Here's what I don't get about the hippie punching

[jpgray]

All that follows is anecdotal. It may be biased due to my region, my choice of organizations to work for, etc. Feel free to post your experiences, or whether you think I'm missing the point.

At any time I've volunteered or worked to canvass, call or drive potential voters during an election, I've noticed a few things:

1. The vast majority of my fellow Democratic workers or volunteers were well to the left on the issues.

2. The arguments we heard for not voting Democratic from potential voters essentially -never- came from a leftist perspective, but from the right, or from big-L Libertarians.

3. Those best able to counter right-wing or Libertarian arguments, and those best informed on the issues generally, were leftists.

4. At no time did I encounter a cadre of active, enthusiastic or volunteer-minded center-right Democrats willing to do heavy-lifting for the party at large in terms of GOTV. I will say, however, that these types were often willing to contribute money.

5. We weren't always thrilled with all our local or national candidates, but we were all committed to defeating the GOP, whether we were leftist or no. We were all working together, to get votes for Democrats.

6. We understood that banging on about issues near and dear to leftists was not our job, and we expected our views to be marginalized and/or beat up on by the party when it was judged expedient. None of this led us to abandon a campaign in a purist huff.

Do we seriously believe that the reason Feingold is in trouble is because of leftist bloggers and their demoralizing ways? Is Blanche Lincoln succumbing to leftist harangue or right-wing demagoguery? Does someone like Sharron Angle reach parity with Reid because of what Glenn Greenwald posts, or because of what Fox News broadcasts?

I would like to have a few examples of midterm candidates who are being ruined by leftist criticism. I would also like a depiction of the process by which those who vote R, vote third party, or stay home are influenced by lefty blogs. This phenomenon is quite honestly outside my experience as a volunteer or worker. Is it part of your experience?

(edited to add 5 and 6)

[XemaSab]

1. I'm demoralized by the fact that we don't have anyone

running for the state assembly from the second district. :(

Seriously, the California democratic party needs to pull it together and not blame losses on the left when they themselves don't have their shit together.

[Capn Sunshine]

19. It wasn't like this when Howard Dean ran the party.

But Assembly is a local generated phenomena which indicates that your County Chair is asleep atthe wheel.

Why don't you run as a write in Dem? You know your shit. That way, at last there will be a presence. That's what it's all about. People need to see you are fighting the fight, even against impossible odds.

[boppers]

2. The whole party is regularly punched by the left.

Maybe if we stopped trying to pick a fight with ourselves we'd have a reason to complain about it.

[jpgray]

4. Who is running away from Obama in the current campaign?

Leftists like Feingold, or center-right folks like Bobby Bright? Who runs ads crowing about being independent from the nefarious influence of the President and the Speaker? Who votes against major efforts backed by Obama? Who consistently undermines his strong statements, e.g. on the tax cut expiration?

[boppers]

7. Who is complaining about hippie punching?

Who is feeding that narrative, and why?

[ThomCat]

8. You're obscessed with this idea that the left is out to get the party.

That's your way of constantly attacking the left, and making the point that you don't think the left isn't a legitimate part of the party. We get it already.

[Odin2005]

9. Balogna!

we are only fighting backer after we have been sucker-punched and backstabbed.

[Exilednight]

11. Yes, because giving my liberal vote to the Democrats and expecting ...........

something in return is backstabbing.

[Overseas]

3. K&R!! /nt

[Enrique]

5. hippie punching helps the hippies

the best thing for the hippies would be if the president was a hippie. But he's not, it's as simple as that. He ran as a centrist and he is a centrist.

Given that fact, it's better for the centrist president to attack the left rather than ignore us. I was going crazy with the right-wingers calling him a socialist and the mainstream media asking, is Obama really a socialist? And with the administration denying being a socialist. And with the actual progressives' disagreements with Obama being totally ignored, by everyone.

So I'm glad to hear every time the real conflict between Obama and the left gets attention.

[Taverner]

6. Hippie Shooting....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUV9Nn2vhK0&feature=related

Anyone here have the Simpsons scene with the old alcoholic TV star who had a show in the 70's where all they did was shoot hippies?

[vixengrl]

10. I can't recall that episode--but whenever I hear "hippie-punching"

I think of the Simpsons episode where Abe goes in for euthanasia, and requests to see a film of cops beating hippies played to Glenn Miller music before he dies.

[eilen]

12. You stated the obvious.

I gotta tell ya, it is true -- Just from what I heard from Congressman Maffei earlier today. Since the Democrats rely so heavily on those on the left to do their heavy lifting, the Left apparently not being such eager beavers this go round is pissing them off.

Dan was at a community action group earlier today where a coalition of the community in our county-- city/suburb, church congregations, unions, neighborhood groups etc. got together to speak out on our issues/problems in the areas of food deserts in the urban areas, injustice toward the immigrants--little due process going on; and the problems with the sheriff-- the publishing of arrests in the paper and the failure of the sheriff's dept to correct their reports as well as two deaths that occurred in the Justice Center. Anyway, Dan was asked to speak for 2 minutes after the arguments and testimony were made for a rational immigration policy and the need for a path to citizenship. CM Maffei used most of his 2 minutes to tell us we were hanging back, being too lazy, too laid back this election season. He complained his opponent claimed in a debate that no one supported the healthcare bill. He said he was told by us that healthcare reform was what we wanted and he did it for us-- he did what we sent him there to do. His talk was very emotional. He was very frustrated at the GOTV efforts.

[suzie]

13. You falsely equate those who hold left/progressive/liberal views in the Democratic Party with those

on DU and elsewhere who hate this president.

The vast majority of my Democratic friends who come from a left/liberal/progressive viewpoint support Obama and Democrats.

In contrast to the very vocal minority on DU which hates Obama and rages about their dislike constantly. (Many of whom are not even Democrats)

And in contrast to the "Professional Left" like Greenwald, Hamsher, etc., who disparage Obama partly because it generates headlines and click-throughs--and income for them.

The latter group is about as far-removed from Democratic volunteers as I can imagine.

The Greenwalds, Hamshers and the rest of the "PL" deserve everything that's been said about them and more--they don't care if Republicans win as long as their lifestyle is funded.

[eilen]

14. No one "hates" the president that is on the left and is a Democrat and/or

Green.

The people I was sitting with at the community meeting are from the Peace Council which is likely as left as one could get in this upstate city. Many regard Obama as another corporate owned politician and see the economic system of capitalism as the root of our evils visited in these times. They don't hate him, just don't seem him as the be all and end all, the return of our hopes etc. They are not Obamazombies nor are they Republican or libertarian Obama-haters. They plan to vote Democratic however, they are very vocal about what they are not happy about. It's called a free society - we are allowed to vocally disagree without being called a traitor. What's wrong with holding the people who lead this country's feet to the fire? Just because someone has a (D) next to their name doesn't mean they get a free pass.

Don't think for a minute that they will vote for a Republican.

From what I hear, their main crime is not signing up as volunteers to GOTV. Less enthusiastic than 2 years ago-- and on top of that the political party is in an uproar-- running scared in the face of the huge campaign contributions coming to the Republican side from banks, corporations and Very Wealthy People.

Do the majority in this country really feel this is fair? Do they really think the people believe the Banksters and Wall Street are somehow superior and smarter? The massive number of unemployed people-- do you really think they will vote Republican? Teabaggers are just louder than the rest of us with all the media attention. They are not persuasive, just loud and stupid.

That said, the White House Democrats really need to lay off blaming the left, peace movement, Labor, women, gays and work for us-- and not in a manner that is a win for the Right. If they would like a guide to see how this is done, see Alan Grayson, see Dennis Kucinich, see Russ Feingold, Barney Frank, look back at the bold actions of FDR. Oh, and stopping killing people and end the war in Afghanistan.

[freebrew]

15. + 1 brazilian

K&R

[suzie]

16. Dupe.

[Dr.Phool]

18. He was gonna run with Robert Byrd?

[suzie]

17. Maybe my acquaintances are different because we're liberals in the South.

But, I gotta tell you that holding up Dennis Kucinich, a guy who was willing to run with a KKKer-known racist, as an example of how the first African American president should do things...

Well, that's just a problem for some of us who've dealt with "The Southern Strategy" up close and personal these past few decades.

[Capn Sunshine]

20. I have to disagree

There are those who feel that it's better to leverage the right wing hate of this President into a position where Democrats are defeated in the polls, opening the door for the savior third party. It turns out there are many on both sides of the spectrum who are easily influenced and led.

To that extent they express dislike for everything the Democrats are doing.
You see that here on DU every day. Day and day out. There's a method to the madness.
And a lot of hardwood too I might add:bounce: