TWO VERY DIFFERENT VIEWS OF RAHM EMANUEL, HEAD OF THE DCCC
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If you've been reading this blog much you probably know that I've leveled some harsh criticism towards the DCCC and it's leader, Illinois Democrat Rahm Emanuel. This week ROLLING STONE has an incredibly laudatory piece on Emanuel and his point of view on how Democrats can wrest control of the House from the Forces of Darkness. Good story. And David Sirota has an even more powerful counter punch.
Somehow if the Republicans are going to be routed in next year's Midterms, allowing for a serious investigation into the Bush Regime crimes-- not to mention a chance of starting the long, hard process of cleaning up the catastrophic mess BushCo has created-- there is going to have to be some kind of truce between genuine idealists and progressives on the one hand and the career-oriented Establishment Democratic Party hacks on the other.
Does that mean holding your nose and voting for a reactionary prig like Lieberman? That's pushing it too far for me and I'm done with that much compromise. But what about something more reasonable-- and less easy to define-- like the primary battle between Congressman Sherrod Brown and Col. Paul Hackett for the U.S. Senate seat in Ohio? The Democratic Establishment recruited Brown once it looked like Republican DeWine was vulnerable (in a state where GOP corruption is so endemic that if Tom DeLay is driven out of Texas, he could start a new life in the Buckeye State). When Brown, a proven progressive with a great record of leadership, announced he wouldn't run, Hackett jumped in. Hackett was a uber-hero of the Democratic "netroots" for taking on a Republicrook hack in an overwhelmingly Republican district and nearly winning. But is he a progressive? Well... compared to a Republican, sure. Compared to Sherrod Brown? Questionable. And who would be most electable, the exciting new face of Hackett or the tried and true Brown? I wrote a check for Hackett when he ran for Congress. If he wins the Democratic Senate primary I'll write him another one-- happily. If Brown wins, I'll be happy to send him a contribution. Either way, the Democratic Party will have a good man to face DeWine a year from now.
posted by DownWithTyranny @ 10:14 PM
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1 Comments:
Truth is, so long as conservatives control the airwaves, we'll be a minority party on the left.
Air America is only the beginning for progressive media.
Randy Michaels, the man behind the consolidation of radio conglomerates, who left (forced out)of Clear Channel Communications, most likely due to the strong ties he had with independent record promoters, is creating a farm team of new progressive voices.
It's up to new talkers to be responsible and credible with their content.
If we had to rely on progressive democrat politicians, no matter how large that number could be and no matter how compelling their idea's are, we would still remain a minority party if the conservatives were able to hit the airwaves, unchallenged by the media, as the right did when they lied and bastardized their most recent opponents.
The media was nowhere to be found doing their jobs to fact check any of it.
So, first and foremost, we need a watchdog media that is NOT controlled by large corporate interest. Air America is a start. Then we need hero's willing to take their message to the people and who are not afraid to call a bold faced liar, a bold faced liar. Then we need to all do our part to get people to the polls.
Keep a close eye on Rahm Emanuel. When push comes to shove, he's going to push back and push back hard. Keep a close eye on Paul Hackett in Ohio. The man is not afraid to go up against a tired old, right wing hate machine and when the tally is finally collected, I think we'll find a new leader who even conservatives will have voted for.
And remember, Paul Wellstone was a gifted man who enjoyed respect even from the moderate republicans. He's in the history books already as a uniter. A few more Paul Wellstones in politics is a good thing for America.
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