What does "Moving to the Center" really mean ?

[Nick at Noon]

I ran across this article at Joe Bageant's site that is exceptionally good and I hope other DU posters will enjoy this. It explains to us why we ordinary Americans may have trouble understanding what the term "moving to the center" really means.

http://www.joebageant.com/joe/2008/08/moving-to-the-c.html#more

By an anonymous political consultant

Over the last many weeks we have all been subjected to endless news stories about Senator Obama's campaign "Move to the Center". Leaving aside the political illiteracy which underlines this phrase, the use of it reveals important clues about the rhetoric of electoral campaigns, whom they target and what they are trying to communicate.

Put simply, what "Moving to the Center," means is: moving towards power and money.

"Moving to the Center" is not a move to where the center of public opinion is, but it is a move to the center of where elite consensus is. Once the boundaries of that elite consensus are understood, then we can comprehend the limits of our public choices and more importantly what will be allowed within the confines of our electoral system.

<snip>

Economics Trade and Globalization

The elite consensus on these issues is solidly to the right of public opinion. This is especially the case on the issues of trade and globalization. Support for supposed free markets, free trade and globalization are almost universal and unquestioned within elite circles.

<snip>

Social Issues

Elite consensus on the issues of race, sex and role of faith in public life are to the left of public opinion, the only area in which this is the case. Elite opinion is overwhelmingly secular, pro-choice, supportive of gay rights and hostile to overt displays of racism.

[RufusTFirefly]

1. I like what Krugman wrote

"what Washington means by bipartisanship is mainly that everyone should come together to give conservatives what they want." -- Paul Krugman

[kenny blankenship]

5. "give conservatives what they want" --

and in recompense the Democrats should just be thankful that Republicans haven't already managed to reroute Social Security's accounts receivable to Wall Street bankers--although there's always next year! Yes, that about sums up the last 30 years of bipartisan condominium including all the wars and militarism, the steady encroachment upon reproductive freedom, the continual erosion of civil liberties and the rise of police state infrastructure while our nation's physical infrastructure goes to ruin.

Fuck bipartisanship and to Hell with centrists.

[Individualist]

8. "Fuck bipartisanship and to Hell with centrists." Hear, hear!

Centrist is a label the neocon loving DLC hides behind.

[fla nocount]

15. Ronnie's Dem.s

Fancy Nancy's Panty Brigade, fence straddlers, middle of the roaders.

http://www.stlyrics.com/songs/l/loudonwainwright8109/deadskunk283335.html

[FatDave]

16. Exactly right.

We cave to them time and time again and say "See how we compromise? See how nonpartisan we are?" We've been doing this for 30 fucking years, and when have republicans ever compromised with us? Fucking never! And where are we as a result of all the compromising? Present day democrats are to the right of Nixon! To the right of FUCKING NIXON! What the fuck is wrong with us? What does it take for an elected democrat to learn?

[Cleita]

11. This is the best description of it. n/t

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. It's Politicianese for selling out.

[misanthrope]

3. kick**nm

**

[billyoc]

4. Trampling Tom Tancredo as you sprint further to the right.

[Marr]

6. Very interesting article.

Thanks for the link. I think many of us have noticed the outline or the contour of this reality, but never had an exact description.

[ColbertWatcher]

7. "Moving to the center" is a way to say liberals are "too far left". n/t

[mmonk]

9. Lately, it means supporting war, abuse of power like warrantless

wire tapping, passing a bankruptcy bill, supporting "regime change" in Iran and funding the MEK, protecting persons engaged in the black market nuclear trade financed by the opium trade, etc., etc.

[Breeze54]

10. Which is why the DLCers have to go!!

:grr:

"Moving to the Center" is not a move to where the center of public opinion is,

but it is a move to the center of where elite consensus is. :puke:

[pleah]

12. Moving to the center is moving to the right. n/t

[Selatius]

13. No, it means fucking over the working class and the poverty stricken. nt

[Breeze54]

14. BTW? Welcome to DU, Nick at Noon !

[baby_mouse]

17. Welcome, Nick.

Your post is timely and refreshing.

[Nick at Noon]

18. Thanks a lot

I don't consider myself unusually stupid, but I had never thought of the "center" quite like Bageant described it. But it really is so. Itt is NOT the center of what normal Americans think.

I have noticed that the elites are generous with us on social issues. They don't care what we do as long as it doesn't hurt profits. But when we get involved in economic reform, that is where they draw the line.

Thanks again and it's nice to be here :-)