For those who have a problem with Obama, don't take it out on local, state & congressional Democrats

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

...in 2014.

In some circles within and outside of the bloggosphere, I'm seeing/hearing people declare that they will sit out the 2014 midterm elections, primarily because they are angry with President Obama. (It makes absolutely no sense to me, but whatever.)

I'm asking--no, PLEADING--that if you or anyone you know are either thinking about or will definitely sit out, PLEASE, for godssakes, do not do that!!!

We are still suffering from 2010 because there were too many of us who sat out. (I'm not suggesting that Democratic turnout was low; I'm suggesting that too many of us did not vote in large enough numbers).

I'll give a recent example: I work for a federal agency that is primarily devoted to addressing homelessness and poverty. We just found out that the House version of the budget bill proposes 3/4 cuts to our budget. These programs primarily benefit the poor and working poor, Veterans, the elderly and disabled, women and children and other vulnerable populations.

I would argue that it's not and never has been about Obama. When we continue to see our budgets cut right before our eyes, it's very frustrating because the American people seem to be blaming the wrong people (person) for this, claiming that he and the Democrats don't care for the poor. But there is little the president can do if his agencies are not armed with the resources to administer our programs.

Anyway, the larger point is PLEASE, if you or anyone you know are thinking about sitting out, PLEASE do not hold it against those good Democrats running for lower level offices. Please do not sit out this upcoming midterm election.

Note: I know that some people will come at me with nasty comments and snide remarks; or, claim that they don't intend on sitting out. If this OP doesn't apply to you, then there's no reason to be nasty or rude. We are on the same side. But, if you know someone who intends on "punishing" Obama or the Democrats by staying home in 2014, PLEASE convince that person not to. At the very least, support local and state level Democrats. Republicans are kicking our ass at the state and local levels.

[HooptieWagon]

1. I don't think its a problem with regular Democratic voters...the base.

But I suspect it will be a problem with sporatic voters, like youth, and with some moderate swing voters.

And of course, any Dem Representative supporting Obama's surveillence state may face a backlash from their constituents. My Rep is GOP, so I'll be voting against him regardless.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

3. Good, but is there a way to talk to the disaffected and get them to understand why

supporting local progressive Democrats is good? If the issue is that Congress needs to exercise oversight and put restrictions on presidential powers, wouldn't it make sense to get MORE progressive Democrats in Congress who will do just that?

[HooptieWagon]

12. I agree whole-heartedly.

But here in Fl there's a shortage of progressive Dems for them to vote for. State and local parties are tightly controlled by DLCers, who view progressives as a greater enemy than republicans. Only heavily african-american demographic congressional districts have a chance of getting a progressive on the ballot. Very dysfunctional party structure here. Youth voted for "Hope and Change", but understandably dissillusioned now. Ron Paul had a lot of youth support here...seriously, they're looking for change, not same ol', same ol'.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

16. They don't understand that Rand/Ron Paul aren't progressives? They are bigots, for one.

And they are nowhere near progressives when it comes to gay rights and women's reproductive choices.

I don't understand it.

[HooptieWagon]

22. I know that.

I've talked to some young friends, try to explain differences, while still being respectful of their views and not beat them over the head. Basically, they want change from the status-quo, any change, and they're not terribly interested in the details.
I've actually had a bit better luck with a couple conservative youth. One guy in particular, he and I played some gigs together, his family very heavy players in GOP. His dad and step-mom hosted a party during GOP convention, attending were Mitt, Ryan, all the GOP Congressional leadership, all the FOX talking heads...serious shit. His folks made him attend and meet everyone. As soon as he could slip out, he dashed to a local bar where musicians hang out together. He looked like he saw a ghost...said actually meeting those peeps made him terrified at prospects of them running the country. LOL, he's becoming more and more liberal...doesn't hurt that theres a lot of gay musicians in area hes met and played with, its a complete non-issue with him.

[Monkie]

14. i hope the grassroots/local progressives take a good look at UK politics and what happened re Blair

at the last election a lot of the natural base stayed home, voted 3rd way (almost unheard of in england due to how elections work) or held their nose and voted right wing knowing it would mean cuts and privatisation.
and now, after the cuts, after the privatisation, after 3rd way betrayed the voters and sided with the right wing party, the vote of the let has still not recovered enough for them to win outright even with the vote share of the 3rd way centrists having collapsed in polls.
and now the progressive party is still divided, the "realists" are still trying to out maneuver the right wing party, and the only reason they will have a chance next election is because there is a 4th way appearing more right wing than the conservatives.
it is a real mess.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

21. Thanks for sharing. British politics is so very interesting...

What I never understood is why people are convinced that staying home makes any difference. They stay home because they are angry that their representatives aren't progressive enough. By them staying home, they allow more wingnuts to get elected, but then they wonder why the president/Democrats can't get more progressive legislation through. DUH!! It's because YOU stayed home and allowed the Republicans to take over. So, the answer is NOT to stay home again. The answer is to do everything we can to elect as many progressive Democrats to state and local offices as possible. Same with Congress. Perhaps we fail one or two election cycles. But the point is not to give up. If the Teabaggers never give up, then why should we?

I've shared a personal story about this many times here: about how progressive Democrats kept losing to this one Blue Dog Democrat. This particular Democrat was popular, had money, prestige and name recognition. And no matter how good his progressive contender was, he would win outright each time. Until 2006, we finally got rid of this jerk and got a real progressive in the seat. Her name: Donna Edwards. It took awhile, but not giving up the fight eventually won it for us.

We can't give up.

[Monkie]

23. its getting the progressive base active before elections that is always the issue i guess

i hear you clearly on why it is so difficult, and where the problems lay, people feel betrayed by the "team" it looks like, the colours, and dont realise or are not motivated to realise that they can also chose how these "teams" are represented.
and you are right about the right too, look at how they started to fight back in the 70's and how long it took for them to capture the complete narrative. but they did not give up.

i think real progressives have a difficult choice, try a 3rd way centrist split like happened in the uk, and spend 20+ years in the wilderness, or really break hard with the DC "crowd" that people are so disgusted with, and which of those two is the scariest option?
i think the mistake that was made in the UK was that those progressives feared breaking with the legacy of blair to much, and listened to the fear mongers who claimed there was no place for progressives only for "right wing lite".
i think regular voters in that case will chose the "real thing", progressives need to trust that a anti-war, pro-labour, anti-corporate message will resonate across the political spectrum, and the fact that this space is empty, and can be "owned" convincingly.

[allin99]

2. no one's going to sit out. don't worry.

[railsback]

4. More voters will certainly sit out the next election cycle

as the GOP are getting armed to the teeth with 'evilness' supplied by the Left. Make no mistake they will bang people over their heads with it, over and over and over… I had high hopes for 2014. Not anymore. I vote every election, but know plenty who don't if they're not motivated to do so. That's just a microcosm of what's going to happen.

[99Forever]

5. Then I suggest that...

... Democrats start acting like actual Democrats and less like Republican Lite. Save your guilt trip for someone who still doesn't mind being lied to, over and over and over...

Jes sayin'.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

9. No guilt trip. So is your argument that we shouldn't even try to push progressive Democrats to run

because what we have now are "less than" Democrats? Yeah, that makes sense.

And again, your rudeness is not necessary. Take it somewhere else.

[99Forever]

10. Appartently, reading comprehesion isn't your strong suit...

.. if that what you got out of my reply. Sorry you find reality to be rude, must suck to have to deal with that personal problem.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

13. Actually it seems that you need some valium to calm down a bit. Your rudeness is

off the charts. It's uncalled for. My reading comprehension is fantastic, by the way.

Maybe you need a day or two off.

Oh, and welcome to IGNORE!!

[99Forever]

15. Run away, frightened little man.

Truth and honesty really are scary things.

[Monkie]

24. and i dont mean to be disrespectful, but this is what the left failed to "suck up"

in the UK, people have real reasons to be angry, you personally are not to blame, but you have to have the answer that these people need to hear, they may not say what you want to hear politely, but you have to have a answer that appeals to these voters and acknowledges the problems partly caused by what they see as "your team".

[99Forever]

30. You're wasting your words.

People like this think that daring to disagree with them is "rude," FFS. They DON'T have "an answer" except for "they are worse than us." Being the "better" of two crappy choices doesn't cut it anymore, not for me, and not for millions of other people. I'll be damned if I'll vote for Republican Lite in ANY effen election, ever again. And I ain't alone.

[DonCoquixote]

28. Then what would you say

to the democratic candidates that are not trying to act like Obama? That's not a guilt trip, that is stating that if we do not try to find those who could be what we want, then it just will not happen.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

6. It's basically shallow and useless to sit out

The GOP wants you to sit out in 2014

[davidn3600]

7. I won't. But I will heavily judge their opinion on the spy programs

If a so-called Democrat says they fully support the NSA program to spy on Americans....that could be a problem for me.

[HooptieWagon]

17. me too...

although my rep is an R and won't get my vote anyway. But I'd have a hard time voting for a Dem who supports a surveillence state.

[FSogol]

8. Kick. GOTV!

[Bluenorthwest]

11. I think you will have trouble with your 'moderate centrist' candidates as you did in 2010

That will not be a problem for those of us who already run and elect actual Democrats. Our 2010 turnout was excellent. Not much I can do for your Blue Dogs and Tea Dogs or whatnot.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

18. Luckily I no longer have a Blue Dog representing my district. Maryland pretty much got rid of

the last of the Blue Dogs...well...maybe one or two are left, but not in the congressional districts that make a difference. They are mostly rural districts.

[leftyohiolib]

19. for those with a problem with potus just remember SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS

[octoberlib]

20. You better believe every Democrat in my state of NC

will be voting. Our state is being torn apart.

[nadinbrzezinski]

25. Thank god my LOCAL elections are non partisan

that is the limit of my participation.

I am done.

[graham4anything]

26. In just SIX DAYS, there is a major senate race in Mass. and it is nail biting close. One vote might

make a difference

EVERYONE in Mass. needs to vote as if their vote is the deciding vote.

Forget any poll reading it either way

Every single vote is needed.

and then another major senate seat in October, and the republican is a billionaire and a friend of the Koch Family
(though the republican governor don't even like him he is so extreme).

But it will be October, and a small turnout hinges on who brings the voters out.

[limpyhobbler]

27. We should do a grass roots revolt to take over the Dem. party and replace all corporate cronies.

At every level.

[bigwillq]

29. I am voting for the Rs in my town next election

The DEMS are so bad. They need to go. They've been there too many years. The town's a mess, and they just raised the mill rate by 12 mills. I can't believe they had the balls to do that in this poor economy.

[Blue_In_AK]

31. Local politics is all I care about.

National? Meh...

[life long demo]

32. I am an Inspector of elections in my local ward

Democratic of course. This was for the primary in May. There are 5 wards in my township, each divided into 2 sections. The ward that I'm in is Ward 1-1, there is also a 1-2. In ward 1-1, only 3% of the democrats showed up. This was for Jury commissioner, common pleas and supreme court judges, school board and tax collector. 3%. It was depressing.

[tabbycat31]

36. I was only the 3rd Democrat in my district to vote in the primary

Granted it was everyone running unopposed, but I vote anyways. When the little old lady at the polls found my name in the book, she very condescendingly said to me "you're a registered DEMOCRAT" and you have to vote in that primary. I then explained that I was a proud registered Democrat and I did not like her attitude.

And people wonder why I usually vote by mail. I've got another primary to vote in (August), then I get to vote again in October and November. And I am super fired up to vote the brilliant man who decided on an October election out of office.

[JaneyVee]

33. All politics is local.

[liberal_at_heart]

34. oh, my local democrats will hear from me as well. They suck at funding education.

[Fire Walk With Me]

35. Very, very true. n/t

[Art_from_Ark]

37. I will be happy to vote for Bill Halter for Governor of Arkansas

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1039133

as well as any Democrat who can challenge the 3rd District representative.

[Logical]

38. I will not. I can think Obama is a disappointment but still know dems HAVE to win elections. I.....

even donated and campaigned for Obama in 2012. Even thought I knew he disappoint me.