The Third Way: 'Why are Democrats affiliated with this group that wants to gut Democratic Programs?'

[RiverLover]

5. REALLY great info, thanks! And even scarier? Third Way is just "the tip of the iceberg"

...Having caused the worst financial crash since 1929 and the worst economy since the Great Depression of the 1930s, Wall Street is thoroughly discredited and broadly disliked throughout America. Given that the vast economic wreckage it caused is still crippling families and communities across the country, this isn't likely to change anytime soon. Unrepentant, unaccountable, unpunished, arrogant and still stuffing their pockets with billions in bonuses in the face of such suffering haven't helped Wall Street with their standing either.

But, remarkably, that doesn't matter much in too many places in Washington, D.C., which is often an Alice-in-Wonderland world where Wall Street's role in the 2008 financial crash and economic calamity are almost never mentioned.

...First, they misleadingly caricature anyone who doesn't agree with Wall Street's views as nothing more than "soak the rich" tax and spend "populists" trying to spark class warfare. It's argument by label and epithet. And, what better way to let your paymasters know whose side you're on than to do that on the Opinion page of the Wall Street Journal and to attack Sen. Elizabeth Warren by name?

That few if any serious people hold the views Third Way and Wall Street's other funded groups, organizations and people ascribe to them doesn't matter. Label them. Dismiss them. Trash them. No room for nuance when your agenda isn't to engage in a serious, meaningful or thoughtful discussion, but to create a cartoonish figure to attack.

Second, Third Way and Wall Street's other allies intentionally misleadingly conflate Wall Street with what is good, necessary and important to the American people.

Their favorite claim, repeated by Third Way: Wall Street is a job creator. That's simply not true. As the '08 crash and economic collapse proved, Wall Street is a job killer of historic proportion.

...As if perpetuating that core myth isn't enough, Third Way then exaggerates, distorts and equates criticism of Wall Street as "vilification of industry." But, Wall Street is not "industry." Apple, GM, Caterpillar, AT&T, IBM, Boeing, Facebook, Google, ADM, P&G, Home Depot and so many other companies are "industry" that create jobs and build and sell products. No one is vilifying them.

Importantly, it's not just front groups like Third Way that push Wall Street's agenda. Wall Street also directly or indirectly funds a massive lobbying operation as well as numerous public relations firms, academic advocates, advertising campaigns, political contributions, so-called think tanks as well as trade and industry groups. Much of this influence industry is greased by former senior government officials who have sold out spinning through the revolving door.

This massive, largely unseen network created and connected by vast sums of money is how Wall Street still gets its way -- largely unseen -- in Washington.

Third Way is just the tip of the iceberg.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dennis-m-kelleher/how-wall-street-still-get_b_5942324.html