SEIU's support for the Democratic Party has been in direct competition with corporate interests like Goldman Sachs so it is no wonder that conservative operatives would want to now go after the big union, which has been largely responsible for laying a foundation at the grassroots level that made Democrats' elections a success.
SEIU has, unlike many progressive organizations, been out there trying to kick up support for Obama's push for health care. While other groups whine and moan about conservative teabaggers, SEIU has been there at town halls to directly challenge right wing efforts to sandbag health care reform (which is now really health insurance reform).
Democrats have allowed conservative slime throwers to keep hurling slime and they have helped ensure that the slime throwing produces favorable results for those waging attack campaigns.
Most of these attack campaigns have something in common: they directly challenge individuals or organizations who have been promoting social change that directly challenges the power of corporate, business, and special interests in America.
Campaigns against Cass Sunstein, John Holdren, and Mark Lloyd are being waged and few Democrats are providing any kind of defense to these individuals.
While one could argue that silence ensures that the administration does not give right wing noise any kind of credibility, the sheer repetition of charges in the media successfully elevates the charges to a level that leads one to believe they are true.
When left unchallenged, as seen with Van Jones, the charges reach a point where they are so damaging to the administration that the only proper response is to throw the person or organization being attacked under the bus and continue on as if nothing happened. This is troubling more many reasons.
For the people of America, it signals that Democrats are unwilling to go to the mat for organizations or supporters of Democratic policies. It is disappointing because it strengthens the notion within the minds of Democratic politicians that they cannot empower progressives or progressive organizations because they will be smeared, attacked, stigmatized, and will inevitably risk their career and re-election.
The success of attack campaigns ensures that the Democratic Party continues to function as the second-most enthusiastic party for Big Business, for Wall Street. It places a stranglehold on those who may choose to take the party in a populist direction.
It assures that the political status quo is maintained and a poverty of expectations is created.
It takes the pressure off of Democrats to actually do something for the people.
And, it makes it so it does not matter to corporations whether their most favorite ally, the Republican Party, is out of power or not because they are able to successfully pursue their pro-corporate agenda with a Republican majority or a Republican minority.
The success of conservative or right wing attack campaigns do not bode well for the future of America. It means debate and discussion on government and policy changes will be determined by right wing propaganda.
Reforms for the people of America will not and cannot occur so long as the Democrats are afraid to defend or turn to the progressive base for support.
A few progressive organizations have refused to cooperate with this nonsense but not enough.
As long as an overwhelming American majority let this farce continue by being polite and supportive toward a party and president perpetuating this insanity, the American people will continue to lose.
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