These are, indeed, rough days for the DLC. Losing two contested primaries in a row, including the loss of their patron saint. Feingold
showed no mercy:
Democratic U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold knocked the centrist Democratic Leadership Council today, saying its strategy of hoping to win by being "a little different than Republicans" hasn't worked. He also accused the group's adherents of instilling fear in Democrats who oppose the war.
"They are the ones that coalesced with the big corporations to pass unfair trade agreements that hurt America," Feingold said. "It was the DLC that came up with the health care plan with the Clintons that was so complicated nobody could understand it. It's the DLC that has cut off our ability to say things like, `Let's get out of Iraq because it's a bad idea.'"
Feingold said DLC consultants "instill fear in Democrats" by saying opposition to the war would be taken as not supporting the troops. "What I want is us to get the right answer whether it's liberal, conservative or middle of the road," Feingold said.
Democrats should not try to be just "a little different than the Republicans and hope that we win," Feingold said. "I think that's what (the DLC) brought us and it hasn't worked."
Meanwhile, Al From is still clinging, pathetically, to Lieberman. From an email statement:
PERSONAL STATEMENT OF AL FROM
Joe Lieberman is a man of high integrity and high purpose. He has been my friend for two decades, and to me, he represents the best in American politics.
The Democratic Leadership Council as an organization cannot and will not endorse candidates in federal elections. Leaders of the DLC exercising their rights as individuals will be on both sides of the Connecticut Senate race this fall. DLC Chairman Tom Vilsack, for example, has pledged to support the Democratic nominee. DLC Vice Chair Tom Carper has said he will support Senator Lieberman in November.
In my personal capacity, I will support Joe Lieberman, running as an independent Democrat. I believe our country needs more Senators like Joe Lieberman, not less.
Get used to "less", Al. Get used to it.