Every day they land in my mailbox -- the breathless appeals to what THEY are doing and why if I just give $50, $100, a Kazillion dollars, we can stop their dastardly plans. Used to be, I'd respond....I gave more than I ever have to elect President Obama. But you know, I'm beginning to ask myself what I am getting for my investment.
Yes, we got a Health Care Reform bill and something of a Wall Street Reform bill (at least in name) and given the circumstances, those are important. And yes the President deserves real credit for pushing for their passage against the total stonewalling of the GOP. And yes the outcome of the upcoming mid-terms are critical to keeping some of the most reactionary policies in this nation's history from being implemented by a group of truly loony people.
But when you keep asking me for my bucks, I have to ask you, "When are you going to stand for what this party claims it stands for?"
The appeal and my response below the fold:
Sent: Fri, Sep 24, 2010 9:58 am
Subject: Fwd: Temper tantrum
Democrats
Multiple Congressional Republicans have said that they're willing to shut down the government if they take control this fall -- a move that would only help the special interests that feed their campaigns and stand to benefit from a weakened federal government.
We're not going to let that happen.
More than 2.9 million of you have already donated to the By the People Fund to raise your collective voices against Republicans' special-interest donations and radical agenda. We need just 5,241 more donations to hit our weekly goal.
Can you pitch in to help us get there?
I know we can win this fall -- as long as we have supporters like you behind us.
Donate to the By the People Fund today:
http://my.democrats.org/...
Thanks,
And my response:
If this party doesn't get off it's a...s and stand for something I am going to throw my own little temper tantrum...DADT and waiting until AFTER the mid-terms to vote on tax break extensions....an issue which polls show would be a tremendous lever for Democrats.....and once again this party reflexively does the wrong thing or nothing.....both of which must cause the GOP pure glee.
One can only guess that the reason for holding off on the tax break vote is that too many sitting members give greatest attention to the many Wall Street Bankers who make more then $250,000 a year and contribute to their campaigns. Certainly wouldn't want to offend THEM.
Well, you are offending me and I am really getting fed up. I contributed more to the Obama election than I ever have in my life. This year, I am increasingly sitting on my hands. This party doesn't stand up for its core beliefs. Why should I support it?
I have gotten constant phone calls from the Party and the House and Senatorial Campaign Committees, asking me to contribute to their funds for party candidates and my response is always the same: NO! I am not giving you my money to support folks like Blanche Lincoln. She has cut you off at the knees on critical votes and yet as soon as she faces the wrath of AK voters for taking those stances, you trot out the big guns and the bucks you have raised from people like meto save her. And look what it is getting you. She's gonna lose by a mile in November.
The progressive wing of this party gives....they give dollars, they give time, they give energy and enthusiasm. The Rhams of the world can view us as dirt under his doormat, but that doesn't mean we have to respond by giving this party our unvarnished support.
You can't claim the GOP is blocking you on this stuff. You can executive order DADT and while the GOP can refuse to allow debate on the tax bill, that's the whole point of the exercise....making crystal clear the differences between a party that is at least TRYING to do the right thing and a party whose strategy is to continually block everything from increasing taxes on the uber wealthy to blocking even a vote on food safety legislation in hopes of creating a sense that failure to act is the sign of an ineffective Presidency.l
So until you start standing for something, my money goes to folks like Franken and Grayson....people who care and have a set of principles they are willing to stand up for. Get a spine, give up on the useless efforts to find common ground with the GOP. They are using it to beat you to death. Stand for something Party. You may lose votes, but at least you let the electorate know you have things you believe strongly in and you are fighting for them. Unless you do, pretty soon you will be in the minority once again.