Save the Democratic Party From Another Clinton Debacle

[justinaforjustice]

I supported Dennis Kucinich because his policies on the Iraq (and Iran) Wars, universal single-payer health care, his promise to eradicate NAFTA's wholesale exportation of American jobs, and his restoration of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's social and economic safety nets are desperately needed. With his withdrawal, I switched to John Edwards, who would make a great Amer ian president -- if he adopts all of Dennis Kucinich's policies.

As a long time feminist and veteran of the American civil rights movement, I would have liked to be able to support a woman or an Afro-American, but neither Clinton nor Obama has policies which even approach those of Edwards, much less Kucinich.

Keeping the historic endorsements of Obama by Caroline and Ted Kennedy in mind, I will hope that Obama, if he receives the nomination and the presidency, will put into action concrete programs to save the American working class from further pauperization and to save our minorities from the kind of crass indignities that the Bush-Cheney administration has visited upon them.

But without a strong, grass roots Democratic Party to elect progressive candidates to replace the "Republican-lite" yellow dogs who have betrayed us by supporting the Republican agenda, we will only be betrayed once more. Governor Howard Dean, as head of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) has led the movement to democratize the party, helping to build a strong Democratic presence across all of our 50 states. His 50 state strategy has been working, as has his training program for potential grass roots leaders.

While in office, Bill Clinton did virtually nothing to strengthen the Democratic Party. He used it purely as a fund-raising tool to access wealthy donors.

If Hillary Clinton gets the nomination and wins the presidency, this movement for grass roots democracy within the Democratic Party will be crushed. The Clintons fought hard to stop the election of Governor Dean to chair the DNC. If she receives the nomination and the presidency, Clinton will summarily oust Governor Dean from the DNC and return it to the corrupt control by Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) corporate interests, represented by such as former DNC chair (under Bill Clinton) Terry McAluff. I understand the Clinton's likely new DNC chair candidate would be Harold Ford, yet another "Republican-lite" politician.

The realization of what a Clinton victory would mean for the Democratic Party leads me to the realization that I cannot afford to cast my primary vote for John Edwards, as much as I would like to. In order to save democracy in the Democratic Party, I will vote against Clinton and for Obama.

What are your thoughts?

[AtomicKitten]

1. Thank you.

Cheers.

[billbuckhead]

5. So why is the Republican establishment for Obama to win the primary?

They don't want the middleclass and the poor to do as well they did under the Clinton administration. If they're "lucky", Obama will be good for losing in 2008 and 2012.

[AtomicKitten]

7. Zogby says the RW ideologues (neocons) want Hillary to win.

Zogby on 12-30-07 on Washington Journal, first guest.

The rest of the GOP want Hillary to win because it's a familiar fight they feel comfortable having.

Plus she fares the worst in matchups against the GOP.

So, now what was that you were saying again? ;)

[rinsd]

9. That must be why the rw is relentlessly attacking Hillary while promoting Obama.

[AtomicKitten]

14. I know it seems that way when the spotlight is on your candidate.

But the truth is she's making all kinds of mistakes, Bill's behavior has been atrocious, and Obama is a likable, inspiring candidate. If you do the math on that, it really does add up. Or you can just continue to play the Victim Card if that assuages the sting of the reality of all this.

[DainBramaged]

2. If you vote against the nominee or don't vote in the General election

You should not label yourself a Democrat, because ANY Democrat is better than ANY Republican.

I am sorry that there is so much hatred and acrimony here on DU for our candidates.

[Uben]

3. What do you mean by this?

"neither Clinton nor Obama has policies which even approach those of Edwards"

Would you care to tell us what those policies are? I, for one, would like to hear your idea of what those differences are.

[Uben]

4. self delete

.

[frogmarch]

6. I can't afford NOT to vote for John Edwards.

But do whatever turns your crank.

[lurky]

8. Whoever wins, people need to keep the pressure on.

It will be so easy for the winner to let all those issues fall by the wayside once in office. There will be congressional battles and attacks from the right which will make it very hard to accomplish any real changes. Remember all our hopes for Bill Clinton in 1992? Getting a Democrat into office is only the beginning of the fight, not the end.

[suston96]

10. Dean did good work but wiped it all out by supporting the delegate sanctions in Michigan and Florida

Sorry, but that sucks!

[Captain Hilts]

11. What was the first one? He left office with an approval rating in the high 60s. nt

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

12. I'm listening to what others say

in online groups and on non political boards. Politics are seeping into them. What I read there is not flattering about the Clintons; there are also negative posts, but not as many, about Obama. I see nothing about Edwards or the Republicans. I am also reding a lot of cynicism about politicians in general. I'm not sure what to do about all this.

[ErnestoG]

13. Bravo.

When I read "Terry McAluff" in your post, I got nauseated all over again. HRC, to me, represents the last gasping wheeze of the entrenched DLC, GOP-lite Democrats. And you know, they need to retire. We need more than what they have to offer.

This is largely why I am going with Obama.