It was not the centrists who won this election for the Democrats it was the progressives

[Bjorn Against]

This election has been portrayed by the pundits as a win for conservative Democrats, but while there were several conservative Democrats elected the real winners were the progressives.

We all know what the defining issues in this election were, those issues were the in Iraq (which the majority of the public now opposes) and opposition to the Bush regime.

Who was speaking out against the war in Iraq since the very beginning? Hint: it was not the moderates or conservatives. It was the progressives that were warning people for several years now about the dangers the Bush regime posed to America and the world. On Tuesday the people showed us that they have heard what us progressives have been saying for a long time, and they agree with us.

The pundits are dead wrong when they simply point to conservative Democrats who won and try to claim this is proof of a big victory for centrist ideals. The fact is that there was only one Democrat running in each of the individual races, and no progressive is going to vote for a Republican just because they think the Democrat is too conservative. For the corporate media to focus so heavily on the conservative Democratic victories, while ignoring extremely significant progressive victories like Sherrod Brown's defeat of a Republican incumbent and Bernie Sanders landslide victory in Vermont is doing a great disservice to the public.

Keep repeating the truth until the pundits are forced to listen, this country is moving to the left.

[ixion]

1. here here!

kicked and recommended

[pissedoffprogressive]

2. Totally agree. WE THE PEOPLE have said our piece

[Quantess]

3. But, moderate Dems did win many races.

Both progressive Dems and moderate Dems were winners.

I mean, what you said sounds good, but it's not true that this was only a win for progressives. There are still a lot of moderates in this country, and the Democratic party is still the most representative of moderate people, as well as progressives.

[Vincardog]

5. But Progressives LEAD the party to the win, NOT moderates

[Bjorn Against]

6. Did you read my post?

I acknowledged that there were conservative Democrats who won, and I never said it was "only" a win for progressives.

But the fact is it was the progressives who opposed this war and fought against the Bush administration from the beginning, and the polls have showed opposition to the war was the biggest issue among voters. The victory would have never been so big if progressives had not spent the past few years educating people about what is going on.

[Vincardog]

10. You are talking to quantessd right?

[Bjorn Against]

13. yes n/t

[Quantess]

16. Yes I did read your post

and I don't disagree with you too much, as long as you acknowledge that it was a win-win situation, all around, for moderates and for progressives.

I think the Democrats should continue to try to represent their constituents. A Democrat in Marin county, CA, should go ahead and be very progressive. A Democrat in the Florida panhandle should keep on being moderate, if that's what their constituents want. Democrats in some parts of the country can't afford to be too liberal, or the voters will hold their noses and switch back to Republicans.

[Bjorn Against]

26. I agree with you there

I am by no means suggesting the moderates are useless, far from it. They can win us seats that a progressive would have a difficult time winning. My point is that overall our victory is a result of progressives speaking loudly, if every sat in the middle and tried not to rock the boat I highly doubt the Democrats would have taken control of either house of Congress.

[Quantess]

30. And I agree with you that progressives helped the country by speaking up!

It took too long for liberals to be heard, in my opinion.
Back when the Iraq invasion began in 2003, I felt like nobody was questioning the pretzeldent's decision, in the media. No one. Finally, when it was glaringly obvious that the White House was sending us to hell in a handbasket, then at long last, a few liberal voices got to through the masses. I already knew how horrible the B* administration was; the progressives helped convince the rest of America.

[Quantess]

40. Too late to edit.

It took too long for liberals to be heard.

[William769]

4. No one group won this election.

It was a combination of eveybody in the Democratic party (the very big tent) and Independents that won this election.

I REFUSE to give anyone group credit.

[achtung_circus]

7. Good sense.

Everyone voted. Whether one is a progressive or a moderate the vote carried equal weight. Don't start building walls between people.

I hope that the Democratic Party has learned that much. We'll see.

[Bjorn Against]

11. I am not building walls, I am seeking credit where credit is due

I think good to have moderates in the party, and yes their vote does carry equal weight.

But there is a lot more to an election than a simple vote. It was progressives that laid the groundwork for this victory, and too often progressives are dismissed as being "too far left".

I am not trying to divide anyone, I just don't want to see progressives marginalized any more and I have seen several people in the media and even here on DU trying to claim this was a victory for centrists. In some ways it was, but it was an even bigger victory because of the work progressives put into it.

[achtung_circus]

25. I'm sorry.

That sounds suspiciously like some animals are more equal than others.

[Bjorn Against]

31. Where do I say anything even close to that?

What I said was that everyones vote counts equal, but there is more to the election than simply voting. People don't simply go out and vote on election day without other people working very hard to get things ready beforehand. Those are the ones who ultimately deserve the most credit for the victory in the end. It doesn't mean their vote itself counts any more, they still have equal representation. But when we acknowledge who it was that really pushed the campaign forward you need to give credit where credit is due, and you don't credit every single person equally for a victory that certain people had an enormous of amount of influence on.

[Bjorn Against]

9. I am not giving credit ONLY to progressives

I am saying that ultimately the issues that won this for us were opposition to the war and opposition to Bush.

Many conservative Democrats supported the war in the beginning, but progressives spoke out loudly against it. It was their years of dedication to ending the war that eventually brought others to their side and turned the tides against the Republicans.

I am not dismissing moderates, I just believe progressives deserve far more credit than what they are getting because without their years of dedication it is extremely unlikely that Democratic wins would have been so big.

[William769]

14. This is your headline.

"It was not the centrists who won this election for the Democrats it was the progressives". Sounds to me like your giving credit to one group.

BTW, I have been against this war since it even began. Back then I considered myself a Conservative Democrat, now I consider my self a moderate, but most importantly I consider my self a Democrat!

[Bjorn Against]

21. I am giving credit to one group, but I am not attacking the other group

Yes moderates did play a role in the victory, but progressives were ultimately the ones that gave us the win.

Sure there were some conservatives who opposed the war, but their numbers were quite small.

The reason I posted this was not to attack moderates, but rather to finally give progressives credit because election after election their contribution is marginalized. We are always told we need to seek out middle ground, well this election was won by NOT seeking out middle ground but by raising opposition to the war.

[William769]

28. I never said you were attacking another group.

But I still have to stand my my original post, it was not one group that won this election.

[stepnw1f]

8. THANK YOU... LIBERALS/PROGRESSIVES were Right from the Get-Go!!!!

Liberals have been standing up against the MSM and the GOP for 6 years.... what did these conservative dems do?

"Gotta keep our gun powder dry."

Give me a break!

[xchrom]

12. indeed.

moderates in particular were late to the party -- and why? because they knew their progressive partners were right -- but for the sake of APPEARANCES ''stayed the course''.

people died -- a lot of people died for that experiment in pragmatism.

[happydreams]

15. The Progressives are who got the anti-war movement going and

now you have a public that wants the same thing. It tells me that, especially on this most important of issues, that the Progressive anti-war movement lead the way and hard-fought it was.

[AntiWarPoster]

17. sorry min but you are wrong

independents and moderate women won this for dems.

[Bjorn Against]

22. Do you agree that the war was THE defining issue of this election

Who was opposed to this war from the beginning? It was the progressives that built up the anti-war sentiment in this country, not the independents and moderates.

[AntiWarPoster]

24. that's true

but if you're talking about who won the election for dems, it was the large numbers of moderates, not the small number of truly progressive voters.

[Bjorn Against]

34. Where do you get the idea that the number of progressives is small?

In recent polls by the Pew Research Group, the Opinion Research Corporation, the Wall Street Journal, and CBS News, the American majority (Democrats AND Republicans) has made clear how it feels. Look at how the majority feels about some of the issues that you'd think would be gospel to a real Democratic Party:

1. 65 percent (of ALL Americans, Democrats AND Republicans) say the government should guarantee health insurance for everyone -- even if it means raising taxes.

2. 86 percent favor raising the minimum wage (including 79 percent of selfdescribed "social conservatives").

3. 60 percent favor repealing either all of Bush's tax cuts or at least those cuts that went to the rich.

4. 66 percent would reduce the deficit not by cutting domestic spending but by reducing Pentagon spending or raising taxes.

5. 77 percent believe the country should do "whatever it takes" to protect the environment.

6. 87 percent think big oil corporations are gouging consumers, and 80 percent (including 76 percent of Republicans) would support a windfall profits tax on the oil giants if the revenues went for more research on alternative fuels.

7. 69 percent agree that corporate offshoring of jobs is bad for the U.S. economy (78 percent of "disaffected" voters think this), and only 22% believe offshoring is good because "it keeps costs down."


http://alternet.org/wiretap/29788 /

8. Over 63% oppose the War on the Iraqi People.

9. 92% of ALL Americans support TRANSPARENT, VERIFIABLE elections!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...


Thanks to bvar22 for this list of poll numbers....http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2949935

[Binka]

49. All You Do Is Spew RW Talking Points

You been here about a week and you spew garbage and nonsense 24/7. You are now on IGNORE and I'll check back each day to see how long it is until you get the axe. BYE.

[Binka]

50. Holy Shit You Got TS Already

I knew it you fucking freeper.

[LiberalPartisan]

18. Maybe...

But the mistake is made in thinking the country is now 'progressive' or wants the 'progressive' agenda passed. The country wants a government that does the right thing on the international stage, stays out of the people's business, taxes fairly, and that's about it.

The electorate will fire the democrats right quick in 2 years if they go all progressive on them. This election was won by pragmatic middle of the road independents and ideology played no part. The democrats are on a short leash with the electorate and they have to govern effectively from the beginning and that cannot be accomplished by dusting off the worn and tattered playbook of the good old days. At best the democrats are on a 2 year test drive with the electorate. Let's hope they don't screw it up.

[Quantess]

27. Sad but true. Very true.

Democrats now represent the views of the majority of Americans. A whote lot of Americans are moderates.

Republicans made the mistake of believing that America was becoming more right wing, back in the 90s. Well, they assumed wrongly. Their party paid the price for becoming too right-wing.

[Bjorn Against]

36. But progressive principles are VERY popular when people hear them

See post 34 for some polls, we will be much succesful if we run to the left than if we run to the center.

People are sick of high health insurance premiums and they want universal health care. They want an end to the war in Iraq. They want better environmental protection. These are progressive issues that we can push forward and strengthen our majorities. When people see their medical insurance costs disappear for only a modest tax increase they will be happy, because it will save them a lot of money and cause them a lot less stress and they will be healthier as well.

There is no need to govern from the center when progressive positions are so popular with the people.

[Quantess]

41. Good point. It depends on what the so-called "center" is.

"The center" for Republicans is going to look different than "the center" for Democrats.
It would be wise of Democrats to consider the "center" to be moderate-to-left. But, "the center" is relative. I feel that I am very moderate -in my own mind-, but when you compare my views to what's spouted on CNN, I'm pretty far left. Even on MSNBC I'd be considered a left-winger.

Speaking of MSNBC, today an announcer said something like "will the Democrats be pushing their medicare agenda?" :o Excuse me?! Medicare AGENDA?? Did I hear that correctly, that MSNBC says that DEMOCRATS have a MEDICARE AGENDA!?! :mad:
Yes, that's what MSNBC thinks of Medicare. That it's just a 'Democrat agenda'. When will the media ever get it? Those assholes in the media aren't fooling us. We're not buying their shit.

Anyway, "the center" should represent the heart of reasonable American people, which is undoubtedly more sensible, more thoughtful, wiser, and less ignorant, than the current media would have us believe.

[leftofthedial]

19. If the left had not pushed and pushed and pushed

on lies, crimes, illegal war, attacks on the Constitution, war crimes and the like, the cabal would still be getting away with whatever they wanted, safe with repuke control of both houses.

the victory was DESPITE the "centrist" Democrats, not because of them.

[Sparkly]

20. I think we were fired up, and got the "centrists" to come out for Dems

Maybe it was a combination of our efforts, our (and our leadership's) successful persuasion, and certainly, the VOTES of the moderates, centrists, independents, etc. as a result.

We got votes from former Bush-voters, and face it -- we need them. We need people who voted for Reagan, as well as Clinton. In short, we need as big a MAJORITY as possible, and that means building the Democratic constituency by not only accepting others, but even appealing to them. As the constituency grows, we gain a more powerful microphone for our views of government, equality, justice, fairness, etc...

I've always said, THAT is how movements are built, and how change is effected -- not by a small percentage demanding our leaders to "move left," but by building a majority at the grassroots so that we're NOT a small percentage. Right now, I still believe on broad issues, the majority is with the Democratic party. But we have to recognize that there are still people who can't accept labels like "liberal," "socialist," "progressive;" who have views on one issue or another that differ from those any of us may have (hey, we disagree with each other even here!). That's reality.

I say we need to keep doing what we did in this election. Work, work, work to get people over to our side. Our energy (and our leading Democrats' strategy and tireless advocacy) brought in their votes, and the combination made the difference.

The "Big Tent" makes a difference. It's all about a "Majority."

[Bjorn Against]

23. And I generally agree with what you are saying

We certainly need the former Republicans, I am just arguing that people need to stop dismissing the progressives because they played an enormous role and they are continually marginalized in the media. They earned this win and they deserve credit.

[William769]

29. See, you just did it again.

"They earned this win and they deserve credit". Yes they deserve credit for what they did and yes they helped with this win. You make it sound like they did it on their own and they did not!

[Bjorn Against]

32. Where did I say they did it on their own?

You are putting words in my mouth.

Yes they did earn this win. You can not deny that progressives did a LOT to bring about this victory.

We are always hearing about how progressives need to move to the "center" in order to win votes, but that is not won the votes in this election. We hear the DLC try to take credit for wins all the time despite the fact that their record has not been that great, why can't progressives claim victory for once? They certainly have the numbers to show it. This election was won on anti-war sentiment, all the polls show it this the case I don't know why it is so difficult for people to acknowledge.

[William769]

37. Once again EVERBODY did a lot to bring this victory about!

EVERYBODY earned this win! Is that so hard to understans?

BTW

Corruption named as key issue by voters in exit polls

"Asked which issues were extremely important to their vote, 42 percent said corruption and ethics; 40 percent, terrorism; 39 percent, the economy; 37 percent, Iraq; 36 percent, values; and 29 percent, illegal immigration."



http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/07/election.exitpolls/index.html

[madfloridian]

33. That's what Booman said at his blog.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/585

"Juanita Millender-McDonald (California) stands to chair the House Administration Committee. She's a New Democrat but she is also an African-American woman, and the first ever to chair a permanent committee of Congress. Rep. Silvestre Reyes (Texas) might get the chair of Intelligence (if Alcee Hastings is denied). He's a new Democrat, but he's also Hispanic. That would also be a first as far as I know. John Spratt (South Carolina) will be chair of the Budget Committee. This is the full extent of DLC power in the new house.

Here's a list of the Progressive Caucus. Sherrod Brown in now a Senator from Ohio. Bernie Sanders in now a Senator from Vermont. John Conyers, Jr. will now chair the Judiciary Committee. Bob Filner will chair the Veteran's Affairs Committee. Barney Frank will chair the Finances Committee. Tom Lantos will chair the Foreign Relations Committee. George Miller will chair the Education Committee. Charlie Rangel will chair the Ways and Means Committee. Louis Slaughter will chair the Rules Committee. Bennie Thompson will chair the Homeland Security Committee. Nydia Velazquez will chair the Small Business Committee. And Henry Waxman will chair the Government Reform Committee.

So, don't listen to naysayers, or to the media, or to Rahm Emanuel. Progressives WILL NOW DOMINATE in the House. Progressives HAVE NEVER WIELDED THIS MUCH POWER IN HISTORY within either chamber of Congress."

[DuaneBidoux]

35. Face it, the Republicans won this election for the Democrats.

[ToeBot]

38. What he said. nt

[The Wielding Truth]

39. They screwed it up so bad not even their own party could afford to

support them. Republicans must be kept away from government and restrained in business. They will survive and thrive without harming anything in this environment. Face it, they find their way to skim and play us out of anything they want in a heartless manner. They must be kept within boundaries of common law and decency. I'm not saying they aren't nice people .... oh yes I am. Oversight. Oversight. Oversight.

[struggle4progress]

42. Maybe we could think about fighting the real SOBs instead of having ...

... a pointless internal pissing contest?

Too liberal, too conservative, blah blah blah ... it's all a bunch of outdated jargon. We have major important issues to address. Let's think about addressing them.

[jgraz]

43. Let's strangle this "centrist" meme in its crib

The Guardian of the UK wrote the following post-election editorial entitled "Thank You, America".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,1942822,00.html

It's generally decent, but contains this DLC-inspired gem:

In almost every one of these cases, as in the Connecticut contest won by Joe Lieberman running as an independent, the Democrats have won by cleaving to the centre and winning the support of independent voters. The new House Speaker Nancy Pelosi may be the Armani-clad San Francisco leftwinger of the caricaturists' dreams but she heads a caucus that will demand caution on some of the baby-boomer liberal generation's pet subjects.

I responded with this comment:

Gee, thanks for noticing our elections. Too bad you misunderstood or misrepresented the key point in the results of Tuesday night: Democrats did not win by "cleaving to the centre". This was a flat-out progressive victory, as any fair analysis clearly shows.

Only by selective reporting can you spin the election as a win for centrism. You write of Lieberman's Republican-supported Senate bid while ignoring the fact that our other new independent Senator is Bernie Sanders, a self-avowed Socialist. You point out that three of four anti-gay-marriage amendments passed, but neglect to mention that abortion bans, taxpayer bills of rights and estate tax repeals were crushed at the polls while minimium wage hikes and stem cell funding initiatives were overwhelmingly approved.

If you need a bit more help understanding this election, you might try Googling folks like John Yarmouth, Larry Kissell, John Hall or Carol Shea-Porter. All are rock-ribbed progressive populists who won with little or no help from the centrist Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Maybe then you can read up on Senators-elect Sherrod Brown, Jon Tester and Amy Klobucher -- all of whom will be keeping Bernie Sanders company on the far-left side of the aisle.

C'mon guys, I can get lazy and deceptive journalism right here at home. I expect The Guardian to do a bit better.

Don't let Rahm Emmanuel and the rest of the DLC posers spin this as a victory for them. Just because they have 'D' next to their name doesn't mean they didn't get crushed almost as badly as the degenerate trolls who are now cleaning out their offices. We need to make sure they sit down, shut up and follow our lead.

[Arkana]

44. Can I go ahead and say I'm not really concerned with who won this for us?

I'm just damn glad we won it. Now let's get down to business.

[jgraz]

45. This is not about credit, it's about repeatability

We need to take a clear-eyed look at why we won these elections or the Repugs will be right bakc in power in '08.

[demwing]

46. Oh Hell, people!, It was ALL of us, working TOGETHER

Democrats united, taking back the country from the bad guys. Lets keep it together.

[MGD]

47. ignoring extremely significant progressive victories like Sherrod Brown's

defeat of a Republican incumbent.

Conservative voters had a hell of a lot to do with Mike Dewine's defeat actually. He is hated by Ohio NRA members. Furthermore, Brown rode Strickland's A+ NRA rating all the way home for the big win. Furthermore, the corruption in ohio has infuriated Ohioans. It was a clean sweep and a shift left to be sure but it isn't what you are claiming.

[OneBlueSky]

48. this election was as much about voting AGAINST Republicans . . .

as it was voting FOR Democrats . . . I can't tell you the number of people who I spoken with who said something like "we have to get the Republicans out of there" . . . in many cases, they didn't even care who the opponent was, just as long as s/he was a Democrat . . .

so I don't think you can draw too much of a conclusion about whether it was progressive or conservative Democrats who won . . . because in many cases, it was simply Republicans who lost . . .

[Anarcho-Socialist]

51. You're all wrong. I take single credit for victory

for I am best.