http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
Blogs Attack From Left as Democrats Reach for Center
By Jim VandeHei
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, January 28, 2006; Page A06
Democrats are getting an early glimpse of an intraparty rift that could complicate efforts to win back the White House: fiery liberals raising their voices on Web sites and in interest groups vs. elected officials trying to appeal to a much broader audience.
These activists -- spearheaded by battle-ready bloggers and making their influence felt through relentless e-mail campaigns -- have denounced what they regard as a flaccid Democratic response to the Supreme Court fight, President Bush's upcoming State of the Union address and the Iraq war. In every case, they have portrayed party leaders as gutless sellouts.
Liberal activists seemed to have slightly more influence with their campaign to persuade Senate Democrats to filibuster the Supreme Court nomination of Samuel A. Alito Jr. Despite several polls showing that the public opposes the effort, Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) on Thursday strongly advocated the filibuster plan -- and wrote about his choice on the Daily Kos, a Web site popular with liberals. Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.), a leading liberal and critic of the Iraq war, told reporters Kerry's viewpoint is not shared by most in a culturally conservative swing state such as West Virginia. Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) also opposes the filibuster.
I want to add my personal opinion about what I think we're doing here. We know that the filibuster should be carried out only under very special and very rare circumstances. Now is that time. Now is the RIGHT time to filibuster. This is democracy, and this is our right and our duty under the first amendment. Unless this administration has enacted some change to the US Constitution that makes our dialogue about democracy and freedom illegal under some new anti-terrorism/national security policy, then we must stand strong together with the leaders of our party. Let's make sure our party leaders understand that we're not blocking or attacking. We are here to bring America back to the days when this country that cares about its young even after they're born. Let's return to the days when we cared about our seniors and the people who need us in the aftermath of Katrina. Let's put pressure on the administration to be responsilbe for the promises they made to rebuild. And finally, let's ask the American people to listen to us and to carry out a dialog out here on the blogosphere so we can let them know why we are blogging and why we will keep blogging and calling our leaders until the last vote is cast on this nominee.
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First Amendment
U.S. Constitution: First Amendment
First Amendment - Religion and Expression
Amendment Text | Annotations
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.