Robert Creamer, HuffPo: What Yesterday's Election Means for Progressives

[highplainsdem]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-creamer/what-yesterdays-election_b_778101.html

Robert Creamer
Political organizer, strategist and author
Posted: November 3, 2010 04:31 AM

What Yesterday's Election Means for Progressives


-snip-

* First and foremost we cannot once again retreat into a defensive crouch, nor can we allow ourselves to be beguiled by those who say that Progressives should become more "moderate". It isn't progressive values that the voters rejected. It was economic stagnation. Many Americans are not frustrated because the government has done too much over the last two years; they are frustrated that the government did not do enough to create new jobs. There has never been a time when it has been more important for Progressives to stand up proudly for our values and our policies -- including health care and Wall Street reform, Social Security.

* And we must be unwavering in our faith that while fighting for what is truly good for everyday Americans may provoke a successful short term reaction by the corporate special interests -- and involve short term political cost -- in the end it is not only the right thing to do, it is good politics as well. Standing up for universal health care, and widely shared economic growth, and education, and scientific research, and human rights is about being on the right side of history. In the long run that is always good politics.

* We must make certain that the Republicans are forced to confront the hypocrisy of their own positions -- beginning immediately. In particular we should start by challenging them about how they intend square their frantic concern for deficits during the campaign with their proposal to raise the deficit in order to give millionaires a $700 billion tax cut. That issue will be front and center on the agenda of the upcoming lame duck session of Congress. And we must draw a line in the sand and say no to any attempt to cut Social Security or Medicare or to free the insurance companies from the restraints that were placed on their rates and practices by the new health care reform bill.

* We must go to war to improve the American economy -- and even if we cannot pass them all, we should propose real solutions and fight for them -- including a major public works program that puts people to work and primes the national economic pump. Over the next two years it is critical that increasing numbers of Americans come to believe that their lives -- and those of their children -- are improving. And just as important they need to see Democrats fighting for their jobs.

-snip-

Please click that link and read all of this. Very useful analysis and advice. Creamer points out that polling shows most Americans in agreement with Democrats on most issues. What cost us so many seats in this election were anger about the economy and unemployment, and the ferocious counter attack by Wall Street and corporate special interests.

[highplainsdem]

1. kick