DLC and the Patriot Act

[Don1]

Here is the recent roll call and who voted for what for the Patriot Act in the House. As you know, it was a disaster, where many of the sunset provisions were voted into permanency.
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll414.xml

Now, what about the DLC? Was there any difference in how they voted versus the other Democrats? The answer is yes, but the difference was not astounding.

30.7% of DLC'ers voted for the unconstitutional Patriot Act.
Democrats subtracting out DLC'ers only voted 20.9% in favor of the Act.

Would some on DU mind doing this type of analysis for other issues, like the Bankruptcy bill, timetable for exit from Iraq, etc? There is a lot of talk about DLC positions but maybe we should look at some objective numbers, too.

Here is the DLC roll call for the Patriot Act:
B. Schiff, Adam, U.S. Representative, CA No
Baird, Brian, U.S. Representative, WA No
Berkley, Shelley, U.S. Representative, NV No
Capps, Lois, U.S. Representative, CA No
Carnahan, Russ, U.S. Representative, MO Aye
Case, Ed, U.S. Representative, HI Aye
Chandler, Ben, U.S. Representative, KY Aye
Crowley, Joseph, U.S. Representative, NY No
Davis, Artur, U.S. Representative, AL Aye
Davis, Jim, U.S. Representative, FL Aye
Davis, Susan, U.S. Representative, CA No
Emanuel, Rahm, U.S. Representative, IL Yes
Engel, Eliot, U.S. Representative, NY No
Etheridge, Bob, U.S. Representative, NC Aye
Ford, Harold, Jr. , U.S. Representative, TN No
Harman, Jane, U.S. Representative, CA Aye
Herseth, Stephanie, U.S. Representative, SD Aye
Higgins, Brian, U.S. Representative, NY Aye
Holt, Rush, U.S. Representative, NJ No
Hooley, Darlene, U.S. Representative, OR No
Inslee, Jay, U.S. Representative, WA No
Israel, Steve, U.S. Representative, NY No
Kind, Ron, U.S. Representative, WI No
Larsen, Rick, U.S. Representative, WA No
Larson, John, U.S. Representative, CT No
McCarthy, Carolyn, U.S. Representative, NY No
McIntyre, Mike, U.S. Representative, NC Aye
Meeks, Gregory, U.S. Representative, NY No
Millender-McDonald, Juanita, U.S. Representative, CA No
Moore, Dennis, U.S. Representative, KS No
Moran, Jim, U.S. Representative, VA No
Price, David, U.S. Representative, NC No
Sanchez, Loretta, U.S. Representative, CA No
Schwartz, Allyson, U.S. Representative, PA Aye
Scott, David, U.S. Representative, GA Aye
Smith, Adam, U.S. Representative, WA No
Tauscher, Ellen, U.S. Representative, CA No
Udall, Tom, U.S. Representative, NM No
Wu, David, U.S. Representative, OR No

[Totally Committed]

1. Two things I despise in one sentence: "DLC" and "The Patriot Act"...

I think my head is going to explode.

[Don1]

3. Yes.

It is important to note, too, that the DLC is not the only problem with the Democratic Party. And when I say problem I am not talking about all this 'ideological purity' crap that people criticize progressives for. I am talking about votes: pure, plain, and simple.

If the DLC is voting exactly like Republicans, then we need to get rid of them. We need to examine the question objectively, though. So, are they?

And what about the other 20.9% of the Dem Party that voted for the PA? Are they also voting with Republicans on other important issues?

We should get rid of them, too, if so.

Let's figure it out, calmy and rationally.

[meegbear]

2. Where's Hillary? Where's Obama?

Every time a Dem supports something a poster here doesn't like they scream: THEY'RE A MEMBER OF THE DLC! the same way a repug screams a liberal is a "card carrying member of the ACLU".

[Don1]

5. Yes.

This is the Rep count only. Not the Senate count. I will look into that later, if you like.

And yes, too much screaming. I totally agree.

As I said, we should be looking at this objectively and not just in terms of our favorite issue. We should come up with a number of important issues and determine who the traitors are, IF ANY AT ALL.

The numbers themselves should prove it objectively.

[Mass]

12. Easy : Senate voted by UC

To be honest, the bill is better than the House's one and we can hope the vote will be different when the conference report comes.

[Totally Committed]

6. Hillary IS DLC, but I don't know about Obama...

also left off the list is Vilsak and a few others I'll have to research before I post.

[Don1]

7. Good point.

Clinton is DLC and Obama is not. I have the list.

[Totally Committed]

8. From The Black Commentator:

Obama to have name removed from DLC List
Says New Democrats acted without his consent...

“I am not currently, nor have I ever been, a member of the DLC,” said Obama, in a statement that substantially reflects a telephone conversation with BC Associate Editor Bruce Dixon, this weekend. “It does appear that, without my knowledge, the DLC…listed me in their ‘New Democrat’ directory,” Obama continued. “Because I agree that such a directory implies membership, I will be calling the DLC to have my name removed, and appreciate your having brought this fact to my attention.”

The statement caps a three-week public dialogue (see links at bottom of page) between BC and Obama, a veteran progressive organizer who headed the voter registration and mobilization drive that carried Carol Moseley-Braun to the U.S. Senate in 1992 – the first and only such achievement by a Black woman. Obama faces a crowded and richly financed field of contestants for the Democratic senatorial nomination, next year. African Americans make up about a quarter of the Illinois Democratic electorate.

BC was shocked to find Obama’s name associated with the New Democratic Movement, an affiliate of what Bruce Dixon calls the “Republican Trojan Horse in the bowels of the Democratic machinery” – the DLC. In a June 19 Cover Story that included a letter from Obama, posed three “bright line” questions to the candidate, “that should determine whether you belong in the DLC, or not.”

1. Do you favor the withdrawal of the United States from NAFTA? Will you in the Senate introduce or sponsor legislation toward that end?

2. Do you favor the adoption of a single payer system of universal health care to extend the availability of quality health care to all persons in this country? Will you in the Senate introduce or sponsor legislation toward that end?

3. Would you have voted against the October 10 congressional resolution allowing the president to use unilateral force against Iraq?

BC asserted that a “Yes” answer to all three questions would be “anathema” to the DLC, whose leadership “has been unequivocal in their support of NAFTA, opposition to anything resembling national health insurance, and fervently in support of the Iraq war – basic issues of war and peace, life and death, and livelihood.” Aware of Obama’s consistently progressive legislative record, BC suggested that the only “honorable option” was that he “publicly withdraw from the DLC.”

Entire article:

http://www.blackcommentator.com/48/48_cover.html

[Don1]

9. This is from 2003.

He must be out by now, considering
(1) the article...
and (2) he is not on the DLC list that I have.

And it's good that he left, too. Thanks for bringing that to everyone's attention.

[mrdmk]

17. I remember this issue back then, it was a real "up yours card" to the DLC

and deservingly so. This wing of the Democrats are corporate driven.

Somebody had posted an in-depth study of the DLC and their board member/contributers thus showing how money talks. Would somebody please post that again?

[1932]

11. Obama is NOT DLC. Doesn't anyone remember campaign when he told them

to get his name off their website because he doesn't agree with their politics.

They put him up as a member even though he wasn't.

[pstans]

4. And my Governor is now running the DLC

Tom Vilsack is now running thd DLC. I wasn't sure about supporting him for a run before this, but now I would never. He has his hands in the pockets of Corporatations just as much as the Republicans.

[1932]

10. I suspect that the correlation isn't as great on this issue because this

one isn't about corporate profits to the degree that CAFTA is.

[Mass]

13. Actually , there was no correlation in CAFTA in the House.

3 out of the dirty 15 are DLC.

[Don1]

14. You're right.

But there was a correlation in the Senate.

[Mass]

15. Yes, 9 out of 20 Senators voted for CAFTA

Bad enough, but what do we do of the 11 others?

I hate From and Reed as much as you do. I also think that we should attack them (and Lieberman and some other ones) by names.

Or do you think Spitzer should not be elected.

[Don1]

19. You're right.

This is completely fair criticism.

[1932]

16. Wasn't there a thread here showing that although only 5 were members

another 5 were listed elsewhere on the DLC site as supporters or were praised by DLC for their policy goals?

[mrdmk]

18. I concur! CAFTA was totally supported by the DLC

link

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0728-21.htm

[AntiCoup2K4]

20. Thank God Baird got that one correct.

He has gone on record as saying he "regretted" voting for the Patriot Act in 2001, so at least this vote was consistent with that statement. In fact the Washington delegation overall looks pretty good on this vote. Too bad they couldn't convert some others :(