They didn't just throw it away. They are following a worn script laid out by Bill Clinton and the DLC. In countless speeches and private talks during the 2000 presidential campaign, Clinton sternly warned the Democrats that if they want to grab the White House they must seize the issues of national security and defense, tax reform, law and order, and banking and corporate deregulation from the Republicans. He once admitted in a candid moment that critics called this and other GOP friendly positions he took, Republican lite. But he was successful with it and figured other Democrats could be, too. In other words, Beltway Democrats run to the left in a campaign, pay lip service to progressive ideals and issues (on a website), and then, when near or attain power, govern to the right-center. Gore, Kerry, and now Obama are follow that script. The only difference between Gore and Kerry and Obama is he's black, he can give a better scripted speech, and he won.
I f this run to the left, switch to the right-center has become the M.O. for Democrats, what will it take to get a progressive in there? Or is that simply impossible, given the present system?
Progressives have won senate and congressional office--Frank,
Sanders, Kucinich, and even the early Obama, many members of the Progressive
Democratic caucus, and the CBC [Congressional Black Caucus], and HBC in Congress. The
problem is that they bump hard against the reality of old, entrenched, and set
banking-industrial-military that makes and shapes legislative policy through
its money, influence, position and power.
Progressives have only three choices--cut deals that do not disturb corporate power, protest and be marginalized, or quit. This has nothing to do with the good hearts and minds and intentions of progressive politicians, it's simply the reality of a set piece corporate-oligarchic system with rules unchangeable. On an added note, it wouldn't make any difference if I was in the White House; the rules of governance wouldn't change.
Let's pause here. When we return, Earl will talk more about his take on what goes on in Washington these days.
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Part two of my interview with Earl
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