Berman describes how the DLC rejected Howard Dean. I'm guessing they probably did all they could to keep this upstart from winning. And they ended up with a more malleable John Kerry. Berman describes,
The media coverage of its attacks, plus Dean's own implosion, breathed temporary life into the DLC, as it assumed a large role in John Kerry's policy shop. As the Anybody But Bush movement mobilized, the DLC quietly pushed Kerry rightward, dubbing him "a pragmatic centrist in the Clinton mode."
After Kerry's defeat, the DLC promised to "avoid the circular firing squad" mentality but then quickly broke the promise, reverting to its favorite target: the Democratic base. Instead of labor unions and feminists, the DLC fixated on MoveOn.org and Michael Moore. "We need to be the party of Harry Truman and John Kennedy, not Michael Moore," the DLC wrote on the Wall Street Journal op-ed page, of all places. "What leftist elites smugly imagine is a sophisticated view of their country's flaws strikes much of America as a false and malicious cartoon," the DLC's Will Marshall wrote in Blueprint, the group's magazine, in a rant worthy of The Weekly Standard. "Democrats should have no truck with the rancid anti-Americanism of the conspiracy-mongering left." The DLC continued this vitriol into March.
s. The organization now claims hundreds of state elected officials in the New Democratic directory published on its website. Some, like Bayh or Lieberman, are true believers. Others are happy for the free publicity gained from attending a conference or being named "New Democrat of the Week." And for politicians in red states, joining the DLC offers political cover. "It's the easiest, cheapest way for a politician who wants to be equated with a 'different kind of Democrat,'" says former Dean campaign manager Joe Trippi, who endorsed Rosenberg for DNC chair. "It doesn't mean anything anymore."
For example, fourteen members of the House New Democratic Coalition earned perfect ratings from the liberal Americans for Democratic Action in 2002 or 2003. "The mothership idea of a New Democrat was never shared by the DLC's rank and file, and it's less so today," says Teixeira. The House Coalition lost thirty-six members over the past two years. "Their universe of federal elected officials is relatively small," adds Baer. Of course, the fact that a New Democratic Coalition even exists is testament to the DLC's past success in creating, identifying and marketing a New Democratic brand.
Centrist elected officials have prospered with the DLC's institutional backing, a luxury never afforded to alternative groups like the House Progressive Caucus, which has failed to translate its sizable membership into lasting influence. (Its website hasn't been updated since the Supreme Court ruled on affirmative action in June 2003.) In the Senate, progressives are even less organized. The fact that conservative Democrats like Mary Landrieu and Blanche Lincoln speak through the New Democratic Coalition while center-left Dems like Patrick Leahy and Byron Dorgan lack institutional support is one way the DLC survives.
Berman's article goes on to describe the downfall of the DLC:
Now the DLC's archnemesis is in charge of rebuilding the Democratic Party.
Dean won't be alone. The progressive infrastructure that helped keep Kerry alive and began crafting a sharper Democratic message--America Votes, Progressive Majority, Camp Wellstone, Democracy for America, Center for American Progress, Air America Radio, Media Matters, the blogosphere--now exerts a greater degree of influence, bankrolled by new, wealthy outsiders and small donors who share similar goals. George Soros and Peter Lewis have pledged $100 million over the next fifteen years to support a permanent idea factory rivaling right-wing think tanks like the Heritage Foundation and the mushy centrism of the DLC's Progressive Policy Institute. "We've come to represent a way of doing politics that is dangerous to people in DC who have a nice little niche," says MoveOn.org executive director Eli Pariser. "Bringing in the grassroots will mean a loss of influence for some of the establishment folks."
The fact is, the DLC is built upon a highly dishonest attempt at presenting a liberal, progressive image. Take a look under the hood of this decrepit jalopy being sold by sleazy used car salesmen and you find a piece of junk that parasitized its reputation on the back of Bill Clinton's charisma. But now, we have the DLC's Queen Hillary, embracing and leading in the selling of these stale, non-Democrat ideas, these republican-lite ideas. She is, as the chair of the DLC's American Dream Initiative, unerasably tied to their backwards, conservative policies.
The future of true progressive politics includes making war with the DLC, running primary opponents against and defeating DLC sponsored incumbent Democrats, and running the leaders and ideas of the DLC out of Washingotn D.C.. They misguidedly believe they are the future, when in fact, they are, as Obama has characterized Hillary, the past.
So, to wrap this up, I want to be clear. The reason I oppose Hillary Clinton is because she is a leader of the DLC, which is anathema to progressive politics. She's bad for the Democratic party, bad for the future, bad for America. The only way she'll win the primary is by destroying Barack Obama and very possibly, the Democratic party along with it.
It is sad that this particular woman has raised the hopes of women, nationwide, even worldwide, who would so much like to see a woman president. I prayed to see a strong woman candidate enter the primaries. It didn't happen. We ended up with Hillary. She's a bit better than some of the Republican members of congress, but not a whole lot. If she somehow trashes Obama enough to cause him to lose the primary (I don't want to call causing someone to lose the same as winning,) I may even vote for her. But it will be a dispirited, unenthusiastic vote and I will certainly not go out and canvas and work hard for her.
Here in the suburbs of Philly, where I live, where they say, the toughest part of the coming primary will be fought, I attended a meeting of local democrats in a township that is predominantly Republican. Even here, the vast majority of the Democrats are supporting Obama. It's unlikely that PA will make a big difference for Hillary, in terms of delegates or popular vote. It will be close. She will not win a landslide here, even with the help of DLC Governor Ed Rendell.
By the way, two years ago, at a progressive conference, I asked Ed Rendell, in front of a lot of people, if he would work with progressives in the state. He encouraged me to fax him. I did, but got no response. I saw him at the grange fair and handed him a copy of the faxed message I'd sent him, calling for the beginning of discussions between him and progressives. No response.
The DLC leaders want to see progressives and progressive organizations just disappear. Too bad. It looks like the opposite is happening.
I'm not one of the Obamamaniac who go gaga over him. He's a bit more conservative than I would like and I preferred Edwards and Kucinich. But I can get used to him, and will love to see the day that Obama hammers the nails in the coffin of the DLC, by taking their flagship, superstar candidate out of the picture. Once Hillary loses the primary, the DLC will drop that much lower in power and influence and that's great news for progressives.
A last remark. I write this from a personal perspective, not in my leadership capacity at OpEdNews.com. OpEdNews.com has made it clear that it is open to articles supporting all candidates for president and will continue to take that approach, even bending over backwards to publish articles that might not ordinarily be accepted based on writing standards, if they represent candidates who are under-represented on the site.
As I write this, a few MSNBC talking heads discuss the "dream ticket" of Clinton Obama or Obama Clinton-- that this is something that Democrats love. I don't know any Obama supporters who are excited about Hillary running as Obama's Vice president. Most feel that she would bring little to the ticket, since her state, New York would be a sure win either way. There is one good reason. Like Cheney was for Bush, a Hillary Vice Presidency might get potential Obama assassins to think twice before making Hilllary president.
Rob Kall is executive editor and publisher of OpEdNews.com, President of Futurehealth, Inc, inventor . He is also published regularly on the Huffingtonpost.com. He is a frequent Speaker on Politics, Impeachment, The art, science and power of story, heroes and the hero's journey, Positive Psychology, Stress, Biofeedback and a wide range of subjects. He is a campaign consultant specializing in tapping the power of stories for issue positioning, stump speeches and debates. He recently retired as organizer of several conferences, including StoryCon, the Summit Meeting on the Art, Science and Application of Story and The Winter Brain Meeting on neurofeedback, biofeedback, Optimal Functioning and Positive Psychology. See more of his articles here and, older ones, here.
To learn more about me and OpEdNews.com, check out this article.
and there are Rob's quotes, here.
To Watch me on youtube, having a lively conversation with John Conyers, Chair of the House Judiciary committee, click here Now, wouldn't you like to see me on the political news shows, representing progressives. If so, tell your favorite shows to bring me on and refer them to this youtube video
My radio show, The Rob Kall Show, runs 9-10 PM EST Wednesday evenings, on AM 1360, WNJC and is archived on www.whiterosesociety.org Or listen to it streaming, live at either www.wnjc1360.com or here.
A few declarations.
-While I'm registered as a Democrat, I consider myself to be a dynamic critic of the Democratic party, just as, well, not quite as much, but almost as much as I am a critic of republicans.
-My articles express my personal opinion, not the opinion of this website.
DLC is simply part of The Great Red Dragon Money Power
And so is the Republican National Committee. How the hell do you think they get financed? With your donations? Come on, you ain't got that much.
Others call it the Tapeworm; some call it Zionist. The name doesn't matter, we just have to quit feeding it and it will fade away. Our labor and savings are its life-blood. The only way to win is not to play.
Hillary (and Bill) are the most charming, stab-you-in-the-back couple on record. And the others left running are no better. Why do you think there are millions pouring into campaigns, when decent groups like OpEdNews can barely exist? It's simply because we have let it become more profitable to lie, steal and murder. (Character assassination!)
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Edward Ulysses Cate (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 217 comments)
on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 11:35:18 AM
And all I can say about an Obama/Clinton ticket is that Obama would get all the negatives of Hillary, but virtually none of the positives. The Republicans have lots of dirt on Hillary, so if she is on the ticket, all the crap about her brother allegedly selling pardons in 1999 for $400,000 a pop will hit the headlines. We don’t need 4 or 8 more years of hearing about Clinton scandals, real or imaginary. We don't need to hear all about the donors to the Clinton library.... etc. We need to move on.
How about an Obama/Granholm ticket? Or how about Obama/Vanden Heuvel?
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John R Moffett (80 articles, 14 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 601 comments)
on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 11:50:39 AM
due to her Canadian birth. I personally am willing to leave things that way and forego her worthy services in governing to ensure that Arnold Schwartzenegger gets no closer to the White House.
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John Sanchez Jr. (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 8 diaries, 1055 comments)
on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 2:47:28 PM
The differences between the DLC and bluedog democrats
may be minute but they do exist. The bottom line is however that you are right Rob. Any group within a group that essentially caters to republicans would have a hard time selling their democratic virtues to any progressive democrat. I don't buy it either and consider them moreso a republican infiltration of the party then a real part of the party. Also when we see that several bluedogs actually became republicans, well that says it all really. Zell Miller takes the cake! So do Leiberman and Feinstein. When we look at the DLC, what we find are for the most part conservative democrats. The fact republicans call Hillary a liberal is almost laughable. There is no doubt she is a conservative. But when we take a long historical look at what a moderate was fifty years ago and what a moderate is today, what we are really witnessing is a subtle, deliberate move further and further to the right. Now here we are! The business of politics is big business and financed by big business. This is neither good for the democratic party or democracy itself. The fact grass roots organizations are financing Obama for the most part should be an eye opener to even a necessity for a DLC. The party doesn't need them. They make the party look weak because that is exactly what they are doing. Thru the eyes of the right, mission accomplished!
Though it can be argued members of the DLC and the bluedogs have some liberal values, whether it concerns labor unions or the right to choose, fiscally and militarily they are conservatives and in some cases, neoconservatives. This does explain why the neocons have had it so easy, even after democrat victories in the house. The DLC would argue that democrats won those seats in conservative states and might not of picked up those seats otherwise. But whoopty do! Who cares if the votes they make are anti-progressive anyway?! I'd just assume see them wearing their true colors. So here I am on the one hand glad the dems have control of the house, but do they really have control of it ? Well the answer seems obvious.
That said and although I have no other choice than to favor Obama since my progressive candidate bit the dust, I still believe we will find it a lot easier dealing with a Hillary than a McCain. But as long as this minority in the democratic party yields so much power, the threat of neoconservative control will linger on forever. Republicans have no such groups within their party that caters to progressive democrats. Why should it be the other way around? To me it all sounds ineptly stupid. But then again we come back to the big business of politics and big business itself.
Perhaps we should all simply leave the democrats and form a real progressive party. But unfortuntely most Americans have no idea about who the bluedogs or the DLC are. They don't even realize the subtle changes that makes a moderate today a devout right winger back then. They only buy it for what they are told to buy it as. What we are all told and have been told since Reagan when suddenly and out of the blue "liberal" became a dirty word.
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Michael Shaw (7 articles, 1 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 310 comments)
on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 11:59:26 AM
I agree with your article and views on every single account! Great article defining the depth of the DLC. I didn't check out the list yet. Will I be stunned?
I've been telling ppl not to vote Hillary. I keep telling them never forget about "Ruby Ridge, Waco, NAFTA, Crimes Bill Act (2 things in that most unconstitutional), Welfare Reform" (caused more ppl to remain poor than unlifting--got proof), and I still hear Vince Foster calling from his grave but he just can't quite break the eternal barrier wall. Speak to me Vince :o]
And, I thought Nancy was queen. I'll be damned. A fight in the works. Oh wait, they are both DLC and Hoyer is their big daddy. Please note that Nancy has a challenger. Can't remember HER first name. Her experience is superb. Are you listening California?
I added to your list on the campaign against Hillary/ more like "awareness lesson". Too bad for the Billary supporters. They haven't done enough "in depth research" in her and Billaca. I loved them once. I really did. After I dug and researched and shined light on them, I saw a disturbing pattern...tyranny.....just like Cheney and Bush.
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shirley reese (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 278 comments)
on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 12:13:28 PM
is another elite DC insider, power hungry, win at all costs, dynasty seeking politician. If progressives have any chance of taking back our country, it won't be with Hillary as our leader. There is so much to be un-done, I'm not sure Obama can do it either. But I do believe he has more of a chance that she does. I AM a woman, and would LOVE to vote for a woman. Unfortunately, women seem to think their only chance for high positions lie in proving they are as "tough" as men. That's not my idea of a woman's influence which would do this country, and the world, a lot of good right now.
Thanks, Rob, for sharing your personal opinion, which usually agrees with mine, though I also appreciate the many different perspectives that you DO provide. Thanks for providing an alternative for me and many like me...
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Judy Ramsey (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 80 comments)
on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 12:13:34 PM
The pettiness and pretense of political campaigns sometimes lulls us into the belief that there are not substantial differences among candidates, that the positions taken again and again by a candidate like Hillary Clinton cannot be judged because she is a politician! In truth, though, there are often good and important reasons for making a choice, reasons that effect history and the lives of our three hundred millions of Americans. I called Rob on the carpet yesterday, and today I applaud his courage for telling it like it is.
The Clintons are not Democrats in the usual sense. They are opportunists and do not have a sincere thread or wisp of progressivism or liberalism in their souls. We must not allow the Clintons to take over the party again.
JB
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James Brett (80 articles, 95 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 82 comments)
on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 12:46:50 PM
I found my Governor, the one that stood up to Chertoff and said No RealID, was not on there! Yeah! However, one of my senators was. This senator needs his walking papers and I am hoping that he gets the boot as he is UP for RE-election. Even if it means a repub taking his place. Actually, DLC'ers aren't much different than the repubs.
We need to go full speed ahead withering away the DLC. They have infiltrated our party and have disenfranchised thousands, not to mention all the politicians they have thrown on the sacrificial alter. Spitzer is apparently the latest of one of those sacrificial offerings
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shirley reese (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 278 comments)
on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 12:58:07 PM
Great article Rob, I agree with a lot of it and like you consider myself a true progressive and on the left side of the party.
Our one party system - the "corporate" party has got to end. The democratic party has morphed into a slightly left version of the Republican party.
The Universal Health Care policies more closely resemble windfall profits for the Insurance Industry. It does nothing to end the corporate greed.
The Military Industrial Complex is so entrenched in our economy through the over 50 cents on every single tax dollar, not to mention the fact that they lobby our representatives in every single district and they operate in all 50 states.
Until we get the military "guns" out of our government "politics" we are at war and the domestic enemies are running the country.
Got to ask yourself why MIC loves Hillary and why she embraces the perpetual war concept.
But frankly, for me anyway, Obama doesn't do much better.
I'm a Kuccinich fan and the MSM wouldn't even let him expand the discussion.
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August Adams (10 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 430 comments)
on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 1:40:45 PM
It was activists on the ground who turned Franklin county blue in 2004. Activists so opposed to the fascist Bush regime they would do anything to help his opposition win. That is why the DLC chose to come to Columbus in 2005 for their conference where Hillary Clinton spoke along with Governor Rendell of Pennsylvania. AND, some of those activists stood on the street in 98 degree tempuratures for three days holding signs outside that read "We have your backbone, do you have ours?" We all remembered that Hillary had voted for the war. We followed them across town to a function where we were told to leave. We were on the sidewalk, and we STAYED. We stayed in fact, for at least an hour telling the DLC'ers about all the election fraud on '04. They were clueless. I swear on my honor we also observed many of the DLC conference staffers overtly dressed more like hookers in tight short skirts and busty sweaters. I wondered, "are they here to get some stupid guy in trouble and blackmail him while he is away from home for a wild weekend?" It sure looked that way. We stood outside on the street. Street musicians played political satire to the shock and disgust of some. I wish you could have been there. Some among them were upset at our presence and that was obvious. What? They are all "Democrats", right? People with this much money and influence over the party of the "big umbrella" have never seen a street protest? Yes, the Money Party always gets its way even if they have to use DLC hookers to make sure that happens I guess.
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Victrola (9 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 16 comments)
on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 2:29:06 PM
It's not the first time the Democratic Party cracked open. A less rosy scenario would be if it splintered. We will never be able to control the party if we can't hold some groups together. There are caucuses other than Blue Dogs. But reality is that Ike was right. Military/industrial complex action has immobilized the Democratic Party as much as it has the Republican.
In discussing what has become known as Clinton, Inc. it would be helpful to think about Bill's second term. I think of that period as a one-two punch. First Gingrich and Clinton do a minuet over appropriations, and then Bill gets otherwise involved and is distracted.
So here we go again. Talk of NAFTA and detractors remind us that is was Al Gore who sealed the deal. Petty, but petty is the way things go. Talk about growing the economy and they make our air tankers in Europe. How will that play this fall?
Hillary has a hard time recalling her place in history. Wikipedia gives a lot of insight, aka baggage. Since hers is the legacy organization of DLC, born from what used to be Southern Democrats before civil rights, she must make up her mind where her roots are, what constituency she favors, and how she will do things differently than in the old century. Where's the bridge?
If we could let her understand that she is welcome to present discussion of the DLC, would she be willing? She can't expect us to agree with her, but we could accept her. Maybe--how she differs in outlook from John McCain. That would be somewhat neutral territory.
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Margaret Bassett (21 articles, 1360 quicklinks, 28 diaries, 819 comments)
on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 7:02:29 PM
Rob - "It's really hard to tell what they like about the Democratic party."
It's called infiltration
noun
1.
a process in which individuals (or small groups) penetrate an area (especially the military penetration of enemy positions without detection)
The Party has been soooo thoroughly infiltrated...the only option is to abandon it and start anew. Only problem with that is that any viable new Party which crops up ...will undergo the very same (military psy-ops style) treatment. Yip, they've that part wrapped up. Fer sher. Having said that, discussions of this sort are mere entertainment, as are the (S)elections.
Charade, a travesty. nJoy!
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Tony Forest (4 articles, 14 quicklinks, 131 diaries, 1216 comments)
on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at 8:06:10 AM
