Democrats Seek to Own 'Occupy Wall Street' Movement

[liberal N proud]

http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/oGbiA5ek7xHU.sw2jpeciA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Y2g9MzEwMDtjcj0xO2N3PTQ3MTY7ZHg9MDtkeT0wO2ZpPXVsY3JvcDtoPTQxNTtxPTg1O3c9NjMw/

Occupation can lead to ownership, whether or not you want it.

The spread of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement was met with initial hesitation in both the Democratic and Republican parties. That might be an appropriate response to any protests that aim themselves squarely at the establishment, particularly those with goals that are diverse and diffuse as the current protesters' are.

But a consensus is emerging among Democrats that the "Occupy" movement is worth tapping into, even helping along and joining with in some instances.

"I support the message to the establishment," House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said on ABC's "This Week." "Change has to happen. We cannot continue in a way that does not -- that is not relevant to their lives. People are angry."

To Democrats eager for a liberal antidote to the Tea Party energy that lifted Republicans to power last year, the "Occupy" rallies that started in New York last month and have spread to cities nationwide are tempting to embrace.


http://news.yahoo.com/democrats-seek-own-occupy-wall-street-movement-222048239.html

[blindpig]

1. Well, that's one way to make it worthless. n/t

[RKP5637]

18. Yep, I was wondering when this would happen, trying to co-opt and call it

theirs. OWS should be separate from R's and D's, and not some party claiming OWS. It's a power play. If the "new" democrats were like OWS, we would not be in this mess to begin with.

[Billypenn]

33. Here, Here!

All politicians take note. You don't own anything. 99% owns you.

[Fire Walk With Me]

2. Nancy: Actions, not words. DO SOMETHING.

[dixiegrrrrl]

43. She is on my permanent shit list for NOT doing something.

"impeachment is off the table".

[Fire Walk With Me]

51. Definitely. A horrible little lap dog she is. (facepalm)

[Xicano]

64. Here's another thought

Nancy: Both Republican and Democratic ownership of OWS "is off the table".

n/t

[tblue]

3. I'd rather OWS own the party.

I want the people to lead, not the party. Heaven forbid.

[Desertrose]

7. +1 Let the PEOPLE lead...not a party!

[Avalux]

10. What you said!

I'm a Democrat, but the last thing I want is for the party to someone 'take over' the movement as a convenience for re-election.

The movement must continue to push for sustainable change for the good of the country without getting bogged down in an election cycle.

[Billypenn]

45. If it were all just about getting elected...

...we wouldn't need to do this in the first place. But it never was just about that. Finally people are taking up their political duties! They answer to us. Always have. This is what Democracy looks like!

[uponit7771]

29. +1

[krabigirl]

4. They need to stay away. nt

[liberal N proud]

11. Support and take actions is what they need to do

Prove they have the same goals and act on them in Congress would go along way.

[WilliamPitt]

5. I must wait and see where the people are going, so that I can lead them.

(facepalm)

Glad they're joining up - the more the merrier - but *sigh*. Would have helped a lot three years ago, two years ago, last year.

Just sayin'.

[liberal N proud]

15. If they had the spine to take action, this would not be needed now

Letting the rich have their way while proclaiming to be for the little guy no longer works with the little guy.

[RKP5637]

6. OWS used to be the democratic party at one time. I wonder if the DLC is going

to claim ownership of OWS?:think: That, would be rejected, I think, by OWS. The DLC is partly responsible for this mess IMO.

[liberal N proud]

16. Yes it is what the Democrats once stood for.

[L0oniX]

41. They've leaned to the right so much that they aren't recognizable as Dems anymore.

[Tesha]

8. That ship sailed back in January of 2009 when Obama appointed his very-pro-Wall-Street...

...anti 99% Cabinet.

Tesha

[L0oniX]

42. +1 ...Zing Pow Boomf

[workinclasszero]

9. But first they gotta check with the DLC and then...

their masters on wall street.

Oh.

Nevermind....

[uponit7771]

28. +1

[Scuba]

12. Yeah, they wake up eventually. n/t

[NashVegas]

13. OWS Needs to Reject the Democratic Party

Or any party that isn't talking about revoking corporate personhood.

[RKP5637]

20. +1000 +++ n/t

[Hell Hath No Fury]

35. Amen --

The sure fire way to detroy OWS is for it to be co-opted by the current Democratic Party.

[formercia]

14. Tell them: "Put on your walkin' shoes, Baby."

Grab a sign and walk the Line. It's what Democracy is all about. Be one of the 99%.

[the other one]

17. Thats how a non-parliementarian system works

One of the two major parties co-ops any new social movements that can not be ignored.

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[RKP5637]

21. EXACTLY!!! n/t

[L0oniX]

39. +1000000000000000

[Citizen Worker]

22. The surest way for the OWS movement to die is to assimilate into the democratic party. Don't let it

happen! Neither political party, the left wing and the right wing of the same bird of prey, have worked on behalf of the people in decades. This is what gave birth to the OWS movement.

[Zorra]

23. Too bad it's not: "Democrats seek to join OWS movement". nt

[stevenleser]

55. It is that. The title has it wrong. nt

[slackmaster]

24. That would kind of defeat the whole "99%" concept

But it's inevitable that the Occupy movements will self-destruct by division.

[moondust]

25. Democrats could have done something a long time ago.

A few things they could have done at some point along the way when they had the power:

1. Gotten the big money out of politics using the legislative process.
2. Prevented a lot of the grotesque wealth inequality by limiting top pay to a fair multiple of bottom pay as Japan has done in the past. If the CEO is only allowed to make 20 times more than the lowest paid worker then they're not going to move all those jobs offshore to exploit the cheap labor.
3. Looked around the world at other models for health care and adopted the best ideas to create a sensible universal single-payer system for the U.S.

[uponit7771]

26. I hope not, I pray they stay well away

[Modern_Matthew]

27. No fucking thanks. nt

[seabeyond]

30. they dont say something, du is on their ass. they say something, du is on their ass.

occupy is its own. it is good dems acknowledge and support. and it is still occupy....

[Marrah_G]

32. Because people want to see action.

I'm glad she says she supports it. Now I would like to see people in DC start to act upon those words.

[seabeyond]

37. there are a couple bills up now to address wall street and volcker bill

not gonna go through. you know why? they need 60 fuckin votes and it brought up in the house. not gonna happen. know why? the fuckin repugs that were VOTED in.

who are we blaming.

oh ya

pelosi

[Marrah_G]

44. oooookayyyyy

You have a nice day now.

:hi:

[seabeyond]

48. ah man...

didnt follow the meme diss the dem, regardles....

ya

you, too

:fistbump:

[Marrah_G]

31. Dear Democratic Party Leadership:

Actions speak louder then words. Take a risk, have a spine, do something simply because it is the right things to do and not because it will benefit your or your campaign in some way. THEN perhaps I will believe you. As things stand right now I would like to see everyone in DC tossed out without. It's become a pit of greed, corruption and lies.

[Better Believe It]

34. So what are leading Democratic Party politicians and the Democratic Party doing to build OWS protest

Anything at all?

Do these politicians know how to build a genuine independent mass movement, have they any practical experience in such matters, do they even want to see such a mass movement develop that isn't a mere election campaign political adjunct of the Democratic Party?

Perhaps we will now see some politicians say nice words about the protests and perhaps even be willing to speak at these demonstrations! The question is, is that all they are willing do in the hopes of winning some votes?

These "leaders" claim to represent millions of people.

Well, if they are truly leaders, where are their followers and troops and why have they so far failed to bring them out into the streets?

Maybe they just are uncomfortable with mass movements that they don't control and don't do that sort of thing.

So shall they continue to sit on the sidelines while sometimes wishing protestors well?

We might see a handful of Senators or members of the House do something meaningful to promote these protests before too long.

A little more than lip service.

Or maybe not.

[liberal N proud]

47. They want to have it both ways

Own it but do nothing to really "support" it.

[bemildred]

36. Go away. We'll give you a call later. nt

[RKP5637]

40. +1, n/t

[L0oniX]

38. "support the message" is about all that they will do.

[JoePhilly]

63. If they do more, they will be accused of trying to "pervert the message" ...

read the posts in this thread and you can see that.

Think back to Wisconsin, those demonstrations, the same folks on DU who DEMANDED that Obama jump in then, are now saying "NO NO, the elected Dems need to STAY OUT!" of this.

The key question is ... what do we want, and which candidates are going to move in the direction we want?

To win in American politics, you need to take ground, hold it, and then take some more ground, then repeat. IMO, we on the left spend too much time fighting each other to take or hold any ground.

[Supply Side Jesus]

46. love the title, Yahoo News is RW shit

[City Lights]

49. Dear Nancy: You're part of the establishment.

That makes you part of the problem.

[dixiegrrrrl]

50. Sorta reminds me of a Palin move.

" Oh..are those cameras over there????...move over, here I come!!!!"

[piratefish08]

52. if anyone can take a good thing, fuck it up and have it work against us.

it's us.


LEAVE PARTY POLITICS OUT OF THIS PEOPLE'S MOVEMENT.


POLITICIANS -- YOU ARE STUPID. BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF. YOU WILL FUCK THIS UP. LEAVE IT TO THE KIDS. THEY ARE SMARTER AND BRAVER THAN YOU.

[dana_b]

56. agree

if a party tries to speak for the movement at this point, they would look ridiculous. At our GA the other night (Berkeley), many were expressing how they don't like the Dems or Repubs and that they were two sides of the same coin, so to speak. If Dems really want to get involved, they should sleep on the street with these folks (as has been suggested) and listen to the people. Then go back and fight for those changes.

[jwirr]

53. I am not sure that "own" is the right word - consider the source. MSM

If they are not just spinning it then I think owning is not the way to go.

But if I were in congress right now I would be submitting bills regarding many of the things this group are talking about. For instance I don't think it would be a bad idea to resubmit Glass-Steagall. Even if we know it will not pass. Much of the anger is because they did not try to do anything. If they hear nothing else they need to hear that. The protesters want action from legislators and it would be a very good thing to listen to them.

Join them? No - this is a growing movement that has a life of its own apart from any political party - it should stay that way. This is a national discussion about what went wrong with our nation and what we want to do about it. We do not need any politicians pushing themselves into the groups unless they want to set quietly and listen or ask questions.

[stevenleser]

54. The title and many of the responses here are wrong and miss the point. The point is...

anyone can get behind or feel the ire of the Occupy movements. It depends on your policies. If the Democrats start enacting policies that are shaped by a desire to help the 99%, then they are in step with the Occupy movements. Whoever enacts policies from now on that benefits the 1% over the 99% is going to feel the wrath of the occupy movements.

Many people here are still stuck on the hatred of Democrats or other left groups. It is no longer about that.

[liberal N proud]

57. Yes, It the Democrats want to be part of the movement, they need to prove it with actions

Actions that help the 99% and stop caving to the right.

I hear you

[stevenleser]

59. I'd be interested to get your take on the speech I delivered here...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x793297

[liberal N proud]

60. Great speech

[stevenleser]

62. Thank you!

:-)

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

58. If you can't fight it, try and coopt it. Hopefully, OWS won't fall for BS from the politicians.

[bvar22]

61. This Nancy?

Paulson with Co-Conspirators




You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their campaign rhetoric.

Solidarity!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Uncle Joe]

65. I believe this to be a good thing; subject to what the Democratic Party actually does as a result.

The people have been desperately hoping and wanting for the politicians to actually start putting their concerns, aka; public good front and center over that of the mega-corporations, privatization of everything under the sun and uber-wealthy, basically pulling the long warped "political center" back to the left after three decades of Reagan radical, right wing distortion.

Now Democrats have gone on record and time will reflect whether their actions match up to their words, but I see this as far more promising than if both major political parties expressed disdain for the occupiers.

The upshot is, the Democratic Party; knows the people have become aware, are watching and I believe will fight far more aggressively for the people they purport to represent.

The fundamental key is for the people to remain active and engaged regardless of the political rhetoric.

Thanks for the thread, liberal N proud.