An aspect of the DLC problem

by janfrel, Tue Apr 19, 2005 at 10:39:52 AM EDT

One of the material problems of the DLC is that by having offices in DC, offices with names covering every major policy issue, and well-funded and eloquent analysts in each of those offices, the DLC sets itself up as a very easy source for political press to go to. And these DLC'ers are more than happy to speak for the whole Party, at an opportunity cost for someone who might actually care about it.

Case in point, Linda Feldmann's rather typical "Democrats Search for a Party Path" in the Christian Science Monitor. Her piece starts by wondering why Democrats haven't taken advantage of the numerous "slips" by the GOP in recent weeks. Her first expert source is that true blue Democrat -- and former legislative director of the Christian Coalition -- Marshall Wittmann:

"[T]here's a feeling that somehow our leaders are not fighting back hard enough, though I don't think that's true," says Will Marshall, president of the Progressive Policy Institute, a centrist Democratic think tank.
Mr. Marshall adds that he's never seen the party so determined in its opposition to the right. "But even though we may be winning policy arguments on Social Security and things like the Schiavo case, there's no way to take those gains to the bank immediately, in the sense of winning elections," he says.

The piece then tells readers that the DLC has formed a new strategy outfit for "centrist Democrats," that Carville and Greenberg on a quest for a dominant narrative, which they've been testing on focus groups. Of the six Democratic vision statements they tested in a February survey, one scored highest for its potential to sway likely voters to their party's side: "The Democrats say America is only strong when we are strong at home, as well as in the world." There's a quote from some dweeb at Brookings, and a tiny mention of Podesta's Center for American Progress.

And those are Feldman's sources. All D.C., all out of touch with the rest of America (except CAP, I think), and ALL LOSERS.

And Feldmann's piece is one of a billion that thinks these guys are the source of ideas. The frickin' Village Voice had Wittmann as a "thinker" for their cover story on Hillary Clintion. Why not Campaign for America's Future? Why not something out of DC?

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It's the ka-ching ka-ching.

The DLC has the money to prop up their mouthpieces and positions, to always have somebody on hand to personally bestow wisdom on the media. Just like in the Reep party, if you toe the line, the checks keep clearing. If not, somebody else gets the cash and endorsements, and you get thrown overboard.

by catastrophile 2005-04-19 10:51AM | 0 recs

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If not, then who?

I had once thought DFA would provide the counterweight to the DLC. With a large fundraising base and a national voice with Howard Dean it could have been.

But the Gov decided to run the DNC, and DFA went in another direction.

by rich kolker 2005-04-19 11:09AM | 0 recs

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The DLC is organized Democratic corruption

The DLC continues to play the grass/netroots for suckers. We are an ATM machine and nothing more. Kerry was raising money from the netroots a while back for an ad in USA Today. Did Kerry ever run the ad, or did he take the money and run? Just like he did with the Ohio Vote Challenge Fund?

What's The Matter With Democrats? The DLC is what's the matter with democrats.

The DLC has no place in an organizational chart of the Democratic Party. I am not certain, but I have been told that the DLC is a 501(c)(4). Regardless of the precise legal structure, the sole purpose of the DLC is to act as a conduit for campaign contributions from large corporate contributors. In that capacity, the DLC acts as a corporate cancer on the body politic of the Democratic party, with tentacles of infuence that reach into every other organ of the party.
That explains why Democrats voted against the vested self interest of their own party and their constituents, by assisting Republicans in passing class action law suit restrictions and bankruptcy restrictions. My analysis does not explain all of the idiocy of the DLC. John Kerry's decision to co-sponsor conscience without consequence legislation with Rick Santorum is inexplicable. Joe Lieberman is inexplicable. I do not believe a unified theory of DLC idiocy is possible.

The sad truth is that the DLC is no more than the fundraising arm for Democrats who sell out to fat cat corporate contributors. They take our money and then vote for class action law suit restrictions, bankruptcy restrictions and drilling in ANWR. They are playing us for even bigger fools than Bush is playing the religious right for fools.

At least Bush is paying lip service to the religious right. The Democratic party just takes our money and pokes a thumb in our eye.

by Gary Boatwright 2005-04-19 11:43AM | 0 recs

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Look for young reporters willing to work

The best bet is to associate with young reporters and new news groups that re forming as a hybrid of blogging and magazine style writing.

Don't let New Media slip away from the Dems, dominate it in every way. Set up kiosks that allow easy access to progressives on a topic by topic basis.

Tell reporters about the best progressive voices. About the best progressive movements etc. Keep them in the loop. That's all it takes, every day all day.

by goplies 2005-04-19 02:38PM | 0 recs

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by goplies 2005-04-19 02:41PM | 0 recs

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reality check

reporters are lazy. Political reporters are even lazier. They want to do a story on "what's wrong with the democrats?" Who do you call, a group that is based on a philosophy of where the democrats should go, the democratic party, democratic consultants, or actual real voters? Guess which one(s) they will always pick.

As far as the corporate $, they are not a conduit for the party but a conduit between donors and politicians. Donors pay big bucks to get access to politicans, whether they are going to a DLC event, a DFA event or whatever.

And Will Marshall is a nice great guy. If you are going to slam some one from the DLC, don't pick on him.

by DaveB 2005-04-19 02:54PM | 0 recs