In election's shadow, rally draws laughs, activism

The Democratic leadership could've taken away committee chairs of members in their caucus that joined with Republicans and threatened to filibuster a public option for healthcare. Obama did more arm-twisting on behalf of Lieberman remaining in the Democratic Caucus & keeping the chairmanship of that committee than he did on behalf of healthcare.



The DNC could've taken away reelection funds. But it hasn't. Because Lieberman & BlueDogs (& Republicans) provide cover to Obama & the DLC-controlled DemocraticParty, to let them continue to serve corporate interests over the interests of the People.



If Obama really wanted BlueDogs' votes or JoeLieberman's vote on legislation like real healthcare reform, he would have done to Lieberman & the BlueDogs what he did to DennisKucinich (the last hold-out on the ProgressiveCaucus, all of whom had pledged to vote for a healthcare bill only if it had a public option, and who all caved). Obama flew to Cleveland and rallied Kucinich's constituents against him and he got Kucinich's vote.



Where was that mentality with JoeLieberman, BlancheLincoln, the other BlueDogs and even OlympiaSnowe? If the president of the UnitedStates had used the bully pulpit against them, a lot of progressives would have respected that and said, "You tried your best". But Obama didn't try. He cut a deal, months earlier, cutting the will of the People off at the knees. The public is powerless in backroom deals.



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