Centrists Losing Ground in Democratic Tug of War

the los angeles times ^ | june 21, 2003 | Ronald Brownstein, Times Staff Writer

[liberalnot]

WASHINGTON ? After soaring in prestige under former President Clinton, the centrist "New Democrat" movement is struggling to maintain its influence in the party as the 2004 presidential race accelerates.

In recent months, New Democrat leaders have engaged in escalating confrontations with more liberal party elements ? battles that could help determine whether Democrats largely follow Clinton's centrist course or tilt to the left in their challenge to President Bush next year.

[liberalnot]

brownstein's a democrat shill, but this is an excellent article if you want a summing-up of the current problems as perceived from the democrat left vs. the new democrat centrists.

[Drango]

Sharpton '04

[Joe Boucher]

and maybe Jerry (moonbeam)Brown as Sharptons running mate?

[liberalnot]

yeah, right!

i heard on the radio the other day that sharpton has 2% rating for the presidency.

oh god, my head hurts! you hafta wonder what that 2% has been ingesting.

[Husker24]

Sharpton/Dean 04

[BCrago66]

How about a link?

[Admin Moderator]

You see how much is left?

That's about how much we are allowed to leave when it is a LA Times or Washington Post owned property. Thanks, AM

[liberalnot]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-dems21jun21235423,1,6030508.story

[LibWhacker]

Clinton's a centrist? (btw, your link doesn't work)

[liberalnot]

i just tried it and it did work.

[LTCJ]

Broken link.

But if it says what I suspect, there is no need to whine for those in the "center". The Pubs seemed to making best speed away from the right and toward the center to rescue them.

[LibWhacker]

Sorry, I was referring to the original. #8 is fine, thanks.

[liberalnot]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-dems21jun21235423,1,6030508.story

[liberalnot]

you're welcome!

[DPB101]

Could you give us the central points of it? Are New Democrats the money center of the party? Will blacks go for a ND candidate?

[liberalnot]

clinton moved to the center in order to beat bush pere.

if clinton had not done so, he would not have won the 1992 election.

that's what a "new democrat" is.

as the article states, clinton was expert at dealing with the democrat left. now, they're back and the coalition is falling apart.

don't you think that hillary wants the dems to fall apart in 2004? obviously, the clinton-pukes do not want another democrat to win in 2004.

[liberalnot]

sure.

i've got the print edition here and i'll scan back thru' it and post the key issues to you within the next 5 minutes.

[Koblenz]

and maybe Jerry (moonbeam)Brown as Sharptons running mate?

Say what you will about Moonbeam, but he supported a version of the flat tax, as even he realized that our tax code is one major messed up system. Also, from what I hear, he's been a reasonably good mayor of Oakland, as good as can be expected....

[DPB101]

Thanks! Think others will appreciate the highlights of the article too. I should register and will. Like to keep up on the enemy camp.

[liberalnot]

1. for the last 20 years the new democrats has scuffled with the leftist democrats over the direction of the democrat party.

2. these new democrats are the moderates of the party and provided the support for bill clinton and al gore in 1992 and 1996. they worked thru' the dlc = democrat leadership council.

3. but now with the 2004 presidential elections coming up this coalition has fallen apart.

4. now the dlc is under a blistering attack from the left by the two most liberal 2004 candidates--rep. richard gephardt and gov. howard dean. the latter accuses the dlc of blurring the differences between dems and pubs.

5. some of clinton's ideas such as reforming welfare and a tough crime stance have become dem party consensus. but other clinton agreements are under attack: particulary the importance of balancing the budget.

6. with dean and others arguing for the party to sharpen its differences with the republicans, others are worried that swing voters will be alienated. the leftist position is devisive and doesn't help getting money or the white house.

7. meanwhile, the dlc was founded by al from and a group of mostly southern and western dems after mondale lost to reagan in 1984. from the start, the dlc was to move the democrat party to the center.

8. the dlc hit its stride after the dems lost the 1988 race.

9. the progressive policy inst is the dlc's think tank. al from convinced bill clinton to serve as chairman.

10. jesse jackson objected, saying that the dems had abandoned the po', and that dems were for the leisure class.

11. the conflict between the democrat left and the moderate dlc was never resolved.

12. in 2000, dlc members privately fumed that gore had moved back to the left.

13. dean's recent memos have inflamed the party.

14. some dlc members are backing john f. kerry and john edwards.




that's 'bout the jist of things.