in light of recent loyalty threads, a good link on the DLC

[Lerkfish]

I had not checked them out at wikipedia before, but I found this summary and explanation interesting and enlightening.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Leadership_Council

I especially found the following excerpt interesting:

2003 invasion of Iraq
The DLC gave strong support for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Prior to the war, Will Marshall co-signed a letter to President Bush from the Project for the New American Century endorsing military action against Saddam Hussein. During the 2004 Primary campaign the DLC attacked Presidential candidate Howard Dean as an out-of-touch liberal because of Dean's position of only pursuing Osama Bin Laden instead of invading Iraq. The DLC dismissed other critics of the Iraq invasion such as filmmaker Michael Moore as "Anti-American" and members of the "loony left" <7>. Even as domestic support for the Iraq War plummeted in 2004 and 2005, Marshall called upon Democrats to balance their criticism of Bush's handling of the Iraq War with praise for the President's achievements and cautioned "Democrats need to be choosier about the political company they keep, distancing themselves from the pacifist and anti-American fringe."
Criticism

The DLC has become unpopular within many progressive political circles.
Some critics claim the strategy of triangulation between the political left and right to gain broad appeal is fundamentally flawed. Opponents believe that moderation does not inspire passion in voters and lacks the persistent principles and moral clarity which are critical to building a popular political movement. In the long run, so opponents say, a strategy of triangulation results in concession after concession to the opposition, while alienating traditionally-allied voters. For example, critics point out that liberal Democrat Michael Dukakis won a larger share of the vote in his presidential campaign (46%) than Bill Clinton in his first campaign (42%), despite Clinton's more centrist positions.

[Stinky The Clown]

1. What's your point?

The DLC is a tiny fraction of all the Democrats in the country.

[Lerkfish]

2. this thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3303900

asks for a loyalty oath and then accuses progressives of destroying the party.
I just wanted to point out that the DLC is very good at accusing others of what they themselves are up to.

IMHO

and especially this post, from the OP:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3303900&mesg_id=3304077

[depakid]

11. Yep, that was a lame thread if there ever was one

The OP doesn't get it at all- and apparently cares only about the "d" behind the name without much if any concern for traditional Democratic values (the abandonment of which was what created the impetus for third party and independent registration and support in the first place).

[Lerkfish]

14. indeed.

[MisterP]

22. oo, the "left wing" are the McCarthyites, they say...

of course, it was the Blairites and DLC whose frickin' motto has been "Silence! We know what's best, so give us unflagging support and don't complain!" for over ten years running...
anyhow, I'd rather be a metaphorical "bomb-thrower" than a real-life bomb-dropper any day

[madfloridian]

3. But they hold the party in their grasp. They have the power and the money.

And they know we must stay on board or lose to Republicans.

:shrug:

They are the party right now.

[Warpy]

5. They're at the center of the power structure within the beltway

though, and that's why they continue to be a source of contention.

[AtomicKitten]

6. P-U-R-G-E

[Skinner]

4. Are you saying...

...that only DLC Democrats are loyal Democrats?

If so, why do you believe that to be the case?

[Lerkfish]

8. no, sorry for the confusion. I was commenting generally on the concept of "loyalty oath" threads

and how it appeared in another thread, a DLC advocate was accusing progressive democrats of being disloyal for criticism of democratic leaders.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3303900&mesg_id=3304077

[wyldwolf]

10. where do you get the impression the OP in the other thread is a DLC advocate?

[LoZoccolo]

13. Several people have me pegged as a Zell Miller supporter too.

Ho ho ho ho! :rofl:

[LoZoccolo]

12. DLC advocate?

I don't see that. Unless you're referring to something from another thread...

[Lerkfish]

15. fair enough. How about "someone blaming the progressives for destroying the party"

and then asking for a loyalty test...

probably more accurate, anyhow.

[wyldwolf]

16. well, by post 66, after he'd/she'd already been jumped for "McCarthyism."

[Lerkfish]

17. my apologies, I already have the poster who posted #16

on ignore, so can't respond. I have several people on ignore, so if someone else wishes to post their name in a post, I can un-ignore them for this thread only.

[LoZoccolo]

20. Sorry: you ignore someone, you face the consequences! n/t

[Lerkfish]

21. LOL! good point. however, I was trying to let that person know they weren't going to get a response

out of courtesy, so that I could respond to them in this thread.

but you make a valid point.

[wyldwolf]

23. so my point goes unchallenged. Good.

[LoZoccolo]

18. Why don't you deal with that comment instead of dragging out all this other stuff? n/t

[Lerkfish]

19. thanks for your input

"all this other stuff" is the irony of anti-progressives demanding loyalty oaths within the party.

I'm attempting to point out the irony. Sometimes irony is lost on some people.

[wyldwolf]

9. no, he's implying the opposite.

[wyldwolf]

7. but you missed this part from the cited reference:

This article has been nominated to be checked for its neutrality. This article does not cite any references or sources.

In regards to the other thread, it was a "progressive" that took issue and got defensive first.

"Seems to me that you are just asking for a fight here. I vote Democratic and have since '72. I do not register Democratic except on primary day, and then I unregister."