McCaskill on CNN: Let's find common ground with Republicans, instead of demonizing them

[Metric System]

Why are progressives just fine with this viewpoint put forth by the Obama camp? Seriously, I'm just wondering if I'm the only one who is bothered by this rush to make nice with Republicans. Do people really think playing nice will work?

[spooky3]

1. sounds like a co-dependent talking

[rodeodance]

15. really--that is terrible is that is happening. (i am not listening)

[spooky3]

87. looks as if most of the other DUers replying had reactions like mine

and apparently, so do many Missouri voters -- she has an approval rating < 50%

http://www.surveyusa.com/index.php/2008/01/17/one-year-in-missouris-mccaskill-approval-at-49/

[KittyWampus]

30. sounds like someone who wants to win the WH and a larger majority in Congress or is your idea

to drive off independents and disaffected GOP'ers?

[sunonmars]

34. If it means selling our souls to the Republicans, you can get lost

[Qutzupalotl]

59. Common ground cannot include sellling of either soul. nt

[Cant trust em]

78. You don't have to sell your soul

She talks about finding common ground. There are too many issues representing too many people to have nothing to talk about. I would never give up my core values but there has to be something that both sides have in common. Let's work on those first.

[spooky3]

86. I suggest you review the video of Barbara Boxer

and her gavel explaining to a Republican that she was now the chair of the committee and in control of the agenda, when that Republican was trying to tell Al Gore what he had to do in his testimony.

For Democrats to win over independents and "disaffected GOP'ers" requires them to take principled standards and argue for them. That is what rallies voters. You may want to check issues-based opinion polls. What you will find is that the majority of voters in this country agree with the Democratic positions on many issues, if not most of them. The Republicans currently in power understand only power. They will be amazingly willing to "compromise" and "reach across the aisle" when they realize that they no longer control the White House and either house of Congress. Until then, they will simply roll over anyone they perceive as weak. That's what they have done for the past 8 years.

[Taverner]

2. Because they still control almost half of Congress

[sampsonblk]

21. No, they still control half of Congress because we've been so nice

You have it backwards.

[aquart]

22. Not after November.

[Taverner]

29. Ojala

[KittyWampus]

32. If Hillary is on the ballot, we will lose seats and opportunities to pick up seats

[girl_interrupted]

27. "Evil always wins, because Good is dumb"

The Democrats never learn do they? Isn't this what they have been doing since 2000 and with their own Majority since 2006? Jesus. If I have learned anything from Republicans it's this...either you kick them in the ass and get some respect or they will kick you in yours. And Democrats always seem to fall for the "Unity" baloney. Reminds me of a line from "Spaceballs"... "Evil always wins, because Good is dumb"

[redqueen]

46. Nice to see that!

"either you kick them in the ass and get some respect or they will kick you in yours"

Exactly. Republicans aren't interested in kumbaya... they don't respect it. AT ALL.

[coco77]

3. This is one of my problems with their campaign..

[rodeodance]

4. Pelosi/reid have tried the make nice approach--and Repugs are NOT biting.

[tekisui]

5. I don't like it. Fuck the pukes.

They should have to grovel to the Dems to get a crumb from the table.

[Clarkansas]

6. Sounds like what I have heard from the McCain campaign. It is interesting how independents like him

but do not like Hillary. Maybe this is why.

[KittyWampus]

7. Because to gain a larger majority in Congress we need to make inroads. This is simple politics

welcome to the real world.

[bidenista]

8. i believe this is known as the mccain maneuver

After all we've endured these last 8 years, I for one do not want a candidate who wants to make nicey-nice with the Repubs. Government on our terms, for the people. Not theirs. Not for the corporatists and war-profiteers.

[KittyWampus]

25. Are McCain's policy positions similar to Obama's? No? Is his voting record? No?

So there's no fear he'll turn out to be McCain, is there.

[goldcanyonaz]

9. Nice doesn't work with Repugs, they need to be beat down.

[TheDebbieDee]

26. I totally agree. I'm sick of the namby-pamby, let's make nice

approach. Repukes should be demonized cause they have enabled a regime to profit from war, wallow in incompetence and and call us unpatriotic and terrorist-sympathizers.

Reaching out to get them to "work with us" will only get us "worked over", yet again.

[in_cog_ni_to]

10. HOLY SHIT! They -Have -Got -To-Be-Kidding-Me!!!!! Where the hell has Claire and Barack been for the

last 12 freakin' MISERABLE years?:grr:

[KittyWampus]

40. Your solution is? Pissing off moderates, independents, anti-war GOP'ers? Obama has his

policy positions. He has his record. They aren't radically different than the Clinton's.

[in_cog_ni_to]

60. My sloution is making them pay for all the fucking CRIMES they have committed in last 12 years!

Playing nice is OUT OF THE QUESTION!

[rodeodance]

79. Maxine Waters, the chair of the OUT OF IRAQ causus endorsed Hillary yesterday

[sueh]

11. Earth to Claire. Earth to Claire.

Republicans don't play nice. When will you learn??? You are not in the Senate to play nice with repubs. You are there to look out for the best interests of "we the people".

[avaistheone1]

38. McCaskill sold out to the telecoms this week. She voted AGAINST the Anti-immunity bill.

Why on earth should we care what she thinks?

[rodeodance]

74. ah yes, I do recall that vote. but also, he has sided with Repugs on other bills.

[sunonmars]

12. In a word, fuck right off.

[BootinUp]

35. lol , agreed.

[TheDebbieDee]

67. Um.......that's 3 words.........

But 3 good words!

[Drifter]

Fuck that ...

The repukes steam rolled us when they had the majority.
We need to undo the damage that they created. Then we can play nice.

Cheers
Drifter

[Mojambo]

13. I'm hoping it's just election tactics, but yeah, it really bothers me about the Obama camp

I think that Obama does believe in progressive ideals ultimately, I just haven't heard or seen anything out of him that convinces me that he'll vigorously stand up for those ideals when they come under attack. And they WILL come under attack.

[rodeodance]

28. i think bho has too too many people mesmerized including the press for the most part

edit for spell

[End Of The Road]

14. They deserve to be demonized.

Do NOT compromise with people who have no empathy for the average citizen. It is the polar opposite of populism. Obama should be ashamed.

[Tom Strong]

16. I didn't know demons could be demonized. n/t

[EFerrari]

17. Too late, Claire! Satan got them first!

:rofl:

[Zueda]

18. Finding common ground isn't "playing nice"...

It's about getting it done.

[rodeodance]

37. bho hs show how well he can speehy and messerized people. That is what he gets done.

[hisownpetard]

56. Shpeak musht?

[juajen]

64. We have plenty of dems who have been trying to find common ground

with the pugs. You know, like my Senator, Mary Landrieu. I believe ya'll call her and others like her DINOs. They are berated and hated by most of DU. But, gee, now it's ok for Obama? I believe ya'll are drinking the Pollybama kool-aid.

BTW, Hillary Clinton is another Senator who tries to find common ground. However, in trying to do so, she usually stands her ground instead of giving in to the pugs.

[ulysses]

81. ok, but what, exactly, are we getting done?

[sunonmars]

19. I'm telling you now, you are warned, this is a view of an Obama Presidency

[calico1]

77. Yup. I can see it coming. n/t

[SammyWinstonJack]

20. Common ground with republicans?

:wtf: Will we never learn? :banghead:

[blm]

23. The Republican VOTERS who have turned away from their party. Why not convince

them that things can be better for their lives through Democratic policies they used to reject in a knnejerk way in the past?

This is an opportunity to turn Republican voters into Democratic voters.

No one is saying capitulate to Republicans to do it. Reagan didn't - he convinced Democratic working class to vote against themselves.

Democrats need to convince Republican working class that Democratic values are more in tune with their life needs. I believe it can happen. Give them some truth.

[Yossariant]

24. What a self -defeating "Democrat"

The only way to make nice with a Republican is to sit down, shut up and obey.

How long, America?

What planet has she been on for the past 16 years and more?

[bpeale]

31. all i have to say about that is NO FUCKING WAY

[SammyWinstonJack]

55. ...

:thumbsup:

[UALRBSofL]

33. But Waters will be on very soon to speak for Clinton

:)

[desi]

53. Maxine ROCKS!!

Hillary has more CBC members endorsing her than Obama.

[rodeodance]

66. ALL FIRED-UP FOR THE LADY~~

[Bread and Circus]

36. Because many of my family and friends are "Republicans"...

and though we often have heated debates, I love them.

One of George Bush's failings was acting like he was the President of one party, that's why.

[sunonmars]

39. I hope someone batters her over the fucking head with that

No way are we standing for this.

[LibDemAlways]

41. The last thing I'm interested in is voting for somebody who

wants to cozy up to the enemy. After the last eight years, you'd think the Dems would have learned something, but apparently not.

[jasmine621]

42. If she and Seibelus are examples of the thinking behind Obama's

campaign strategy then there is no way we should not support Hillary to the max.

[sunonmars]

45. He might as well run republican

Obama is looking more and more like a red state conservative republican, its making me very uneasy.

[soleft]

43. A lot of progressives feel like we need to stop demonizing period

It always strikes me that the right wing view of the world is that everyone is our enemy. A progressive view point is that this is one planet, we are one people. Everyone is connected. If we can feel that way about people who are presumedly our enemies who live on the other side of the planet, why shouldn't we feel that way about people across the aisle.

Sure - they enrage us. Their positions often seem to want to inflict hurt upon us. But no one, even Dick Cheney, wakes up in the morning and says what evil can I cause today.

They're ignorant. They're misguided. They're wrong. For varying reasons. Fear. Upbringing. In the case of Bush, dementia. I believe they want to do good they just don't know how. They will never learn if we don't keep talking to them.

[jasmine621]

49. I bet my next check you are wrong about Cheney.

Progressives need to learn to fight to win or their agenda falls by the way side. Do you think any Republican is going to say this kind of stuff and win the Republican nomination. Bush said, I'm a uniter, not a divider" but they all knew he was lying and the proof is in the pudding.

[soleft]

52. Well, you might be right about Cheney

And Rove. Definitely Rove.

[redqueen]

44. Obviously some of them think playing nice will work.

They obviously haven't been paying any attention at all for the last 28 years.

[Reciprocity]

47. Why the hell are we working so hard to vote them out of office

if Obama's just going to slip them in through the back door into his administration. I haven't lived through the past seven years of constant attacks from them only to play nice when we win.

[desi]

48. Is Clare bringing/sharing the Vaseline?

I wish I had the time or inclination to search her lackluster Senate voting record. Yes I have seen her vote several times and wondered what in hell she was doing.

[BringEmOn]

50. Sure, McCaskill, the pukes will pretend to play nice with you if you cave and vote their way.

[Danger Mouse]

51. In the end, we will have to work with the Republicans to get any real change in our country.

Why? Because the Democratic party is full of nearly as many corrupt scumbags as the republican party.
It'll take the good republicans and the good democrats working together to purge the disease in both parties.
Unfortunately, many people on this board simply want to create more division...it won't work. It'll just make things worse.
While I don't think we should make nice, or give into them, this shouldn't be about revenge or retribution either.
Bush has caused unimaginable damage to the very fabric of our country because he encouraged divisions and playing the sides against each other. The Repukes were used for tools just as surely as the Dems were.
In the end, what the next 4 years should be about is cleaning up Bush's mess, and healing the wounds he left. I know a lot of us, me included, are angry at the Republican party and the harm they have caused, but they are not simply going to go away, and neither are their supporters.
Creating further division will only delay the healing, and further serve the purposes of the neo cons. Even with Bush out of office, we will have to be very careful of them...they won't simply fade into the night. They will be working to enact the next step in their evil plans.
It might not happen in the next 4 years, but at some point...we'll need to take a good hard look at unity.
Be angry, be passionate, we want change and we will have it...but we can't and shouldn't completely destroy the Republicans.
The real enemies are the neoconservatives and the corporations. Never forget that. They have a tighter hold on the Repubs, but they have a very strong hold on the dems as well.
Our country will never properly heal until the true foes of democracy and freedom are vanquished...and that will take co-operation and dedication in both parties to purge the disease they have taken into themselves.

[Metric System]

54. This is like Gov. Sebelius's son's board game "Don't Drop the Soap" come to life.

When will we stop spreading our cheeks, tempting the Rethugs to violate us?!?

[Stand and Fight]

57. This is precisely why I cannot support Obama.

Making nice with these creeps simply does not work. Both he and McCaskill need to wake the hell up. It's clear that they are not in touch with what's been going on the past decade and more.

[krabigirl]

92. Same here!

[Bluestar]

58. Well, Claire, from what I've seen of your policies you've already

found the common ground with the Republicans. And I don't like it one bit!

[jlake]

61. Claire is on my shit list. She did NOT get into the senate by "finding common ground"

she got in by promising to fight them tooth and nail.
I will not sell my soul to gain a few votes.
I want to make the Republicans fucking beg for a crumb NOT compromise our rights away.
And I am FURIOUS that people are defending this BS.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

62. Playing "nice" will work......

ONLY if the the GOP decides to play "nice" as well. As we have seen, particularly since 1994, they do not appear to be interested much in finding common ground with Democrats and have spent years doing nothing but demonizing the Clintons, the Democratic Party, and pretty much any of their (real or perceived) ideological opponents. It's interesting that McCaskill, a Democrat no less, thinks that the Democratic Party and its supporters have perhaps been too hard on Republicans. WHERE EXACTLY HAS SHE BEEN?!!!!!
:wtf:

[Metric System]

65. McCaskill, like Sebelius, is a right-leaning Dem. so I guess we shouldn't be surprised n/t

[ClericJohnPreston]

63. I've said from the start

you cannot be conciliatory to the Republican base, when a major FDR type of correction is needed.

I love the APOLOGIST'S call of , "it's only a game for election purposes", excuse. First, it can't be, because he would be excoriated by the press and voters, if bi-partisanship is a ruse. Second, Obama has been consistent in this message since he appeared on the National Stage at the 2004 Convention, talking his "ONE AMERICA" message.

Obama is an appeasor, looking for friends. Unfortunately, the Republican base is comnprised of self-interested THUGS, who are only interested in thir own portfolios. You cannot cozy up to people who are the polar opposite of an empathetic populist concerned with the welfare of the people.

A true Progressive cannot find a middle ground with social sociopaths. Believing you can, for political expediency, is the language of the contemptible DLC.

[Raster]

72. Hear! Hear! Many desperate measures are called for to stave off this country's collapse,

and one of them is NOT gathering to hold hands and sing Kumbaya with the rethuglicans. Been there, did that and got stuck with cheney*/bush*, Iraq, Plame, (S)elections 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006, just to name a few of our "souvenirs" from our "team-building" sessions with the rethuglican scourge. I don't want hugs, hope and affirmation. I want justice, responsibility AND corporal punishment. And I want a President not only with vision, but also the cajones to make that vision reality.

And before the "you're the problem, you screaming reactionary" crowd show us to wag their fingers, ask yourselves what the previous bout(s) with cooperation and synergy achieved, besides a bankrupt country--morally and financially--and a major pain in our rectal area from being repeatedly and forcibly assaulted.

[krabigirl]

93. Yep, and it disgusts me to hear this from a Democrat, in the Primaries no less!

[mzmolly]

68. Hillary has said as much for years.

:shrug:

[Carni]

69. Republican definition of common ground =

A parcel of land (in a low rent area of course)where middle and low income persons who have lost their jobs, undergone bankruptcy and lost their homes to foreclosure can live in boxes.

No, thanks very much...I don't care to bend over and offer the repukes what is left in my wallet under the next administration.

If I wanted another serving of their treachery I would just vote for them directly.

[HowHasItComeToThis]

70. NO, AND YELL AND SCREAM THE TRUTH ABOUT THE REPUBLGANGSTERS

QED

[hfojvt]

71. that's pretty stupid rhetoric, but no worse than Clintons

who "beat" the Republicans by becoming Republicans. If the public is behind a 'unity' message, which they seemed to be when Bush used it, then we should be able to threaten or beat Republicans with that message when they pull their usual scorched earth politics.

[Perky]

73. And there it is...The real difference between Clinton and Obama supporters.

Clinton supporters would prefer greidlock to even incremental progressive results,

[ClericJohnPreston]

75. Thats the point

GENIUS, we can't afford INCREMENTAL Progressivism. We need an FDR type correction, from a real Populist. Neither HRC or Obama fits that bill.

[Perky]

83. No Doubt...but absent that leader with those type of coattails and that kind of mandate

some would rather have gridlock than even small succesess.

We don't send people into government to enter into a holding pattern we senf them to get thing done.

[judaspriestess]

76. Demonizing them?

yeah lady just like they will open up your mouth and shit down it if given the opportunity.

These people need to get real. Democrats are the enemy to them NO MATTER WHAT. They will smile to your face and stab you in the back. What fucking part of that is not being understood?

[guitar man]

80. To hell with the damn Republicans

For the last 27 years they have beaten us to death with domestic fiscal policies that just don't work. Rebranding "trickle-down" economics as "supply-side" and so on and so forth. They are killing us in the middle class and have been for a long time.

I have never in my life worked so hard to have so little come of it. It is time to kick their outdated ideas and asses to the curb and develop some more progressive policies that will bear the fruits of social and economic justice for everyone in this country. Down with the damn regressives!! :grr:

[Yael]

82. We are NOT ok with it. We want them to change their way of thinking

not bow down to it.

[hwmnbn]

84. Yo, McCaskill....NO LET'S NOT!!...

There is no common ground unless you call the destruction if the "democrat" party a common goal. They actively sought a permanent political majority so they could eviscerate government agencies. Drown them in a bathtub of incompetence. They could then funnel our tax dollars to connected private corporations.

It is a demonic plan, and you want us to make nice?!?

Fuck NO!!! :grr:

[Malikshah]

85. It's called accountability you stupid person!

That is the common ground: Common decency.

McCaskill, you can go peddle your crap elsewhere you twisted enabler.

[ulysses]

88. ok. we're all carbon-based life forms.

How am I doing?

[KaptBunnyPants]

89. We must love them as they kill us.

If there's one thing I hate about liberalism it's the inability to defend oneself. They tell their followers we literally are demons or in league with demons, but we are expected to turn the other cheek and forgive them because thats what liberals do. We can't even tell the truth about them, because that would be mean. Is it demonizing to say Republicans don't care about the environment? Is it demonizing to say Republicans don't care about sick people they don't personally know? Is it demonizing to say prominent Republicans called for genocide after 9/11? To say that we are equally good is a travesty. If they want to be seen as good people, is it not, at the least, required that they act like good people?

[Cass]

90. The only way this will work is if repubs want the same.

So far I have not yet heard any repub talking about reaching across the aisle and finding common ground with dems. You can't find common ground with a bunch of people who won't meet you halfway.

[krabigirl]

91. I know, why? And why now? Doesn't anyone remember what has happened in the past 7 years?

And Congress is already working with Republicans. I want someone who will fight for progressive ideas, not pander to Repubs! It's our turn....why waste it?

And why talk about this now?

[krkaufman]

94. If the common ground is in the Republicans' yard, no.

But if the next President has a significant victory, bringing Independent and Republican voters over, he/she would have a mandate for change, shifting the ground for compromise to the Democrats' territory.

We've seen where the common ground of NAFTA has gotten us.

[OzarkDem]

95. Such weaklings, such cowards

[PresidentObama]

96. As a Missouri voter, McCaskill has been a shitty Senator.

Her voice means nothing to me.