Is Obama a member of the DLC? He appears on their 100 pols to watch list

[saracat]

from 2004 !

[ronnykmarshall]

1. Oh dear

:hide:

[draft_mario_cuomo]

2. Officially? No. Is his ideology in sync with the DLC? Yes.

Don't believe me? Compare his platform to ultimate DLCer Hillary Clinton's. Any differences? If you can't find any differences and Hillary has a Third Way DLC platform what does that make Obama's platform... :)

[Tom Joad]

5. not much. they all get their daily chow at the same place.

[TeamJordan23]

10. Obama was against War......DLC, Edwards, and HRC supported it. nm

[wyldwolf]

11. "War" is but one issue of many

[TeamJordan23]

23. He is also speaking up for Labor and Poverty. Different than them on Healthcare, Foreign Policy. nm

[draft_mario_cuomo]

25. Name the differences between him and Hillary on the issues

We know what they all speak about. That has nothing to do with whether they are different in substance.

[wyldwolf]

30. you ask this everyday and no one answers.... I'd like to see it, too...

...with source material to back it up.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

35. Exactly. Yet they passionately argue that Hillary is the devil and Obama is "the savior"

How can this be if they are identical on the issues?

[TeamJordan23]

41. Can you show me HRC's plans to combat healthcare, poverty, and to deal with labor???

[draft_mario_cuomo]

42. I am not a HRC fan. I am also not claiming Obama is different than her

If he is different, how about providing some examples?

[TeamJordan23]

48. Again, you are missing my point. How can I point any differences when she hasn't laid out plans?

Its like comparing apples to nothing. If she had some specific methods to combat poverty, deal with labor, or even have a healthcare plan, I would love to find their differences.

[TeamJordan23]

36. What can I compare it to. HRC has produced no plans to combat poverty, no healthcare plan, or labor.

:shrug:

[MethuenProgressive]

37. No diff at all on voting records - which astounds Obama supporters

...who don't seem too keen on looking very closely at their candidate.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

38. 99% the same on Iraq. The only difference is Obama voted with the Republicans on Gen. Pace nt

[draft_mario_cuomo]

32. How about a comparision of their records on the war since Obama became a national figure?

2005

Obama supports funding the war each time.
Hillary supports funding the war each time.

Rep. Murtha's call for ending the war and the debate around it

Obama opposes a timetable for withdrawal, siding against Murtha and co.
Hillary opposes a timetable for withdrawal, siding against Murtha and co.

2006

Obama supports funding the war each time.
Hillary supports funding the war each time.

Obama opposes a timetable for withdrawal.
Hillary opposes a timetable for withdrawal.

Kerry-Feingold

Obama votes against and speaks against Kerry-Feingold, which had a binding timetable for withdrawal.
Hillary votes against and speaks against Kerry-Feingold, which had a binding timetable for withdrawal.

Lieberman vs. Lamont

Obama supports, campaigns at least twice for Lieberman.
Hillary supports Lieberman.

2007

The surge

Obama opposes cutting off funding for the surge
Hillary opposes cutting off funding for the surge.

Obama reverses on a timetable for withdrawal, presents a token bill with a timetable.
Hillary reverses on a timetable for withdrawal, presents a token bill with a timetable.

Reid-Feingold

Obama votes for R/F.
Hillary votes for R/F.

After Bush's veto of Reid-Feingold and before the last vote

Obama is silent. He does not lead for standing up to *.
Hillary is silent. He does not lead for standing up to *.

Vote after the veto

Obama reverses course, finally votes against funding the war.
Hillary reverses course, votes against funding the war.

Notice anything?

[TeamJordan23]

40. Should we ignore Al Gore, Howard Dean, Clark's stances on IWR b/c they were not voting in 2002??

[draft_mario_cuomo]

24. Damn. That is it? The one difference is before he became a national figure?

You can't even point to anything in his senate record?

[TeamJordan23]

45. Oh sorry DMC, I will decide my President just based on his voting record.

I guess you can exclude HRC's "experience" during the Clinton Admin. Maybe you should exclude Edwards' poverty work since leaving the Senate. Afterall, he is not voting on anything. Nor did he push any major initiatives while in the Senate dealing with poverty or labor.

Let the votes speak for themselves. And let people's judgments speak for themselves. And than let the people decide.

[Tom Joad]

3. I think all the major contenders are DLC material, even if not members.

[NYCGirl]

4. Nope.

http://www.blackcommentator.com/48/48_cover.html

FULL LETTER AT LINK

I favor universal health care for all Americans, and intend to introduce or sponsor legislation toward that end in the U.S. Senate, just as I have at the state level. My campaign is also developing a series of interim proposals – such as an expansion of the successful SCHIP program – so that we can immediately provide more coverage to uninsured children and their families.

I would have voted against the October 10th congressional resolution authorizing the President to use unilateral force against Iraq. I believe that we could have effectively neutralized Iraq with a rigorous, multilateral inspection regime backed by coalition forces. Nothing since the end of the formal fighting has led me to reconsider this stance; indeed, the inability of Saddam Hussein to mount even token resistance to American forces, the failure to discover any significant, deployable arsenals of biological or chemical weapons inside Iraq, and the on-going turmoil currently taking place in post-war Iraq, have only strengthened my views on the subject.

And although I believe that free trade - when also fair - can benefit workers in both rich and poor nations, I think that the current NAFTA regime lacks the worker and environmental protections that are necessary for the long-term prosperity of both America and its trading partners. I would therefore favor, at minimum, a significant renegotiation of NAFTA and the terms of the President’s fast track authority.

You are undoubtedly correct that these positions make me an unlikely candidate for membership in the DLC. That is why I am not currently, nor have I ever been, a member of the DLC. As I stated in my previous letter, I agreed to be listed as “100 to watch” by the DLC. That’s been the extent of my contact with them. It does appear that, without my knowledge, the DLC also listed me in their “New Democrat” directory. Because I agree that such a directory implies membership, I will be calling the DLC to have my name removed, and appreciate your having brought this fact to my attention.

[saracat]

6. Hmmm.Interesting....

[wyldwolf]

12. same source claims Obama hid his initial Iraq war position after he was elected Senate

[NYCGirl]

22. And? NT

[wyldwolf]

26. And what?

read between the lines.

Obama makes fiery anti-war speech before being elected to the Senate.
Once elected to the Senate, he removes speech from his website and replaces it with a John Kerry-like explanation of his position. It wasn't until the source in question mentioned that that Obama quietly put the video back on his site.

[NYCGirl]

43. And then Obama writes:

I would have voted against the October 10th congressional resolution authorizing the President to use unilateral force against Iraq. I believe that we could have effectively neutralized Iraq with a rigorous, multilateral inspection regime backed by coalition forces. Nothing since the end of the formal fighting has led me to reconsider this stance; indeed, the inability of Saddam Hussein to mount even token resistance to American forces, the failure to discover any significant, deployable arsenals of biological or chemical weapons inside Iraq, and the on-going turmoil currently taking place in post-war Iraq, have only strengthened my views on the subject.

[wyldwolf]

47. yes, we know that. But why did he try to conceal his position once elected to the Senate?

Once he won, down came the video, and a whole series of votes to fund the war began. Only when it became politically convenient did he dust off his old anti-war position.

[NYCGirl]

52. On what website? Did he keep his election website up after he was elected

to the Senate?

[wyldwolf]

58. I'm just going by what the Black Commentator said. I won't cherry pick them...

..believing what I want to believe and not believing what I don't want to.

[Totally Committed]

7. Says DLC acted without his knowlege by including his name on that list.

Obama to have name removed from DLC List

http://www.blackcommentator.com/48/48_cover.html


TC

[pnwmom]

8. The DLC brought us Bill Clinton.

Those were the days . . .

[saracat]

13. I disagree.Bill Clinton brought us Bill Clinton and the DLC took credit.

They haven't won an election since!

[wyldwolf]

16. Sorry. All sources on the subject says Clinton was wooed by the DLC to run...

... including Clinton himself. Further, the record shows he ran on DLC policies.

They haven't won an election sense? Well, neither have the "progressive" wing. As a matter of fact, the "progressive" wing has NEVER won a presidential election.

DLC/New Dem Governors:

# Gov. Mike Beebe of Arkansas
# Gov. Kathleen Blanco of Louisiana
# Gov. Phil Bredesen of Tennessee
# Gov. Jon Corzine of New Jersey
# Gov. Jim Doyle of Wisconsin
# Gov. Michael Easley of North Carolina
# Gov. Jennifer Granholm of Michigan
# Gov. Christine Gregoire of Washington
# Gov. Brad Henry of Oklahoma
# Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia
# Gov. Joe Manchin of West Virginia
# Gov. Ruth Ann Minner of Delaware
# Gov. Janet Napolitano of Arizona
# Gov. Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania
# Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico
# Gov. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas

Over half of the new house seats won in 2006 are DLC.

[rinsd]

17. Not true. Congressional Dems made gains in 96, 98 & 00

Dems also did well in Governors' races from 1998 on.

[saracat]

46. None of which should be credited to the DLC who do nothing!

[wyldwolf]

49. why not?

These Dems, for the most part, won on Clinton's DLC record.

[saracat]

55. Nonsense.They won on their own campaigns. And the DLC had little or nothing to

do with them/ All is the DLC is is an ego driven mouthpiece for From.

[wyldwolf]

56. nonsense... because you say so?

Then I guess the reverse if true. No one ever LOST because of the DLC. They lost on their own campaigns.

[saracat]

66. So , what does the DLC do to support any candidates? And do you seriously think most voters pay any

attention to message, DLc or anyone elses? Sheesh the average voter voted for the guy they most wanted to have a beer with for gods sake!

[rinsd]

54. So let me get this straight

The DLC is responsible for election losses but gets no credit for election wins.

[saracat]

59. I don't really think they are responsible for much of either!

But a lot of their GOP ass kissing surely hasn't helped win anything! And BTW, I am not against bi partisanship to get things done.It is just From goes way beyond that and hasn't yet learned that what worked in92 doesn't always work!

[sandnsea]

18. He spoke at the DLC yesterday

He specifically said the DLC was getting a bum rap, there has to be a middle class for the poor to get into, donchaknow. They had done many things for the poor including the EIC. Except the EIC was implemented way back in the 70's.

The Clintons are the standard-bearers for policies that appeal to the sensibilities of the upper income without really being transformational for the poor, not in this country or any other country. Any other candidate would be better.

[pnwmom]

28. Bill Clinton was one of the founders of the DLC.

Not winning the 2000 and 2004 elections was due to Ralph Nader and massive election fraud, not the positions of the DLC. We had the votes to win, they just weren't counted.

http://www.ppionline.org/ndol/print.cfm?contentid=251085

Bill Clinton, Dec. 2002:

"I am enormously proud to be a member of the DLC, to have been there at the beginning, to have done the work that we did between 1984 and 1992, work based on a vision of America at the turn of the century with opportunity for all, responsibility from all, and a community of all our people. We also wanted America to be the world's leading force for peace and freedom, prosperity and security. We had a strategy rooted in new ideas and on the oldest of America's missions: to constantly form a more perfect union. We implemented those ideas: AmeriCorps, the Empowerment Zones, the Earned Income Tax Credit, community policing, charter schools, welfare reform, always going beyond false choices. We believed that we could have fiscal responsibility and social investment; that we could be good for labor and business; that we could grow the economy and clean the environment; that we could prevent and punish crime."

[Major Hogwash]

33. Guess they didn't know that.

And there will be no Ross Perot or Bob Dole in 2008 to split the Republican vote, either.

[saracat]

44. Yup.Ands I still say he would have won DLC or not. The DLC is an anarchorism.

[napi21]

9. It looks to me like the DLC has lost almost all it's clout.

You rarely hear about it any more, and NONE of the candidate are attending their meeting!

[wyldwolf]

15. hmmm... really?

DLC/New Democrat Governors:

# Gov. Mike Beebe of Arkansas
# Gov. Kathleen Blanco of Louisiana
# Gov. Phil Bredesen of Tennessee
# Gov. Jon Corzine of New Jersey
# Gov. Jim Doyle of Wisconsin
# Gov. Michael Easley of North Carolina
# Gov. Jennifer Granholm of Michigan
# Gov. Christine Gregoire of Washington
# Gov. Brad Henry of Oklahoma
# Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia
# Gov. Joe Manchin of West Virginia
# Gov. Ruth Ann Minner of Delaware
# Gov. Janet Napolitano of Arizona
# Gov. Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania
# Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico
# Gov. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas

Over half the new House seats in 2006 were won by the DLC.

The DLC have had several meetings over the years where presidential candidates didn't appear.

[napi21]

29. You could be right. It just seemed to be important enough this time

for the media and the bloggers to make special note that NONE of them were going to the DLC event but most if not all were going to the Yearly Kos event.

[wyldwolf]

34. it's the media trying to play up a war between the two

Clinton, for example, holds a high ranking position at the DLC. She didn't snub them. She has their support locked up. Better to wade into the KOS waters where her standing isn't near as solid.

[frazzled]

14. Only John Edwards and Hillary Clinton were ever DLC

/nt

[sandnsea]

20. Hillary IS on the Leadership Team

Not was, IS a member of the DLC.

[wyldwolf]

21. Bill Richardson STILL IS DLC.

[Renew Deal]

19. .

[SoxFan]

27. Who cares?

For god's sake, people, do you folks ever stop and think about how absurd you sound? You come across as the bizzaro universe version of 1950's red baiters.

"Are you now or have you ever been a card-carrying member of the DLC?"

Obama was named to 100 to Watch. So was I. So were 98 other people, many of whom I consider friends and who I know to be very loyal, dedicated Democrats.

Let's give it a rest and worry more about Republicans than about loyal Democrats.

[MethuenProgressive]

39. ...only those trained to twitch upon hearing "DLC"

I doubt many of the twitchers could even explain why they fear the DLC.

[SoxFan]

50. You are correct

Having been to many DLC events over the last six years, and knowing more than most about the workings of the group, I find it amazing how what is basically a think tank/networking group has been transmogrified by the internet fever swamps into the political equivalent of the Knights Templar.

I don't expect everyone to agree with the DLC's political analysis, nor do I expect everyone to agree with the fine print of every PPI policy proposal. What I would like to see is an end to the paranoid rantings and the idiotic notion that people like Al From, Will Marshall, Ed Turlington, and Bruce Reed are anything less than blue-dyed-in-the-wool Democrats.

[wyldwolf]

51. BlueDogDemocratNH, what goes into becoming a "member" of the DLC?

[SoxFan]

70. Beats me

Anyone who wants to pay the registration fee can attend the National Conversation and participate in most of the activities (there are a few that are limited to elected officials).

When people shriek "DLC! DLC!", I'm not sure what they're talking about. Does this mean someone who attends the Conversation? Who is a member of a legislative or congressional New Dem caucus? Who participates in a PPI symposium on budget reform or education policy? Who has had an article published in Blueprint or on dlc.org? Who agrees with the tenets of the Third Way philosophy of governance?

If you consider all of these to be legitimate criteria of what constitutes "DLC", then we are talking about the majority of elected Democrats nationwide, and the majority of the presidential field.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

53. How did you get on the "100 to watch" list?

Do they choose from only DLC members or do they look at any up-and-coming Democrat who shares the Third Way ideology?

[wyldwolf]

60. The latter is my understanding

[draft_mario_cuomo]

62. Interesting

And how would DLCers be able to spot a 100 Third Way Democrats--among all the young elected Democrats in the nation? Does the DLC know something about the Third Way ideology? You're saying they could even spot a Third Way Democrat in a state legislature?

[wyldwolf]

67. Someone probably nominates them... I see this going somewhere...

do ya think someone close to Obama nominated him?

[draft_mario_cuomo]

74. Maybe his friend Rahm Emmanuel did?

;)

[SoxFan]

63. Not really sure, to be honest

I suspect that it is a combination of word-of-mouth from home state politicos, whether you made an impression during the group's issues workshops, and the like.

I received a letter in the mail one afternoon that congratulated me on my selection. It had a form to fill out asking for some basic biographical information (non-political career, first job, etc) and a few questions to flesh things out (what inspired you to enter politics, what are your core values when it comes to politics). I filled it out and sent it back. A few months later, the list was published in booklet form and released to the press at a presser following a 2 day meeting for those of us who made received the honor.

And no, it wasn't the Stonecutters planning the downfall of civilization. It included a brainstorming session, a dinner party at Mark Warner's house over in Alexandria, and some small group meetings.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

65. Thanks for sharing

And while we have had our run-ins in the past, congrats on being named to that list. That is quite a feat. :toast:

[SoxFan]

73. Thank you!

FWIW, here's the 100 to Watch profile:
http://www.ndol.org/ndol_ci.cfm?contentid=251676&kaid=104&subid=210

:patriot:

[draft_mario_cuomo]

81. Impressive

So any plans to eventually run for higher office down the road? You could become the first DLCer to get support from DU. :D

[wyldwolf]

69. How lengthy was the form?

[SoxFan]

72. Two pages, I think

[PATRICK]

31. Surprised

no one has jumped on this because I strongly remember he took himself off that list very publicly. that was back when the loser club badly need star shine. As long as they need him more than he needs them that
was an important gesture. The awkwardness born of necessity now is that he needs, like we all do, to hang together before we hang separately no matter how egregiously chummy the DLC is toward the fascists and their policies.

I think he gets a big INNOCENT on this particular rumor at least. The main questions remain his philosophical attitudes in past writings and certain speeches that mirror DLC positions we strongly disagree with. I think we should avoid these DLC tagging operations unless they are factual and substantive from the open actions and words of the candidates themselves. In 2004 everyone was the big bad DLC(Kerry Clark Edwards, etc.) when in fact it is always the few organizational trolls in the DLC looking for good pols to prop via the big money game. it seems that Obama is also pointedly(without many understanding) putting big money in its place with his style of fundraising.

Those also fawning and crawling behind Hillary are those losing functionaries and idea men, and unfortunately- as with all past executive administrations- a host of "experienced" Clintonites who want to get back in the game. She herself has held high positions in the DLC organization but not gone along with their gaffish attacks on progressives.

I don't think that a soft brained concept like the DLC needs for me to repeat the fact that the real goons in their midst need to be purged and some of their salient ideas need radical changing along with their corrupting big money game. Right now they are a truculent wing with overweening influence on everything. If keeping them in check means watering down our agenda and campaigns- again- for good old benefit to the GOP and whatever in blazes they mean by "bi-partisanship" they will always remind us that some of them need to lose their jobs ASAP. That now includes pols who have really sold their souls along with the loser advisers and DLC towel holders. Smoking Joe and a few blue dogs that are the real ones crippling the Dems ability to forward a popular and absolutely necessary agenda. That list must be kept from expanding and Obama did his part back then to "just say no".

Just so he understands that when other groups support him we expect to continue at least to have the losers trumped and the ideas moved away to something resembling rationality and necessary ideals. we would prefer that a unitive mandate be clear about progressive goals, especially during office performance.

This is an unpaid assist from an Edwards supporter.

[maximusveritas]

57. What a pitiful post

Even the slightest bit of searching on Google would have gotten you this answer. Is this just flamebait or are you trying to draw attention to Edwards' membership in the DLC?

[saracat]

61. No.I was really curious.I was just on the DLC site and saw that I was surprised. As I didn't find

anything else on the DLC website it didn't occur to me to google it! I couln't find a membership list!

[maximusveritas]

64. How did you find the list?

I don't see it anywhere on the frontpage.

[saracat]

68. It the 100 to watch list under the legislators.

[ariesgem]

71. Here's a list of DLC members

according to this website

Brian Baird Congressman, Washington 3rd

Max Baucus US Senator from Montana

Evan Bayh US Senator from Indiana

Shelley Berkley Congresswoman, Nevada 1st

John Breaux US Senator from Louisiana, 1987-2005

Maria Cantwell US Senator from Washington

Lois Capps Congresswoman, California 23rd

Russ Carnahan Congressman, Missouri 3rd

Thomas Carper US Senator from Delaware

Ed Case Congressman, Hawaii 2nd

Ben Chandler Congressman, Kentucky 6th

Bill Clinton 42nd US President, 1993-2001

Hillary Clinton US Senator from New York

Kent Conrad US Senator from North Dakota

Bud Cramer Congressman, Alabama 5th

Joseph Crowley Congressman, New York 7th

Artur Davis Congressman, Alabama 7th

Jim Davis Congressman, Florida 11th

Susan Davis Congresswoman, California 53rd

Cal Dooley Congressman from California, 1991-2005

Byron Dorgan US Senator from North Dakota

John Edwards 2004 Vice Presidential candidate

Rahm Emanuel Congressman, Illinois 5th

Eliot Engel Congressman, New York 17th

Bob Etheridge Congressman, North Carolina 2nd

Dianne Feinstein US Senator from California

Harold Ford Congressman from Tennessee, 1997-07

Dick Gephardt Congressman from Missouri, 1977-2005

Al Gore US Vice President under Clinton

Bob Graham US Senator from Florida

Jane Harman Congresswoman, California 36th

Brian Higgins Congressman, New York 27th

Rush Holt Congressman, New Jersey 12th

Darlene Hooley Congresswoman, Oregon 5th

Jay Inslee Congressman, Washington 1st

Steve Israel Congressman, New York 2nd

Tim Johnson US Senator from South Dakota

Bob Kerrey Governor and Senator from Nebraska

John Kerry US Senator from Massachusetts

Ron Kind Congressman, Wisconsin 3rd

Herb Kohl US Senator from Wisconsin

Mary Landrieu US Senator from Louisiana

Rick Larsen Congressman, Washington 2nd

John Larson Congressman, Connecticut 1st

Joseph Lieberman US Senator from Connecticut

Blanche Lincoln US Senator from Arkansas

Zoe Lofgren Congresswoman, California 16th

Terry McAuliffe Clinton's Chairman of the DNC

Carolyn McCarthy Congresswoman, New York 4th

Mike McIntyre Congressman, North Carolina 7th

Mack McLarty Clinton's Chief of Staff

Gregory Meeks Congressman, New York 6th

Juanita Millender-McDonald Congresswoman from California, 1996-2007

Dennis Moore Congressman, Kansas 3rd

Jim Moran Congressman, Virginia 8th

Ben Nelson US Senator from Nebraska

Bill Nelson US Senator from Florida

Gavin Newsom Mayor of San Francisco

Sam Nunn US Senator from Georgia, 1972-97

David Price Congressman, North Carolina 4th

Mark Pryor US Senator from Arkansas

Chuck Robb US Senator from Virginia, 1989-2001

Timothy J. Roemer 9-11 Commission member

Loretta Sanchez Congresswoman, California 47th

Stephanie Herseth Sandlin Congresswoman, South Dakota

Adam Schiff Congressman, California 29th

Allyson Schwartz Congresswoman, Pennsylvania 13th

David Scott Congressman, Georgia 13th

Adam Smith Congressman, Washington 9th

Debbie Stabenow US Senator from Michigan

John Tanner Congressman, Tennessee 8th

Ellen Tauscher Congresswoman, California 10th

Tom Udall Congressman, New Mexico 3rd

Anthony A. Williams Mayor of Washington, DC

David Wu Congressman, Oregon 1st

[jefferson_dem]

75. No. But the husband of your avatar rep is (or at least was) a DLCer.

Do you have a problem with that?

[saracat]

76. I don't have a problem with anyone being a member .I just don't support the DLC

but it has some good people in it. And I have no idea in spite of some posted lists who the "current " membership is.Al Gore was a founding member and so was a friend of mine that I respect.But that doesn't mean I have to give them (DLC) credit I don't think they deserve.I also think Al From is a jackass. Nuff said.

[Progressive Friend]

77. Yes, Obama is part of the DLC

Only Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel are not DLC members.

[jefferson_dem]

79. Bullshit.

OBAMA: “I am not currently, nor have I ever been, a member of the DLC.” Can't get any more clear than that. Why post lies?

[ShortnFiery]

78. No, unlike HRC, his picture isn't displayed on the DLC's site front page every 20 seconds.

:eyes: We know the DLC is just cover for the mighty "Clinton Machine" and all of the Big Dawg's old cronies from his past two administration cabinets, i.e., Deal making, pay-offs and sweet whisper promises galore until The Primaries. :thumbsdown:

Meet OUR (DLC's) LEADERS: http://www.dlc.org/

[illinoisprogressive]

80. no. they put him on it against his wishes. he told them to take him off.

[sniffa]

82. Locking

fLaimbait