Dems Need More ‘Problem Children’ Like Alan Grayson

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.inthesetimes.com/working/entry/5129/dems_need_more_problem_children_like_aln_grayson/

Wednesday November 4 1:01 pm


Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Flor.) listens to Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke testify during a House committee hearing on Capitol Hill on October 1, 2009. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

By Roger Bybee

The late Saul Alinsky, the scrappy Chicagoan who translated unionizing methods into a systematic approach to community organizing, often remarked, "A liberal is the kind of guy who leaves the room when an argument turns into a fight."

Alinsky was drawing out the fundamental difference between people willing to express principles and those willing to fight for them. Of course, these days, it is clear that much of the Democratic Party, even after shedding its Dixiecrat wing, does not qualify as liberal, much less a progressive fighting force.

They won't even get into a serious argument, much less a fight with Republicans; as Paul Krugman has pointed out, the Democrats have yet to seriously repudiate and bury trickle-down economics once and for all.

Far too many Democrats are unwilling to compell the richest 3/10 of 1% —couples earning over $1 million—to make a small contribution to national healthcare. Democrats have meekly offered a miniscule government role in healthcare rather than forcefully putting profit insurers' advocates on the defensive.

Reforming labor law so workers can join unions without fear? Stopping the ongoing gusher of jobs headed to Mexico and China? When was the last time these were mentioned by prominent Democratic leaders?

We even have President Obama trivializing insurers' brutal methods--while purportedly criticizing them-- as mere "monkey business." "Monkey business"? That sounds as serious as a minor political sex scandal, rather than a "money business" built upon enhancing already-gigantic profits by denying needed care, even when it results in death.

FULL story at link.

[upi402]

1. yes they do

k/r
they will middle-of-the-road themselves out of power, however. i'm certain of it now.

[whathehell]

2. Grayson and Alinsky...YES!!

[Laelth]

3. +1 n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[msongs]

4. that Grayson is not very bipartisan is he - imagine, standing for his beliefs nt

[tblue]

5. The 'problem' is the fence sitters and capitulators and DINOs

Far as I'm concerned, Harry Reid - problem. Ben Nelson - problem. Blanche Lincoln - problem. Joe Lieberman - BIG problem.

[madrchsod]

6. big ed was putting the hammer down during his radio show....

pissed cause obama went to madison to talk about education instead of staying in washington to twist arms or speaking about health care in madison.

[Omaha Steve]

7. Kick

[Vidar]

8. We certainly do.

[Danascot]

9. I wrote my congressman to say

how much I admire Grayson and that I hoped that he (my congressman) would act more like Grayson. I also told him I'd donated $100 to Grayson recently because I support what he's doing. I donated to my congessman's campaign but nothing since he's been in office.

[earthboundmisfit]

10. Kick for damn f*cking right!

If even HALF the Dems in either chamber had the wherewithal of Grayson, imagine what could be accomplished!