General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Gov Dean: No More Electing Dems who behave like Republicans- That's how we lost public option [View all]bvar22
(39,909 posts)SEE: Arkansas Democratic Primary, 2010.
We did everything right to replace Blue Dog Blanche Lincoln's failing campaign in the Democratic Primary.
We had Union support, the Grass Roots, and a very popular Pro-HealthCare, Pro-LABOR candidate,
Democratic Lt Governor Bill Halter.
He was polling well against the virulently Anti-UNION, anti-HealthCare Blue Dog incumbent who was campaigning on I'm the one who derailed the "Big Government takeover of Health Care"!!
We did everything the White House asked us to do to "Elect More Progressives!"
Guess WHAT happened?
and Guess WHO we wound up fighting to "Elect More Progressives"?
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The Obama White House!!!
They pulled out ALL the Stops to rescue Blue Dog Blanche Lincoln!
*An Oval Office Presidential Endorsement played over & over on local TV
*Funds from the DSCC
*the White House even sent the Old Dog (Bill Clinton) back home to Arkansas to drum up support for "the woman who wrecked ObamaCare".
Fundraisers and Rallies.
*After the White House had torpedoed the campaign of Pro-HealthCare/ Pro-UNION Bill Halter,
an "Anonymous White House Spokesperson" ridiculed Organized LABOR for "wasting $10Million Dollars" supporting a Pro-LABOR candidate in a Democratic Primary.
*Naturally, after being insulted and Steam Rolled by the White House, LABOR did NOT turn out for the Blue Dog Lincoln,
and she was soundly defeated by the Republican in the General Election.
If the Arkansas Primary was an anomaly,
I could write it off as the White House NOT paying attention.
But Arkansas was NOT unique.
This pattern of assisting Conservatives and even Republicans (see Pennsylvania and Florida Democratic Primaries) was repeated too many times in 2010 to be a mistake.
So, that naive nonsense about
"All you have to do is work to elect Progressives in Primaries" is Pollyanna Bull Shit.
The White House, The DSCC, the DCCC, the DNC, or ANY National Organization
has Absolutely NO Business interfering in local Democratic Primaries.
When they do so, it is ALWAYS to subvert the Will of the People!
Can you IMAGINE the message it would have sent to the Blue Dogs if the White House
had thrown their support behind the Challenger in the Arkansas Democratic Primary?
But NO!
The White House and the National Democratic Party leadership sent the message that they will go to extremes to protect the Blue Dogs and Big Business Conservatives who are running our Party,
AND to protect the worn OUT excuse of "We really wanted to, but we didn't have 60 votes."
You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their excuses.
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