DLC/New Dems are starting the Dean Hit Job. Bashing Yesterday

on CNN was really OTT. Taking comments out of context, Blitzer sneering about him...other commentators showing clips juxtaposed with Dem comments snipped to make them sound like they didn't agree with Dean.

Then there's a post here on DU that Mary Matalin said that Dean won't be DNC Chair by the Mid-Terms. We know they have been after him because their power is eroding and sending Lieberman out was the first sign of what they are up to.

It's really scary when we have to fight our own RW Wing of the Dems along with the Fascist Repugs. But, it shows there's a real need for a housecleaning. If they throw Dean out, I think he will start a new wing of the Dem Party and he will have huge support. There are alot of folks mad as hell who aren't going to take it anymore..and that includes lots of Independents and many Repugs who are seeing the light, but aren't going to go DLC.

I think Dean can be the head of a great new coalition. I hope he brings Gore along. :shrug: my hopeful 2 cents.

It's still hard to believe how powerful the media is against Dems like Dean. Ugghh.

Do we here on DU need any more proof that the DLC is simply another branch of the Kleptocracy Party?

And very observant, too. Thanks for this cogent and well-put post!

TC

After the title, "DLC/New Dems are starting the Dean Hit Job. Bashing Yesterday" - You listed one Dem but failed to mention how he bashed Dean.

By the way, where do you get your stat, "lots of Independents and many Repugs who are seeing the light, but aren't going to go DLC."

Tim Kaine (D, VA. DLC, Governor elect) got scores of Independent and GOP votes.

..with anyone - with the exception of Howard Dean.

In his real answer Dean said (slightly paraphrased from memory): "I wish the Bush administration had read their history before invading Iraq...." before the part of his statement that was lifted.

That context is important, because it is absolutely true. There were warnings up the wazoo about how unsuccessful we have been when we've intervened in civil wars (Vietnam) and how the Middle East is too divided and complicated for a nice easy solution.

But the democratic centrist politicians and "strategists" have been on the tube joining the GOP in portraying that as "too far left" and trying to distance the democratic party from the plain facts that most Americans can grasp.

I believe I heard that part of the deal that made Dean party chairman was that he wouldn't run for President in 2008. If they throw him out, I imagine he'll turn into a candidate. They're worst nightmare. :evilgrin:

deliberately said that in public JUST TO PUT IT OUT THERE. The point is - TO PUT IT OUT THERE IN THE MEDIA, ON THE AIR, IN THE OPEN, FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION. WHETHER IT'S TRUE OR NOT. If it's out there, that's a SEED THAT'S BEEN PLANTED. FIle it in the "Things that Need to be Said" file. Besides, it does get us, in the opposition, stirred up and in some cases even panicky - which is where they'd like us to be. We're FAR more vulnerable that way, especially to the public observers and bystanders whose "hearts and minds" the bad guys are trying to win back from us. It's just one weapon in an arsenal they have to attack us Good Guys in every conceivable way, from every angle, on every front, to keep us so busy fending them off that we have no chance to regain the momentum or shape the debate or grab the offensive. They played defense for awhile after Cindy Sheehan and Hurricane Katrina, but they're in full campaign mode, just as they indicated they'd be, to grab back the offensive again. And, unfortunately, it's working. Look at the poll numbers. Still low, but now the news stories are that bush's slide has bottomed out and he's on the way back up. Even Olbermann covered it that way - that he's on the rebound and regaining lost ground. Even though the numbers are still low, the story is how they're rising again, so that's the message the listener/viewer/reader comes away with. bush rising, good news for him, polls no longer looking so bad, etc. It's planted in the consumer's mind, and it thus becomes a done deal.

:grr:

They absolutely must keep Dean in the chairman position.

Why, that IS an amazing revelation.

"I think Dean can be the head of a great new coalition."
Hope he doesn't blurt out as many thoughtless things if he is, as he has while he's been heading the Democratic party. It sucks the momentum right out of the cause and forces wasted days of sideshow and damage control.

either. You've been here long enough....surely some of the Media threads have enlightened you about how it works.

Maybe "SwiftBoating" rings a bell? Gore Bashing? "The Hunting of the President" (Clinton). The "Vast Right Wing Conspiracy?"

Just to name a few. :D

"I guess you are unaware of Media Ownership and Propaganda"
I sure as shit know that when I open a thread that accuses the DLC of something, and find out it refers to Wolf Blitzer and Mary Matalin, that I'm being propagandized and in a clumsy and astonishingly inept fashion..

"Maybe "SwiftBoating" rings a bell? Gore Bashing? "The Hunting of the President" (Clinton). The "Vast Right Wing Conspiracy?""
Yeah, those were mindless and dishonest attacks against DLC members John Kerry, Al Gore, and Bill and Hillary Clinton ...wonder why any DUer would join that band of smear artists and idiots...

:shrug:

Good job.

It's hard for them...any attack on any of the current faves of the anti-DLC, Hillary Hater crowd is now DLC...next they will say shrubbie is a member.

and everybody's in on it but me and Howard Dean! And I'm not even sure about me! Aiyeee!!! </sarcasm>

By the way, have you seen the posts by the teen progressives claiming to be stabbed in the back by Howard Dean? My favorite was the one that implied Dean had been bribed.

They have a very shrub-like tendency to not admit when they are wrong. Dean himself is backtracking today.

The guy is the chairman of the DNC, as such he does not set policy and should not be speaking on it. And if he does, he needs to think first...he has a tendency to speak in half sentences that leave the wrong impression.

Having said that I do think he is doing a pretty good job, and unlike Shrub or the "teen progressives" here is able to acknowledge when he is wrong and take corrective steps!

and now he's very sensibly, and effectively doing damage control.

Dspite the efforts of evil DLC members like Wolf Blitzer (snicker)....

Could learn from Dr. Dean it seems to me!!!

Oddly enough, I thought we finally had a good election outcome last month, as opposed to every other once since 1996. 1994 was pretty dim, too. In fact, the only elections we won under the old leadership were ones where Bill Clinton was at the top of the ticket.

I'll take Dean and his loud mouth any day.

a lot of those last month who won were members of that e-e-e-vil DLC...go figure that.

But yeah, we did lose a couple of days because Howard Dean said something ineptly. Even Dean knows it, which is why he's doing damage control now.

Does anyone here know if John Edwards is still DLC, or if he has withdrawn from it? With all his talk about helping the poor, etc. it must be making the DLC's collective skins crawl if he is still one of them. LOL!

TC

Gore was DLC until he left office.

Now, many here will say Gore has somehow rejected the DLC but will fail to give any source or evidence to support the statement. They will point to his opposition to the Iraq war as evidence but that hardly qualifies as rejecting the DLC.

They will say the DLC attacked Gore after the election of 2000 and point to several articles where the DLC critiqued the election and pointed out what the feel Gore did wrong - not running on Bill Clinton's economic record for one. This, too, doesn't qualify as "Gore rejecting the DLC" because it was the DLC critiquing Gore's campaign, not Gore critiquing the DLC. And besides, critiquing losing and winning campaigns is par for the course after any election by a myriad of strategists and media outlets and doesn't equate to attacking.

ed·i·to·ri·al ( P ) Pronunciation Key (d-tôr-l, -tr-)
n.
An article in a publication expressing the opinion of its editors or publishers.


A funny thing happened to Al Gore on the way to his surprisingly effective acceptance speech. He became a liberal.

You mean he wasn't already a liberal?

Again, at no time in this article did Gore say or imply he was rejecting the DLC.

Has he been at their meetings? Talking about them? Time to face facts, Wyldwolf. He's GONE from the DLC's grasp.

...you'd know you have to be an elected official to be a member of the DLC. Gore has not been an elected official since 2000.

But that doesn't mean he doesn't subscribe to their way of thinking on issues - or at least he has given no indication he had strayed from the New Democrat philosphy on key issues.

Face it NYCGirl - until Gore comes out and rejects the things the DLC push, he'll always be a New Democrat.

"populism" in the 2000 campaign — they claim it was that which caused him to "lose". But the facts were such that when he embraced the idea, it was the only time his poll numbers increased.

...but so? In the article you mention, critiqued his campaign and, among other things, felt he lost because he didn't campaign on his own administration's economic record. Nothing wrong with saying that and, again, doesn't say or imply Gore has rejected the DLC.

But the facts were such that when he embraced the idea, it was the only time his poll numbers increased.

Proof?


Next.

Wait, that wasn't proof! All right, why don't YOU prove that my utterly evidenceless and unfounded claim isn't true!

Then once you do, I won't respond and you'll have wasted lots of time proving something that was never remotely true was never even remotely true.

...it will be like the post was never made... so in fact, it WAS NEVER MADE AND YOU NEVER PROVED ME WRONG!

I get it now.

You want American troops to be killed needlessly and Halliburton to take over the world!

Oh my God! I'm going to be unnecessarily alarmed now and pout furiously for a few posts. (snicker)

Al From is founder and CEO of the DLC; Bruce Reed is DLC presidenT - neither elected

You can be a member for a mere $50/yr. and support their 'progressive' plan for Iraq - '...The task for Democrats today is to hold the president accountable for results, while making it clear we stand for winning in Iraq and not a rush for the exits....'

dlc & ppi are way tooo scary for me. PPI is PNAC for dlc dinos - http://www.ppionline.org

"...the willingness to use force to defend our interests and values; support for open trade and a globalizing world economy; and active promotion of individual liberty and democracy around the world...'

sound familiar?


That's the dlc/ppi 'must read' foreign policy letter of March 16, 2005.

Guess he's no longer one of their fair haired boys.

Because I've never seen that claimed anywhere....


Meanwhile, the "feud" seems to exist only in some people's minds....I see very little of it in the real world...

For example, here's Dean and the DLC's Debbie Stabenow and Hillary Clinton all on the same proram at an event...

http://www.democrats.org/a/2005/08/wlf_12th_annual.php

And DLC member Christine Gregoire deliovered the party's official radio address a copule weeks ago...

http://www.democrats.org/a/2005/11/washington_gov.php

Here's DLC member Tim Kaine's supporters getting ready to help ALL Democrats in Virginia for 2006....

http://www.democrats.org/a/2005/11/nok_in_virginia.php

where do you get your stat, "lots of Independents and many Repugs who are seeing the light, but aren't going to go DLC."

Tim Kaine (D, VA. DLC, Governor elect) got scores of Independent and GOP votes.

do a Google.

If you can't prove your assertions, don't ask someone else to do your work for you.

I still wonder how Blitzer and Matalin got to be part of the DLC....

And you're 100% right about Tim Kaine.

ah, nevermind . . .

When Dean was running in the primaries there were groups in virtually every major city: "Independents for Dean," "Republicans for Dean," "Greens for Dean," etc. There were hundreds of them. I highly doubt those same individuals, particularly Greens and Independents are going to jump on the DCL corporate whore bandwagon now. They were looking for an alternative to the same-old same-old.

And, by the way, since WHEN did DU become a chat room? I'm half expecting to see self-congratulatory ^5's to go along with the self-affirming "conversations." AOL anyone?

Republicans for_________, Independents for____________________, Greens for _________________.

Still, where is the stat I asked for? Anyone?

no enemy's to the right. :eyes:

The patient (Democratic party) is near terminal. The DOCTOR can heal it, but only if this CANCER is cut out NOW.

...due to exaggerations and fabrications.

they wouldn't have to be pulling this dishonest crap in post after post after post after post after post after dreary post.

Their problem is that even Howard Dean realized he goofed the other day, and is now doing damage control:

""We can only win the war, which we have to win, if we change our strategy dramatically. The Democrats are coalescing around a very different strategy. We hope the president will join us," Dean said on CNN.
Dean said his comments from the radio interview in San Antonio, Texas, were taken "out of context. They kind of cherry-picked that one the same way the president cherry-picked the intelligence going into Iraq," he said."

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/12/08/democrats.iraq/

And after spending the last few days shrieking that anyone here who said Howard Dean goofed was a "warmongering DINO no better than a rethuglicon," the only way some people can explain howard's damage control to themselves is by inventing an e-e-evil DLC conspiracy and announcing that they have once again been a victim.

a successful Grass Roots campaign. I don't get it. Why would they attack their own? What are we supposed to think about them? I want to support all Dems but am concerned that they are trying to undermine Dean.

"I don't get it. "
No shit, sherlock.

..that it's the left trying to split the party, as they've done since Truman's campaign?

As chair, Dean does not make policy decisions. What he says is his own opinion. He knows there are those in the party who don't think as he does on subjects.. Are they supposed to just shut up when he says something contrary to what they believe?

will defect before supporting the group that puts corporate interest over their base.

This is really gonna kill the party. With Diebold being approved in state after state, we're gonna have enough of a problem getting dems elected. They must work this out or this party is toast.

You will notice the many many many threads on our boards by "progressives" demanding that this or that prominent elected Democrat be "explelled" or "purged" from the Democratic party "or else"...and you will further notice that said prominent elected Democrat is almost always:
--up for election in 2006; and
--handily walloping his or her Republican opponent...

and of course the "crime" is always that said prominent elected Democrat is a DINO, or not a "true Dem" or (most heinous of all) a DLCer (like Wolf Blitzer or Mary Matalin hahahaha)...

President..This time I think people might just pay attention....I would vote for him...

:shrug:

for his inept statement the other day.

""We can only win the war, which we have to win, if we change our strategy dramatically. The Democrats are coalescing around a very different strategy. We hope the president will join us," Dean said on CNN.
Dean said his comments from the radio interview in San Antonio, Texas, were taken "out of context. They kind of cherry-picked that one the same way the president cherry-picked the intelligence going into Iraq," he said."

Me and Howie are passing the bong back and forth....soon we'll have the munchies and go down to Foodtown to giggle about how yellow cheese is...

It's leftover Mexican dirt weed sprayed with Paraquat from the Nixon administration. :smoke:

it so emasculated as to be useless. It's working, too.

NoFederales

somebody should launch an effort to counteract the "centrist" efforts of the DLC. these guys give the democratic party a bad name. they're part of the reason the democratic party looks to be in such disarray much of the time. they disrupt any unity that appears to be present and they force many dems to move right on issues lest they lose DLC support. they're bad for the party in sooo many ways.

I bet then we'd see our progressives putting up post after post explaining why we ought to adopt their good ideas and trumpeting their many successes and achievements!

Ahahahahahaha......

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=106&topic_id=25098

but, i don't think the PDA has nearly as much influence as the DLC and that just isn't right.

"i don't think the PDA has nearly as much influence as the DLC and that just isn't right."
And so instead of actually trying to promote the PDA, let's falsely attack the DLC! For the good of the party, of course...and because we're so "progressive."

i never said we should "falsely attack the DLC" and i certainly never said that we shouldn't promote the PDA.

all i said was that the DLC has too much influence on the party and i wish that weren't so. furthermore i wish there was some way of limiting or "counteracting" their influence.

nice job taking everything i said out of context, though. why don't you sling some mud at me while you're at it.

"i never said we should "falsely attack the DLC" "
But you leaped into a thread falsely attacking the DLC and piled on...

"why don't you sling some mud at me while you're at it."
All right...you're an evil DLCer just like that Wolf Blitzer guy. You and Mary Matalin have too much influence in the party, unlike the progressive group of Democrats I never heard of for some reason I can't figure out (it's probably the DLC's fault). No wonder Al Gore wants nothing to do with you, and why don't you prove that's not true, if you dare? (giggle)

all i said is they have too much influence and i don't like that. if you have a problem with the thread then attack the original thread, not me.

wow, talk about baseless accusations... i'm not sure if that was some sort of bad joke or, well, a terrible joke. i don't even know what the objective of those asinine comments was.

Now is the time for Dean to step it up, not be cowed into submission.

And for good goddamned reason.

Dean, in one comment, undid the good Reid has done in turning the tables on Iraq back on the GOP. Now the GOP has its little talking point to make the Dems look weak.

I don't give a !@#$ whether one person is wrong or the other is right. Fair does not exist in politics. It's time to grow up and play with the big boys and girls.

hacks in this forum.

This thread along with others that have focused on the serious quagmire that the DP party finds itself in, concerns issues which desperately needs to be fleshed out, and understood with a level of clarity, so vital to it's own interest - but once again, as in past threads it is being hijacked by DLC appeasers and attack dogs whose sole interest and agenda is to distract from that very purpose.

They never *ever* speak to the actual substance at issue. They only fire off snarky screeds and pot shot attacks.

The goal of course is to avoid getting at the root of the problems/conflicts, which is necessary to bring about better understanding of what the actual differences are that keeps us from working together to resolve those conflicts in an intelligent, principled and conciliatory manner.

The goal of the dlc appeasers is to maintain the status quo vis a vis a dumbing down of the issues, because of course enlightenment brings about empowerment.

There's nothing more threatening to the status quo then an enlightened (and therefore empowered) citizenry. An enlightened citizenry must be disenfranchised by being marginalized.

That's what is happening to Dean, not because he is wrong, or thoughtless but because he speaks the TRUTH - therefore he must be driven out. After all, this is the Amerikan Way. We have a very long history of disenfranchising or elliminating those that do what Dean has been doing.

The political assassination attempts against Howard Dean has been going on since he first came on to the national political scene, by both the GOP and the DLC.

First during the primaries, which was fairly public, but then the DLC went full throttle during the campaign for DNC chair last year.

I was involved in campaigning for Dean's election to the DNC chair position , i know what was going on then - and the DLC attacks have not let up since, though there have been low levels and off the radar moments in the past year, but now we're seeing a new ratcheting up level of attack that is somewhat similar to the primaries.

This matter does need to be discussed NOW - before something unspeakable happens, in my opinion, in order for productive ideas to surface or get fleshed out, because in order to move forward with our hard fought for goals and objectives, we'll need to be able to communicate these ideas in a supportive environment.

DU members must not allow these vichy dlc appeasers to succeed in hijacking these discussions, must not allowed to usurp time and energy responding to their pot shot attacks, completely void of substantive argument.

The goal should be obvious. it's the what the GOP (vis a vis their media)does so effectively.

I urge you to, please ignore them.

Dean was right then, and he is right now.

this is my opinion based on seasoned observation, activism and experience.

the mileage of others may vary...

"the serious quagmire that the DP party finds itself in, concerns issues which desperately needs to be fleshed out, and understood with a level of clarity, so vital to it's own interest "
Funny how those issues always turn out to be how much some "progressives" HATE HATE HATE other Democrats. Especially Democrats who have been elected to office and are way-y-y-y-y-y ahead of their Republican challengers in the upcoming '08 elections.

"what the actual differences are that keeps us from working together to resolve those conflicts in an intelligent, principled and conciliatory manner."
Irony is a wonderful thing.

"They never *ever* speak to the actual substance at issue."
Bullshit. The "substance" in this thread was purportedly DLC attacks upon Howard Dean...but it turned out the OP was bitching andf moaning about Wolf Blitzer and Mary Matalin...neither of which have a fucking thing to with the DLC.

"This matter does need to be discussed NOW - before something unspeakable happens, in my opinion, in order for productive ideas to surface or get fleshed out, because in order to move forward with our hard fought for goals and objectives, we'll need to be able to communicate these ideas in a supportive environment. "
And that's why you want to piss and moan about the Democratic Leadership Council unimpeded by fact, decency or Democrats who think you're full of crackers. Because you have so many productive ideas--like this thread dishonestly pissing and moaning about the DLC.

"Dean was right then, and he is right now."
And that's why Dean is doing damage control NOW over what he blurted out THEN.

:eyes: Interesting thing is: lots of DU folks read OP's and lurk and don't bother with the "Brigade." So...it's worth it to post your "FORUM" Tack Up to the Wall...because those passing by will see it even those the "Troll Graffitti Artists" somehow try to spray paint all over it.. In the end the "word" and the "message" gets out there.

Have hope!

:D

...kinda like your opening post and several others thereafter.