DLC's 'transformation of the party agenda" and the 'Dem party of the past'

[Q]

"...We agree with most of Kerry's votes, and nobody's ever accused the DLC of representing a conspicuously liberal point of view in the Democratic Party. We find it particularly strange that Kerry's consistent support for fiscal discipline is being used to brand him as leaning left.

A better measure of ideology for Kerry and other Democrats is their position on the big issues that have divided centrist and liberal Democrats over the last decade, and defined the New Democrat transformation of the party agenda. And by that measure, Kerry cannot possibly be considered "the most liberal Democrat in the Senate."

• He supported a variety of deficit reduction measures in the 1980s, which a majority of Democrats opposed.

• He supported the "100,000 cops" crime bill of 1994, which most liberal Democrats opposed.

• He supported a long series of trade expansion measures throughout the 1980s and 1990s, which most liberal Democrats opposed.

• He supported the 1996 welfare reform legislation, which roughly half of Congressional Democrats opposed.

• And he supported the 1997 Balanced Budget Agreement, which many liberal Democrats opposed.

History aside, Kerry and his running mate, John Edwards, today strongly advocate a New Democrat agenda for the country, including a stronger and smarter military; a more aggressive effort to defeat terrorists; a greater commitment to homeland security; a tough series of policies to cut federal budget deficits; an attack on corporate and other special interest subsidies; a decisive stance in favor of private-sector strategies for universal health care, environmental protection and energy independence; and a clear identification with mainstream cultural views and middle-class economic aspirations.

The Bush-Cheney campaign needs to come to grips with the actual Kerry-Edwards record, and the actual Kerry-Edwards agenda, instead of relying on tired stereotypes of the Democratic Party of the past, and bogus evaluations of the Democratic Party of the present. --- http://www.ndol.org/ndol_ci.cfm?kaid=131&subid=192&contentid=252769

[JI7]

1. the DLC does a good job

of showing it's democrats who are truly for fiscal responsiblity and fighting crime and not the republicans.

[TeacherCreature]

2. In that case they should have embraced Dean

The fiscal conservative in the race who had balanced budgets in VT for many years.
The DLC serves it's own interests which is making a big salary for infuence peddling. They are the anti grassroots organization.

[MadHound]

3. The DLC does a good job

Of showing Democrats how to become Republicans. The DLC is the single greatest reason why the Democratic party has veered seriously towards the right, and enabled the corporate takeover of the party.

[Q]

4. The DLC's...

...unspoken agenda is to completely eliminate the 'Democratic party of the past' (liberal/progressive) and replace it with a party that 'appeals' to conservative voters.

- I also find it strange that the 'new' Democratic party touts their policies and programs to help the 'middle class'...while completely ignoring the needs of millions of poor and disenfranchised Americans.