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2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Thom Hartman Just Had A Man Named Sam Smith On [View all]KoKo
(84,711 posts)17. DLC: Al From's group wanted a "bloodless revolution" in our Democratic Party.
to DU's own "madfloridian" for this article:
Al From's group wanted a "bloodless revolution" in our Democratic Party
Thu Sep 24, 2015, 07:29 PM
Al From in his recent book, The New Democrats Return to Power, indicated that their group was formed to take over the party's policy.
He went further, even proclaiming they could take over the party. In many ways they did. This is sort of Part 2 of It's Al Froms Democratic Party, we just live here.
The DLC group is sometimes portrayed as a pro-Wall Street set of lobbyists. And From did recruit hedge fund legends like Michael Steinhardt to fund his movement. But to argue these people were corrupt or motivated by a pay to play form of politics is wrong. From is clearly a reformer and an ideologue, and his colleagues believed they were serving the public interest. Make no mistake about it, wrote From in a memo about his organizations strategy, what we hope to accomplish with the DLC is a bloodless revolution in our party." It is not unlike what the conservatives accomplished in the Republican Party during the 1960s and 1970s
I disagree with Stoller on one point for sure. I do not believe From's colleagues believed or even cared if they were serving the public interest. I believe funding and profit were their main goals.
We can thank them for the trade deals that have taken many jobs overseas. Al From was really firm on Bill Clinton supporting NAFTA. Notice he wants to "beat" organized labor. What kind of Democrat does that? A New Democrat.
As From wrote in a memo to Clinton in his first term, Of all the opportunities you have this fall, NAFTA presents the greatest. Passing NAFTA can make your presidency. NAFTA presents both an economic and political opportunity I cant tell you how much better it would make your life and how much it would strengthen your presidency for you to beat (David) Bonior and organized labor on NAFTA. That would reestablish presidential leadership in the Democratic Party, something that hasnt happened since 1966.
From had an institutionalist perspective on NAFTA. He believed in free trade, but he also believed in Presidential primacy over the legislature. 'Politically, a victory on NAFTA would assert your leadership over your own party by making it clear that you, not the Democratic leadership in Congress or the interest groups, set the Democratic Partys agenda on matters of real national importance. You can hear echoes of Obama, and the broad Democratic party, in its collective disdain towards Congress. That is one consequence of Froms revolution, a shift of legitimacy away from the legislature.
From worked with Bob Rubin, Bill Daley, and Rahm Emanuel to run a campaign to pass NAFTA. Since rolling labor and crushing the left was his favorite activity, From jumped into this feet first. He registered as a lobbyist, talked to members on the Hill, and traveled nationwide to do public and media events on behalf of the agreement. It worked, and in his view, set the stage for the rest of Clintons term
I question the wisdom of having a contest between Congress and the President on purpose.
More from Al From's piece about his book at The Atlantic last year.
Recruiting Bill Clinton
MUCH MORE of a Good Read....CONTINUED AT:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027200959
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The DLC board of trustees is an elite body whose membership is reserved for major donors
passiveporcupine
Dec 2015
#70
There's a lot of info on the DLC in the archives. Zorrah dug up a ton of it here.
hedda_foil
Dec 2015
#82
I've long been appalled and dismayed that this hasn't been common knowledge since
stupidicus
Dec 2015
#10
It's clear that the Koch Brothers and Jamie Dimon and the Waltons and the rest of the
Doctor_J
Dec 2015
#12
Just did a crosspost in GD. It deserves it's own thread so please K&R to the greatest!
ViseGrip
Dec 2015
#14
Your remark about Al Gore reminded me of Gore Vidal stating that Al Gore is a closet conservative.
snagglepuss
Dec 2015
#95
I too was shocked how conservative Gore was (is?) Perhaps that is indeed why he picked
snagglepuss
Dec 2015
#98
The "far-left" = Social Security, Medicare, strong unions, a living wage...
Peace Patriot
Dec 2015
#84
Didn't see the whole thing, but did hear parts about DLC/From and Koch Brothers. I had
Duval
Dec 2015
#28
That's how the right works. They can't win hearts with their economic policies so they corrupt
GoneFishin
Dec 2015
#38
Its no wonder why the Democratic Party is so weak and seems to actually want to lose at times
AZ Progressive
Dec 2015
#42
I did also....the latest revelations verify something was very wrong with our Liberal Think Tank...
KoKo
Dec 2015
#57
On a campaign in 2002, a young staffer showed me his lapel pin 'DLC' and said THIS is the new party!
ViseGrip
Dec 2015
#69
I see there is the usual claim that the "DLC" does not exist anymore, as if we are so stupid we
djean111
Dec 2015
#88
A Koch brother was just on Fox News the other night with M. Kelly. It was an interview that was
rladdi
Dec 2015
#91
Sam Smith article: How the Koch brothers helped dismantle the Democratic Party
no_hypocrisy
Dec 2015
#104