Kevin Gosztola: Democrats Stand Ready to Absorb & Contain Growing “Occupy” Movement

Hissyspit

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Thu Oct-13-11 02:46 PM
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Kevin Gosztola: Democrats Stand Ready to Absorb & Contain Growing “Occupy” Movement

Edited on Thu Oct-13-11 03:01 PM by Hissyspit

Well, this is going to get some reaction here, I would imagine...

http://dissenter.firedoglake.com/2011/10/13/democrats-stand-ready-to-absorb-contain-growing-“occupy”-movement

Democrats Stand Ready to Absorb & Contain Growing “Occupy” Movement

By: Kevin Gosztola Thursday October 13, 2011 11:48 am

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However, Democrats are moving quickly to speak to the frustration of the “Occupy” movement. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee sent around an email on Monday asking party supporters to sign a petition to Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner and Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor that told them they stand in support of Occupy Wall Street. Nancy Pelosi, seemingly ignoring her disinterest in addressing the crimes of Wall Street when she was Speaker of the House from 2006-2010, said she was one of the many Americans, who are not satisfied with Congress. Vice President Joe Biden said, “The core is the American people do not think the system is fair or on the level…That is the core of what you’re seeing on Wall Street.” And, President Barack Obama has said, “I think it expresses the frustrations that the American people feel.”

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Occupy Wall Street could be this group, like Van Jones’ “Rebuild the Dream” campaign. It could hire consultants and develop a slick messaging scheme that would counteract the impact of the Republican Party, which has successfully advanced corporate and authoritarian policies in society over the last decades. It could make a deal for access so regular meetings could be held with politicians in power. It could compromise principles and values to get piecemeal reform and gradually win support for a carefully crafted agenda that will receive a nominal amount of attention within the Beltway. Or, it could actually take notice of the fact that they are succeeding because they have not done any of that.

They have been told they need better messaging yet they have already forced a re-framing of discussion on economic issues by declaring, “We Are the 99%.” They already have politicians like DNC chairman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz willing to meet with occupiers. They have House representatives introducing legislation in Congress they would not have introduced prior to the protests. Neither is good enough to address the systemic problems in this country, which occupiers have been highlighting, but each represents the first sign that the movement could achieve real and lasting change.

Democrats will drain the vitality of the “Occupy” protests. They will try to convince protesters that what they are really angry at is Republicans and not a system rigged by both parties to serve corporate and special interests.

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