Hard to remain silent right now about what Bill Clinton said about Halter voters.

[madfloridian]

Trouble is that it goes far deeper than that episode.

In fact it is hard not to be very angry about it. It indicated once again the way that that our party leaders look at those of us who question their policy. It really is contempt, and it is worse....it is just plain misunderstanding and twisting our views.

He actually pounded the podium when he called those who supported Halter "outside forces" and said we were manipulating voters there to get our way.

I have learned that when one person votes against Democratic traditional values, it affects not just their state but all of us throughout the country.

When a Democrat votes to deprive women of their rights, it affects all of us.

When they vote to stop unemployment long term benefits, it affects the whole country.

When they are allowing long time teachers to be devastated by private companies taking over education...it affects us all.

When they stall on repealing DADT until they don't have the votes....it speaks to expediency instead of doing the right thing.

Clinton's words hit me hard.

Former President Bill Clinton on Friday urged voters in his home state to send Sen. Blanche Lincoln back to Washington for another term, warning them to not let their anger guide their choice in next month's Democratic runoff.

"If you want somebody to channel your anger, don't vote for her," Clinton said at a rally at Philander Smith College, a historically black school located near downtown Little Rock. "If you want somebody to get up and go to work and change your life for the better, you should vote for her."

Clinton didn't name Halter, who served as deputy commissioner of the Social Security Administration during his presidency, during his 20-minute speech. Instead he focused his attention on labor unions that have been backing Halter's bid.

"Her opponent is not her opponent," Clinton said. "Her opponents are the people trying to make her this poster child."

"In other words, this is about using you and manipulating your votes to terrify members of Congress from other states," Clinton said. "If you want to be used that way, have at it."

He is saying that if we support someone else in a primary we are "manipulating" the votes to terrify congress. He is portraying us as "angry" to the point of not being rational.

What a simplistic way to view what the liberals in the party are saying.

Clinton also appeared to attack organized labor when he appeared with Lincoln He held up an ad, and here is what he said.

The ad uses footage of Clinton from a campaign stop he made in Little Rock last Friday in which he framed the race as a choice between a senator from Arkansas and the labor unions in Washington.

In the ad, Clinton holds up a Post article (hooray!) that says that organized labor wants to make Lincoln the "poster child" for what happens when a Senator crosses them on their legislative agenda; "This is about using you and manipulating your votes," says Clinton. "If you want to be Arkansas's advocate, vote for somebody who will fight for you."

Organized labor has spent millions of dollars on ads and voter identification programs on Halter's behalf. Unions are angry at Lincoln for her opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act and the inclusion of a public option in the health care bill.

I am getting a little touchy now about the Democratic attacks on organized labor. I especially feel it in the teachers' unions because I taught for decades. But Clinton's words were directed at all organized labor.

The DLC think tank which runs party policy now was founded in part so the party would not have to rely on unions and minorities.

Remember the words of one of the founders, Simon Rosenberg.

Lessening reliance on traditional constituencies in order to get big money and make it easier to win.

"Simon Rosenberg, the former field director for the DLC who directs the New Democrat Network, a spin-off political action committee, says, "We're trying to raise money to help them lessen their reliance on traditional interest groups in the Democratic Party. In that way," he adds, "they are ideologically freed, frankly, from taking positions that make it difficult for Democrats to win."

[Webster Green]

1. Clinton is a jerk off.

I can't stand that asshole. :puke:

[roguevalley]

8. he's not god. he's just another corporate asshole keeping real

change and the needs and desires of real people down.

[defendandprotect]

71. Yes -- agree . . .

[lib2DaBone]

64. NAFTA gave us the SHAFTA.

:kick:

[Whisp]

65. not up on the OP story but have to agree on the jerk/asshole part.

*chimes in

[tiptoe]

69. Clinton is a frmr Gov of the Great State of Walmart -- a corporatist #*&^$ who's destroyed media

[amandabeech]

90. Clinton kissed so much corporate ass in Arkansas that I'm surprised that his pucker muscles

haven't gone into permanent spasm.

Did opposition research for one of his opponents back in '92.

[provis99]

2. I've always hated Clinton;he has the personality of an oily car salesman.

Best Republican president we've ever had, indeed.

[David__77]

7. I second that.

Terrible terrible terrible...

I supported his moves for peace in Asia but that's about it.

[Jakes Progress]

44. As long as you feel the same way about Obama

you are consistent.

I'm a union supporter who has lost faith in the leaders of the party I have supported for forty years. They - Clinton, Obama, Biden, et al - have joined the ranks of the elite oppressors. They see themselves as better than the people that vote for them, as smarter than people who really know what is going on.

[defendandprotect]

74. Agree . . .

but there must be some way of hiding from yourself the reality of what you're

actually doing -- i.e., Clinton overturning 60 years of Welfare Guarantees . . . and

Gore advising him to do it!!

I see this in Clinton and Obama -- in Hillary -- and Biden -- most of them.

The money must have some chemical effect on their brains???

Most Americans have really never been political -- don't sit around talking politics

even now in the main!! Taking too long to wake up and change this country.

[JDPriestly]

85. Clinton won the presidency a not-so-rich man.

He impoverished himself trying to defend against the claims about his womanizing.

Yet he is a multi-millionaire today.

You don't make his kind of money in just eight years by standing up for unions and working people. You have to sell your soul to make that kind of money in such a short time.

[defendandprotect]

113. Sadly agree with you . . . .

and, while I'm here, it leads me into something Nader used to talk about

re the change from the "smoke filled back rooms" where candidates for

presidents used to be elected.

Nader commented, they KNEW the people they were discussing -- whether any

had zipper problems -- whatever.

But, Nader also asked, How many corporations let the public pick who they chose

as CEO or Board members?


Today, it looks more like TPB are picking our candidates for us -- and letting

us vote for them!



PS: Reflecting back, certainly Liberman would have been quite a Trojan Horse!


And, also, have to comment on the sources of the $$ picked up by people like Clinton.

We really don't know -- but there is a great deal of money being made from the

trade deals he put thru -- and always rumors about the Drug War involvement.

Without doubt, the Drug War is corrupting government and elected officials -- and

police enforcement and our Judges/Courts -- and it's a lot of money to throw around!


And, with the death of Bill Buckley/CIA some interesting memos came floating out where

the CIA had been financing right wing members of Congress -- two mentioned were

Sen. Strom Thurmond and Rep. Jerry Ford -- there were others, but they're the only two

names I got. They were also funding Pat Buchanan --

CIA evidently took money from any right wing sources, including the KKK!!

[tiptoe]

91. The "elite oppressors" are confident in their hold on voting machines & the power of Election Fraud:

Their politicians don't fear losing elections to the People.

Historical Within Precinct Discreancy, 1988-2004, 238 state elections
— nearly 100% of vote-margin shifts favoring GOP in the vote count

How extensive and effective has GOP ELECTION FRAUD been? Have a look at above link, courtesy TruthIsAll's exploring and simple reporting -- i.e., no mathematical models or "fancy numbers" -- of the plain historical data, straight from the exit pollster's 2004 Evaluation Report for direct comparison with published official vote-counts, state by state, 1988-to-2004 (pp.84-91 of the book):

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x515058#HistoricalWPD

Note, too, the missing data for 2008 and realize that the pollster's Evaluation Report for 2008 (containing state exit poll data that, in 2004, affirmed Kerry's national exit poll win) is still being withheld by the mainstream media "news" outlets of Fox, CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, and AP. Do you think the media -- still withholding the 2008 Evaluation Report -- aren't aware of the 2004 Evaluation Report findings published in Proving Election Fraud? How can Obama's 9.5 million vote victory be confirmed without the state exit polls?

Oh, a HEADS UP! if you think 2000 is way in the past and ignorable (like some key people in the current administration, apparently):

Sandra Day O'Connor has reared her head again, on May 21, 2010, NY TIMES, Take Justice Off the Ballot, proposing
 

A better system...one that strikes a balance between lifetime appointment and partisan election by providing for the open, public nomination and appointment of judges, followed in due course by a standardized judicial performance evaluation and, finally, a yes/no vote in which citizens either approve the judge or vote him out. This kind of merit selection system — now used in some form in two-thirds of states — protects the impartiality of the judiciary without sacrificing accountability.

Ahhh, how sweet. Justice O'Connor, even after retirement, still looking out for the best interests of the American people, just as she did in 2000.

Reflect on that concluding tidbit of wisdom of her analysis -- "...finally, a yes/no vote in which citizens either approve the judge or vote him out" -- in the context of GOP Election Fraud described above that shows who benefited when the difference in vote-share margin between the Exit Poll and the Vote-Count exceeded the poll's assumed ±3% MoE. The results should be 50%-Rep 50%-Dem in fair elections. Instead, Republicans are favored in the votecount. How much? Nearly exclusively:

100.0% GOP favored

 in 15 Democratic states,

25 out of 25 times between 1988 and 2004

100.0% GOP favored

 in 15 Battleground states,

25 out of 25 times between 1988 and 2004

93.8% GOP favored

 in 21 Republican states,

15 out of 16 times between 1988 and 2004

 

(If you think conservatives' Election Fraud targets merely candidates, click on the "Proposition" link within the top to learn differently from an example.)

In the context of the facts above and 'just-one-time'-Justice O'Connor's presumed ignorance of them, how can a proprosal to "...finally, a yes/no vote in which citizens either approve the judge or vote him out..." be anything less than red-carpet accommodation for extending Right-Wing ELECTION FRAUD more broadly into the judicial system under pretense of a "merit system"?

And given Proving Election Fraud establishes Bush was fraudulently re-elected in 2004 -- after he was fraudulently-selected in 2000 by O'Connor's final vote -- shouldn't the SC Justice's appointed by fraudulently-elected Presidents GW Bush and GHW Bush (p.106-108) -- Roberts, Alito and Thomas -- all resign...i.e, if they are truly Honorable?

(See chart on page 98 for a common factor characteristic of five elections, between 1968 and 2008, where Election Fraud was evident.)

[bvar22]

45. The Old Dog's title of "Best Republican President Ever"...

is in jeopardy.
He will soon be "2nd Best Republican President Ever".
It won't be near as much fun being 2nd Best.

[glitch]

53. Why do you think he's spouting off? He knows his title is in jeopardy. nt

[emilyg]

80. Almost as good as Obama.

[Hydra]

3. The anger from the White House and other Dem power points is amusing

How DARE we disturb their political calculus? How DARE we ask for the things we need, when they work so hard at tilting the numbers so "we don't have the votes"

It's getting pretty ugly. The mask of benevolence is slipping.

[defendandprotect]

75. Nice summation . . .

Don't think I really gave this WH unnamed source comment enough attention today . . .

This is three now -- Lieberman -- Specter -- Lincoln -- at least that I'm aware of.

And, I wouldn't say that all Dems made the effort to try to knock out any of them.

I don't think we've all awakened yet to the need to TARGET just as the right wing

has always done and continues to do/?

But in reflecting on the comment, it was obviously made to try to ridicule and humiliate

the AFL/CIO because they lost in this one. But what if they had won. I don't think we

would have heard a word from WH. We've won one in three. And, I think we have to keep

trying. And, I think the WH knows if this becomes a trend we're bound to begin winning.

I think that's the purpose of the comment today -- to try to make AFL/CIO look idiotic

and to STOP them before this targeting idea takes a real hold of Democrats!!

We need more liberals/progressives talking about the need to do this -- Michael Moore,

Wm. Greider -- others have pushed for it -- and we should keep pushing and not back off

of it!!



PS: So AFL/CIA spent $10 million? Candidates right now are spending $25 million and

$80 million to get a seat in Congress!! Must be something going on that suggests to them

they'll get that money back . . . plus a lot more!!

And same with unions -- America has a hell of a lot more to lose than $10 million on the

outcome of these elections when DLC/Dems are moved into place!!

We have the whole teacher's union at stake -- and public education.

And, as many also understand, we have future jobs, the environment and the planet at stake --

And still two wars raging and bankrupting our Treasury!!

Lots more than $10 million at stake in all of this!!






:)

[Angry Dragon]

4. I am glad that the people can take a back seat to the party

I guess we have to remember that the party is the most important thing.

Long live the kings and queens..............

[laughingliberal]

5. That is just downright disgusting. How dare we support groups who stand up for our rights at work?

Add in the funny business with closing polls in areas Halter did well and the whole thing leaves me nauseated.

[Lilith Velkor]

6. He's absolutely goddamn right.

This IS about manipulating votes to terrify Congress, because we're fucking angry. It's called POLITICS.

Power concedes nothing without a threat. If we do not make them afraid of losing their jobs, we're doing it wrong!

Oh, and FUCK YOU, Bill.

[glitch]

55. How right? Center-right? Or further right than that?

Compared to say, Nixon.

The whole damn DLC should be scared. I really hope the SOS in Arkansas looks very closely at how this election was won. Beyond shady.

[Starry Messenger]

9. Too bad politicians can't vote in the voters they want.

You pay the ticket, you take the ride. Maybe the Dems may need to spend some more time out in the desert for some self-reflection. They seem to have picked up some nasty habits with all that reaching across the aisle.

[bobbolink]

32. They're working on that. Just a matter of time.

Maybe by Nov. The signs are clear.

[sabrina 1]

10. I am embarrassed at how I used to defend him

against right-wing attackers.

He's a DLCer, a 'New Democrat' and a Friend of the Bush Crime Family. The first time I saw him with Bush, I felt sick and betrayed.

They have a club and we are not members. I think we need our own club. This one is too exclusive for the rest of us.

[Angry Dragon]

12. If that is what you want then you need to

convince the moderate and liberal republicans that they are cutting their own throats by voting for corporate hacks.
The only way we get our country back is to work with the republicans that have minds. It is going to be the masses against the power elite.
Forget the tea baggers and the fringe republicans they are in their own little world. We ahve to convince them that by working together we can benefit all the people.

[bobbolink]

34. You are so right... a very smart dragon! I tried to suggest ways of doing this long ago, but got

shouted down.

Maybe now some are ready to actually listen?

As that quote by Lord Acton says, it is between the people and the bangsters. (Except he actually said bankers.... )

[bobbolink]

35. gotta love dupes.

gak...

[dgibby]

20. No Country for Liberals.

It occurs to me that neither the Republicans nor the Democratic "machine" have any use for liberals/progressives/labor unions. The only time they want to hear from us is on election day. The rest of the time, we're told by BOTH parties to sit down and STFU! And now that the recent SCOTUS ruling has negated our votes by allowing Corps to buy the candidates, it's going to be almost impossible to have any impact on elections.

[sabrina 1]

36. I think that was the goal. To inflitrate the Democratic Party

and push out those who had the silly idea that government is for and by the people.

They have succeeded but I don't think it means that this is a rightwing country by any means. I do think that the majority of Americans support labor and support social programs, are NOT interested in forever war etc. But they have no representation now in DC.

Iow, a vacuum has been created and whenever that happens, something will fill it. We have a choice, either continue to try to work within a party that is now totally taken over by its rightwing, or hope that another party will emerge that takes the place of the 'old' Democratic Party. This 'new' Democratic Party is for corporations. I guess we needed to see what would happen once they had a majority. Now they do so what happens next?

[NorthCarolina]

51. That's because Liberals don't exactly 'fit' into the Oligarchy. eom

[defendandprotect]

76. Feel the same way myself . . .

[sad sally]

122. Speaking of the Clinton/Bush Club

What did they do with all the money raised to help Hati? Family member just came back from a short trip there with a group taking things like saw blades, small tools, etc. that locals are unable to get. Did Bill and George just divide up the cash?

[napi21]

11. He was campaigning for Lincoln! For God sake get over it!

If he would have said the same thing about Halter you'd have been thrilled! You may hate him, but Arkansans still like him, and what he sid was true. I contributed several times to Halter and Ilive in Ga! I AM an outsider. Istill wish Halter would have won, but he didn't. He didn't lse by much, but...horseshoes and you know the rest.

I don't like Blanch at all, but I hope we keep the Denate seat. Not because she or any of the other bluedogs are great, but because I want to keep the chairmanships Dem!

Call me whatever names you want,but I learned a log time ago, after we moved from Pa. to SC, to Tx, to G, that you fight as hard as you can, but when you lose, you complain to whatever idiot that won, and tell them how unhappy you are with their votes.

[Raineyb]

15. She's not a Democrat. So what difference does it make? n/t

[Freddie Stubbs]

111. Arkansas Democratic voters seem to think that she is a Democrat

Perhaps they know more about her than someone from New York.

[Art_from_Ark]

127. Well, I'm an Arkansas voter

and I don't think she's a Democrat. The man she replaced was a real Democrat.

Also, Arkansas has an open primary system. I wonder how many republicans voted in the Democratic primary.

[Raineyb]

129. Really? I wasn't aware of that.

That certainly puts a twist on what happened. Republicans are notorious for voting in Democratic primaries in order to choose their own opponent.

[Art_from_Ark]

130. Here's another thing

Apparently there were only two voting stations open in Garland County (major supporter of Halter) for the run-off-- and one of them was in Hot Springs Village, the "biggest gated community in America"

http://www.hsvpoa.org/

[Raineyb]

128. I wasn't under the impression that principles were predicated on geography.

And this New Yorker certainly would know better than someone who has his head up the DLC's ass.

[madfloridian]

19. Stop using the word "hate". It is not "hate". And never tell me "get over it."

I don't "hate" Clinton, never did.

I don't call you names, either. I don't call anyone names.

I speak up when I see contempt toward those of us who want the party to stand for Democrats again, not keep going to the right to please the GOP.

I want my party to make some clear distinctions on issues. It is past time for them to do that.

I don't want a former president implying it is wrong to have primaries. Too many years they have handpicked the candidates.

Here at DU now when we speak up we are called "haters" of someone. That is not right.

[napi21]

26. I didn't mean YOU in particular when I said "hate", but there are

many DUers who at least SAY they hate BC. I too want the party to stand for Dems again and fight for the middle class, but in all fairness, a real progressive cannot win in the south, at least not now or in the forseeable future. I live in Ga. now and used to live in SC. The locals really do HATE Dems & the word liberal. I really believe that if we want majorities in the House & Senate, we're going to HAVE to ive with some bluedogs.

[madfloridian]

28. They are giving the GOP their agenda.

That is hard to live with.

I am not sure I can handle the privatization of everything.

[defendandprotect]

81. How can you say that Halter couldn't have won? Even the South is changing ....

and changing enough to overcome the machines and the computers!!

You can see how desperately they have to rig elections to even create a win now --

Supreme Court had to be called in in 2000!!

And, if you reflect on the large computers used by MSM -- and the individual voting computers --

they both began to come in during the mid-late-1960's -- just about the time that America

was passing The Voting Rights Act.

I'd question every election back to that time -- including Nixon/Humphrey which was a squeaker.


PLUS the large computers used by MSM gave them added powers . . .

prior to the computers they could only report actual vote tallies --

yeah, they could get a few people together and speculate about likely results --

but that was all. After the computers they had new powers to PREDICT and CALL elections.

To CALL winning candidates -- to call the Electoral College --

In 2000, we simply saw them REVERSE those new powers in recalling Florida from Gore!

[glitch]

56. He started it.

:nopity: /sarc

[rhett o rick]

96. What a bunch of giberish. Clinton and Lincoln are assholes. They are more damaging to our middle

class than the repukes. Fuck the DLC and their horses they rode in on. This is war, not a party game. We are dying and you act like it is a party game.
Clinton, Lincoln and the fucking DLC are in the pockets of the corporatists. They love them some BP. They dont give a shit if you and me pay for the clean up. It is time we get tough and kick their sorry asses to the curb. And their enablers too.

[RedRoses323]

136. +1

:toast:

[Bonobo]

13. His use of the word "terrify" is also code-speak.

Constituents "terrorizing" their leaders now?

[closeupready]

40. Yes. Bill's apparently been talking to GWB.

n/t

[defendandprotect]

83. Yes, completely agree on choice of "terrify" ... but also think they are terrified that

voters might begin to target Dems --

They know it's been suggested by prominent Dems - Michael Moore, Wm. Greider and others.

They know it could catch on --

And, most of all LINCOLN WAS FORCED INTO A RUN OFF ELECTION -- and they were forced to RIG

the run off. So I'm not going to say that those who wanted Halter actually lost.

They also know that this WILL have an effect on candidates running in next elections.

So -- I say, we should stick with it -- keep targeting -- keep working harder at it!!

And, thanks AFL-CIO!!

We've won 1 out of 3 -- Lieberman - Specter - Lincoln

[Raineyb]

14. Clinton passed his expiration date in the 90's.

So this type of shit is really no surprise.

[BanzaiBonnie]

16. Yeah, and Clinton sold the middle class down the river with NAFTA

I'll not forgive or forget him for that.

And now he's trying to shame people for wanting someone who will represent their interests? Shame on him!

[jesus_of_suburbia]

43. This is what I hate most about his Presidency.

Obama would have done it too though.



***** I'm slowly losing hope in the political system *****


--- disclaimer - I was a kid in the 90's

[awoke_in_2003]

102. he sold more than the middle class...

down the river- remember "Welfare Reform"?

[mmonk]

17. Silence is complicity. No one need be silent.

I'm tired of the false dichotomy and framing. I will remain a Democrat through the June runoff in my state to support a particular candidate. But then, I will become a progressive independent since my state by law, doesn't allow more than two parties. I feel no compelling need to remain a hypocrite.

[Carolina]

18. I have come to loathe Bill

he should STFU and go back to his mistresses in Chappaqua.

And ain't thay last part rich: "Simon Rosenberg, the former field director for the DLC who directs the New Democrat Network, a spin-off political action committee, says, "We're trying to raise money to help them lessen their reliance on traditional interest groups in the Democratic Party. In that way," he adds, "they are ideologically freed, frankly, from taking positions that make it difficult for Democrats to win."

I guess the money comes from AIPAC and corporations... so non-traditional, so ideologically free!

[bobbolink]

72. Just think how "free" they could be if they could make us expire.

[madfloridian]

21. Digby sounds off on further comments from WH disparaging the base.

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/churlish-shortsighted-and-petty.html

She refers to the comments from the WH that disparage the unions in the Halter campaign.

"I'm going to be charitable and chalk up these churlish comments from an unnamed official to fatigue rather than stupidity. But in the future the White House would probably do well to remember that as much as they loathe their base that they still need them to get out the vote in November. They should also remember that Blanche Lincoln is not a particularly reliable ally to the administration while labor is essential.

Also, constantly belittling the democratic process and condescendingly telling their voters to shut up and do as they're told is not likely to garner the defense of the netroots who are the only defenders they have when the right wing and the villagers decide to turn the administration's sleazy-but-legal political practices into a scandal. It gets harder and harder to work ourselves up on their behalf when they say things like this."

[felinetta]

22. He doesn't respect democracy.He didn't protest reduced polling places.

[madfloridian]

31. Why were the polling places closed? I have not understood why.

[kctim]

42. It was planned

back in March as a way to save money. They were expecting low turnout and decided they could go from 36 to 2 and not have any problems. The elections chairman, Tapp I think, said things still went smoothly.

Lawsuits have been filed though, so people should know IF there was more to all of that or not.

[Individualist]

23. K&R.

[Ikonoklast]

24. Bill was never a friend of Labor.

He tolerated us because he needed us, but in the end, screwed labor over big time.

[CrispyQ]

38. And now we're living the sequel.

~sigh

[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[lonestarnot]

27. Big Dawg passed NAFTA.

[Karmadillo]

29. Hard to believe Paul Wellstone was in the same political party as this guy.

nt

[ljm2002]

30. Bill Clinton speaking at Philander Smith College...

...you just can't make this stuff up! :evilgrin:

But yes, it is distressing how far the Democratic Party has strayed from its roots. I remember back when our side used to stand for something and stand UP for principles occasionally.

Now, not so much.

[Dawson Leery]

33. Says the kingpin of double-talk and political triangulation.

[MilesColtrane]

37. "If you want to be used that way, have at it."

I absolutely want my money and vote to be used to further my interests.

Thanks for the permission, Billy boy.

Have you learned what the definition of "is" is yet?

[ieoeja]

39. DLC does not want us, "ideologically freed." They want us enslaved to Rightist ideology.

The DLC has zero interest in balancing funding from, "traditional interest groups in the Dmeocratic Party," with traditional interest groups in the Republican Party. The DLC wants the Democratic Party to become fully beholden to the traditional interest groups in the Republican Party.

The DLC is a Rightist front group operating on behalf of those traditional Republican interest groups. They come to the Democratic Party with a suitcase full of cash pretending to be Democrats so no matter who wins the election, the traditional Rightwing interests are cared for.


I would like to thank Simon Rosenberg for admitting that the DLC opposes "traditional interest groups in the Democratic Party." What does it take for people to finally admit the truth: the DLC is not and never was for/about the Democratic Party, but rather just a front group for our opposition?

[closeupready]

41. Members of the DLC want to get rich by being ho's to special interests, and

seizing the apparatus of the 'opposition' party in order that both parties are used to advance the interests of the special interests that finance BOTH the GOP and Democrats.

[bvar22]

46. !..."I am a New Democrat"....Obama

The DLC New Team
Working HARD to make the Democratic Party even MORE Conservative and "Business Friendly"! (wink..wink)

(Screen Capped from the DLC Website)

[femrap]

47. Blanche bugs me....

she's just another Repugnant Lite as was Mr. Clinton.

I wish the Progressives had a 'group' ..... the Coffee Party.

We come so close, but never seem to make inroads.

I'm glad Halter gave her a run for her/Corp's money.

[joeybee12]

48. I've defended Bill Clinton for far too long...

never again.

[XOKCowboy]

52. I'm pretty much done myself..

I hate to say it but I feel the same about the present administration.

[Metta]

49. He never was one of us. He only gave us lip service. And GATT, NAFTA & the Telecommunications Act.

Happy karma, Bill.

[MilesColtrane]

103. Don't forget to add the Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act to that list...

which gave us "too big to fail" insolvent banks.

He happily signed that into law too.

[Metta]

112. Absolutely. Clinton has some really heavy dues to pay off.

His elevator only leads down in times to come, I'm afraid. Whether in this life or in lives to come.

[bluethruandthru]

50. I guess the DLCers...Bill, Obama, Rahm and all the rest

have decided they no longer need "the base". They know they have plenty of "independents" who are really just repukes who don't want to be associated with the teabagger nuts. It's starting to look like a third party may emerge sooner rather than later.
I really thought the split would come in the repuke party..but I think I'm wrong.

[glitch]

59. Me too. And I wish it had, it would have been easier.

But we can do it the hard way.

[Jennicut]

70. Obama was never in the DLC.

Rahm was.

We are going to split into 4 groups some day...I predicted months ago. The progressives, the moderate/conservative Dems, the mainstream RW and the teabaggers.

[totodeinhere]

88. I don't think that the mainstream RW is going to spit with the teabaggers.

Instead, they will use them and try to ride them back to power on the theory that once they get back in office they can throw the teabaggers under the bus. They will do to the teabaggers what the DLC types are doing to the progressive wing of the Democratic Party.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

124. au contraire.

New Democrat, DLC, same thing. This article is written by the CEO of the DLC.

*****************************************************************************************
http://www.slate.com/id/2213474

Yes He Is
Obama calls himself a New Democrat and shows what it means.
By Bruce Reed
Posted Wednesday, March 11, 2009, at 3:06 PM ET

For conservatives still trying to fit Barack Obama into their old tax-and-spend-liberal box, Tuesday was a very bad day. In the morning, the president gave a tough-minded education reform speech demanding more accountability from schools, teachers, students, and parents. The same afternoon, he brought members of the House New Democrat Coalition to the White House and told them, "I am a New Democrat." According to Politico, Obama went on to describe himself as a fiscally responsible, pro-growth Democrat who supports free and fair trade and opposes protectionism.

******************************************************************************************

[WileEcoyote]

54. Just more of the circular firing squad here at D/U.

More attacks (here) on Bill Clinton and President Obama than we see coming from the Freepers. A big help kids...

All this shit is backfiring on you too though the gallery refuses to see it. Most all of you are starting to look as embarrassing as Helen Thomas did in her remarks to the Rabbi last week.

Whose side are you on?

[madfloridian]

58. " All this shit is backfiring on you too"

I have been insulted more today than I have in years here at DU.

Thanks for that, it shows the contempt of which I speak.

[frylock]

77. yes, we'll all be the undoing of the democratic party because we voice concern..

over the continued skullfucking.

[rpannier]

86. The working class

But after your BS subject line about the Hamas, I see you haven't changed

[amandabeech]

92. I'm not a kid, but I am royally pissed that my party has been hijacked out from under me.

The democratic party that I joined back in the '70s doesn't exist.

You may be okay with that, but I'm not.

I thought that I would never write this, but I'm not sure that voting for Obama was the right thing.

If McCain and Palin had been allowed to really screw up, maybe people would be angry enough to get some folks in Washington who will listen and protect the people against the absolutely rapacious corporations that are running the show no matter who is in power.

Whose side are you on?

[ProudDad]

94. Well, I guess you prefer being reamed by a demoncrat

than by a republican, eh bunky?

[Starry Messenger]

119. I'm on the side of the workers.

Which side are you on?

[TheKentuckian]

131. I'm on the side of the poor, workers, civil liberties, equality, and the environment

You are free to hope for Barack, Bill, Joe, Hillary, Harry, and company to remember to brush some crumbs off the table as a reward for your loyalty but I'm all out of faith and tired of defending a bunch of rats that wouldn't piss on a poor man if I was on fire and they really had to go.

[Billsmile]

57. So Clinton is "Down" with Beck!

You say progressives are the big problem.

Well, you two have it right.

We are going to be your problem forever!!!!!!

[Peregrine Took]

60. To really understand the Clinton's - read "Partners in Power" - wow.

All the poop is right there. Yikes! And to think I voted for him - and almost for her!

[wordpix]

63. what is the gist?

[dflprincess]

61. "this is about using you and manipulating your votes "

And exactly what were you trying to do, Bill?

[Waiting For Everyman]

62. The corporatist lobbyists are their constituents, not the voters.

And that's why they need to be, and deserve to be, challenged in primaries.

Clinton is actually outraged that we don't just lay down and die without a whimper. How dare we defend ourselves! And evidently, our "activist" President feels the same way.

I for one won't ever again vote for another corporatist, whether Dem or Repub. Period.

[tiptoe]

97. The DLC & Obama believe they control elections & don't fear having to answer to the people. See #93

#93 -- http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8518779&mesg_id=8526610

[volvoblue]

66. lighten up. It's politics.

it's what they do in politics and Clinton is very good at it.

Frankly, for all the lamenting of Halter, I feel there was little difference between them. I kept feeling like he was just another Edwards type.
Lincoln is not someone I would vote for but, frankly, I feel they were both not so great.

[Bryn]

117. You're wrong

Halter is different from Lincoln and is down to earth guy, supports Medicare for all, is not corportions' darling like Lincoln is, supports working families, etc. You don't live here in Arkansas, I do. He's not like Edwards neither. Edwards is too elite unlike Halter.

[bertman]

67. I have to REC this one. Clinton's comments are beyond disgusting. Did he

lose HIS job due to NAFTA? Fuck No. These corporate Dems are driving me farther and farther from the party I have loved for so long. Very sad and makes me angry.

[liberal_at_heart]

68. I keep waiting for democrats to give me a reason to vote for them

and each and every time they give me a reason not to vote for them.

[sce56]

79. +1

[Raineyb]

132. They're not going to. They think you don't have any other choice but to

vote for them.

The sense of entitlement is galling.

[RedRoses323]

137. +2

:kick:

[quakerboy]

73. Its about damn time that our many representatives had some fear.

They should fear their constituents, not the other way around.

[Alcibiades]

78. Where was he on Bush v. Gore?

When a liberal Democrat loses to an incumbent conservadem, we hear from him promptly, and he really lets us know how he thinks. But when a Republican SCOTUS steals the presidency from his vice president, disenfranchising millions of Americans, he did nothing, except to pout a little about it in his memoir.

[Name removed]

84. Deleted message

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

[Lost4words]

139. His actions during the 2000, were disgusting,

He didnt like Gore and could give a damn about the future of the party and country! Up till then I was a blind Clinton supporter.

what a fool I was,.....

[JDPriestly]

82. I do not consider people who attack organized labor to be Democrats.

I will not vote for anyone who attacks organized labor. In fact, I will only vote for people who support labor. Labor unions are underdogs at this time. Clinton should be ashamed of himself for attacking the underdogs.

He does not seem to understand that Halter was supported by Democratic activists across the country who want open government, less dominance by the military, a rational health care policy and more respect for human rights.

Clinton and his ilk including Blanche Lincoln are splitting the party. I have wondered how many Republicans crossed over to vote in that race. Is it possible to do that in Arkansas?

[madrchsod]

89. they were so fucking scared of the unions....

they had to suppress the votes in garland county.

i ain`t voting for obama again

[amborin]

98. +1000

[Bryn]

118. Unfortunately yes

Some Republicans voted in the runoff between Halter and Lincoln. In Arkansas it's allowed by law. Everyone has an option to vote for D or R or I or Greens in runoffs, primaries, general elections... many republicans in Arkansas helped Lincoln win, but will abandon her in general election. Halter was getting too popular, considered progressive/libral that made them uncomfortable. So they helped Lincoln to ensure that she will lose in November since she's so unpopular with both sides.

[pundaint]

87. The Democratic Party is leaving People behind.

The only Party whose leadership is pro all the traditional Democratic principles is the Green Party.

[ProudDad]

93. Until Obama, Clinton was the BEST REPUBLICAN money could buy!!! (n/t)

[SaveOurDemocracy]

95. He was doing Obama's bidding. n/t

[mistertrickster]

99. It's always been my feeling that Clinton gave us George W.

I know, I know, W. stole the election in Florida. That's a given.

But it wouldn't have even been close enough to steal if Clinton hadn't lied to win re-election and instead had resigned before being impeached.

Then he would have looked like a victim of RepubliCON witch hunting (which he was), he would have shown how the RepubliCONs denied voters the candidate they voted for, and in a wave of sympathy, AL GORE would have been president for the next eight years.

But that's not what happened because for President Narcissist, it's all about MEEE . . .

[Maru Kitteh]

100. I'm sure Clarance Thomas admires your "feelings."

[tritsofme]

101. Clinton left office with 60% approval ratings

Incredibly high. Al Gore shunned him on the campaign trail to his own peril.

And the impeachment brouhaha hurt Republicans, not Democrats or President Clinton. In the 1998 midterms Democrats gained seats in Congress, nearly unheard of in year six of a presidency.

Why in the world would the popular Clinton have resigned?

[mistertrickster]

104. And once again, your boy delivered the corporate candidate rather than the people's candidate.

The country's in a shithole, but thank God, the CLINTON'S are doing so well.

Chelsa's a hedge-fund manager now . . .

[tritsofme]

106. No substance to your argument.

As I thought.

What type of idiot would resign when 60%+ of voters approve of his job? Al Gore's performance in 2000 was a result of his own decisions. Let's put it this way, if Bill Clinton was allowed to run again in 2000, he would have crushed Bush, and the Florida shenanigans would be a non-factor.

[rhett o rick]

133. yeah so what's your friggin point? the dlc is killing us faster than the repukes. Fuck the DLC. nm

[WinkyDink]

109. "Your boy"?? Yeah, YOU'RE a Democrat. Hahaha! Do you object to the BUSH FORTUNES?

[WinkyDink]

108. Brilliant analysis....NOT.

[Jefferson23]

105. Greenwald writes on the subject today too. Not sure if you saw this

already madfloridian, and hi ya btw! :hi:


Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 06:11 ET
The Democratic Party and Blanche Lincoln
By Glenn Greenwald


(updated below)

The run-off between Democratic Senate incumbent Blanche Lincoln and challenger Bill Halter, which culminated on Tuesday night in Lincoln's narrow victory, brightly illuminates what the Democratic Party establishment is. Lincoln is supposedly one of those "centrist"/conservative/corporatist Senators who thwarts the good-hearted progressive agenda of the President and the Party. She repeatedly joined with Republicans to support the extremist Bush/Cheney Terrorism agenda (from the the Protect America Act to the Iraq War and virtually everything in between), serves the corporate interests that run Washington as loyally as any member of Congress, and even threatened to join the GOP in filibustering health care reform if it contained the public option which Obama claimed he wanted. Obama loyalists constantly point to the Blanche Lincolns of the world to justify why the Party scorns the values of their voters: Obama can't do anything about these bad Democratic Senators; it's not his fault if he doesn't have the votes, they insist.


Lincoln's 12-year record in the Senate is so awful that she has severely alienated virtually every important Democratic constituency group -- other than the large corporate interests that fund and control the Party. That record, along with her extreme unpopularity in Arkansas, is the reason Accountability Now -- the group I co-founded and run in order, among other things, to recruit primary challengers against corporatist incumbents -- targeted Lincoln and why it expended so much effort and resources to recruit Halter into the race. We knew that most key progressive factions -- grass-roots organizations, progressive blogs, civil liberties groups, and unions -- would want to see Lincoln removed from the Senate, and that's the type of formidable coalition needed to persuade a credible challenger that a 2-term Senate incumbent can be defeated.

So what did the Democratic Party establishment do when a Senator who allegedly impedes their agenda faced a primary challenger who would be more supportive of that agenda? They engaged in full-scale efforts to support Blanche Lincoln. Bill Clinton traveled to Arkansas to urge loyal Democrats to vote for her, bashing liberal groups for good measure. Obama recorded an ad for Lincoln which, among other things, were used to tell African-American primary voters that they should vote for her because she works for their interests. The entire Party infrastructure lent its support and resources to Lincoln -- a Senator who supposedly prevents Democrats from doing all sorts of Wonderful, Progressive Things which they so wish they could do but just don't have the votes for.


in full: http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/06/10/lincoln/index.html

[madfloridian]

107. I missed that. Thanks for the link.

Heading to read it now.

:hi:

[defendandprotect]

115. Terrific article by Greenwald -- thank you!!

Ed Schultz -- see videon on Home page -- seems to be saying that

Dems participated in "voter suppression" in Arkansas --

I agree probably true!!


Well, we got Specter -- we missed Lieberman cause I guess we weren't ready?

And Lincoln was forced into a run-off election.

Not too bad -- and we're only beginning this "targeting" --

something Repugs and right wing have been involved with for decades!

[Jefferson23]

125. You're welcome, and I will check out the Ed video, much appreciate that!

[Bryn]

120. Great Article! Thank you!

I am in Arkansas and have been told by some members to vote for Lincoln anyway in November just because of "D". Bullshit! I will not, I won't! I am standing up for my rights, for The People, Medicare for all, for unions, etc. I won't vote for a traitor to the Democratic Party.

[Jefferson23]

126. So sad we are thinking like that, you should have had support to get her out.

Very frustrating situation!

[AnArmyVeteran]

110. We had 28 years of republican rule: Reagan, Bush, Clinton & Bush...

Now we have Bush-lite. God help us!

[defendandprotect]

114. We're going to have to start doing something about that -- 2012 right ahead!!

If we don't, we're all going to be homeless, jobless -- and sick!!

[rhett o rick]

134. Yes most agree we must do something. Our options are limited. Actually

we have no choices.

[deminks]

116. The DLC was founded by the US Chamber of Commerce

I have always heard from the MEdia that deals were made in the beginning with this one, kinda like Cheney's energy meetings. His corporatist slip is showing.

[Justitia]

121. I am so f*cking sick of Bill screwing around in our elections. Ride off into the sunset already!

I am beginning to have a visceral reaction every time I see him on TV.

The anti-labor speechifying he did at the Lincoln rally makes me vomit.

And all his behind the scenes meddling to influence primaries makes me see red.

Go. The. Fuck. Away. :mad:

[GodlessBiker]

123. Didn't he fuck Hillary over with his stupid comments about the SC primary? The man...

often lacks good judgment.

[kooljerk666]

135. Well this progressive will be Phone Banking for Blanch Lincolns Opponent........

and for Jane Harmans Opponent & Lynn Woolsey & the rest of the pro corporate pro settler pro war DEMS.

I'd rather have Rand & Ron Paul than traitor dems.

AT least we would get rid of the Libertarians after 1 election cycle.

The pro corp war whore dems just will not go away.

FU Obama, Rahm, Axelrod & all DLC's ROT IN F_ING HELL"

At this point I'd pull for Palin over Obama in 2012, and i may be so mad it is not rational, "I DON'T CARE!!"

Waxman & weiner & clinton & clinton can rot too............

Good article by Glen Greenwald:
http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/06/10/lincoln/index.html

Have A nice DAY.

BTW anyone in SE PA into JGB/Dead look here....great shows in Morrisville, PA

http://www.musicatsnipesfarm.com/

It may be wet though......

Have a good weekend all

J.

[Peacetrain]

138. Say what? You are a Progressive who would vote for Palin.. Drill baby Drill..

You got to tell me how you connected those dots together to come up with this solution

[kooljerk666]

140. Obama Rahm & the rest of the DLC war machine can burn in hell......

I live in Pennsylvania & did work for Joe Sestak & Winograd ( http://winograd4congress.com/ )
I will vote & work for sestak. I will not take orders from DLC or the white house & i hate them more than i can spit.

Palin is an opportunistic money grubbing machine & i have no illusions about her. I will vote & work for the right dems, the wrong ones can be replaced w/ neo con tards that will be gone after 1 election cycle & hopefully replaced w/ Bernie Sanders type I's & D's!!

The reelection of Jane Harman is what really made me sick, dozens of "PROGRESSIVE" dems campaigned & supported that tool, She should be in jail!

If the WH can laff at labor, If Bubba can rail against the liberal base of the party, then the Elite are gonna lose jobs & influence.


J