Bill Clinton tried to govern from the left? BZZZZZ, sorry, try again.

[Truth2Tell]

The same old myths seem to recycle through our corporate beholden media like so many dirty socks.

Norman Soloman nails it in his latest at TruthOut:

http://www.truthout.org/112008A">A Media Parable for "the Center"

...

"Many political observers," The San Francisco Chronicle reported days ago, say that Obama "must tack toward the political mainstream to avoid miscalculations made by President Bill Clinton, who veered left and fired up the 1994 Republican backlash." This storyline provides a kind of political morality play: The new president tried to govern from the left, and Democrats lost control of Congress just two years later.

But, if facts matter, the narrative is a real head-scratcher.

<snip>

Soon after becoming president, Clinton abandoned his few initial stances that might qualify as "left." He quickly deserted his brief position for gay rights in the military. Under fire for his nomination of progressive law professor Lani Guinier to be assistant attorney general for civil rights, Clinton tossed her overboard.

In sharp contrast, the new president fought like hell for the corporate-beloved trade agreement known as NAFTA. And he spread his wings as a deficit hawk, while his campaign's pledges of "public investment" fell to earth with paltry line items. Less than five months into his presidency, Newsweek lauded Clinton's "shift to the right" and urged him to show "the backbone" to stay there.

But none of that has stopped the media's clucking about the Clinton administration's early "lurch to the left." The myth never died...

http://www.truthout.org/112008A">More here...

It behooves us to remember that Clinton ACTUALLY did exactly what Obama is doing now and appointed corporate beholden insiders and long-time establishment operatives to key posts in an alleged attempt to usher in a new era of so-called "post-partisanship" and to govern from the so-called "center."

Clinton's first set of appointments, Treasury Secretary Lloyd Bentsen, Commerce Secretary Ron Brown, trade representative Mickey Kantor and Secretary of State Warren Christopher almost make this week seem like the latest release of "Back to the Future."

Too bad the Right and the corporate media didn't reciprocate Clinton's appeasement and instead launched project "Destroy the Democrat" anyway. Maybe if he had ACTUALLY "lurched to the left," the nation could have enjoyed a few progressive victories before the downfall. Who knows?

So why do we think things will be any different this time around?

[unpossibles]

1. well, to the left of the mainstream news punditry

which is not very far left apparently.

[Truth2Tell]

2. mainstream news punditry

is about as far left as Margaret Thatcher.

[Sebastian Doyle]

3. Uh-oh

Better drag out the big ol' Devil sized bucket for this one....

[Truth2Tell]

4. Any bets on how long until

the first use of the phrase "concern troll?"

Because I couldn't really believe the things I write, I must just be trying to "divide." :crazy:

[Sebastian Doyle]

5. Al From treated all his basement trolls to lunch today

so they're probably taking a nap now and sleeping off the carbo load. But they'll be here shortly, I'm sure.

[leftstreet]

6. ***CONCERN TROLL, CONCERN TROLL, CONCERN TROLL***

There, I got it out of the way for ya.

Plus it might generate some interest in the thread.


Nicely done, by the way!
:thumbsup:

[AJH032]

7. Well, actually, he did

The most substantial piece of legislation during his first year as President, his 1993 Budget Reconciliation Act, raised marginal personal income tax rates on the top bracket, raised the Social Security tax cap, eliminated the medicare tax cap, raised corporate taxes, and decreased military spending. Please, find me a single Republican willing to support such legislation...oh wait, nevermind. Not a single Republican in either the House or Senate voted for it. There are plenty of other smaller examples (health care, supreme court, environment, his attempt to allow gays to serve openly in the military...etc). To call Clinton's early administration "conservative" is beyond ridiculous.

[wyldwolf]

8. um...

The fact he even took on gay rights in the military WAS tacking left.
The fact he took up health care WAS tacking left.
The fact he took up sweeping gun control WAS tacking left.

Norman? Where were you?

[leftstreet]

9. Taking those things up and then DROPPING them was tacking DLC n/t

[wyldwolf]

10. bzzt! Wrong again

Pre-Clinton: No action on gays in the military.
Pre-Clinton: No assault weapons ban (this wasn't dropped. You DO know that... right?)
Pre-Clinton: No attention to health care (this wasn't dropped. It was defeated. You DO know that... right?)

[leftstreet]

11. Oh I forgot. Gays serve openly now AND we have single payer healthcare

Cool

[wyldwolf]

12. you must have also forgot key historical facts

As your post demonstrated. But, of course, you're contention now is that because it wasn't "left" enough for you, it wasn't a leftward move as compared to what was there before.

[Truth2Tell]

13. Of course you can cherry pick

particular actions that were more or less progressive - usually those that tended to not offend the corporatocracy - like gun control.

And yes, he did indeed raise taxes as part of his effort to reduce the deficit - a little bit anyway. But on gays and healthcare he caved, no question about it. And rather than expend too much political capitol on those issues, he reserved it for pressing things like NAFTA and "welfare reform."

He made very little effort to press most of the liberal agenda items he talked about during his campaign. Sure he was more liberal than Bush I, but that doesn't really constitute a "leftward lurch".

[wyldwolf]

14. of course you can spin and contend because it wasn't perfect, it wasn't a leftward move...

...but then again, that's always been the progressive movement's problem.

[Truth2Tell]

15. The progressive movement's problem

is that we want progressive change? :shrug:

Yep, I guess you nailed it.

[wyldwolf]

18. ... is that nothing is ever perfect enough

[Dinger]

17. I'm Not Concerned

There are other things people on DU can do about such posts, per the rules here of course.

[Liberal Progressive]

16. Bill Clinton governed as a moderate Republican.

a la Nixon, Teddy Roosevelt, or Eisenhower.

Damned shame that moderate Republicans don't really exist any longer.

[wyldwolf]

19. no he didn't

:shrug:

[Liberal Progressive]

20. Yes, he did.

:shrug:

[wyldwolf]

22. of course not. define what a moderate Republican policy is...

... let's have a definitive one. And then let's compare his policies to those of Truman, JFK, and the stated policy beliefs of Barack Obama.

[Truth2Tell]

23. No way! That's not fair to say!

Eisenhower and Nixon were substantially to the left of Clinton on most domestic issues. And Eisenhower was more liberal on foreign policy too.

Let's not defame famous people. :P

[wyldwolf]

24. ok, let's see your comparison. Surely you have examples?

[Truth2Tell]

26. Nixon

created the EPA, normalized relations with China, initiated the SALT treaties, proposed replacing welfare with a guaranteed income via the "negative income tax" and began the use of affirmative action by the Federal government. EACH one of these things was a more revolutionary liberal move than ANYTHING Bill Clinton achieved or even proposed.

And Eisenhower, well, there's no comparison.

During Ike's administration, the highest tax bracket was 92%. And capital gains were not treated differently from earned income, so the rich paid 91% tax on capital gains. And in 1955, in the middle of Ike's presidency, the typical (median) family paid less than 20% in all taxes. So the rich paid a lot of taxes, the middle-class paid less taxes than in the Clinton era.

And I dare you to produce anything remotely comparable from Clinton to these famous Eisenhower quotes:

"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms in not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. This is not a way of life at all, in any true sense."

"All of us have heard this term 'preventative war' since the earliest days of Hitler. I recall that is about the first time I heard it. In this day and time... I don't believe there is such a thing; and, frankly, I wouldn't even listen to anyone seriously that came in and talked about such a thing."

"In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist."

Ike on the Labor Movement:

"Only a fool would try to deprive working men and working women of their right to join the union of their choice."

" . . . Workers have a right to organize into unions and to bargain collectively with their employers, and . . . a strong, free labor movement is an invigorating and necessary part of our industrial society."

and while we're at it:

"Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things. Among them are H. L. Hunt (you possibly know his background), a few other Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or business man from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid."

Ike and Socialized Medicine:

In 1960 Eisenhower signed into law the Kerr-Mills Bill, generally considered to be the forerunner of Medicare. For the first time, Kerr-Mills provided for government payment of medical bills of 70% of citizens aged 65 and older.

[wyldwolf]

28. ok

Nixon created the EPA, normalized relations with China, initiated the SALT treaties, proposed replacing welfare with a guaranteed income via the "negative income tax" and began the use of affirmative action by the Federal government. EACH one of these things was a more revolutionary liberal move than ANYTHING Bill Clinton achieved or even proposed.

Nixon initiated the southern strategy, escalated the Viet Nam War, and bombed Cambodia.

Under Clinton policies 15 million additional working families received additional tax relief because of the President's expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit. In 1999, the EITC lifted 4.1 million people out of poverty - nearly double the number lifted out of poverty by the EITC in 1993.

The Family and Medical Leave Act allows workers to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for seriously ill family members, new born or adoptive children, or their own serious health problems without fear of losing their jobs.

Under the Clinton-Gore Administration, federal funding for child care more than doubled, helping parents pay for the care of about 1.5 million children in 1998.

Increased the Minimum Wage.

Enacted the Workforce Investment Act

Signed the Adoption and Safe Families Act.

Proposed and enacted the HOPE Scholarships and Lifetime Learning tax credits, which in 1999 were claimed by an estimated 10 million American families struggling to pay for college.

Lowest Crime Rates in a Generation.

Largest Gun Enforcement Initiative in History.

Enacted the Hate Crimes Sentencing Enhancement Act in 1994

Enacted Most Comprehensive Medicare Reforms in History. In the 1997 Balanced Budget, the Clinton-Gore Administration protected, modernized and extended the life of the Medicare Trust Fund while offering new options for patient choice and preventive care.

Enacted Single Largest Investment in Health Care for Children since 1965.

Signed into law the Kennedy-Kassebaum Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

The Clinton-Gore Administration negotiated an international treaty to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Advanced peace in the Middle East by hosting the Camp David Summit between Israelis and Palestinians, which constituted the first high-level discussions of all permanent status issues; brokering peace agreements between Israel and its other neighbors, including the Palestinians and Jordan; negotiating the Wye River Accords; supporting the launch of final settlement negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians; and revitalizing peace talks between the Syrians and Israelis.

Ended a decade of repression and ethnic cleansing in Kosovo.

Brokered the Good Friday Peace Accord in Northern Ireland.

And Eisenhower, well, there's no comparison.

During Ike's administration, the highest tax bracket was 92%. And capital gains were not treated differently from earned income, so the rich paid 91% tax on capital gains. And in 1955, in the middle of Ike's presidency, the typical (median) family paid less than 20% in all taxes. So the rich paid a lot of taxes, the middle-class paid less taxes than in the Clinton era.

Umm... ok... So Clinton was supposed to triple the tax bracket for the rich? His budget passed without a single Republican vote. Imagine had he done decided to increase the bracket x3. Wouldn't have happened.

And I dare you to produce anything remotely comparable from Clinton to these famous Eisenhower quotes

You want to compare quotes? So you can determine a person's liberalness based on their quotes??

"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms in not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. This is not a way of life at all, in any true sense."

Yet, the American military services and the defense industry expanded in the 1950s. Eisenhower thought this growth was needed to counter the Soviet Union.

"All of us have heard this term 'preventative war' since the earliest days of Hitler. I recall that is about the first time I heard it. In this day and time... I don't believe there is such a thing; and, frankly, I wouldn't even listen to anyone seriously that came in and talked about such a thing."

Yet Eisenhower proclaimed the "Eisenhower Doctrine" in January 1957. In relation to the Middle East, the U.S. would be "prepared to use armed force...to counter aggression from any country controlled by international communism." He sent logistics soldiers into Viet Nam, and originated thes "domino theory": the countries of Southeast Asia will topple to Communist regimes unless they are stopped.

On March 17 1960, President Eisenhower approved a CIA plan titled "A Program of Covert Action against the Castro Regime."

"Only a fool would try to deprive working men and working women of their right to join the union of their choice."

" . . . Workers have a right to organize into unions and to bargain collectively with their employers, and . . . a strong, free labor movement is an invigorating and necessary part of our industrial society."

Eisenhower's Labor Act of 1959 prohibited Communists or persons convicted of felonies in previous five years from serving as officials or employees of labor unions.

:shrug:

Some liberal.

[Truth2Tell]

29. It's all relative.

Nixon and Ike moved the country forward in a liberal direction by some larger leaps than Clinton. Of course much of their policy was in the context of the times - cold war prejudice, etc.

Clinton's movements were more modest in nature, despite the fact that you can list many of them. Clinton's policy was also in the context of the prejudices of the times.

Your citation of intervention in Bosnia as a "liberal" achievement is questionable. Neo-liberal maybe.

Our country has moved to the right since the 1960s in many ways, and has become more liberal in others. Typically our media denies the first part of that. The knee-jerk nationalism of leaders of both Parties certainly exceeds Eisenhower's.

Nothing of this fun game of ours changes the reality that Clinton deliberately chose to "triangulate" and stay in the mythical "center" for political purposes rather than take bold risks for change. He gave birth to the DLC, by whom we are still plagued today. Dick Morris writes for Human Events these days for a reason. And Mark Penn works for fascists for the same reasons.

[wyldwolf]

30. yeah...

Nothing of this fun game of ours changes the reality that Clinton deliberately chose to "triangulate" and stay in the mythical "center"

As did FDR and JFK...

He gave birth to the DLC, by whom we are still plagued today.

No, he joined up several years after. And I'm glad we have the DLC.

[Truth2Tell]

31. Right. FDR stayed right in the middle.

:eyes:

[wyldwolf]

32. he triangulated on major issues

or didn't you know?

[EFerrari]

21. What is he talking about? The Chronicle Editorial page doesn't report.

It opines. And reporters report and columnists column or something. Does anyone know what he's refering to so I can go read the original? :shrug:

ETA: Found it. It's one of those "the angry left" deals.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/13/MNHV143VF0.DTL&type=politics

[Truth2Tell]

25. Here is a reprint in SF Gate

http://209.85.173.132/search?q=cache:XvCND2b2uGkJ:www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi%3Ff%3D/c/a/2008/11/13/MNHV143VF0.DTL%26type%3Dpolitics+Many+political+observers,%22+The+San+Francisco+Chronicle&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us

[stillcool]

27. I think the reason why...

this time around could be different is because the American Brand is so tarnished, we are so broke, and have so little to prop us up, that everyone knows there is no more there there. There is no doubt that we are in for some big changes, it's just a matter of how we deal. What happens to all of our government agencies, our un-just Justice System, the Pentagon/War Industry, and our Non-Media-Media. Will the people have an avenue available to them to help shape our government's policies? If we do will we do anything about it? I'm hoping for a little Renaissance type thing going on..kind of an out of the ashes thing.. but I think that needs a whole bunch of people being open to change itself..of the re-minding kind.


http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Norman_Solomon/Norman_Solomon_page.html