Reaping what you sow. - Democratic Underground

MadHound

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Sun Oct-17-10 11:53 AM
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Reaping what you sow.

Almost from the start of the Obama administration and the rule of Democrats in Congress, the left and its component constituencies have been ignored and marginalized. Popular proposals, such as the public option, were sacrificed on the twin altars of bipartisanship and the lack of Dem's willingness to fight. The LGBT community was subject to a bipolar approach by this administration, saying that he was a "fierce advocate" for them on the one hand, while continuing to defend repressive anti-gay policies on the other.

Teachers, anti-war folks, those who believed in civil liberties and justice for all received a rude awakening at the hands of this administration as teachers came under attack, the prospects for ending the illegal, immoral wars disappeared, and we became ever more of a police state.

The left was surprised at first, then going through various stages of despair and disgust, and many have simply retreated from politics altogether. Having the administration insult and berate these people isn't the approach needed, all it has done is entrenched these folks in their positions and views.

What we're seeing happen is chickens coming home to roost. You simply can't attack your base with the sort of fury that came out of this administration and expect people to pull the lever for you. You can't refuse to pass out legislative largesse to a certain critical group, yet expect that group to vote for you. This is, as we're seeing, a recipe for disaster.

Almost a year ago, I posted a question, namely at the rate that Obama and the Dems are pissing off and turning off their base, who do they think is going to vote for them come this fall? I guess we're going to find out. Donations are down, volunteers are down, and the Democratic base is dispirited and disengaged. They simply don't see what is in it for them, and furthermore, they are still pissed at their treatment at the hands of the Democrats and the Obama administration. The fact of the matter is you can't piss people off time and again, yet expect them to be there when you need them. It simply doesn't work that way.

So if this whole election goes down they it is increasingly looking like it will go down, remember this: The blame doesn't lie with the voters. We live in a free country where one's vote can be cast, or withheld as one chooses. It is up to the party, up to the candidate to earn that vote. Thus, the blame for this train wreck lies with those who were in power, the ones who abused those of us on the left, who repudiated our concerns, who refused to address our issues, who berated and belittled us, the Democratic Congress and the Obama administration. You may not like that, but it's the truth. Successful politicians from time immemorial have realized that you've got to dance with those that brung you. That is something that this administration and Congress have refused to do. Thus, they have brought this down on themselves. They, and the rest of us, will reap what they have sown.

Hopefully they learn the lesson in this.