Eugene Robinson: Where Is the Democrats' Outrage?

[marmar]

Where Is the Democrats' Outrage?

Monday, 13 January 2014 16:42
By Eugene Robinson, Truthout | Op-Ed


Washington - Shame on Republicans for blocking the resumption of long-term unemployment benefits for 1.3 million Americans. And shame on Democrats for letting them.

The GOP cannot be allowed to cast this as a bloodless policy debate about "incentives" that allegedly encourage sloth. Putting that spin on the issue is disingenuous, insulting and inaccurate: As Republicans well know, individuals receiving unemployment checks are legally required to look for work.

Republicans should also know that the jobless desperately want employment. For some, a new job might be just weeks or months away. But the benefits cutoff may make it impossible to keep house and home together in the meantime.

Last week, Labor Secretary Thomas Perez convened a group of the long-term unemployed to share their stories with members of his department's staff. All were over 50 and once held white-collar jobs; some earned six-figure salaries. The session was heartbreaking but also inspiring -- and it made me wonder why Democrats aren't screaming louder, in sheer outrage, about this GOP exercise in gratuitous inhumanity. .....................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/21209-where-is-the-democrats-outrage

[warrant46]

1. This is the Repuke wedge issue

They are getting welfare because they are too lazy to work ---ie: there are plenty of jobs

Or so the SHEEP (read Repuke) believe

I hear this all the time at the diner

[saidsimplesimon]

18. Time to take a stand at the diner?

Don't tell me, you hear this at a diner and remain silent?

Are we being lazy when we allow any false memes: "there are plenty of jobs"?

Stand for peace; do not support any religious group who does not share this value.

[warrant46]

32. Well actually I do say something and I'm not the only one that does.

Older Union types like me and my breakfast friends take it to these nuts.

However

These dim witted sheep can easily be refocused.

The problem is they are third generation racist repukes.

[kelliekat44]

68. They are all blinded by enraged racism. They don't cut off their noses;they cut off their own face.

[BlueCaliDem]

2. I'm asking myself the same question: Where is the Democrats' outrage??

Although we don't have the vast majority of the media to carry the message, Democrats can be creative to break through that "glass ceiling" by creating a media frenzy with some scandal, and then get the word out that people need to make a stink about pushing through EUI for our people.

Instead, they remain passive and quiet, with every now and then a spokesperson or member of Congress coming on a handful of shows, and it's not enough.

[calimary]

23. I think, for one thing, Debbie and Chuck would rather not make waves.

Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and Chuck Schumer - the most high-ranking silent types. They almost never stick their necks out and voice outrage. They're usually out there advocating for - uh, well, er, um, laying low and keeping all their powder dry. And yours too. Assholes. And they carry a lot of weight, unfortunately. He's very high-ranking in the Senate and she - chair of the DNC. Yes, she's presided over a successful Presidential election. But there's been no muscle. She's been WAY too quiet. Howard Dean didn't do it that way, and we won on his watch until he left. And after he left, we had 2010. And the rise of the teabaggers - almost 100% unresponded-to and unchecked and unrebutted.

[Enthusiast]

40. I agree 100%

[warrant46]

41. They are not quiet

One of them wants a War with Iran and the other one is about to enter the fray on the Obama side.

Rather than spending time on other projects

[Tippy]

39. I've been outraged for yeas but since I am not rich who is going to listen

[polichick]

3. What outrage? Most "Dems" are cool with it.

[L0oniX]

4. Most? 3rd way corporate dino centrists?

[polichick]

6. Aren't there more Third Way "Dems" than...

principled Dems? Maybe I'm wrong and it just seems like there are more.

[L0oniX]

8. Here on DU? Looks like it sometimes.

[merrily]

13. In Washington, they are definitely a majority.

But, they, too are principled Dems. Their principles simply tend to be different from mine.

[polichick]

15. That's using the term "Dem" too loosely imo. What's the point of...

putting a D behind their names if they support RepubliCon policies?

imo the point is to con Democratic voters.

[merrily]

20. If they are getting elected as Democrats, they are Democrats.

Isn't that the reality?

I think Third Way Democrats suck, but saying they are not Democrats doesn't get me anywhere. It's denial of reality, which doesn't work for me.

[polichick]

21. I think the opposite is true: it's denial to pretend they are Democrats...

Voters need to call them out.

[merrily]

25. This is feeling as though it's going to

end up in "Define Democrat."

[polichick]

28. There's a party platform for a reason.

[merrily]

31. Yes, to try to keep you and me happy.

It's also for plausible deniability when they say they want the best for us, but those danged Republicans foil them at every turn, no matter who is in the majority.

[polichick]

36. We don't even hold the President to the platform...

The section on Middle Class Security goes on and on - but putting SS on the table and fighting for the TPP go directly against what is stated. Yet the WH gets a pass. Why? It's absurd.

[merrily]

47. He got re-elected handily. So did Clinton. So did Bush2.

[polichick]

50. Are you trying to make me depressed?! :)

[merrily]

73. Have I been lying or exaggerating?

As I said, denial doesn't work for me personally. I think facing reality is always the first step.

[sabrina 1]

69. They won't get that pass much longer. See the polls on how many people now

who do not identify with either party anymore. There is a huge % of people who have abandoned both parties, with only a little over 30% identifying as Democrats and less than that as Republicans. This is an opportunity imo. DON'T vote for the Third Way.. Their very title tells you where they stand, somewhere between BOTH parties, but not members of either although they do slap a 'D' after their names.

See here on DU eg. The motivator that USED to work was 'we have to beat the bad Republican even though the choice is not that much better on the issues' is being totally rejected. What will happen if the under appreciated Dem voters finally have had enough? Who knows, we haven't tried it yet although we have been ACCUSED of doing so.

There is a huge shift among the voting public which our Party Leadership appears to have missed. IF we get a Paul Ryan for president, I know who will be to blame and will not ever accept the anticipated 'blame liberals' garbage. The Dem Party will be to blame if they continue to ignore their, up to now, loyal supporters.

[polichick]

76. I'm with you on this. As a Virginia voter, I had to drag myself to the...

polling place to vote for our new governor - don't want to do it again.

[rhett o rick]

64. I think you both have points. The definition of a Democrat has more to do with what

you identify with than what your principles are. Zell Miller was technically a Democrat up until he switched parties. Sadly there is no allegiance pledge to the party platform. To many here try to define the line between goodness and crappyness by using strict party lines. While this may be the easiest it is wrong and worse, it's a distraction. The line between goodness and crappyness is drawn between ideologies. There are a lot of conservatives calling themselves Democrats these days. See my signature line.

What's worse than a Republican? A Republican that calls themselves a Democrat.

[polichick]

77. "What's worse than a Republican? A Republican that calls themselves a Democrat."

Definitely.

[stillwaiting]

60. The point of putting a D behind their names is to ensure progressive leg is blocked.

That is a very, very good reason that they put D's behind their name, and it has been a strategy that has completely neutered the left from achieving meaningful gains for a long time now.

They have the Senate locked up to prevent progressive legislation. We have so many conservative Democratic Senators we need to replace with progressives if we are ever going to BEGIN to reverse the trend we've been on for the past 4 decades.

That is a feat that will only be achieved with a very long-term, mobilizing, and effective national movement.

I'm still waiting for one to appear that can begin to provide me with some hope.

[polichick]

61. "I'm still waiting for one to appear that can begin to provide me with some hope."

Me too.

[stillwaiting]

62. You know, it's interesting.

I currently have very little hope, and apparently you don't either.

We both care to stay informed, educate others, and try to make a difference (to the extent that we can) though despite feeling the way we do.

I think that makes us pretty amazing...

[polichick]

63. That's a good way to think about it...

[merrily]

71. Been there, done that, got the Obama Biden 2008 T shirt.

[Fumesucker]

5. Unfortunately that's my take on it also

It's hard to work up outrage over something you privately wish for even if you are publicly saying the opposite.

[polichick]

7. It really is time for everyone to stop saying things like...

"If Dems only had a backbone!"

Truth is, their actions show who they are and what they want.

It's just not what the people want.

[Fumesucker]

10. Oh, Dems have plenty of backbone

[polichick]

11. Funny and tragic at the same time! imo the left will be...

harder to fool next time.

[merrily]

14. Will they?

Or will they just vote for the lesser evil?

[polichick]

17. I think a lot of Dems will keep voting for the lesser evil, but...

the left has had enough. Liberals will vote FOR something/someone, even if it isn't a "Dem."

[merrily]

22. We'll see what happens in November.

[polichick]

26. My guess: poor turnout.

[merrily]

33. IOW, surrender.

The PTB could care less about poor turnout. In fact, they may prefer it.

[polichick]

37. Sure, they love it. But the ptb also make sure there's no real choice...

when it comes to that power.

[CrispyQ]

55. This. ^^^

Agree with what you said above, too, about the party having more 3rd way dems than liberal dems.

[merrily]

72. Why not? Voters let them get away with it.

[Enthusiast]

42. They do everything they can to discourage turnout................nt

[A Simple Game]

44. This liberal hasn't voted for a (D) in 10 years, I vote for the most liberal candidate.

I may vote for a Democrat but not because they are a Democrat.

I will no longer vote for Schumer, and maybe not for Gillibrand.

[CrispyQ]

56. This liberal is finally at that point, too. --nt

[BumRushDaShow]

9. "Democrats' Outrage" does not move a bill through Congress

Only the people in the GOP Congressional Districts whose elected officials refuse to demand such a bill be brought to the floor where they can vote for it, will make the difference. The entire Democratic leadership has been UI-shaming on whatever media outlet will even bother to cover them but the evil heart of the GOP prevails. The 2014 election must remove these people from office.

Sorry Eugene but that's a clueless wasted column. These GOP loons were not elected to govern and they have zero empathy.

[merrily]

16. I simply do not believe that Democrats are doing their best for us and

only Republicans are the problem.


I don't believe that whatever is is the the very best that could have been done.

As far as voting, the strong Democratic majorities that existed between January, 2007 and January 2011 are not likely to be repeated; and I was not wowed then.

[AtheistCrusader]

27. Our options are.... limited.

[merrily]

30. Not all that limited.

But we believe they are very limited. Therefore, they are very limited.

[BumRushDaShow]

54. ??

Shrub was President in 2007 and the Democrats did not have enough to override a veto. In addition, Democrats only had a 60-vote filibuster majority for a couple months in 2010.

Only with Reid invoking the nuclear option and killing the cloture for piddling things did stuff move but now it dies in the House thanks to Cheeto. IMHO, Reid should have killed it sooner but I expect they were afraid of a reversal of fortune.

I know that it is the du jour meme to bash Democrats on a Democratic board but I bash the idiots who don't bother to vote in off year elections. Most are certainly feeling the consequnces of it and those consequences have ultimately impacted everyone nationwide.

[Blanks]

12. I personally blame Paul Ryan...

You see, that's the difference between democrats and republicans.

Pick one target (i.e. Benghazi) and hammer away at it. In this case there's a little piss ant with some kind of fine arts degree (not that there's anything wrong with that) heading up the house budget subcommittee pretending he understands numbers.

Really he's just some dim-witted punk stupid enough to think that the budget he's handed by his wealthy benefactors will make him look like he knows what he's doing.

We all recognize that the economy is sluggish because the republican controlled House of Representatives won't pass a jobs bill - that sounds like a piece of legislation just sitting around in Ryan's desk (as chairman of the house budget subcommittee) meanwhile he figures out disturbing ways to squeeze a few bucks out of military retirees at a time when the army is saying "we don't need more tanks manufactured in Boehner's home state".

I think Paul Ryan should be targeted hard during this particular re-election campaign season and then tie him around the necks of other republican candidates.

[progressoid]

19. Oh Eugene, you know the way this works.

The Third Way

[merrily]

24. Third Way = Uniparty.

And you know which party the uniparty resembles most.

[Thorin_Oakenshield]

29. Democrats need to shame Republicans in public, loudly and repeatedly

Democrats need only use the words of Pope Francis- use religious teachings against these hypocrites,

who use religion it to pat themselves on the back daily when they don't even understand their own holy book.

[merrily]

35. True, if you believe that Republicans are the only problem.

I don't happen to believe that. I believe the problem is that Democrats resemble Republicans a lot, except in lip service.

[SummerSnow]

58. Welcome to DU...did you bring the Arkenstone?

[Atman]

34. Outrage all you want. It means nothing with a GOP-help media.

They'll report what they want you to believe.

[The_Commonist]

38. I'm frikkin' tired of outrage.

And I'm even more tired of people who insist that I be outraged.
We've become a nation of Outrage-aholics.
And what's the purpose of it?
Simply to increase corporate profits.
Outrage does absolutely nothing more than keep us constantly at each others' throats.

It's time to move beyond outrage. It obviously does no good. No, it's time for clear-headedness, not outrage. This Robinson guy, like all the other partisan hacks on both "sides" makes his living by fomenting outrage. I'm sure his heart is in the right place, I'm sure he's a good guy on the correct side of things, but it's time to stop listening to these people. His resume reads like a typical puppet for corporate interests - Chronicle, WaPost, MSNBC, written some books. He wants you to get outraged because it sells.

STOP WITH THE OUTRAGE!!!
We need clarity, not more outrage.

[merrily]

46. What is it that you feel we are not clear on?

I don't feel as though I need outrage or clarity. I need solutions that might actually work.

[Thorin_Oakenshield]

51. "I need solutions that might actually work"

yes!

[The_Commonist]

59. It's clear TO ME what needs to be done.

Unfortunately, too many people get caught up in diversions and manufactured distractions. "Solutions that might actually work" mean different things to different people. In some people's minds "solutions that might actually work" include privatizing everything on the planet, killing off all the minorities and "undesirables," and making the planet a playground for rich white Christians and their robot servants. Other people's "solutions that might actually work" include instituting Sharia Law and killing off all the non-believers and other undesirables. So yes, we need clarity.

It is clear TO ME that "solutions that might actually work" include raising taxes on the wealthy a bit. It's not even necessary to raise their taxes a huge amount. Just a little bit, and make sure they actually pay them. We need to reduce the military budget by quite a bit. We can still maintain the largest military in the history of the world, with a 15 or 20 percent cut. Some of that extra money should go to infrastructure, and some to job training and placement. And some if it should be used to get our species permanently out into space. We aren't going to last much longer on this planet at the rate we're going. We need something to bind us together, something to focus our attention on a larger purpose and project. And there's unimaginable wealth and resources out there. We can argue all day about whether or not to extend unemployment benefits, (we should) but when it comes down to it, that does nothing to solve our larger problems. And "outrage" certainly solves nothing! It sounds like you probably agree with that.

What are your "solutions that might actually work"?
I'm curious to know.

[merrily]

70. Raising taxes on people earning over $250K a year is a solution for which many people

voted in 2008. After an extension of tax cuts, taxes got increased on people earning over 500K a year. The amount that brings into the Treasury is not meaningful.

Besides, I am not sure what problems just getting more money into the Treasury solves.


Anyway. I was not thinking so much of things over which legislators have always had the power to do. I was thinking more along the lines of what we might do.

What are your "solutions that might actually work"?
I'm curious to know.

If I had solutions, I would not have posted that I needed them. I would have posted that I needed ways of implementing them.

I don't know what the solutions are. I am relatively sure what they are not, though. Calling your Congressional Rep and Senators or the White House is not a solution. Neither is electing more Democrats, as was done in 2006 and 2008. The configuration of 2008--strong majorities in the House and Senate, plus the White House, is not likely to be repeated any time soon, IMO. And it did not prove to be a solution anyway.

I am not sure what the solutions would be. I would like to outlaw gerrymandering, lobbying, rules in the Senate or the House requiring super majorities, super delegates, etc. I'd also like to get out from under the so-called two party system. All of those things have taken power from the people. But, I don't see how to make any of those things happen.

[merrily]

74. P.S. I think whatever the solutions are, they are going to take a lot of money and effort.

I think we have been kidding ourselves--with plenty of help--that posting or calling Washington or "signing" internet petitions even voting is going to do the trick.

I know this is message board heresy. However, it is what I honestly believe. It's going to take coordinated efforted, sacrificial donating and hard work. And, the ability of the left to unite behind one group, despite a few hairs worth of difference, which is certainly not the history of the left to date.

The internet and social media can be a big help, as they were in the Arab Spring. I'd love to see one website, worldwide, where activists could keep us informed and mobilize people for demonstrations and boycotts in any given location or locations. Even that much would be a huge step forward.

Is anyone on the left even thinking in that direction?

[raouldukelives]

43. Show me a liberal Democrat, I'll show you someone outraged. nt

[merrily]

48. I would say those of any political stripe who are happy are

in the minority.

[davidthegnome]

45. At places like DU, mostly.

Those of us who are aware enough to see what is going on, and to care... are generally of two categories. Outraged and mad as hell - or too depressed to be outraged and mad as hell. There's a few forums like DU that give us an outlet for our outrage, our anger, and/or our depression - but the politicians? Why should they be outraged? They're living as well as they ever have, even better, in fact, since the Citizens United ruling. No, if they are going to share in our outrage, in our depression and our anger, then they would have to understand it. Very few of them do. They have no clue what life is like for most of us - and that's just the democrats.

The republicans are far worse. They eagerly deny people assistance, charity, or aid of any kind, calling those who need it or seek it lazy takers with their hands out. They ARE angry and outraged, at what they see as people robbing them of their "hard earned" wealth. This is the party that is unapologetically for the rich, of the rich, and by the rich. They intend to get richer - and generally speaking, do not care if people become poorer. They will say, "pull yourselves up by your bootstraps. Can't afford boots? Sucks to be you!"

The outrage of democrats? Look around here at DU, Mr. Robinson, it is everywhere. Talk to your average working class democratic citizen - they'll have boatloads full of it. You won't find it among the wealthy politicians, you will find it among the people of this Country who elect them.

[xchrom]

49. du rec.

[BeyondGeography]

52. Some Senate D's are outraged...about peace with Iran

It makes them have to work extra hard for their money.

[spanone]

53. k&r...

[WillyT]

57. K & R !!!

[Gothmog]

65. I wish that voters were more outraged

The Democrats are outraged by the GOP's actions but it is going to take action on the part of voters to change the way that the GOP is playing this issue

[woo me with science]

66. We have very few real Democrats anymore.

We are up to our eyeballs in corporate pod people.


Get the damned money out of politics.

[ReRe]

67. Why aren't Democrats screaming?

Because they are a bunch of wimps? Or maybe because they are Republicans in their souls? I'm getting a feeling that we have more work to do in 2014 than just vote out the Republicans.

[valerief]

75. They can't speak, because elected Dems are choking on their money.

[DeSwiss]

78. Outrage no longer required.

- K&R

[Dustlawyer]

79. Most Democratic politicians are bought off and most Democrats are too apathetic at

this point to do anything!