Chuck Schumer's Cure for Democrats - Be the "Pro-Government" Party

[pampango]

The New York senator, a longtime ally of the party's Wall Street wing, now says it must return to its "pro-government" roots in 2016.

"We must convince the middle class that the only way out of their morass is by embracing a strong and effective government, not demeaning or running from it," Schumer said during a lengthy speech at the National Press Club, which at times sounded like an analysis of political trends over the last 100 years. "We’re a pro-government party," he added in summation. "We have been all along. We can’t run from it."

Schumer argued that after a string of whiplash elections in which voters rejected Democrats and Republicans in succession, the Democratic Party must offer a cohesive vision and policy agenda centered on how government can be used to jumpstart stagnant wage growth and otherwise provide direct benefits to the middle class. The rise of income equality before and after the economic crash of 2008, he posited, has sparked a shift in voter attitudes toward government after the Reagan-era belief that government was the problem, not the solution. The "big tectonic plates" of political ideology, Schumer said, "are moving back in a pro-government direction."

This is not a new analysis for the political left. It has become a common refrain within the Elizabeth Warren wing of the party, and it is one that President Obama adopted at times during his reelection campaign. But it is new for Schumer, who has long embodied the Wall Street-friendly Democratic establishment that has shrunk from embracing an activist government since Bill Clinton's famous 1996 declaration that "the era of Big Government is over."

But his more noteworthy critique was of the pursuit of health reform itself: In his harshest assessment of the Obama presidency to date, Schumer argued that the White House and congressional Democrats erred by focusing on the Affordable Care Act throughout most of 2009 and early 2010 rather than following the passage of the economic stimulus with other targeted economic legislation that would directly help more people. He said voters had given the party a mandate in 2008 to stop the financial crisis and reverse the economic damage done to the middle class, and while he supported the substance of Obamacare, it was a political loser because it offered its most tangible benefit—access to coverage for the uninsured—to just 5 percent of the voting public.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/11/chuck-schumers-cure-for-democrats/383175/

It is nice to see Democratic converts to the 'pro-government', pro-middle class position, but there is also a tinge of "That's great, but does he really mean it." But, all-in-all, it's better than seeing defections to the other side.

[TheNutcracker]

1. He's right, and that's why I support Bernie Sanders for President. VT is proof it can work well.

[jillan]

2. He's not my favorite but he would do a better job as Senate Minority leader than Reid.

imho.

[jeff47]

3. Except he can't count to 60.

There were nowhere near enough votes in the Senate for a second stimulus. The first barely passed, and only by converting it to half tax cuts.

[Man from Pickens]

4. Interesting advice from "the Senator from Wall Street"

is he in favor of government enforcing the laws against banking fraud and other financial crimes? He's been awfully quiet on that subject.

and this quote: "People know in their hearts that when big powerful private sector forces degrade their lifestyle only government can protect them."

is downright insulting coming from the Senator from Wall Street. Where's the protection? Where are the prosecutions? Why is the SEC revolving door still allowed to spin? If anything, government has been covering for the crooks while they loot and pillage their way through the middle class.

[rhett o rick]

5. Be something. Anything is better than the pro-nothing party. nm

[colsohlibgal]

6. Hollow Words

This guy has run interference for Wall Street for years, who is he to talk?

[pampango]

7. Could well be, but is it good thing that he feels compelled to utter them as opposed to

what he has said and done in the past?

The silver lining may be that he sees (whether he is being genuine or not) that the tide is shifting. Politicians have been known to shift their public positions when they sense a shift in public opinion.

[pampango]

8. Just found this: Nancy Pelosi giveas 14 million reasons why Chuck Schumer is wrong

Nancy Pelosi says there are 14 million reasons why Chuck Schumer is wrong.

In an intraparty feud about political strategy, the House minority leader on Tuesday called out the No. 3 Senate Democratic leader for saying that it was a mistake for Democrats to focus on passing health care reform in 2010.

"After passing the stimulus, Democrats should have continued to propose middle class-oriented programs and built on the partial success of the stimulus, but unfortunately Democrats blew the opportunity the American people gave them," Schumer said in a remarks focused on political messaging heading into 2016 at the National Press Club.

The 14 million figure Pelosi cites references those Americans who now have health care coverage since the law was enacted. It adds together those who have signed up through health care exchanges, those allowed to say on their parent's health care plans through age 26 and those getting coverage through the expansion of the Medicaid program.

Schumer supported the Affordable Care Act, but from a political timing standpoint, he thought the party could have done other things before turning to health care. But in moving to stake out the party's message going forward, Schumer put himself at odds with Pelosi, who was one of the fiercest champions of passing the legislation through the House in 2010. The controversial bill passed without a single Republican vote, and the House GOP filed a lawsuit last week to challenge President Barack Obama's authority to make changes to the law.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/25/politics/nancy-pelosi-chuck-schumer-health-reform/