Democrats, Like Cheney, Are Shooting Their Own

[leftchick]

http://www.ilcaonline.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=2802&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

Democrats, Like Cheney, Are Shooting Their Own
By Dave Lindorff, ILCA Associate

Cheney can’t tell a quail from a Republican, which may be understandable from an intellectual point of view, but the Democratic Party’s killing off of progressive Congressional candidates is something more treacherous: suicide. Dick Cheney may have demonstrated his ability yet again to go after the wrong target when he bagged his hunting companion instead of his quarry, but the Democratic Party leadership is proving to be even more treacherous in the field than Deadeye Dick.


Party leaders, including Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) recently pressured Cindy Sheehan not to mount a primary campaign against California Senator Diane Feinstein, a woman who has betrayed party principles, such as they are, at almost every turn and deserves to go down to defeat. (It was only after Sheehan said she was considering a primary fight that Feinstein announced she would support a filibuster on Alito.) Now they've killed the campaign of Paul Hackett, an Iraq War vet and sharp critic of the war and the president and a candidate who had a strong shot at snatching a Senate seat for the Democrats this fall in Ohio.


For months, the Democratic National Committee, and the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee chair, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), have been working behind the scenes to undermine Hackett's campaign in favor of Rep. Sherrod Brown. When Hackett announced his intention to run, he met with party leaders, and with Ohio Rep. Sherrod Brown, and won a commitment from Brown not to enter into a primary fight for the Democratic senate nomination. Later, the party leadership undercut him and had Brown go back on his promise, forcing a primary battle. The undermining effort continued and Hackett finally decided Monday he didn't want the fight.

[xchrom]

1. i can't disagree with that assessment.

it's very difficult for me to understand how the democratic party can really begin to connect with people outside of powerbrokers with tactics like these.

it shows a dissonance and a disconnect deep within the bones of the party.

the notion that we as liberals and progressives can bring something new and original to the table kinda sinks with these actions.

and that above all else is what bothers me.

[connecticut yankee]

2. Party politics as usual

I became so disgusted and discouraged that I lost all interest in politics for a few years. It was only after Bush stole the 2000 election that I realized I couldn't just sit back and do nothing. But I've been getting more and more discouraged again watching the DNC's antics. Do they think we're complete idiots? The only time they seem interested in the "Little People" is when they ask for money.

[txindy]

3. I don't understand why they wouldn't encourage a primary w/ Hackett

It seems to me a primary would shakeout the strongest candidate with the most statewide support. One who actually had a chance of winning the seat in the general election. Being in Texas, I haven't anything to lose or gain in this race, but a primary, by definition, allows the voters to choose. The PTB deliberately chose not to allow that choice. I don't understand that and I don't agree with it.

[Laelth]

7. Primary challenges are expensive.

And the public gets to see two Dems. bashing each other. Generally not good for the party. Rarely is it beneficial.

-Laelth

[MrBenchley]

4. More lame Democrat bashing....

Hackett QUIT, and lashed out at everyone else in a bust of Nixonian self-pity. And let's point out that the blowhard wasn't exactly setting Ohio on fire...he'd raised a couple hundred thousand while Brown had raised $2 million.

Brown is PDA-endorsed; Hackett was indistinugishable from racist Tom Tancredo on issues like gun control and immigration ("Deport 'em all" was his policy, which he appeared to pull out of his ass on the spot.)

[Laelth]

6. I like Hackett.

I especially like the fact that he had the courage to speak the truth about fundinazis taking over the Repuke party, but I like Brown's voting record a lot, and I expect the DSCC to do what it takes to insure Democratic victories. This is what the DSCC felt they needed to do. As soon as Hackett decided to withdraw from the race (and it was his decision), he should have acted like Cindy and withdrawn gracefully rather than throwing a public temper-tantrum and bashing the Party. His post-withdrawal conduct makes me believe that the DSCC made the right move.

Flame away, Hackett fans. I don't blame you for being upset.

-Laelth

[MrBenchley]

8. I'd agree with that....

"His post-withdrawal conduct makes me believe that the DSCC made the right move."
You'll notice for example, that he might have mentioned the "good Democrats" running against Schmidt instead of pretending to be a martyr who was falling on his own sword instead of stabbing those unnamed others in the back.

[Ciggies and coffee]

9. Fascist enabler

Gun control always benefits the haves at the expense of the have-nots.
Gun control laws have their origin in the disarming of minorities.

http://www.a-human-right.com/guncontrol.html

Gun control advocates are in bed with the corporate media. Enough said




Gun control advocates are foundation and corporate-funded parasites, small in number, which attach themselves onto the so called "Left," to create a perception which drives voters to the Republican party.

[MrBenchley]

10. Yeah, that's why the pro-gun spokespeople are turds like Cheney and Delay

[dogday]

5. We don't know any better than to make these choices

in the primary....:sarcasm: