backed Lieberman against the Democratic candidate. He actually worked to defeat the Democratic Party's candidate in the election. Hillary Clinton is still associated with Al From through the DLC. Shouldn't this connection be even more as important than Obama-Ayers?

[MADem]

17. If anyone's in need of "simple terms" I am afraid it's you.

Obama-Lieberman....it would be a great ticket, only Holy Joe prefers McCain lately.

Gee, since when is Al FROM on ANY ticket? I must have missed him on my ballot!!! Oh, my aging eyes! We decrepit old people just can't keep up with you young whippersnappers, now, can we?

:rofl:

Keep reaching, there, Skippy! It clearly makes you feel fulfilled!

Gotta love a guy who cozies up, and then tosses his beloved buddy under the bus when it doesn't work out!

See, he's just a POLITICIAN. Like ALL OF THEM.

The big difference is, he's not very good at it, and he's got his unquestioning acolytes totally conned. They hit IGNORE every time they're presented with an "INCONVENIENT TRUTH" about their "Business as Usual" Faux Change/"Hope He Doesn't Get Caught" hero.

Of course, it's not the first time he's fucked over a pal to serve his own craven political purposes, and it won't be the last--ask Reverend Wright...and his senior from his home state:

http://www.counterpunch.org/cockburn04242006.html

....So Durbin paid the penalty of having to eat crow on the Senate floor. His fellow senator, Obama, did not support him in any way. Obama said, "we have a tendency to demonize and jump on and make mockery of each other across the aisle and that is particularly pronounced when we make mistakes. Each and every one of us is going to make a mistake once in a while... and what we hope is that our track record of service, the scope of how we've operated and interacted with people, will override whatever particular mistake we make."

That's three uses of the word "mistake". This isn't distancing?

Nor did Obama's man like my description of Obama's cheerleading for the nuke Iran crowd. Obama recently declared that when it comes to the U.S. posture on Iran, all options, including military ones, should be on the table. Now, if Obama had any sort of guts in such matters he would have said that if Iraq is to teach America's leaders any lesson, it is that reckless recourse to the military "option" carries a dreadful long-term price tag.

He did nothing of the sort, which is not surprising to anyone who read his speech to the Council of Foreign Relations last November. Remember the context. Rep. Jack Murtha had just given a savage jolt to the White House. This be-medalled former chairman of the House Armed Services committee had publicly delivered the actual opinion of the generals: "I believe we need to turn Iraq over to the Iraqis The United States will immediately redeploy ­ immediately redeploy. All of Iraq must know that Iraq is free, free from a United States occupation. And I believe this will send a signal to the Sunnis to join the political process."

And who knows, if Murtha's counsel had been followed, maybe it would have saved Iraq from the horrors now unraveling. But Democrats fled Murtha, few with more transparent calculation than Obama who voyaged to the Council on Foreign Relations on November 22, there to ladle out to the assembled elites such balderdash as "The President could take the politics out of Iraq once and for all if he would simply go on television and say to the American people 'Yes, we made mistakes'", or "we need to focus our attention on how to reduce the U.S. military footprint in Iraq. Notice that I say 'reduce,' and not 'fully withdraw'", or "2006 should be the year that the various Iraqi factions must arrive at a fair political accommodation to defeat the insurgency; and , the Administration must make available to Congress critical information on reality-based benchmarks that will help us succeed in Iraq."

Obama is one of those politicians whom journalists like to decorate with words as "adroit" or "politically adept" because you can actually see him trimming to the wind, the way you see a conjuror of moderate skill shove the rabbit back up his sleeve. Above all he is concerned with the task of reassuring the masters of the Democratic Party, and beyond that, the politico-corporate establishment, that he is safe. Whatever bomb might have been in his head has long since been dis-armed. He's never going to blow up in the face of anyone of consequence. ...

[Cassandra]

13. The DLC doesn't really consider itself part of the Democratic...

Party. The members think of the DLC as a substitute for the Democratic Party, or at least for the DNC.

[MADem]

16. What nether region did you pull THAT out of?

:rofl:

I love the way people here feel free to create their own "facts" to fit their preconceived biases.

[Cassandra]

20. I've been watching the years of threats...

against Dean, Rahm's lies about who was more responsible for the Democrats taking over Congress again, various plots to oust Dean and replace him with Harold Ford, the all out assault on the DNC by DLC backers in Florida and Michigan.
The DLC holds the progressive wing of the party in utter contempt.

[MADem]

21. And the Blue Dogs don't kiss anyone's ass either. SO???

This insistence by the far left that anyone who isn't WITH THEIR PROGRAM must be denigrated or cast out needs to cease. No one died and left the Code Pink assholes in charge.

It's the DEMOCRATIC PARTY. There are interest groups within the larger organization. And they don't have to do what YOU say just because that's what YOU want. And too bad if that doesn't meet with your approval.

The far left is NOT "the base" and all the whining and insulting in the world isn't going to change that fact. "Ewwww, we're the ACTIVISTS!!" is a load of horseshit. Troublemaking, insulting the rank and file and the long-term party loyalists, and making an ass of yourself doesn't "grow" the party. Doing the hardslogging fundraising, candidate growing, precinct walking, and dialing for dollars does--and that's what a load of the old-school types do, every election cycle, not just the glamorous Presidential ones.

I'm a person who can happily coexist with flaky lefties, muddle-middles and drawers-in-a-bunch righties within the Great Big Democratic Tent--I do, and will, make allowances for differences-- but when one group gets childish and cranky, and turns into a bunch of bigheaded, foot-stomping, hectoring scolds trying to boss the MAJORITY around simply because they're a bunch of Bigmouths who won't shut the fuck up and listen to others every so often, it's time to get the hairbrush and give 'em a whack across the ass and tell them to grow the hell up.

The DLC, the Blue Dogs, the Progressives, the CBC, they ALL have something to contribute. Getting all "I'm gonna FUCK UP those DLC types, because 'I'm' TOUGH and they need to be TAUGHT A LESSON," is pure posturing and bullshit.

Rahm wasn't lying. He, Steny, and a bunch of others--WITH MONEY and the connections that some fools eschew--DID grow the party. It wasn't Lefty the Clown getting sworn in, it was "Fighting Dems." You know, people who were well matched to the states that they lived in, some of which have slightly to greatly more moderate views than the "I Heart Hugo Chavez" crowd.

Stop acting like a victim with your "years of threats." If it's so fucking awful, no one's forcing you to stay. Otherwise, put your shoulder to the wheel, do what you can to make your life better, work for candidates YOU like, but stop shitting on other Democrats. Funny, I look at Bob Casey, and I know damn right well what kind of shit he'd be getting here--IF he supported Clinton. But no, not a word about HIS far, far, did I say FAR?, right views...because he's on the team of the Anointed One. Yeah, Rahm, he's the Devil, But Casey, well...he's a good Democrat.

Spare me the hypocrisy. Toughen up.

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Cassandra]

26. What the DLC contributes is money...

sucked up from their corporate masters, which they hoard in Washington, to spend on themselves. The DLC hates the base, both the activists, who are not as far left as you think, and the rank-and-file, whose jobs they happily shipped out of the country. Some of us are sick of big corporations ruining this country for their profit.

[johnlal]

25. True

They call themselves "the New Democrats" as if there was something wrong or broken with the old democrats. They need to be weeded out of the party just as Lieberman was. They don't need to be voted into the presidency.

[NYCGirl]

6. Exactly. NT

[MADem]

3. You NEVER HAVE? What are you, coming out from hibernation?

I have some bad news for ya, there, Skippy. The "MSM" thinks that the "DLC" is a respectable organization, like any other political advocacy group. It's only the far left that thinks the DLC all have horns.

Lieberman is going to the GOP convention. And if you want to play the Lieberman game, Obama, who was Holy Joe's Senate protege, endorsed Lieberman AGAINST Lamont. So that dog ain't huntin', Skippy.

I cite, because bullshit doesn't float: http://www.boston.com/news/local/connecticut/articles/2006/03/31/obama_rallies_state_democrats_throws_support_behind_lieberman/

Obama rallies state Democrats, throws support behind Lieberman
By Stephanie Reitz, Associated Press Writer | March 31, 2006

HARTFORD, Conn. --U.S. Sen. Barack Obama rallied Connecticut Democrats at their annual dinner Thursday night, throwing his support behind mentor and Senate colleague Joe Lieberman.

Obama, an Illinois Democrat who is considered a rising star in the party, was the keynote speaker at the annual Jefferson Jackson Bailey Dinner.

Lieberman, Connecticut's junior senator, is under fire from some liberal Democrats for his support of the Iraq War. He was key in booking Obama, who routinely receives more than 200 speaking invitations each week.

Some at Thursday's dinner said that while they were pleased with Lieberman's success in bringing Obama to Connecticut, they still consider Lieberman uncomfortably tolerant of the Bush administration.

Obama wasted little time getting to that point, calling it the "elephant in the room" but praising Lieberman's intellect, character and qualifications.

"The fact of the matter is, I know some in the party have differences with Joe. I'm going to go ahead and say it," Obama told the 1,700-plus party members who gathered in a ballroom at the Connecticut Convention Center for the $175-per-head fundraiser.

"I am absolutely certain Connecticut is going to have the good sense to send Joe Lieberman back to the U.S. Senate so he can continue to serve on our behalf," he said.


OOOOOOPS!!!!!!!!! "Elephant in the room" INDEED!!!!

[elmerdem]

11. so now the MSM

is absolutely right about everything? The cooporate owned media sees the coorporate owned DLC as legitimate. Wow, that is very convincing. Now, while you were busy asking others if they were hibernating & drooling on yourself, it has been pointed out that Obama endorsed Lieberman before he became the Lieberman party of one. He is going to give a speech endorsing Mcfuckinginsane at the Republican National Convention & you can't even follow a simple timeline. Joe Liberman is a Zel Miller batshit crazy warmonger who CT will rightly deep six next primary. So not only was Obama fooled, so was HRC, so was the entire party. To be so full of shit & misplaced logic & so arrogant & condescending at the same time just makes you look like more of a jackass.

[MADem]

18. If it's snowing in Dubuque, and they report it and show you a picture, do you doubt it?

Or do you think it's a HUGE "Conspiracy Theory" to make you BELIEVE that there's white stuff coming out of the sky?

Some things aren't WORTH lying about.

You might not agree with the DLC politically, and that's fine. But when you start ascribing a nefarious and secretive patina to what is plainly, except perhaps to the retarded few, a VERY PUBLIC entity, you start looking a little shaky in the Reality Based Department.

I have no problem following timelines--OR patterns. As I've noted elsewhere in this thread, your hero makes friends, and throws them under that famous BUS everyone is so annoyed about anytime the going gets rough. He knew what Holy Joe was when he endorsed him--that tiger didn't change his stripes between the primary and the general. He was the same fucking guy, and Obama made a bet (that Holy Joe would squeak it out) and Obama guessed WRONG.

Oh, and calling people JACKASSES when you don't agree with them merely serves to further my point. Why bother to squawk when you can't even bring it?

Gee, why don't you put me on IGNORE, it's what most of the weak minded little wusses who are unable to debate do--and it'll make you feel almost "Scientology Happy" if you do it often enough to anyone who doesn't see a glowing nimbus around your hero!

[Catherina]

5. Snapshot thanks to bvar22

[MADem]

19. Oooh, 2006!!!! Probably around the same time this pic was taken!!!

The Holy Trinity!!!! The Three Stooges???

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

10. The DLC is to the Democratic Party what herpes is to sex.

[Lerkfish]

14. something unwanted, unasked for that simply won't go away?

:)

[dempartisan23]

12. clinton loves mccain

a vote for hillary is a vote for mccain.

[rinsd]

15. You do realize that the New Democrats comprise a significant chunk of our majority don't you?

New Democrats are the DLC's legislative arm.

The House New Democrat Coalition consists of 58 Congresspeople.

http://www.house.gov/tauscher/ndc/membership.shtml

Here's a list of New Democrat Senators

* Blanche Lincoln (AR, founder)
* Dianne Feinstein (CA, by 2001)
* Tom Carper (DE, by 2001; co-chair from 2003)
* Joe Lieberman (CT, founder)
* Bill Nelson (FL, by 2001)
* Evan Bayh (IN, founder)
* Mary Landrieu (LA, founder, co-chair from 2003)
* John Kerry (MA, from 2000<6>)
* Debbie Stabenow (MI, by 2001)
* Kent Conrad (ND, from 2000)
* Ben Nelson (NE, by 2001)
* Hillary Rodham Clinton (NY, from 2001<7>)
* Tim Johnson (SD, from 2000)
* Maria Cantwell (WA, by 2001)
* Herb Kohl (WI, from 2000)


Here's a list of New Democrats that are Governors

# Gov. Mike Beebe of Arkansas
# Gov. Phil Bredesen of Tennessee
# Gov. Jim Doyle of Wisconsin
# Gov. Michael Easley of North Carolina
# Gov. Jennifer Granholm of Michigan
# Gov. Christine Gregoire of Washington
# Gov. Brad Henry of Oklahoma
# Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia
# Gov. Joe Manchin of West Virginia
# Gov. Ruth Ann Minner of Delaware
# Gov. Janet Napolitano of Arizona
# Gov. Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania
# Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico
# Gov. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Democrats

I don't think you want to play the Lieberman/Lamont game.

Both Hillary and Obama gave money and endorsed Lamont after he won the primary.

Bill Clinton campaigned for a day or two during the primary.

Obama gets slammed for "endorsing" Joe at the CT Jefferson Jackson dinner.

[MADem]

22. Uh oh...that bitter truth, with a cite to back up your assertions, will probably earn you an IGNORE

(or ten) from the LALALALA I CAN'T HEEEEAR YOU crowd.

Sadly, I put much of this "Evil DLC" whining and hectoring down to simple ignorance. I don't think these way-lefties are GOP tools, but I don't think they "get" how the system, of which Senator Obama is part and parcel, and WELL entrenched, works. All you have to do is look at the cash BHO gets from General Dynamics, whose main business is war, to see that he's a corporate candidate just like the rest of 'em.

And many of their "wish list" VPs are on that NEW DEMOCRAT/DLC list of yours...ooops!!!

They have this "Tabula Rasa" view of their candidate, and upon him they inscribe all their hopes and dreams. They don't see the similarities, and there ARE many, because they don't even KNOW their candidate's positions. And they don't really want to know. They have an "idea" and they "believe."

[johnlal]

28. How do they vote?

Bipartisanship in Washington means having enough Blue Dogs and DLCer's to pass the White House's legislation. We have been successful at chipping away at some of the more conservative legislators. I have a feeling that more of them will be losing their jobs soon, unless they start to bend to the progressives.

[rinsd]

29. The Washiongton Post has a neat Congressional database

You can look up any Congressperson from the last few session of Congress and all of their votes. WaPo also does missed votes and vote with the party percentages.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/

[johnlal]

30. Thanks for that link

It is very interesting.

[mod mom]

27. Will Marshall + DLC ties to PNAC (neocons):

Al From is founder and chief executive officer of the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC), a dynamic idea action center of the "Third Way" governing philosophy that is reshaping progressive politics in the United States and around the globe. He is also chairman of the Third Way Foundation and publisher of the DLC's flagship bi-monthly magazine, Blueprint: Ideas for a New Century.

As a founder of the DLC -- birthplace of the New Democrat movement and the Third Way in America -- and its companion think tank, the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI), From leads a national movement that since the mid-1980s has provided both the action agenda and the ideas for New Democrats to successfully challenge the conventional political wisdom in America and, in the process, redefine the center of the Democratic Party.

-snip

http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm?kaid=86&subid=191&contentid=1131



Will Marshall, the head of PPI signed PNAC letters.
(Called "Bill Clinton's idea mill," the Progressive Policy Institute was responsible for many of the Clinton administration's initiatives...)
Starting right after 9/11.
***************************
Along with such neocon stalwarts as Robert Kagan, Bruce Jackson, Joshua Muravchik, James Woolsey, and Eliot Cohen, a half-dozen Democrats were among the 23 individuals who signed PNAC's first letter on post-war Iraq. Among the Democrats were Ivo Daalder of the Brookings Institution and a member of Clinton's National Security Council staff; Martin Indyk, Clinton's ambassador to Israel; Will Marshall of the Progressive Policy Institute and Democratic Leadership Council; Dennis Ross, Clinton's top adviser on the Israel-Palestinian negotiations; and James Steinberg, Clinton's deputy national security adviser and head of foreign policy studies at Brookings.

http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0522-10.htm

More about Will Marshall
Note the PNAC link to the left.
http://rightweb.irc-online.org/profile/1295