"Don't vote for Coakley because then we'll get the progressive agenda passed!", "I'm not selling myself out for a DINO!", "We're teaching the Centrists a lesson!"
These three paraphrases are basically what I'm hearing from left-based opposition to Coakley. It's so predictable after skimming through FDL, the Huffington Post, and even some comments and diaries here. Yet everytime I read a comment like those three paraphrases I get angry and upset. The opposition smacks of something. Something selfish or delusional. Either way, to those people, do you think this is a game?
2010 is an extremely important year, not just because of the elections, but because of critical legislation that schedule to be passed throughout the year after Health Care Reform. With Republican's uncontrolable desire to use the filibuster and with Brown: Nothing will get passed in an acceptable form, if it's passed at all. What is this legislation?
Firstly, of course, Health Care Reform. Months wasted and so much political capital spent. Whether you approve of it or disapprove it, there is one thing that can established if Brown wins: It'll be weakened further or not passed at all. And for the advocates of single payer, who I happen to be one of (despite not screaming from the rooftops), you're not accomplishing the goal of single payer by supporting Brown. In fact, with Brown in the Senate...single payer or even Health Care Reform will be another 20-40 years off.
Climate Change legislation. We're the last developed country to not even begin addressing this mammoth problem. Republicans deny the existance of climate change and believe that America must pollute and be a threat to the environment. I have no hesitation that with Brown in the Senate, the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act will either be dead, or weakened so much its not even symbolic of anything.
Employee Free Choice Act. Ted entered this essential bill into the Senate, with Brown it'll never roam the halls of Congress again.
Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act, Respect for Marriage Act, Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and the Uniting American Families Act. All of these are landmark LGBT legislation, and while I'm not confident all with pass in the 111th Congress, I'm certain that with Brown in the Senate none shall pass.
These are only a sample of the things that will be killed with the election of Brown, because I didn't want to make the list to big, I just wanted to focus on the major things that'll get attention from the media. I realize that certainly, everything is not perfect that is passed. That's how legislation in America works. From the moment the first bill passed the Senate to now, there has never been a perfect bill and with major legislation, there has always been compromise. And I'd rather have compromised acts then dead bills.
So, to those paraphrased people: go ahead, teach the Democrats a lesson. End Health Care Reform, kill Climate Change legislation, forever halt Ted Kennedy's final fight for the workers, put a stop to LGBT Rights. "Get the Progressive agenda passed," as you'd say. Just know you're at fault for the future stagnation (yes, it will get even slower) in the Senate. Just know this isn't a fucking game.