Russ Feingold to Netroots Nation: Call Out Corporate Democrats

[amborin]

Feingold to Netroots Nation: Call Out Corporate Democrats

by John Nichols

.....'I fear that the Democratic Party is in danger of losing its identity,' Feingold told the crowd. (AP Photo) That was the no-hold-barred message that Russ Feingold brought to Netroots Nation.

snip

The fiercely-independent Democrat, who cast the sole vote against Patriot Act and took the lead in opposing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, may have made a name fro himself fighting the worst excesses of the Bush administration. But he was never a yes-man for the Obama administration. Feingold cast a relatively lonely vote against making Tim Geithner the Secretary of the Treasury, and an even more lonely vote against banking reforms that failed to address the threat posed by “too-big-to-fail” banks. And he fought Bill Clinton, George Bush and Barack Obama on trade policy.

snip

His deeper message, however, was a call to action for progressives to practice a politics of principle rather than simple partisanship -- a theme that is central to the work of the national reform group he leads, Progressive United. Yes, he argued, Barack Obama should be reelected in 2012. Yes, he hopes that Democrats make a comeback after the devastating 2010 election cycle that cost him his Senate seat and cost his party control of the U.S. House and governorships across the country.
But, he warned, a victory-at-any-cost approach will cost the party the credibility it needs to attract Americans who are disgusted by political corruption – and it will yield little in the way of progress.

Decrying the failures of the Obama administration on issues ranging from bank regulation to tax policy to trade agreements, he urged progressives – especially progressive bloggers, who have become such a powerful influence in the party – “to call out Republicans and Democrats” who fail to stand for reform

snip

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2011/06/17

[xchrom]

1. recommend

[rurallib]

2. Feingold to the greatest page once again!

[mod mom]

7. where he belongs! love him!

[librechik]

3. Ok--but we will have no candidates

because the folks who are willing to put their lives on the line and ruin for office as a progressive are practically non-existent. If we had more folks like Feingold, we wouldn't have trouble keeping a progressive platform together. But we don't. And Weiner's story will turn off a lot more potential candidates. Nobody wants that kind of pressure from their own party. If it's not sexting, it will be smoking dope, or any similar lifestyle transgression. Now that they have their precedent, it's clear the progressives will be purged eventually, probably because of their liberal lifestyles.

[sabrina 1]

4. Unless Weiner comes back.

How about WE draft him back??? To show them who has the power.

And I do agree with pretty much everything you said, which is why it is so important to get him back, if he wants it.

One thing we can do is do not donate money to any pac where the party gets to choose the candidates. Donate directly to the candidate we want.

And we need to organize. It's clear the current party structure is not working for us, we need to take it back.

[bvar22]

5. The Progresive Candidates ARE out there.

They just can't make it through the Primaries against the "Centrist" funding from the DCCC, DSCC, and DNC.
The White House has also racked up a dismal record of supporting Pro-WAR/Anti-LABOR "Centrists".
That is some pretty tough opposition from inside the Democratic Party.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=160&topic_id=14207


On Edit:
If you Work for a Living,
do NOT donate to the DSCC, DCCC, or the DNC.
They WILL use your money against you.
Instead, donate directly TO Progressives with a record of supporting LABOR and MediCare for ALL, and opposing Military Spending, the WARS, Free Trade, Wall Street, and Tax Breaks for Millionaires.


"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans.
I want a party that will stand up for working Americans."
---Paul Wellstone

[slipslidingaway]

6. knr nt

[girl gone mad]

8. k & r

The DU purists would have him banned.

[Scuba]

9. Russ Rawks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[slipslidingaway]

10. Link to thread in the PV forum ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=592959&mesg_id=592959

[defendandprotect]

11. kr

[slipslidingaway]

12. kick n/t

[Le Taz Hot]

13. Now, THIS is the kind of Democrat I can

proudly work for and vote for. Unfortunately, I'm in California so I'm not sure how effective I'd be. Sadly, my Rep. is a Republican and one of my Senators, though she has a "D" after her name, has prospered quite well with her "yes" vote on the IWR and never met a corporate donor she didn't absolutely adore.

[felix_numinous]

14. K&R

[Hotler]

15. Kicking for Russ. eom.

[WillyT]

16. HUGE K & R !!!

:kick:

[white_wolf]

17. He is completely right.

Until we purge the DLC types from the party, we will never make progress.

[Bozita]

18. K&R, bigtime!

[mmonk]

19. But that makes us "the professional left".

I hear that makes us bad and other descriptions I'd rather not type.