It Takes Pressure To Raise A Progressive Democrat

by: Chris Bowers

Wed Oct 24, 2007 at 14:15


Obama does the right thing:

"To be clear: Barack will support a filibuster of any bill that includes retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies."

This is a good step. The next step would be for Obama to start working his colleagues to do the same thing. But this is still a good step, and it only happened as a result of pressure from the base.

I have to say how frustrating it is to have to spend resources, in the form of strategizing, internal organizing, writing, phone calls to congressional offices, and other actions simply to get Democrats to do the right thing.  A lot of Democrats complain that any resources spent targeting other Democrats is a waste of resources. You know what? In a way, they are right. Personally, I would much rather spend resources targeting Republicans and conservatives. However, the fault here lies just as much with Democrats who side with Republicans as it lies with anyone else. If some Democrats spend time targeting immigrants in order to improve their personal power, then yes, we have to spend resources targeting those Democrats. If some Democrat side with Republicans on major issues of our time, from FISA to Iraq to SChip to the Bankruptcy Bill to trade agreements to whatever, then yes, we have to spend resources targeting those Democrats.

In other words, it is a massive waste of resources when Democrats side with Republicans. It is a huge waste of resources when we use Democratic money to elect Democrats who side with Republicans, and equally a huge waste of resources to have to spend our time and energy fighting those Democrats who side with Republicans. This is the two-fold way in which Democrats who side with Republicans are a massive drain on our resources. But you know what? It would all go away if Democrats sided with Republicans less often. It is in this way that stopping capitulation might be a short term resource drain, but in the long term has the potential to greater increase our available resources. Siding with Republicans costs us money, and it takes pressure to raise a progressive Democrat. Investing resources in that pressure now is partly an attempt to make future expenditures in that area unnecessary.

Chris Bowers :: It Takes Pressure To Raise A Progressive Democrat

Tags: , , , (All Tags)
Print Friendly View Send As Email
It Takes Pressure To Raise A Progressive Democrat | 6 comments
it didn't require this (0.00 / 0)
Within three hours of Dodd's statement, Obama stated his opposition to the bill as well.  Many, but not all, assumed from that basis that he'd support a filibuster as well.  You needed more assurance, but if the goal is to defeat telecom immunity, the effort would have been better spent getting the other needed Senators on board rather than just clarifying the position of one already in opposition.
Yes we needed more assurance, if you've been on THIS planet (4.00 / 2)
The difference between Hillary and Obama and the rest of the Democratic senators is that they are the Democratic presidential frontrunners.  They have something of a bully pulpit, and they damn well better use it.

Full Court Press!  http://www.openleft.com/showDi...
[ Parent ]
Agreed, but.... (0.00 / 0)
don't ever, ever assume that Obama supporters will let any perceived criticism of Senator 'Waffle' Hope go uncontested.

Even when wrong they will come back again and again insisting that Obama is the one and only candidate worthy of our support.

Gets fairly tedious as since the Senator has changed his position on so many issues you can argue just about anything based on what 'he said...'

But as one commenter her informed me...'Everybody does it...so it's okay....'

Peace, Health and Prosperity for Everyone.

[ Parent ]
with moderate Republicans an endangered species (0.00 / 0)
Right-wing nutjobs don't have to spend many resources getting the GOP members of Congress on board with their agenda.

Join the Iowa progressive community at Bleeding Heartland.
But, of course (0.00 / 0)
Your headline is awesome. It says it all: "It takes pressure to raise a Progressive Democrat". It also takes support, activism, money, marketing, walking the district, phone banks, etc.... This stuff isn't free. Just because somebody is great, doesn't mean we stop working on our issues, and specifically, we need to keep working for them.

That's what the Conservatives do for their side. It comes with the territory. "Our" pols work for us because (1) we've got ther back and (2) we hold their feet to the fire.

That's a hell of a lot better than doing the same shit for someone who isn't on our side!

To be less snarky. Our guys can't go out on a limb without a movement to back them up. Let's say there is a vote on single-payer health care. In the absence of a lot of public pressure, i.e. a movement with the ability to apply pressure support, the best politician can't do it alone.

Better to invest in party-independent grassroots infrastructure? (0.00 / 0)
If resources invested in Dems who mostly side against the base (assuming the base is voters, not cash contributors) are wasted, then arguably a huge knot of the resources devoted to Democratic campaigns are squandered.

Maybe it makes sense then, to increase our investment in the infrastructure of independent pressure-generating left-leaning grassroots organizations rather than in the DCCC or PACs and other outfits who limit their horizons to discerning the more likely or the least odious choice in the current election cycle.

After all, the monetary contributions of big business, from military contractors to big pharma and insurance to Democratic front-runners this year are matching and often exceeding  what they give to Repubs.  If the competition is strictly about dollars the bad guys will always win, and we might as well go home.

On the other hand, if the contest is about human beings and human wills, and pressure generated by grassroots popular organizations building upon the popular will, that is something else altogether.  So if we want the tools to force reluctant and sometimes renegade Democratic officeholders into line, we need to devote resources to party-independent grassroots groups that can exercise the pressure and be immune from the nonsensical maxim that Demcocrats are automagically above criticism.

"If you want that good feeling that comes from doing things for other people, then you have to pay for it in abuse and misunderstanding..."
Zora Neale Hurston

It Takes Pressure To Raise A Progressive Democrat | 6 comments
Donate to Open Left







QUICK HITS

Friends of the Earth thanks the OpenLeft community for the ideas you generate and your contributions to the progressive movement.
As an anti-spam measure, there is a 24-hour waiting period after registering before new users can comment.
blog advertising is good for you
blog advertising is good for you
LIBERAL INSTITUTIONS
STATE BLOGS
SEARCH

   

Advanced Search

Home | RSS/XML Feed | Register | Contact

  © OpenLeft 2007-2009, Powered by SoapBlox