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Tag(s): 2008 Democratic Natl Conv; 2008 Elections; Democrat Centrist; Democratic; Democrats In Name Only Dinos; Democrats Progressive
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February 8, 2008 at 12:58:37

Headlined on 2/8/08:
Chicago 1968 - Denver 2008

by Stephen Pizzo Page 2 of 3 page(s)

www.opednews.com

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Young McCarthy supporters quickly figured out that Democratic party insiders had fixed the contest and vented their disappointment and anger through the streets of Chicago. The party's most experienced and notorious machine Democrat -- Chicago Mayor, Richard Daley -- was not about to allow his party's will to be thwarted by a bunch of "hippies." He turned the police and National Guard loose on the protesters.

I remember watching the carnage on my black and white TV. It wasn't a hippe/yippee riot, it was a police riot. As young people were clubbed to the ground the crowd chanted, "The whole world is watching. The whole world is watching."

Those scenes radicalized me then and there, and millions more were as well. We've never entirely trusted the Democratic Party since then -- and for good and abundantly obvious reasons.

(Chronology of Chicago protests here)

Party insiders "won" in 1968. The party nominated it's choice, Hubert Humphrey, as it had always intended to once Johnson decided not to run. Humphrey went on to lose the subsequent election to Richard M. Nixon by 500,000 votes. (Because of that, an additional 20,000 US soldiers would die before the war was finally brought to an end after Nixon was chased from office in 1974.)

Which brings me back to this coming August, in Denver. The similarities between 1968 and 2008 are startling:

In 1968 support for the Vietnam war had hit new lows. (Chart)

In 2008 support for the war in Iraq has reached new lows. (Chart)

In 1968 the Democratic Party insider candidate, Humphrey, had supported the war and, while public option was increasingly for withdrawal, he preached against a mandated withdrawal from Vietnam, deeming such a withdrawal as reckless and potentially dangerous to US security.

In 2008 the Democratic Party insider candidate, Hillary Clinton, who was for the war until she was against it, now argues against a rapid withdrawal or setting a hard timeline for withdrawal.

In 1968 an unconventional, anti-war candidate -- Senator Gene McCarthy, captured the imagination and rekindled the hopes of a new generation of voters, even bridging racial divides garnering support from civil rights groups including the Black Panthers.

In 2008 an unconventional, anti-war candidate -- Senator Barack Obama, has captured the imagination and rekindled the hopes of a new generation of voters, again bridging historical racial divides.

In 1968 Democratic Party insiders viewed newcomer McCarthy as an outsider and a threat to the party's pecking order. It was Hubert Humphrey's "turn" to be President, and besides, who was this rebel rousing outsider McCathy and his young hairy supporters anyway?

In 2008 the Democratic Party apparatus view Obama as an outsider and a threat to the party's insider pecking order. It's been an article of faith since Bill left office that the next time was Hillary's turn. Besides, who is this rebel rousing outsider Barack Obama and his children crusaders anyway?

In 1968 Democratic Party insiders brushed aside the hopes and aspirations for change from a new generation of voters. Instead they rammed through the nomination of the party's choice, Hubert Humphrey. How they did it is instructive -- they used their control over Democratic party state officials to swing their delegates to Humphrey.

In 2008 much the same dynamic will be in play. Already party chairman, Howard Dean (once an outsider himself) has indicated he's open to a deal that would avoid a convention-floor fight for the nomination. Welcome back to the smoke-filled rooms of 1968.

Should neither Clinton or Obama arrive in Denver with enough delegates to clinch the nomination, the dealing will begin. First there are the large number of so-called "Super Delegates," made up largely of old party hacks and those who follow orders. Super Delegates are not bound by how their states voted during the primaries. Instead many, if not most, will vote as the party leaders instruct them to vote.

If that fails to swing the nomination to Clinton party insiders hold a trump card -- a trump card that would put the party's designated hitter, Hillary Clinton, in and outsider Obama out: they will re-certify all or some of Florida and Michigan's now-banned delegates.

A redo for Mich., Fla.?

LANSING, Mich. — The Democratic National Committee is pressuring Michigan and Florida to hold presidential caucuses so the delegates they lost for holding January primaries could be seated at the national convention, a top Michigan Democrat said Wednesday. (Full Story)

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Stephen Pizzo has been published everywhere from The New York Times to Mother Jones magazine. His book, Inside Job: The Looting of America's Savings and Loans, was nominated for a Pulitzer.

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6 comments

Josh Mitteldorf was educated to be an astrophysicist, and has branched out from there to mathematical modeling in a variety of areas. He has taught mathematics, statistics, and physics at several universities. He is an avid amateur pianist, and father of two adopted Chinese girls. This year, his affiliation is with the University of Arizona, where he studies the evolution of aging.
Josh MitteldorfJosh Mitteldorf was educated to be an astrophysicist, and has branched out from there to mathematical modeling in a variety of areas. He has taught mathematics, statistics, and physics at several universities. He is an avid amateur pianist, and father of two adopted Chinese girls. This year, his affiliation is with the University of Arizona, where he studies the evolution of aging.

further comparisons with 1968

It's worse because McCarthy was openly anti-war, and Obama is not. Kucinich, the only true anti-war candidate, has been marginalized - not even permitted to debate.

It's worse because we don't have hundreds of thousands of students mobilized to campaign against the war.

It's worse because we've all been cowed into inaction by hype and fear about terrorists.

But it's better because we have primaries. This column ends before the epilog to this story is told: that an outraged Democratic rank-and-file demanded a more responsive mechanism for choosing Presidential candidates, and that's why we have primaries today, (and why the Democrats have proportional representation, while the Republicans winner-take-all). The McGovern Commission changed the rules for choosing the nominee, and by 1972, he was able to benefit from the change and won the Dem nomination as an anti-war candidate.

It's worse because we have electronic vote counts. I don't know if there were shenanigans that affected the way votes were counted in 1968, but I do know that it's a lot easier to rig elections now that votes are counted on electronic machines.

It's better than 1968, however, because of the Internet. Long live the Internet! It's a lot harder to keep secrets than it was in the old days.

by Josh Mitteldorf (17 articles, 54 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 37 comments) on Friday, February 8, 2008 at 4:35:54 PM

Michael Cavlan , RN, was an Official Green Party Observer for the 2004 Ohio Re-Count.
He was the Green Party Candidate for US Senate 2006 and is a Candidate US Senate
2008 Seeking Green Party Endorsement in Minnesota. See www.michaelcavlan.org
Michael CavlanMichael Cavlan , RN, was an Official Green Party Observer for the 2004 Ohio Re-Count.
He was the Green Party Candidate for US Senate 2006 and is a Candidate US Senate
2008 Seeking Green Party Endorsement in Minnesota. See www.michaelcavlan.org

Chicago 2008

It is better because we have the Green Party, holding OUR presidential nominating race in Chicago 2008.

Better, we shall be at the Blackstone Hotel which is the exact hotel where the Dems were 1968 and where the police riots were 1968.

Ironies abound, do they not?

Vote Green

Vote Peace

Cynthia McKinney for President

by Michael Cavlan (8 articles, 0 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 225 comments) on Friday, February 8, 2008 at 6:28:09 PM

retired and loving it
dave stanleyretired and loving it

good story

Not much has changed has it?

America's main industry is the Industrial war complex ,you will be hard pressed to find candidates that will pull the troops out for the next 20 years or more.America's main export is war machines.It is by no accident that the Industrial war complex is the biggest exporter or industry.It was installed by presidents to this level ,because they and their friends are the people that own it. You can't even buy shares in Cargyle group. Americans have been very very unattentive since Ike and JFK. the owners of the war Indutrial complex were smart enough to make sure that parts of the business was strategically place through out America .This way congress fights for the jobs in their district. America has become it's own nemesis.The regular Industrials Can not compete with the War Industrial complex as it draws the brightest people away from the rest of Industry.that is why the Detroit auto manufacturers can not compete. Who among the workers at the Industrial war complex will vote to end war?Americans put their well being above that of the country which is the case in every country.Today Americans do not want to win the war in iraq they want to prolong it. just as they did in Vietnam. it is war for profits that drives it. If America wanted to win the war in Iraq, it would of been won years ago
Theay have dropped 7,000 tons of Depleted Uranium on Iraq,A 500 megaton bomb could of won the war with less Uranium.Both parties want to prolong the war thats obvious.So are the reasons

by dave stanley (5 articles, 1 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 286 comments) on Saturday, February 9, 2008 at 4:12:40 AM

Margaret Bassett is an 86-year old, currently living in senior housing, with a lifelong interest in political conumbrums. She hopes to hold out for one more presidential election. Bachelors from State University of Iowa (1944) and Masters from Roosevelt University (1975) help to unravel important requirements for modern communication. Early introduction to computer science (1966) trumps them. It's payback time. She's been "entitled" so long she hopes to find some good coming off the keyboa...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Margaret BassettMargaret Bassett is an 86-year old, currently living in senior housing, with a lifelong interest in political conumbrums. She hopes to hold out for one more presidential election. Bachelors from State University of Iowa (1944) and Masters from Roosevelt University (1975) help to unravel important requirements for modern communication. Early introduction to computer science (1966) trumps them. It's payback time. She's been "entitled" so long she hopes to find some good coming off the keyboa...

to see more of bio, click on member name

You left out the most important date 4/4/68

Standpatters of both parties were fighting against the Cultural Revolution. Chief standpatter was Mayor Daley who really did say "shoot to kill" about the likes of Abbie Hoffman and Tom Hayden.

I worked a mile from Daley's home and two from where the Convention took place. Two Chicago policemen were stationed at important intersections. Up to then during 1968 we had seen major riots in the black community, especially when Dr. King was murdered. The overall economy was good, however. In those days, equating Negro rights with Communism tore at the fabric of the society.

Jack Kennedy, with Bobby's help, had come down on the side of civil rights. Jack's death was enough to let LBJ further the effort. Johnson quit running because he didn't believe his presidency could deliver the Great Society with "his" war. Great Society was practically code word for Civil Rights.

How different today. The two Iraq wars depleted economic prosperity for all Americans. Right in the middle of the two, Clinton put the economy first. How he fashioned it has led to worse problems, or so say some Democrats. The complaints against the DLC, in hindsight, are: NAFTA and military involvement in world wide affairs. Involvement, but not intervention, is a sleeper issue this time around. Read Dana Priest's "The Mission" to understand what I mean.

So, long before the Convention in Denver, we are grappling with Clintonism as defined by DLC followers. Demonstrations are not the medium of dissent in the same way as 40 years ago. The computer has changed method, that's for sure. In my way of considering its use, we have six months to admit that the Party is split. I personally feel our two remaining candidates for the job clearly represent that split. And I guess Obama knows it. Apparently Clinton does, because she comes over to his views as she campaigns.

I suspect some delegates are figuring out how to be Democrats who will prevail over McCain. That ought to help them make up their minds and allay the angst of peaceniks.

by Margaret Bassett (25 articles, 1687 quicklinks, 29 diaries, 1015 comments) on Saturday, February 9, 2008 at 10:07:19 AM

political participant
kim markeypolitical participant

"Chicago 1968 - Denver 2008"

Best explanation I have read yet.

by kim markey (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1 comments) on Monday, February 11, 2008 at 1:58:16 PM

Concerned citizen and recently retired activist with an MA in Public Policy from an Ivy League school. Born-again Christian believer who is also a progressive and believs in the separation of church and state.
memaryConcerned citizen and recently retired activist with an MA in Public Policy from an Ivy League school. Born-again Christian believer who is also a progressive and believs in the separation of church and state.

Denver 2008

You have gotten it absolutely right.

I greatly fear that Billary WILL be shoved down our throats even though the majority want Obama. The great beast of the military industrial complex must feed and Obama would stick in its throat. Mrs. Clinton, on the other hand, is the perfect slimy morsel to slide right down. However, we all know Billary hasn't got the juice to defeat McCain, so bloody hell will break loose if/when she is nominated. Four more years of the radical right and America will self-destruct.

by memary (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 70 comments) on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 11:22:10 PM