I hate attacking our own in general. I wasn't one to bash Gore or Kerry when they lost (officially, anyway) the 2000 and 2004 elections -- blaming ourselves when the culprits lay elsewehere. But what good is electing democrats to national office when they refuse to do their jobs?
Like many Democrats, I get tons of email and letters asking for more of my money and my time. Neither is limitless, but I believe in supporting the good fight. But it's getting harder and harder to support our naive and cowardly national representatives that refuse to stand on principle.
This week's events confimed that Democrats (sadly) have way too many gutless national representatives. Democrats refused to do everything in their power to stop catastrophically misguided political forces when they were in the minority, and they continue to cower instead of fight now that they are in the majority.
Just about every major opinion poll supports Democratic positions, and yet our "leaders" back down. The country has been waiting on Democrats to act -- not talk, act. And what do we get? Ill-advised concessions. Repeatedly. Embarrassingly. We do not expect moderate Republicans to do the right thing under pressure from their own party. But our own leaders? How can they let their supporters down when the cause is not only just, but the consequences so dire?
Every time national Democrats back down, or accept the ridiculous issue framing that Republicans spout, they are destroying their own arguments and weaken their support among the base from which they look to solicit funds and energy.
Can the evil buzzword -- those magical "consultants" -- be the only ones to blame? Do our Congressmen and Senators not read their mail, or listen to the phone calls from their constituents? Does Bush have incriminating photos of everybody in Washington?
What the devil are you afraid of? Fear of being accused that you are anti-American? Memo to our naive Democratic leaders: you're going to be accused of being anti-American anyway. Refusing to fight will not inoculate you from attacks. Dropping a controversial issue will not innoculate you from attacks. That's the lesson from Gore and Kerry. You will be attacked on every issue, on every topic, on every level, no matter what the truth is. You're dealing with a political opponent that is ruthless, unyielding, shameless, and always -- always -- willing to put party over country.
This should be liberating for you. If you're going to be attacked anyway, you may as well act on your beliefs. All of you should. And repeat your position. Over, and over, and over.
If you want to build a legacy, you have to act. If you want grassroots support, you have to act. If you want my money or time, you have to act. If you want to save this country from the rotting forces of intolerance and greed, you have to act.
You were elected to do a job. Do it.
Otherwise, it is only a matter of time before our money will go elsewhere -- namely, to anybody who is willing to support a person challenging the Democratic incumbent. We'll find better Democrats.
We have to. You're embarrassing us.