This is an archive of the old Stones Cry Out site. For the current site, click here.
« Why One Won't Work | Main | Absitence Only Programs Ill-Conceived »
July 27, 2005
Left-wing Blogs React to Hillary's Ceasefire Appeal
The Kossacks at the blog "Daily Kos" have never been a big fan of Hillary Clinton's feigns to the center. The mainstream media is now finding that out.
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's call for an ideological cease-fire in the Democratic Party drew an angry reaction yesterday from liberal bloggers and others on the left, who accused her of siding with the centrist Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) in a long-running dispute over the future of the party.Long a revered figure by many in the party's liberal wing, Clinton (D-N.Y.) unexpectedly found herself under attack after calling Monday for a cease-fire among the party's quarreling factions and for agreeing to assume the leadership of a DLC-sponsored initiative aimed at developing a more positive policy agenda for the party.
...
The most pointed critique of Clinton came in one of the most influential blogs on the left, Daily Kos out of Berkeley, Calif., which called Clinton's speech "truly disappointing" and said she should not provide cover for an organization that often has instigated conflict within the party.
"If she wanted to give a speech to a centrist organization truly interested in bringing the various factions of the party together, she could've worked with NDN," the blog said in a reference to the New Democrat Network, with which Daily Kos's Markos Moulitsas is associated. "Instead, she plans on working with the DLC to come up with some common party message yadda yadda yadda. Well, that effort is dead on arrival. The DLC is not a credible vehicle for such an effort. Period."
The post by Markos himself is here.
You'd think with the huge following of Kos visitors (over 500,000 per day), Moveon.org, Howard Dean fans, and a press that is increasingly and openly antagonistic against the right (and the Christian Right in particular), this would result in more Democrats being voted in, not less. Instead it's beginning to appear that this group of hard-leftists who keep pushing further left are simply more vocal, as opposed to more numerous. And indeed the more vocal they are, the more they alienate the folks that the DLC is trying to bring in. Is this a winning strategy? (Hint: No.)
As to Hillary's participation in this, I think it's just another bit of posturing, but if it gets her barbs from the far left it may help a potential presidential candidacy. (See here for my thoughts on that, and here for what "Stonette" Thecla has to say about her.) Could actually be a good political move to get herself in a situation like this. But, as I've noted before, if it's a political move without the actual move, then it's just pure politics. So far, not much substance. We'll see.
Posted by Doug at July 27, 2005 01:58 PM
Trackback Pings
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Left-wing Blogs React to Hillary's Ceasefire Appeal:
» “Centrist” Hillary disturbing the left? from The Anchoress
Doug at Stones Cry Out points to this article describing Hillary Clinton as under attack for moving into her “centrist” mode. He notes that the Kossacks and Moveon.org people are not actually the majority within the Democrat party, but t... [Read More]
Tracked on July 27, 2005 06:21 PM
Comments
Bill Clinton was one of the best Republican Presidents the Republicans ever had. The economic policies of the DLC are purely extensions of the Republican status quo since at least the Reagan administration.
The painting of Bill and Hillary as anything but Center Right was totally a Republican fabrication.
Real Democrats don't support NAFTA or CAFTA. Big Bill supported NAFTA.
Posted by: Ghost Dansing at July 27, 2005 07:16 PM
I think it's fascinating how HRC is now being pilloried for "siding with centrists". I can't see how yelling that she's not an extremist supposed to be a punishment.
Ghost D.;
One notes that former President Bill Clinton governed left until he got a Republican Congress. Then, and only then, he moved to the center. IMHO most of the benefits of the Clinton presidency can be attributed to Newt Gingrich, with Clinton getting credit for at least getting on the train instead of throwing himself under it.
Posted by: Annoying Old Guy at July 27, 2005 08:17 PM
That's an interesting perspective on Gingich. However, I think that the core-values of the Republican Party are essentially Corporatist in nature. The DLC is the Coporatist wing of the Democratic Party. To some degree that might be why Clinton came to office and held it for a second term; tapping the deep pockets of the Ken Lays and ENRONS of America.
I'm not sure what exactly Gingrich and his gang actually "achieved" per se, save demonstrating impressive political mobilization skills. Most of what happened in terms of economic policy during the timeframe was more of the same Reaganesque laissez faire, deregulatory in nature. Nothing new, just continuity on the same themes from the eighties, and even late seventies.
Posted by: Ghost Dansing at July 28, 2005 10:31 AM
The FAR left like G soros and his Move on fanatics will be the end of the Democratic party. The far left bloggers are doing more harm to the Democratic party then the republicans can ever do. Most of America is middle of the road and will vote that way in 2008. I know i will. Give me a reason to Vote Democratic, don't keep repeating the problems of the past, give me solutions. So far i have seen none from the leadership of the DNC or congress. Wake up.
Dave
Posted by: dave at March 16, 2007 05:15 PM