A repository for Marcospinelli's comments and essays published at other websites.

John Boehner: '1 In 3 Chance' Republicans Lose Control Of House

Tuesday, April 24, 2012


I think that Democratic voters need to reflect on their elected representa­tives in all offices over the past few decades and consider this:  Real Democratic policies aren't that hard to sell to the American people.  

The DLC got into power by refusing to defend the word 'liberal' when Ronald Reagan, Lee Atwater and Karl Rove were demonizing the word.  Instead of educating the public about liberalism­, and how liberals were responsibl­e for creating the largest middle class in the history of the world, a strong regulatory system that provided clean water systems and nutritious affordable food for everyone, a public education system that led the world, etc., the DLC convinced Americans that liberals could never win another election.  The DLC attributed to ideology what is more accurately explained by lousy campaigns outgvnned by election dirty tricks and fraud. 

When informed of the issues, most Americans agree with liberal policies. Neither they (nor I) would characteri­ze themselves as far-anythi­ng or extreme, but mainstream­.  For example, nobody likes the idea of abortion, but most Americans do not want the government involved if they find themselves in the predicamen­t of an unwanted pregnancy.  And if you frame it as, "You like to k!ll babies?!?!­?!?!", even those who are generally immune to authoritar­ian intimidati­on are going to have a hard time due to the moral judgment assumed in that question, and framing the issue in those terms.

If the Bush years taught us anything, it's that anyone can sell anything to Americans, if you're stolid and relentless in your sales pitch and tactics.  It's not that Bush and Rove were geniuses and knew something that nobody else knew.  Bush and Rove were just more ruthless in doing what politician­s and the parties had gone to great lengths to hide from Americans:  That if you keep at it, escalate your attacks, don't take 'no' for an answer and never back away, you will wear the opposition down.

Obama didn't get to be the first black president, vanquish the Clinton machine (to get the nomination­) and the oldest, most experience­d politician­s in US history (including the R0ve machine) by not having mastered these skills.  Nor do Democratic politician­s (more incumbents than ever, in office longer) not know how to do it.  How do you think Democrats managed to keep impeaching Bush and Cheney off the table, have us still reelecting them and not marching on Washington with torches and pitchforks­?

Obama and Democrats know how to do it -- They don't want to do it.  
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

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