Some people just aren't getting it
The DLC, and it's most prominent face, Hillary Clinton, announced its policy strategy (also known as a platform in political terms) yesterday. Now, I'm all in favor of having policies, and strategies; it's nice that somebody other than the right-wing nutjobs that are ripping this country to pieces have one. In fact, I'll go so far as to say that the more strategies the "left" has to solve America's ills the better, because if one doesn't work, maybe another will. I have a huuuuuuge problem, however, with broadcasting these strategies loudly and with great fanfare, because the Democratic Party as a whole has already begun announcing its platform (see my posts here and here). Having each faction, especially one that is on the right fringe of the Party, announce its own is simply stupid.
What is the number one propaganda slander of the Democratic Party, which has been used by Republicans of all stripes for decades? That they don't have a plan for anything. How have they been able to get away with that smear? Because the Democrats have been unable to present a unifying or united message to the public about what it stands for. Announcing multiple plans is worse than announcing no plan whatsoever--nobody can figure out what the Party really means anymore, because there is no single message "out there". This action is so infuriatingly ignorant of the vicious and amoral political landscape these days, especially since the DLC chose to have one of the leading (if not a particularly definitive) Democratic voices release it. HRC is such a lightning rod that anything she does will draw a massive amount of attention, most of it scornful from the media due to her mere name, and all of it derisive from the Right because of her ability. If the nominal head of the DLC, Al From, had called a press conference to release this policy statement, who would have cared? A few policy wonks on both sides, political junkies aching for their next scrap of information, and of course, all who seek to destroy the Democratic Party by any means necessary. All in all, not many people, really, and they would have had a hard road convincing the public that this really meant anything. But due to HRC's committed appearance and presentation of this policy, instantly the entire Democratic Party can be tarred as at best fractious, and at worst, as being in thrall to the most publicly hated of Democrats. Great. Way to go, clowns.
What is the number one propaganda slander of the Democratic Party, which has been used by Republicans of all stripes for decades? That they don't have a plan for anything. How have they been able to get away with that smear? Because the Democrats have been unable to present a unifying or united message to the public about what it stands for. Announcing multiple plans is worse than announcing no plan whatsoever--nobody can figure out what the Party really means anymore, because there is no single message "out there". This action is so infuriatingly ignorant of the vicious and amoral political landscape these days, especially since the DLC chose to have one of the leading (if not a particularly definitive) Democratic voices release it. HRC is such a lightning rod that anything she does will draw a massive amount of attention, most of it scornful from the media due to her mere name, and all of it derisive from the Right because of her ability. If the nominal head of the DLC, Al From, had called a press conference to release this policy statement, who would have cared? A few policy wonks on both sides, political junkies aching for their next scrap of information, and of course, all who seek to destroy the Democratic Party by any means necessary. All in all, not many people, really, and they would have had a hard road convincing the public that this really meant anything. But due to HRC's committed appearance and presentation of this policy, instantly the entire Democratic Party can be tarred as at best fractious, and at worst, as being in thrall to the most publicly hated of Democrats. Great. Way to go, clowns.
posted by bryduck at 10:54 AM
2 Comments:
HRC is exactly why I don't trust the Dems any more than the Repubs.There is a need for some stronger "third parties" in this country. If HRC is the Dem front runner in '08 you can look forward to another 4 years of the current regime with a different figure head.
You don't trust the Dems to do what? They are certainly more trustworthy as far as not destroying civil rights, or the federal government, or Social Security, or declaring holy wars, or overturning Roe v. Wade, or many other things I hold dear. I heartily disagree with you that 4 years of HRC would be a continuation of "the current regime". Equating the two parties in the electorate's mind is the major evil that has led us to this sickening place, imho. (Think "It doesn't matter who I vote for, so I'll stay home." Or "My Republican congressperson is ok. It doesn't matter who he supports for Majority Leader or Speaker, or what legislation they pass.") While the DLC and "The Third Way" are not great for the country due to their pro-big business attitude, they are radically less dangerous to the US and the world than the current crop of Republicans. Until the Dems hold the reins of power, or some sanity returns to politics in general, voting for 3rd parties in national elections is sheer insanity. Vote 3rd party locally, but until a real 3rd party national structure exists, splitting the leftist vote in a winner-take-all electoral process is simply insuring Republican rule.
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