Reply #17: Clinton gave a speech every year to the DLC during the 90s. [View All]

[Merlin]

It was and is no "secret."

I was a part of the DLC during the late 80s and early 90s when our party was balls-to-the-wall in trouble; out of power in the WH for 12 years straight, and for 20 of the prior 28 years.

The DLC was relevant and vibrant then. It developed many progressive concepts, including Americorp, the 100,000 new teachers and 100,000 new police program, universal health insurance proposals, and a great many ideas to move the country forward.

The DLC also became the originator of "third way" ideas. These were proposals which answered the legitimate objections of the right but without compromising progressive principals. Tougher law enforcement ("Three Strikes", community funding for 100,000 new cops, the Brady Bill), and welfare reform were part of these.

Most liberals bitch like hell about welfare reform. I'm one who applauds it. I do believe there are serious shortcomings (regarding immigrants) that Clinton was forced to accept. At the time--just before Monicagate--he had every reason to believe he'd be able to push through corrective legislation the following year.

Those liberals who opposed welfare reform absolutely are sadly oblivious to the horrific counter-incentives the old welfare system perpetuated in the underclass. Benefits were better if fathers abandoned their families. The minute a beneficiary took a job, he or she lost all healthcare benefits. There were no graduated benefit reductions for those returning to work. Clinton built all these into the new plan, and he ought to be applauded for improving things and removing a lightening rod for right wing criticism that had been adopted broadly in our society.

Anyhow, the DLC has now, sadly, become a wholly owned subsidiary of Lieberman, and I will not support it. But its meetings still enjoy attendance from a broad group of Democrats, and they are well worth watching.