Former Obama Campaign Strategist Steve Hildebrand: 2010 Dems are "Cowards"

[Emit]

ABC News' Jonathan Karl reports: Steve Hildebrand is one of most skilled political strategists the Democrats have. He played a critical role in getting Barack Obama elected President – first as the director of his campaign for the Iowa caucuses and later as the Deputy National Campaign Manager during the 2008 general election.

So why, as Democrats face their toughest midterm election since 1994, is Hildebrand on the sidelines?

I caught up with him at his home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota to find out. He offered a blunt assessment of Democratic “cowards” who he believes will lose because they are running away from their core principles – and the President. It was a fascinating discussion.

~snip~

JONATHAN KARL: So, Steve, how bad is it going to be for the Democrats in these mid-terms?

STEVE HILDEBRAND: I don’t think it has to be bad. I think if our Democratic candidates would actually be proud of to stand for their votes that they’ve taken, not all of them, but some. People who have supported health care shouldn’t run from it. They should be as proud of that vote as any vote they’ve taken in their lives. This is actually going to help people in a pretty serious way. It’s not going to hurt people.

JONATHAN KARL: And is that what you see people doing though because they’re afraid this vote is going to be used against them. In fact it’s already being used against them by Republicans they’re running away from it, running away from the President.

STEVE HILDEBRAND: Yeah, and the fact that they’re cowards in such a serious way. I mean, is this about their reelection or is this about helping people? What are they in politics for? What are they in government for, if they’re not in government to help people? They should simply get out. They shouldn’t run for reelection. And we should put people in there who are strong leaders, who want to do something to help people. That health care bill is going to help young people, old people, poor people, middle-income people. It’s vitally important to this country and any one of them that walks away from it, isn’t proud of that vote, is a coward.

JONATHAN KARL: If the current trajectory remains the way it is for the next two months, and the kind of Democratic strategy remains the way it is, do the democrats lose the House?

STEVE HILDEBRAND: The Democratic strategy right now is to run from the president, run from important proposals that help this country. If we’re not going to do something about health care, if we’re not going to do something about climate change, if we’re not going to do something about the economy, about the deficit, about the war, Washington is going to get punished. The Democrats might get punished more because they’re in power, but Washington in general is going to get punished. And you’ve seen it in Republican primaries across the country. You’ve seen it in Democratic primaries across the country. And you’re going to see it with a lot of just pure incumbents from both parties in November. They’re getting punished because they’re not dealing with the issues. They’re not dealing with the real problems that we face as a country. And they should be punished. Stand up and lead or get out of the way. And you might be replaced with someone worse, but you know, those are the options that are sometimes given to people.

~snip~

http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2010/09/karls-campaign-notebook-democratic-strategist-steve-hildebrand-to-democrats-stand-up-and-lead-or-get.html#tp

[niceypoo]

1. "will lose because they are running away from their core principles"

When you make the decision to abandon the central core of your base, you deserve whatever results from it.

The Democrats are stuck on stupid. If an election is on the horizon, the Dems are too scared to do anything bold, because it might negatively affect the outcome of that election. The Democrats then lose the election because they came across as weak, because they were too scared to pass anything meaningful. That is exactly what is happening now.

Rather than taking bold necessary action, Obama and the Democrats decided to lurch to the right to impress republicans, which meant abandoning the traditional core of their base, in hopes that republicans would shower them with votes and praise. That 'strategy' failed. The only thing that brings any chance for the Democrats is the fact that the tea party is declaring open warfare on the GOP and fielding unelectable weirdo candidates.

[ProSense]

4. He is talking about Democrats who are running away from the President:

...That health care bill is going to help young people, old people, poor people, middle-income people. It’s vitally important to this country and any one of them that walks away from it, isn’t proud of that vote, is a coward.

JONATHAN KARL: If the current trajectory remains the way it is for the next two months, and the kind of Democratic strategy remains the way it is, do the democrats lose the House?

STEVE HILDEBRAND: The Democratic strategy right now is to run from the president, run from important proposals that help this country...

[Poboy]

2. COWARDS. -nt

[and-justice-for-all]

3. 2010 Dems are "Cowards" LOL, look Grayson in the face and say that..nt

[OHdem10]

5. Blue Dogs and Centrists are the fearful and ones who distance

themselves from the President. I am not convinced
this is a smart strategy on their part. They are
saying to the world, it would seem, Hey I am trying
to cover my own behind here. How much moral courage???
I am aware others may see this differently.

I simply believe a Party looks stronger and in charge
when Members stick together with a message.

[Scurrilous]

6. BTTT

:kick: