North Carolina Democrats' votes against health care push labor to form party

[elleng]

RALEIGH, N.C. -- A political rebellion is brewing inside an old funeral home near the state Capitol here. Frustrated liberals and labor organizers are taking aim at the Democratic Party, rushing to gather enough signatures to start a third party that they believe could help oust three Democratic congressmen.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/18/AR2010041803713.html?hpid=topnews

Organizers say they are so fed up with Democrats who did not support health-care reform that they simply do not care.

"Our whole agenda is to turn that apple cart around and say, 'No more are we going to blindly support you because you're a Democrat,' " said Dana S. Cope, executive director of the 55,000-member State Employees Association of North Carolina (SEANC), which is leading the effort. "We're going to support you because you're right on the issues and if you're not right on the issues, we're going to remove you from office."

[napi21]

1. Well ins't that just special. Form a 3rd party & live with the Pugs!

What the hell is their problem with the HC laws?

[DURHAM D]

3. Did you even read the article?

It is a move to get rid of three blue dogs that voted no on HCR. One of them is a member of The Family and lives at C Street.

Lets see - Blue Dog or Independent/Third Party? Not a difficult choice for me.

[napi21]

6. I understand that, but do you really think a liberal can get elected

in NC? I don't! Someone was on a cable show last week, I think it was on with Matthews, who said look at the history of 3rd party runs and you'll see that it gives the election to your opposition. I believe it was Chris who asked how this guy will feel if the house gavel goes to Bohener when Pelosi loses by 3 seats?

I really do wish that we coud replace the blue dogs with liberals, but I'm from the HNE and have lived in the South since 1987. Liberals are considered dirty bums in the shouth, and I've lived in 3 different southern states. (SC, TX & GA) I honestly think we're screwing ourselves by courting a 3rd party.

[cstanleytech]

9. Look, I'm not happy either about their votes but do we really

want to go down the path fracturing the party because we havent adopted the republican way of all members must vote with the party?

[graycem]

4. It isn't the the law

"The unions are giving voice to progressive activists across this state who say they feel betrayed by Reps. Larry Kissell, Heath Shuler and Mike McIntyre, Democrats who sided with Republicans against the health-care bill."

It looks like they're angry because their reps. voted against HC. They're tired of Democrats who vote like Republicans.

[Arkana]

5. I wouldn't mind Heath Shuler getting his ass kicked.

The guy's a worse Congressman than he was a quarterback and he was a REALLY shitty quarterback.

[struggle4progress]

8. That seat was held forever by "Chainsaw Charlie" Taylor, who was considerably

worse that Shuler. Knocking out Taylor was a step forward, and North Carolina has other rightwing wackos -- like Virginia Foxx and Patrick McHenry -- that are good targets

I certainly understand why progressive aren't ga-ga over Shuler, but the probable outcome of attacking him will be return of the seat to some Republican loon

[BeFree]

10. Kinda dumb, isn't it?

'Twould be wiser to include the really bad guys in the attacks, eh?

Why not mention who the enemies are and then point out how our friends are voting like the enemy votes?

The way they are going about it will only help our enemies.

[struggle4progress]

12. I don't consider Shuler a great political friend, but the name of the game is

"Shift the center!" Electing Shuler did shift the center somewhat, by replacing a vicious rightwing R with an uninspiring conservative D

Shuler might really be the best we can do in that district. I'm sorry that's the case -- but life's not always peaches and cream. Meanwhile, there are other vicious rightwing Rs we could target

[Captain Hilts]

2. The whole HCR debate showed how bought and out of touch Washington is. nt

[Demeter]

7. This Is the Start of Real Grassroots

This is what the country needs. Badly.

[elleng]

11. Exactly! Very happy to see it.

Glad to see what I've thought and felt IS possible.

Problem, of course, is HUGE difficulty spreading widely. Some incumbents will take it to heart, but how many???