kos quotes Hartford Courant columnist
Paul Bass:
The Bush administration values Joe Lieberman because he has been a crucial ally in efforts to free Enron-style corporate crooks from regulation, transfer wealth to the wealthy, hound gays, trample on the rights of government critics and sacrifice the lives of thousands of Americans and Iraqis to dishonest, dangerous military adventurism.
Whilst the Democratic Leadership Council decries the move to unseat Lieberman as The Return of Liberal Fundamentalism
This phenomenon is best illustrated by the nationally driven campaign to deny re-nomination to Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT), with MoveOn.org and Democracy for America (an organization founded by DNC chairman Howard Dean and now run by his brother, Jim) playing an especially active role in recruiting money and volunteers for the challenger, Ned Lamont.
More below the fold ...
It can be said that the DLC makes the same argument that many make here at dKos regarding Democratics leaders that support Republican positions. Quoting again from the DLC piece:
Democrats are rightly enthusiastic about the opportunities afforded in this fall's midterm elections to recapture control of Congress and reverse the narrow Republican advantage of the last two electoral cycles. But there's an undertow that could undermine the potential Democratic tide: efforts by some Democratic activists and organizations to introduce ideological litmus tests for elected officials and intimidate or even purge those who do not meet a narrow definition of what makes a "real Democrat." These efforts not only threaten party unity and divert attention and resources from the broader goal of defeating Republicans; they also signal an intolerance toward dissent and diversity that can repel voters and make an enduring Democratic majority more difficult to achieve.
Meaning, I suppose, don't rock the boat.
The issue of idealogical purity is felt most keenly by single-issue constituancies who feel, perhaps rightly, that elected officials and candidates for the party have drifted too far to the right. For example, many Democrats are frankly dismayed that the party is fielding pro-life candidate Bob Casey to unseat the pro-life incumbant Rick Santorum.
I share their pain. I do. While I applaud Mr. Casey's campaign to unseat Santorum, I didn't get into this fight for the "party". I got into this fight because of my belief for a woman's right to choose.
The essential conflict here is expediency vs. principle. And in the main, the conventional wisdom favoring political expediency continues to define the behavior and discourse of Democratic officials. But, this strategy of silent centrism leads to the public perception that politicians are "all the same".
Thus, when Dems attempt to hide in the Centrist "weeds", the Republicans are free to "out" Dems each election cycle by meaningless roll call votes that pander to the far right's single issue constituancies. It seems that if centrist Dems are going to line up for friendly-fire from the right, they should at least stand up and fire back!
But while the DLC is right to reject single issue politics, it misses the essential point.
The netroots isn't about "intolerance or lack of respect for diversity". It is about change, but we still believe in the big tent. The netroots has simply "moved the tent". And that has left some old-guard Dems behind.
What is encouraging is that the Netroots are redefining politics and enabling progressive candidates. Win, lose or draw, the netroots support for the Lamont challenge to Lieberman is a clarion call to democrats across the nation to stand up, speak out, and take a stand.
What I think that politicians in the DLC fail to understand is that people in the heartland are desperate for candidates that demonstrate integrity, leadership, and a healthy dose of common sense.
While the folks here at dKos DO understand that the key goal is to win elections and regain the majority, the mere fact that "people politics" is fueling and funding progressive candidates is also reframing and redefining the democratic party.
A party that articulates principle.
And that gives me hope.