Centrist Democrats Losing Their Way, Their Soul, and Their Support

By Carol Morgan

Because everyone in the nation was mourning the Charleston shooting and media was focused on the Confederate flag controversy, Americans were emotionally distracted and it was suddenly an opportune moment for Congress to act on Fast Track which will grease the wheels of bureaucracy to capitulate to the Trans Pacific Partnership Trade Agreement.

On Friday, it passed in the House 218-208. It moved along so smoothly, one would think it was planned. July 30th was the target date, but in a surprise move, over 30 days ahead of schedule, it passed 60-37 in the Senate. Surprisingly, 13 members of the Democratic Party sided with the multi-national corporations and against American workers and consumers. It was a GREAT day for Corporate America, for the rest of us regular Joes and Janes, not so much.

You may find the list of the 28 Democratic traitors in the House here and a list of the 13 Democratic traitors in the Senate here. In between counseling clients, I called the list and their staff’s excuses were pathetic. The fallout over this betrayal has been severe. Nancy Pelosi said when members went back to their districts, "we put our hand on a very hot stove" of public opposition.

I am both angry and ashamed of these 41 Democrats for ramming through this secret corporate trade deal that will endanger jobs and the environment—not once, but twice.

I expect such behavior from Republicans, but not from Democrats.

Remember when the Democratic Party was the party of the working class? Apparently, it’s not anymore and they failed to notify the rest of us. The Centrist corporate wing of the Democratic Party is so firmly entrenched in supporting the President and his legacy (i.e. ego) that they would betray their own constituents.

In hindsight of some of his actions, I deeply regret my vote for Obama in 2008 and 2012. My only excuse is that there was no one else to vote for. It was the same default-vote-dilemma that so many of us are faced with in every election.

Many of my progressive friends doubted Obama early on because of his appointments; the wealthy-heavy representation from the corporate financial sector and his talks in private to the bankers and Wall Street. You may read Ron Suskind’s report of his meeting with Wall Street in March of 2009 HERE. Ann Werner penned a great piece about these sentiments at Samuel-Warde. I ignored the signs and continued to be a true believer and I maintained my loyalty to PBO until the spring of 2014, when he revealed his "grand bargain" with the GOP and the chained CPI of Social Security as a bargaining chip. It made me physically sick to see him in photo-ops, arm-in-arm with Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell. (And using the obstructionist Congress trope as an excuse for his actions is wearing thin.)

Since then, my opinion of him has gone swiftly downhill. Somehow, it seems as if he’s lost (or abandoned) the Progressive compass he brought to the Party in 2008 or perhaps, he’s merely given up the fight to beat Corporate America. Thinking of books, libraries and high-dollar speeches in his future, he’s joined them instead. More than being angry at Obama, I’m furious with those Democrats who are willing to follow him over the cliff and drag us with them.

As if this weren’t enough, it’s been revealed that $200 million was donated to both Republicans and Democrats to ensure the passage of TPA. Some took the bait and some did not, but the fact that so many did, highlights the unfathomable depth of Washington’s corruption and Democracy’s deterioration. And the corporate figurehead leading the fight to screw the American people is also the head of the Democratic Party.

The Democratic Party is at a critical juncture. The 2016 election is of paramount importance and we need unity, not division. We’re not getting it. So what do we do? Should the Progressive wing leave the Democratic Party and begin a new political party more responsive to citizens’ needs and concerns? Or should we declare war on the Centrist Democrats, clean house and find candidates who are more like the party of the working class?

Democratic leadership needs to make some concessions or the party fracture will continue. 41 Democrats already have a target on their back for the next election. The Clinton camp and the Sanders camp are already at war with each other and have no doubts, this animosity will spill over into the 2016 Convention.

The DNC needs to realize that denial has a short shelf life. You created this, get to work on solving it.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Carol Morgan is a career/college counselor, a freelance writer, and former Democratic candidate for the Texas House. She is the award-winning author of two books: Of Tapestry, Time and Tears and Liberal in Lubbock. Email Carol at elizabethcmorgan@sbcglobal.net , follow her on Twitter and on Facebook or visit her writer’s blog at www.carolmorgan.org

http://lubbockonline.com/interact/blog-post/carol-morgan/2015-06-24/centrist-democrats-losing-their-way-their-soul-and-their#.VYtzzkYT91M

Permission granted to post Ms. Morgan's blogs in its entirety.