Support BuzzFlash Get a copy of click image MORE BuzzFlash INTERVIEWS WORLD MEDIA WATCH P.M. CARPENTER MAUREEN FARRELL BARBARA'S DAILY BUZZ SOUTHERN STYLE CARTOONS THE ANGRY LIBERAL EDITORIALS CONTRIBUTORS MAILBAG PERSPECTIVES ANALYSIS NEWS ALERTS LINK ARCHIVES SEARCH ABOUT FAQ

Al From Targets the Wrong Candidate

A BUZZFLASH READER COMMENTARY
by Mary MacElveen

In the December 23, 2003 issue of the L.A. Times, Al From, of the Democratic Leadership Council asked, "Why is Howard Dean running away from Bill Clinton?" adding, "That's no way to build on the progress of the most successful Democratic president of our time."

In my opinion, Al From directed this statement at the wrong candidate. He should have directed it at many of the other declared candidates, such as Senator John Kerry, Senator Joe Lieberman, Senator John Edwards and Congressman Richard Gephardt, all of whom voted for many, if not all, of the pieces of legislation put forth by Pres. Bush. Any votes supportive of Bush only sabotaged progress made by President Clinton.

We once had a budget surplus under President Clinton, but thanks to some of the above candidates we now have a budget deficit. Those Bush Tax Cuts did little to help your average American family. I concur with Gov. Dean when he stated at the Florida Democratic convention that there "was no middle class tax cut." Those little tax rebate checks were eaten up by my state and local tax increases and my increased utility rates. Other citizens I spoke with feel the same way.

The tax cuts also blew a hole in our federal budget, leaving the nation less secure. Should another September 11th occur, how will municipalities cover the costs if they continue to be underfunded by the federal government? Quite frankly, I am angry that those who do not need a tax break have put our country in further danger, while the rest of us are left to suffer. Like it or not, our government needs funds in order to operate.

After September 11th, the above candidates voted yes to the U.S.A. Patriot Act, which ripped into the very soul of the United States Constitution. Did President Clinton, after the first attack on the Twin Towers or the Oklahoma City bombing, promote such a heinous piece of legislation? No, he did not. He calmed a frightened nation, while leaving our liberties intact. In the two years since this heinous law was passed, some of our courts and communities have challenged the law. And rightfully so. The only Senator to vote no was Russell Feingold, and he should be awarded a medal for doing so.

When it came to the Iraq Resolution, all of the above candidates voted yes for a war of lies. They can explain all they want that it was only to give President Bush permission to take our cause before the United Nations. But, it was not a vote to ignore the U.N. and for us to go it alone. If they had any distrust in this administration, they should have voted no.

What I find interesting is that Senator Bob Graham of Florida, who voted no to this resolution, still sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee. What did he see that the above candidates failed to see? I find it maddening that this Senator, who stood up to this president, took himself out of the race. Now, we see so many lies told, over 460 soldiers dead, thousands wounded, and thousands of innocent Iraqis dead.

It is frustrating that so many attacked one lie by President Clinton, as Senator Joe Lieberman did in the well of the senate, but say nothing about the lies of George W. Bush. Where is Lieberman's outrage now? So many lies have been told and the end result is so many people are now dead. I want to hear all of them say, "Mr. President, you lied not only to us, but to our soldiers and our nation." Again, where is the outrage by our party leaders?

When it came to the creation of the Homeland Security Agency, all of the above candidates voted yes to it. We should have fixed what was broken within the CIA and the FBI, instead of creating a budget-busting agency. Just after the capture of Saddam Hussein we were all told that we would be safer, yet this agency raised the threat alert from yellow to orange. Governor Dean stated that we were not safer with his capture because the real threat is still out there. This administration has done little to address the real war on terrorism. Some will also accuse the Democratic Party of wanting to grow the size of the federal government. The "yes" votes cast by these Democrats proved the accusation to be true.

If Lieberman were to win the nomination and Ralph Nader state that "There is no difference between Bush and Senator Lieberman," this time I would have to agree with him.

Should Kerry, Gephardt or Edwards win the nomination and face Bush in a debate, all Bush has to say, to each and everyone of them is, "Well you voted for it," and the game is over: Bush wins and we, as a party and a people, lose.

So, what progress can be made by proving one's detractors right?

While I admire President Clinton and all that he has done for our country, he does not own this party, and neither does Al From or the DLC. We cannot stand frozen in time and long for the good ole days.

Therefore, we must continue to evolve, change our mission, serve the people and, for once and for all, choose leaders who will stop siding with this administration and show a clear difference between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party.

A BUZZFLASH READER COMMENTARY

Postscript:

After reading the front page of Buzzflash where it advertises my reader's commentary on Al From Targeting the wrong candidate, I noticed that Buzzflash wonders why I did not include Congressman Dennis Kucinich. So, in answer to them and you the reader of it, Congressman Kucinich has boldly voted no to all of the items that I mentioned within my commentary. In my opinion he has nothing to answer to as does, Senator Kerry, Senator Lieberman, Senator Edwards and Congressman Gephardt. Also, my commentary focused on Al From's direct comment towards Governor Howard Dean and not other candidates. So, it was my intent to focus on his comment and how the candidates mentioned within my commentary have sabotaged any progress made by the Clinton administration. Congressman Dennis Kucinich through his votes did not sabotage any progress made by President Clinton.

Mary MacElveen

* * *

Source Article: Dean, Centrist Branch Spar, LA Times