Democratic Hopefuls Snub Moderate Group

[illinoisprogressive]

WASHINGTON - Bill Clinton will be there. So will 300 officeholders from more than 45 states. But one thing will be missing when Democrats gather in Tennessee this weekend to discuss how to appeal to moderate, independent-minded voters in 2008: the Democratic presidential field.

Not a single one of the eight presidential candidates plans to attend the Democratic Leadership Council’s summer meeting, a snub that says less about the centrist DLC than it does about a nomination process that rewards candidates who pander to their parties’ hardened cores while ignoring everybody else.

“They have tunnel vision,” DLC founder Al From said of his fellow Democrats.
From said he has nothing against Clinton’s wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, or the other seven Democratic presidential candidates. He even understands why they won’t attend the DLC meeting.

But that doesn’t make him worry any less about the future of his party.

“Presidents are elected in the middle and they are elected by being bigger than their party. Neither parties’ activists alone can elect somebody president,” From said in a telephone interview from his Washington office. “Democrats have a long history of nominating people, including people who have lost badly. The challenge for Democrats is to nominate somebody who can win the election.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19957378/

[zanne]

1. ALRIGHT!

The DLC could use a little snubbing. Make them realize we're a diverse party.

[illinoisprogressive]

2. they lost power in recent years and hoping to regain it and move us right again

[depakid]

3. "Moderate group?" LOL

There's NOTHING "moderate about them.

At the very best, they're far right enablers... and also losers.

[killbotfactory]

4. The Democrats are DOOMED unless they listen to Al From!

Just listen to Al From!

[illinoisprogressive]

5. from is a fool. And the DLCers are loosers

[wisteria]

6. Funny, considering all the front runners are members or former members of the DLC. n/t