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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSocial Security expansion now very real. Thanks, Third Way!
by Joan McCarter
Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-PA.), honorary co-chair of Third Way and gubenatorial candidate, is now a cosponsor of a bill to expand Social Security. That's after Third Way president Jon Cowan, Jim Kessler, the group's senior vice president for policy called the legislation "exhibit A of this populist political and economic fantasy." The "fantasy" that is going to doom, DOOM, Democrats. Of course, Schwartz isn't leaving Third Way. And she's also coming pretty late to the "expand Social Security" party.
In April 2012, Schwartz voted for a deficit reduction plan that would have effectively cut benefits by adopting the measure of inflation known as chained CPI.
Schwartz was one of only 22 House Democrats to support the bill, known as the Cooper-LaTourette budget plan, which only received 38 votes overall. She touted her vote for the bill in an announcement on her House website that she had received the "Economic Patriot Award" from the Concord Coalition, a deficit-reduction group co-founded by Pete Peterson. Peterson is a billionaire who has spent nearly half a billion dollars advocating for cuts to Social Security and other government programs as part of a campaign for austerity.
Interesting that Schwartz isn't running on that, on her pro-austerity, cut Social Security record, but is instead essentially repudiating it. Not just that, she's now embracing that "populist political and economic fantasy" that Third Way swears is political ruin for any Democrat. Go figure.
When Sen. Sherrod Brown signed on to the bill to expand Social Security, it made news. It gave the movement real momentum. When Sen. Elizabeth Warren joined the team it catapulted the issue into what could be a centerpiece in the 2014 and 2016.
And that's what put Third Way and the whole world of Wall Street "Democrats" into panic mode, coordinating a full-frontal assault against her and this issue. That assault has fallen completely flat. Nothing proves that more than Allyson Schwartz's name on the Strengthening Social Security Act.
So thanks, Third Way! Now we've got ourselves a real rallying point for real Democrats.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/12/06/1260700/-Social-Security-expansion-now-very-real-Thanks-Third-Way
randome
(34,845 posts)[hr][font color="blue"][center]Precision and concision. That's the game.[/center][/font][hr]
JimboBillyBubbaBob
(1,389 posts)These struggles move forward one mind at a time.
Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)freshwest
(53,661 posts)Oh, and Pete, go home, okay?
Cha
(295,900 posts)like a stupid name. Now there's Alison Swartz who is honorary chair-person of said 3wayers promoting the exact issue they oppose!
Looks AS saw the light.. will she be kicked from her honorary post?! lol
thanks PS
Vincardog
(20,234 posts)Cha
(295,900 posts)Vincardog
(20,234 posts)Whisp
(24,096 posts)Is this part of or a different group? I thought it was the same but maybe not.... (probably yes)
Also I always thought when the word Triangulation is connected to Clinton - it really means Third Way.
Maybe someone can help me/us with that.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2001/0104/p2s1.html/%28page%29/2
Roots of the movement
The third way rose in the early 1990s on the shoulders of political parties that tried to strike a balance between left and right, or in the case of the US, between Democrat and Republican.
In America, the idea was championed by the Democratic Leadership Council, which was headed by Clinton and helped launch his successful run at the presidency. Clinton and the New Democrats tried to bolster the economy through private-sector economic growth rather than the public-jobs programs that were associated with Jimmy Carter.
After Clinton rose to power, other like-minded leaders followed suit, including Mr. Blair and Mr. Schroeder. They replaced dominant conservative leaders like Ronald Reagan and George Bush, Margaret Thatcher of Great Britain, and Helmut Kohl of Germany.
Vincardog
(20,234 posts)People. Their big jump was to run as Democrats funded by the monied class then push thru
job killing policies like NAFTA. They change the name of the front group but the cancer remains.
Whisp
(24,096 posts)So fucking transparent.
Vincardog
(20,234 posts)MADem
(135,425 posts)The idea is to find an issue where the two parties can agree and act on it.
Samantha
(9,314 posts)I have read several books about his presidency, and I cannot remember in which one I read this. It appears he was struggling to find a new term to describe the politics and accomplishments of the Clinton years, including that which he regarded as successes (we can quibble about some of these later) he achieved by compromising with Republicans. I personally have another name for that but I won't post it here because I am not ready for my pizza delivery yet.
I think "Third Way" was the third name he stumbled upon.
While I do like Clinton, some of his accomplishments such as cutting welfare deeply and adversely impacted citizens much in the same way as Republicans recommend today. I don't literally think of this as a "third way" as much as I do a betrayal of Democratic principles.
But he was excellent at defending himself under distressful circumstances against the horrendous attacks by the Republicans. Let me repeat that -- excellent. He should have written a survival guide on that subject alone for Democrats who won the Oval Office after him. Such a guide could have saved us a lot of angst in recent days
I also like our current President and perhaps with his speech this week he is indeed thinking of gravitating away from the Third Way Highway....
Many who align with the Third Way are former DLC'ers trying once again to become relevant in politics.
Sam
Cha
(295,900 posts)so much of what he has accomplished is not "3rd way" at all.. but, I've been paying close attention to everything PBO's done. It doesn't get talked about in the rw corporatemedia stratoshpere that's for sure.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)With actual members, organization, funding and agenda.
http://www.thirdway.org/
Samantha
(9,314 posts)Things like cutting Social Security (it originally supported the chained CPI), the fact they think they have more influence with the President than liberals....
I was just responding to the question about where the term came from. I just think of these people as the old DLC'ers wearing new masks.
Sam
MannyGoldstein
(34,589 posts)Thanks!
myrna minx
(22,772 posts)Scurrilous
(38,687 posts)fbc
(1,668 posts)She's in damage control mode now, but it's too little, too late unless she steps down from Third Way and publicly repudiates the organization as a whole.
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)sulphurdunn
(6,891 posts)moments. They just pretend to when the wind changes.
Thanks!
Bohunk68
(1,364 posts)with this Republican House. And, if Ezra is correct, they will expand their margin in 2014 and may damn well take over the Senate. Gerrymandering.
RebelOne
(30,947 posts)Bohunk68
(1,364 posts)but a realist. I've seen so many of these postings that seem to indulge in wishful thinking. While nice to imagine, most of the time folks forget that we have a House that is still going to be there another year and so far have been the biggest Do Nothing Congress Ever. To expect that such assholes would even THINK of such a bill is preposterous.
OnionPatch
(6,169 posts)Even though it will probably fail, the national discussion on Social Security has been pushed to the left. We need to do this on a lot more issues instead of starting in the middle and working our way right.
Bohunk68
(1,364 posts)I just try not to be overly optimistic. I keep fighting all the time. A lot of people on fb drop me when I get on my political bandwagon, which is every day. Which is fine, since I get rid of the RW assholes, except for some family members who annoy me.
Jack Rabbit
(45,984 posts)Welcome aboard.
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)Wonder what caused the turn around?
RainDog
(28,784 posts)rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)I believe Senator Cantwell was a member of the DLC. I am wondering if she supports or is supported by The Third Way.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)"How do we find out which Democrats are supported by or support The Third Way?"
...place would be the group's site. They're also being exposed.
So-called Democrats at Third Way share consultants with the Chamber of Commerce
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024143579
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)Chef Eric
(1,024 posts)Schwartz is my rep in Congress, and I've never liked her.
But this is really impressive.
blue14u
(575 posts)Its my understand that third way, centrist, DLC, and Hillary Clinton are all the
same thing. A neat little bundle of Wall Street rolled into one package.
ronnie624
(5,764 posts)Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)ride until it takes her to the gravy train. These pathetic attempts to present these parasites as anything but what they are is becoming comical. It's the other side of the "I'm not a republican, I'm an independent" line being spewed by 'former republicans' all over the airwaves.
ChisolmTrailDem
(9,463 posts)blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)sweetapogee
(1,168 posts)Once the race for Governor of PA gets going, Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski will run like a steamroller over any and all.