From DailyKos:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/3/22/191541/792A friend of mine, Ed Kilgore, who works for the DLC, wrote:
I sometimes despair of convincing bloggers that people like me support what we support and oppose what we oppose for reasons of principle.
When it comes to Ed, I am certain that is true. I am even willing to operate under the premise that others in the DLC operate that way. But here is the DLC's problem - Marshall Wittman works for them:
Unfortunately, American progressives rarely speak about the stakes in the war against Jihadism. They are far too preoccupied with complaining about the Administration's failures in the war. Of course, there is much to criticize. But, the enemy is not this President, but a profoundly reactionary faction that seeks to defeat America in Iraq and then move on to other triumphs. Whatever one's position on the wisdom of removing Saddam's tyranny, that fact should be apparent.
. . . Defeatism prevails in the Democratic Party. While that stance may appear to have short-term political benefits, the party will and should pay a stiff price with both the American people and history if it presses for retreat at the moment our enemy is on the offensive.
Zarqawi understands the stakes. Blair understands the stakes. It's time for Democrats to grasp the stakes, as well.
Let's forget about the inaccuracy of Wittman's analysis. Being wrong is not a sin. What is shameful and despicable is Wittman's continued aping of the Republican Party's New McCarthyite tactic of labelling disagreement with him and Bush as "defeatism." Understand what he is saying - Zbig Brzezenzki, General Wesley Clark, former Reagan Secretary of the Navy and current Dem Virginia Senatorial candidate Jim Webb, former Reagan Administration official Lawrence Korb and over 70% of the American People want defeat for the United States in Iraq according to Wittman.
I am sorry Ed, but Wittman and the DLC, as long as the DLC does not disavow his pronouncements, are not entitled to respect in my view. The D in DLC is supposed to stand for Democratic (I know Wittman claims to be an Independent, though his support for McCain says otherwise). Attacking the patriotism of Democrats for disagreeing with you is not what I expect to hear from Democratic organizations. As many negative things as we have written about Joe Lieberman, we have never, and we never will, question his love for the United States. His loyalty to the Democratic Party? Well, I think he has left himself open to such questioning.
Hillary Clinton is closely identified with the DLC. What is her opinion of these scurrilous attacks on the patriotism of Democrats by Wittman?