Neoliberals’ pity party: Why an emboldened liberalism has corporate Dems running scared

[RiverLover]

Neoliberals’ pity party: Why an emboldened liberalism has corporate Dems running scared
6/20/15


Steny Hoyer/Richard Trumka/Barack Obama

...But while the ultimate fate of the TPP is still unclear, there’s one element of this ongoing fight within the Democratic Party that you should expect to see more of in the years to come.

It’s not the rise of a more combative labor movement, though that’s certainly part of it. And it’s not the decline of the party’s neoliberal wing, though that’s happening, too. No, it’s something much less important, but much more amusing: the wails of outrage and self-pity from moderate Democrats who resent the party’s once docile, but now ascendant, liberal base.

True, as it became apparent that the House TPP vote was going to be closer than the moderates and the White House predicted, there were some murmurs of discontent. But it wasn’t until a Thursday report from Politico that we heard the pro-TPP crowd really using its outside voice. The article was analytically suspect — among other curiosities, Rep. Steny Hoyer, the decidedly moderate minority whip, seems to be presented as a liberal — but it was also well-reported. More importantly, it reflected the worldview, biases and delusions of corporate America’s friends in Washington, which is Politico’s stock-in-trade.

For example, despite the fact that, as Steven Greenhouse reported for the Guardian, the alliance against the TPP was basically comprised of the Democratic Party’s entire base, Politico focuses exclusively on organized labor. And once you read the rest of the article, you can see why: it’s the only framing pro-TPP Dems can use without sounding out of touch. Unions are easy to demonize as “special interests,” after all. If you’re talking about faith groups, civil liberties advocates, consumer protection organizations, liberal economists and more, on the other hand, it’s hard to use that talking point without sounding like a Republican.

....But times are changing, and it’s no longer so clear that unions and liberals can’t do better. Neoliberal, corporate-friendly Democrats no longer get an automatic pass.

For the kind of Democrat who worries more about the “business community” than workers, this is all terrible news. They already spend so much of their time trying to squeeze donations out of wealthy and corporate donors, who are naturally more inclined to support Republicans, the last thing they need is to have to simultaneously appease those on their left.

So they’ll kvetch to Politico and wring their hands about a “left-wing Tea Party.” But unions and liberals should ignore them — or, if they must respond, laugh.

http://www.salon.com/2015/06/20/neoliberals_pity_party_why_an_emboldened_liberalism_has_corporate_dems_running_scared/

Love this article!! We may still be fighting an uphill battle, but our numbers, our collective voice, are making a huge impact that can no longer be relegated to the "far left" corner!! (And thank you Unions for talking their language & making them listen!)

[djean111]

1. The "Tea Party Left" bullshit just stiffens my resolve.

Too bad doing the right thing by people instead of corporations is considered "appeasing".

[RiverLover]

3. No kidding.

And they wonder why we say there is little difference btn the 2 parties...few high level Democrats are Standing Up for People, and those few wonderful reps who do are referred to as the "far left, teaparty Dems"...its ridiculous. And obvious. I like the idea of laughing at it. Sure beats getting pissed off at utter third way nonsense!

[Ichingcarpenter]

4. seen that teaparty left meme on DU

get started here about a month ago...... from hillary supporters

[RiverLover]

5. Yep. That's what they do.

In concert.

[Phlem]

2. Huge K&R!

[bvar22]

6. Did they think the "Big Con" would last forever?

The Democratic Party has been counting on undeserved Brand Loyalty since the Clinton Administration & NAFTA.
It took decades of being ignored and often ridiculed by the "New Democrats" before the "Old Working Class Democrats" woke up.

[Enthusiast]

7. Kicked and recommended to the Max!

We have about had a belly full of their nonsense.

[Scuba]

8. It's been this way for too long ...

[RiverLover]

9. Far, far too long, Scuba. /nt

[appalachiablue]

10. So love this one, the truth.

K & R.

Fringe, left wing Tea Party, Not. As I just wrote a corporate centrist, Bernie represents more Democratic Party values and principles than most of the core as is clear. He's articulate, on target with the priorities and highly inspiring, precisely what I and others haven't seen in 20 years. This country faces huge problems and the mainstream alliance between Wall Street and Washington is a big part of that and must change. It's just a matter of time until the corporate system and gravy train comes down from its own weight.

[Martin Eden]

11. If we lived in a truly representative democracy, it would be the other way around.

The goalposts would be to the left of center and so would "moderate" Republicans who expect brand loyalty from rightwing fat cats and neofascists, because their only choices are Left of Center or Far Left.

[merrily]

12. If Republicans do it, it's trickle down, without the trickle. If Democrats do it, it's job creation.

And, while I do appreciate the concern for big business, it's neoliberals and neoconservative who are the fringe. Mainstream America is (surprise, surprise) populist.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12777036

[merrily]

13. What on earth is Isquith going on about? Liberals are ascendant only on DU.

I've read that in GD many times.

I would like to take issue with Isquith on this, though, on a couple of counts:

They already spend so much of their time trying to squeeze donations out of wealthy and corporate donors, who are naturally more inclined to support Republicans, the last thing they need is to have to simultaneously appease those on their left.

Pre-and post-Citizens United, Obama raised more money than McCain and Romney. Post-Citizens United Obama raised about .25 billion more than he did before Citizens United. What the deal was with soft money, I don't know. However, there is just so much airtime you can buy before people start hating you for the number of ads.

Moreover, a New Democrat passed the Telecommunications Act and the final nail went into the coffin of the Fairness Doctrine under another New Democrat. So, when are Democrats going to give up the story that

So, Democrats need to take take another look at this meme. Also:

The DLC's effort to win Meeks's vote was part of a vigorous campaign by New Democrats to assure legislators that business groups would replace campaign contributions from labor lost by a pro-business China vote. In The New Democrat, the DLC's monthly magazine, Washington's most powerful business lobbyist, Thomas J. Donohue of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, wrote that even though some members of Congress risked losing the AFL-CIO's support, "business will stick by Democrats on the China trade vote."

Simon Rosenberg, the former field director for the DLC who directs the New Democrat Network, a spin-off political action committee, says, "We're trying to raise money to help them lessen their reliance on traditional interest groups in the Democratic Party. In that way," he adds, "they are ideologically freed, frankly, from taking positions that make it difficult for Democrats to win."

Putting aside the played out myth that voters love corporatists more than they do populists, New Democrats made an effort NOT to be dependent on money from unions and workers so they would not have to legislate for the benefit of unions or workers.

http://prospect.org/article/how-dlc-does-it

So, given all the above, it's time this whole issue of fat cat money gets put to rest.