Is the Democratic Party leadership out of touch with the Democratic rank & file?

[Hannah Bell]

Discuss.

[niceypoo]

1. Yes

[Ken Burch]

2. Yes, and it's solely the corporate-centrist leadership's fault that we lost the House

They never fought for change. They never stood up and passionately defended our party's core values, or even unashamedly argued for the validity of government action to help people or fix the economy.

They did nothing but kill the huge movement for progressive reform that won so overwhelmingly in 2008. It's as if they WANTED the post-1994 Clinton days back.

[ooglymoogly]

3. Yes and supporting Blanch Lincoln over a progressive is just one of the facts that proved it.

Trying to stuff a blue dog down the throats of the folks of Ma. once again proved it. Recruiting pugs to run as Dems, once again proved it...ad infinitum.

[Smarmie Doofus]

4. I hope so.

Hate to think the rank and file is so clueless that they think the current leadership is representing their interests.

[Union Scribe]

6. Yes, this.

[Kurovski]

5. Yes ma'am.

They think what "worked" in 1994, will work today. Or rather, they pretend it will.

Moving to the Right, is just moving into Republican territory.

We are Democrats. They are Republican leaning Republicanettes.

What did Dean say he represented? They should represent THAT wing. Not the right wing.

[pa28]

7. I've seen polls showing fairly strong support for Obama among liberals.

I'm skeptical because if asked I would probably give a favorable reply. A "no" would tend to imply support for Republicans.

So, that's the accepted coin for support but based on what I've seen I can't believe it. I'll use your post for a little anecdotal rant which might mean nothing but I'm guessing other committed Democrats have seen the same thing.

I was raised in a Democratic household and I got plugged into politics at a very early age. My grandfather would lecture me about the virtues of the new deal and the labor movement. My parents would tell me all about the evils of Reaganomics and union busting and where it was going to lead us (OT they turned out to be more right than Nostradamus could have dreamed). So when I was old enough to vote and be involved I became a committed rank and file Democrat. Like many here that meant not only voting but canvassing, getting involved in local campaigns and the party itself at the local level and higher.

Now to the point. In those years I've never seen the level of anger and alienation higher than I do now. I could probably write pages about it but I'll just sum it up this way. Rank and file Democrats I've talked to seem to feel they are holding the world's most expensive and invested empty bag in history. They feel sold out. Betrayed. Walked on. etc. etc.

If the party can survive and thrive without the rank and file they will be proven right. The new "D" for drive Democratic party will go on. If they are wrong we will take a historic pounding in November 2012. Guess we'll see but I feel the party has already left me.

[Hannah Bell]

8. kik

[avaistheone1]

9. Yes,

and it doesn't bother the Democratic leadership in the least.

The leadership is quite dismissive of rank and file Democrats that is until election time.

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. hell yes

[xchrom]

11. the neo-liberal approach to government and corporations

has become firmly entrenched in the leadership. it's the only narrative allowed at this time.

[Hannah Bell]

12. k

[blindpig]

13. Completely

It is not the party leadership that is out of synch, the Democratic Party's temporary accommodation with labor known as the New Deal has outlived it's usefulness to our capitalist masters and is being discarded. The Democratic Party has always been a stalwart of Capitalism and remains so to this day. It is that portion of the rank and file which insist upon the party being something which existed briefly for a decade or so and has been getting chipped away ever since which is in denial of reality. The Democratic Party will not save the people from capitalism, it is part of the capitalist power structure.

[KharmaTrain]

14. Define Rank & File...

Whose it out of touch with? You? Your friends? Is there someone who speaks for such a "rank and file"? The Democratic party is a big tent...different groups that have some interests in common but not always the same priorities. For example, is this administration out of touch with the large African-American community. If so, why? Or with the Hispanic community? Or those who are Catholic (Democrats win more of their votes) compared to those who are Jewish or Athesists? Or how about someone from the West whose main issues are different than someone from the Northeast. Thus whose the "rank & file"?

Bottom line is this administration is keeping score...it sees 2012 ahead and is doing what it believes will serve said "rank & file" and the polls of "Democrats" says he's doing the job. Might not be addressing your pet issues, but he's there to represent 300 million Americans...maybe 33% of them are "rank & file" Democrats.

Or should the Democratic party institute the similar purity games played by the rushpublicans?

Has this administration done what I thought it should? No. But who cares...it's what's possible in a polluted and corrupt political atmosphere. If they fail in reaching that "rank & file", we'll see it in the polls up ahead. As it stands I have seen few polls that show this administration in true danger in 2012 and the compromises made last week (like 'em or not) ended up making more people happy than pissed.

So if this administration isn't representative of the "rank and file"...who is?

[stillwaiting]

15. On economic issues neither of the two parties represents the rank and file.

After the past few decades I'd say that's become apparent to many.

[KharmaTrain]

17. A Nation Of Self Interests...

There's where the real disconnect is. Yes, the parties represent their own interests. For politicians and the hundreds of people who make a nice buck off the non-stop campaign age (pollsters, media types) this is their career first and foremost and if its between your job or theirs, well you're just a statistic.

The money in our political system is so corrupting...and moreso thanks to Citizen United...that's where the beltway focus is. Every politician is looking at their bank accounts and seeing they're gonna need millions to keep their jobs (near a billion dollars will be spent on the Presidential alone)...and where does that money come from? It's not the $25 and $100 folks, it's the $1,000 and more that get their calls answered. The electorate only matter after the money is eollected....usually the final month or so of the election.

So what's the alternative? There's no chance there'll be any true campaign finance reform...the money's just too good. Form a third party and open the door for the rushpublican to win? No easy choices or answers here and the disconnect gets worse each day as I see so many talking at each other rather than to or with.

Cheers...

[T Wolf]

16. If I read one more person, pretending to be a Democrat, use the term "pet issue" to

refer to illegal and immoral wars, marriage equality, health CARE, protection from parasitic and predatory corporations, etc. - ...

The manner in which so many so-called Democrats have abandoned the principles and values of the party is disgusting and indicative of how far we have fallen. No wonder they have joined with the pukes to continue bushista policies.

[niceypoo]

19. Traditional Democratic values

And those who hold them

[KharmaTrain]

23. Nice Words...

...and one hopes we all share them. Now what the hell are they? I'm being a touch flippant here, but I'd bet if you got a dozen folks here and asked them to write down their top 5 "Democratic Values", they wouldn't match. Might not even have the same 5. And then when you look at those principals there can be some vast differences as well...witness the healthcare and tax debates. When someone agrees with a "value" then they're good and "progressive" and when they go the other well...well then they're a "corportist, a DLC'er" or whatever perjorative you want to apply.


The problem is focus...as ideals are good and important, but they don't translate well into a political world of money and many other special interests. Also between campaigning and governing. With one you can always be idealistic and always look strong but never accomplish anything...or the other is having to compromise to ensure some good things get through rather than none.

I see a growing disconnect from those whose ideals are constantly crossed by those who are more pragmatic...the pitfalls of having to govern for all rather than campaign to a few.

[niceypoo]

24. If you have to ask...

Tax cuts for the rich are pragmatic? Corporatism is pragmatic? The things that ruined the economy are, 'pragmatic?'

'Democratic ideals dont translate into GOP talking points' seems to be your position. You are basically saying that Democratic ideals, things like equality, pursuit of happiness, fiscal responsibility, business regulation, human rights, etc, are cute but unrealistic.

Core beliefs are not negotiable

[KharmaTrain]

25. It's Not What I Say...

I don't have a vote in the House or have to worry about raising the millions to keep my job in little more than a year...but your Congresscritter does.

So you would prefer to see thousands who had seen their UE benefits expire fend for themselves or taxes to go up on everyone? Or to have created a stalemate where DADT never saw the light of a vote or 9/11 first responders continue to get the short shrift? That's what would have happened when one stood for "core principals" and nothing gets done.

My position is one of an observer in a game that gets more polarized by the day...

This isn't about what I think, it's about what is happening and trying to understand why.

[Warren Stupidity]

18. yes

But they will wave the wasilla grifter at us if we seem reluctant to continue to support their plutocracy enabling bullshit. And that will work. Either way actually.

[PBS Poll-435]

20. No

Amazing "lame-duck" session.

Talk about cutting out the bullsh..stuff.

[leeroysphitz]

21. No, they understand what we are going through and what we need. They just have other priorities.

[kentuck]

22. Unfortunately, they are out of touch with America.

They have lost their way.

[Aleric]

26. No, they are out of touch with liberals and progressives.

They have the Democratic Rank and File pretty well brainwashed, it seems. It's the liberals and progressives they can't stand and don't want to relate to.