You are Pelosi. You are Reid.
Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 07:04:16 PM PDT
When Democrats regained control of Congress, we all had high hopes for change. We thought they’d stand up for their convictions. But when the going got tough, on Gonzales’ crimes, on Iraq funding, on the Mukasey nomination, on impeachment, on enforcing subpoenas, on accountability for the Plame outing, on any number of difficult decisions, our Congress let us down.
Of course, there were the inevitable excuses for every time they caved. The votes aren’t there, this isn’t the right time, there are more important issues, etc. On issue after issue, the Democratic Congress caved, choosing expediency over principle.
And how did we react? We were pissed off. We chastised them, excoriated them, insulted them and generally expressed our dissatisfaction that they refused to stick to principles. They talked a great game about how they shared our concern and values; but just couldn’t support our position at this time. Expediency demanded they reluctantly sacrifice their previously asserted principles; they must change their position for the better interest of the Party. Time and time again, they compromised; and they made us sick with disgust.
And yet, here we are, a mere few weeks into primary season. And what do we have here at dKos but a veritable stampede of Kossacks doing exactly the same thing. That’s what I said, exactly the same thing.
Hearken back to the halcyon days of months past, when dKos poll after poll showed where we stood as a community. Overwhelmingly, we embraced the candidacy of John Edwards. We shared his principles of opposing the Iraq war, promoting equitable and affordable health care, better education, and a commitment to closing the inequality between rich and poor. When the question was asked, we stood up and said, "Yes, those are the principles we believe in!"
But no more. For expediency, for the good of the party, too many of us clearly willing to compromise those principles to switch our allegiance to another candidate. Sure, a good candidate with similar rhetoric, but different. Edwards’ message hasn’t changed, our beliefs in those principles haven’t changed; but now we’ve caved in the face of "the votes aren’t there."
Fine. I see how it is, and I do not begrudge anyone’s prerogative to change their mind. Good for you. But the next time Pelosi or Reid let the Republicans off the hook because "the votes aren’t there", or in the spirit of Party unity, or as a compromise when we know damned well they sold us out, I sure as Hell don’t want to see whining and complaining from those of you who have shown the exact same backbone when the votes weren’t there for your principles and your candidate. As for me, I’m going to keep fighting.
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