The Democrats’ misplaced frustrations

[jefferson_dem]

The Democrats’ misplaced frustrations

By Greg Sargent

The news today is filled with quotes from Congressional Democrats who are angry with President Obama for failing to show leadership in the budget and spending wars. Politico has a story along these lines today, and so does Roll Call:

President Barack Obama’s laissez-faire approach to the ongoing spending debate is winning him few friends on Capitol Hill.

Republican and Democratic Members alike are becoming increasingly critical of the president and are demanding the White House immediately step up its role in the standoff over funding the government. And Democrats fear that if Obama doesn’t engage more directly — and soon — they will lose the war of words to the Republicans on the critical issue of federal spending.

I appreciate this frustration, but it seems misplaced. The issue isn’t that Obama is failing to use his bully pulpit adequately to drive the Dem message. Rather, the problem is that there is no Dem message.

Democrats have failed to unite behind a coherent critique of the GOP’s fiscal policies, and have failed to articulate a clear alternative. When Senator Jeff Merkley recently offered a consistent and cogent critique of the GOP’s approach, he sounded like a rather lonely fellow. By acquiescing in advance to deep but temporary GOP cuts, and by lending rhetorical support to the notion that “government must tighten its belt” immediately, Dems only made it harder on themselves. They are now in the awkward position of arguing that the GOP’s proposal of $61 billion in budget cuts will cost 700,000 jobs, while simultaneously arguing that cutting somewhat less is good policy.

<SNIP>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/the-democrats-misplaced-frustrations/2011/03/03/ABIZtwk_blog.html

[Armstead]

1. I agree that the lack of a coherent alternatiuve message is the big problem

It has been for years...

[emulatorloo]

2. Good point. Dem messaging is a mess. I had hoped when

they put Schumer in charge of messaging in the Senate it would get better.

[cascadiance]

6. Schumer has been a problem also with messaging. Google H-1B visas....

At times he has argued heavily and was pushing for legislation to INCREASE them, and then other times he's tried to sound like he's against it. Campaign money lining his pockets has him talking out of two sides of his mouth I think, like on many other issues. I don't trust him!

For H-1B Visas:
http://www.businessinsider.com/schumer-vows-to-overturn-ban-on-tarp-takers-hiring-h-1b-workers-2009-2
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9135438/Analysis_The_next_H_1B_fight_begins_by_Labor_Day

Against H-1B Visas:
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9180646/Senator_Schumer_H_1B_use_undercuts_pay_discourages_tech_enrollments

Where is the REAL Chuck Schumer on H-1B? That is the kind of politician that needs to be replaced with ones that we can trust!

[OHdem10]

3. I do not mean to sound mean-spirited, but have given some thought

to this overtime. Going way back to Clinton Administration,
the Dems on the Hill always depended on President Clinton
to get out there with the messaging and all the explaining.
Worked for Clinton, because he can message on the spot.


When Kerry was running for President, as a candidate I was
floored they expected him to carry the load. (Needless to
say this did not work out so well.)

If you observe, the Democrats on the Hill appear to avoid
the TV Cameras like the plague and call for Obama to lead.
Code for get on TV and sell all our Democratic Messages.

Did they not get the message through to Obama in the very
beginning, You Lead the Party. To most Democrats on the Hill,
this means you do our TV Work.

IMO, this is one of the biggest weaknesses in the Democratic
Party. They permit the Republican to monopolize the airways
getting their side of the story sold. Who is going to get
the Democratic Side out.

[emulatorloo]

11. I was thinking the same thing about when Kerry ran. Nobody else looked out for him/backed him up

Swiftboat - I only remember Max Cleland and Tom Harkin coming out loud on countering the swiftboat lies. Every body else pretty much kept their mouths shut. There should have been lot and lots of Democrats screaming about it.

[NC_Nurse]

4. I thought the president was supposed to be the one who shapes the message.

Obama always waits for the Repubs to define the issue and then capitulates. If he came out with a strong message then the Dems would have something to get behind.

[Tarheel_Dem]

5. As a party, we're a mess. Ideologically, we range from Socialist to

hardcore blue dog. That's just one of the liabilities of the "big tent". Weiner (who voted against closing Gitmo) is saying the president needs to lead on a more progressive agenda, and then there's Heath Shuler who has taken to voting with the Republicans. Why is this president expected to herd cats? WTF did they do before Obama?

I've never heard such public whining from members of my own party until Obama. These assholes stood by Clinton through his affairs & impeachment, and they were always on the teevee showing their support for him. But it's different with this president, and I'm left to wonder what the difference is, but I don't dare come out & say it.

[great white snark]

7. Hmm.

"I don't dare come out & say it."

It's one of those things where I hope to Gawd you're wrong but I know in my heart you're absolutely correct.(as usual)

What else would explain the stark contrast?

[Bluerthanblue]

15. hate to agree-

but I do.

[xxqqqzme]

8. I do not remember

Democrats defending Clinton during the ginned up/prolonged looking for any excuse starr 'investigation'. So much so that Gore's handlers were scared to death to put him on the campaign trail, even though Clinton's popularity was strong.

Democrats do not know how to be offensive (and you can take that by any definition you want).

[Armstead]

12. If you think all Democrats/liberals, progressives went along with Clinton...

Then you weren't paying attention. THere were many people who felt shut out by Clinton and the DLC corporate centrists.

One major difference now is the growth of the Internets and new media, which has enabled connections and visibility for more people who were more isolated before,

It's not some dark conspiracy as you seem to imply,

[myrna minx]

14. I'm sure you recall Nader in 2000 - I'm positive that there was a great amount of malcontent

in the Democratic party then - when people were revolting against the DLC "Third Way". Case in point - Michael Moore's film : The Big One and his book "Downsize This": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downsize_This!.

Don't let that get in your way of veiled charges of : "I don't dare come out and say it."

[Mass]

9. Major problem: the president is supposed to be the party leader.

If there is no clear message, does not a part of this go on the White House and ultimately the president? And they are also lending rhetorical support to the meme that budget control is what matters NOW.

[uponit7771]

17. lead doesnt mean do MOST things others can do themselves

[Uzybone]

10. House Democrats with the exception of a few are a gaggle of fools

They can't even get their own message straight and yet are whining that Daddy Obama won't fly down from the White House to to save them.

[Arkana]

13. I don't see Congressional Democrats breaking their backs

to get the message out on the morning shows.

I don't see them working on a cohesive message to push. They've wanted to shove the White House out of the way so often--why do they want Obama to shield them now?

[Proud Liberal Dem]

16. I thought that I read somewhere that Boehner is starting to get boxed in

not the Dems? We don't have a radical teabagger contingent that congressional Democrats have to try to please (or keep from revolting at any rate). I say this hands-off approach is working fine and the Republicans don't seem in a mood to compromise yet. Schumer's also being smart by trying to urge Boehner to distance himself from the rabid teabagger crowd. Eventually, the Republican leadership is either going to have to seriously deal with the Democrats or go along with a shutdown. Until they are ready to come to the table with some serious proposals that can win broad support (not cutting Medicare, Social Security, etc) such as agreeing to some tax reform and/or defense spending cuts, then the Dems shouldn't move any further towards their position.