BuzzFlash Reader Contribution

CONTRIBUTOR ARCHIVES  

The New Democrats

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION
by Steven Blaisdell

There seems to be a concerted effort by the DLC (and the New Republic people) to hijack the new-found energy of grassroots, progressive Democrats. In order to capitalize on the energy, structure, and potential of the newly mobilized progressive movement, these jackals are trying to take the party in a direction that is antithetical to the morals and values of everyone, such as myself, who worked like dogs this past election to get our party back on its feet. These permanent pundits and election-losing lackeys, these boot-licking (sorry-couldn't resist) spinmeisters for power and money are attempting to frame the Democratic resurgence as one of global aggression, with the "evil empire" now being "totalitarian Islam."

Now, I do not in any way mean to play down the very real threat of actual terrorism; what I AM saying is that this sort of revolting authoritarian manipulation, this vile use of a very real threat to divide, conquer, and co-opt (read: enervate) a truly populist groundswell of energy and activity, while expected from the right, is sickening beyond words when it comes from those who are supposedly of my own party. But most importantly, these guys' knee-jerk, vitriolic dismissals of Michael Moore, MoveOn.org, and especially Howard Dean, tell me all I need to know of the true nature of their work, i.e., that they want to capture the energy and spirit of the most powerful political movement since the first Progressive revolution and turn it to the support of entrenched Washington/military/corporate power interests.

I can only attempt to convey how revolted I am by these 'realist' vultures, supposedly of my own political party, backed by big, big money, and their attempt to feed off of an authentic, dynamic political movement. I did NOT work so hard, for over a year, attending precinct and county conventions, block-walking, phone-banking, networking, and bake-saleing (now THAT was a great, fun idea; thanks, MoveOn!) to have these bottom feeders steal and invalidate my efforts. They try and draw a direct connection between those who don't agree with them and communism, they attempt to define who "we" are, and then they have the (really, really tiny) balls to say that you're either with them (and therefore America, and Democracy), or against them, in which case you're either the enemy, or impotent. Truly, tactics worthy of McCarthy, or the current residents of the White House. I have only one thing to say to these parasites, and let me try and make this perfectly clear: your days are done, you power whoring, ‘centrist’ Neo-Cons in disguise. You do NOT represent us in any way, and you never will.

Those of us who were inspired and energized by MoveOn.org, the candidacy of Howard Dean, and other exciting, motivated progressive candidates and organizations find the utter contempt these slimeballs show for Mr. Dean and the authentic grassroots movement beyond the pale, and we will not support a party that is so pathetically dismissive of us and our efforts. The left, and the Democratic party, desperately needs a new identity, one based on the true morals, values, and aspirations of intelligent, caring, progressives of all shapes and colors (even, if done with principle, progressive Republicans). This cold, repulsive power-grab is not it, and if I could, I would bury (politically) these guys and their backward-looking power-whoring forever. But I can't.

Therefore, I want to make it crystal clear that I DO NOT and WILL NOT support, in any imaginable way, the PNAC supporting DLC, or even the DNC as it stands today. On the contrary; I support, with all the resources at my disposal, the true grassroots progressive Democratic movement inspired and led by true progressives such as Howard Dean and the people at MoveOn.org. We cannot recreate the party if those desperately clinging to power succeed in enervating our efforts, and if they think they can just step in and appropriate what we've built, then they've got another thing coming.

Thanks for listening.

Steven Blaisdell

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION