Democrats' dilemma: Suck up to the plutocracy or suck up to the masses?

This essay goes from the Democrat's near loss in the recent mayoral election in San Francisco to Dennis Kucinich's "crazy" health care plan to the popularity of Michael Moore and argues the Democrats should move left. Tim Russert and Candy Crowley wouldn't approve, but the writer makes a good case.

On Edit: Tried to come up with a slightly more inflammatory thread title.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/gate/archive/2003/12/15/hsorensen.DTL

The Political Party that Stands for Nothing came close to being embarrassed last week when it needed help from San Francisco Republicans to win a run-off election for mayor.

As it turned out, the Democrats didn't act embarrassed. They should have -- and would have, if they had any principles -- but modern Democrats stand for only one thing: winning.

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So the nine brave souls hoping to become the Democratic presidential nominee next year are pushed into a narrow box. Suck up too much to America's plutocracy, and they look like Republicans. Suck up to the masses, and they look like Greens. What's a Democrat to do?

When it comes to health care, Howard Dean, the apparent front runner, deals with the dilemma by trying to please both extremes. Health care for all, he says, but funnel it through insurance companies.

Of all the candidates, only Dennis Kucinich has the courage to call for a "single payer" (government-run) health-care system, the kind used successfully by every other industrialized nation in the world.

more...

n/t

Deans plan morphs if elected.

wind up looking like the one Dennis is backing, either. :(

This puts a bit left of center because in the end you cannot conduct a grassroots movement while at the same time pissing on your core voters. Why? They are the people that get out and run the grassroots campaigns.

Does this make it tough for Dem candidates? No. You play it too centrist and you are just repuke-lite and will lose anyway. We are not asking you to join the Socialist Party for goodness sakes. We are talking leftist just left of center. There is a huge difference there.

Even if you are not Dean fan you have to admit this is the reason why he is stomping the shit of the other Democratic candidates in terms of money. He utilizes the grassroots movement with use of new media for support.

His use of new media is great. Michael Moore is right in his book "Dude Where's my Country?" The real key is the use and utilization fo new media sources to get the message out to the people and get young people involved in the process.

Clinton showed us how to frame the Republicans as the radicals they are.

Michael Moore also makes another good point you have to tell the selfish why progressive policies are good for them.

You also have to aim your message at your audience. In a Repuke haven Mike Warner became governor because he knew how to do this. Campaign ads with Nascar racing vehicles in the background and talking the plain talk was key. I also save money with his tax plan and he sticks it to the rich! Ha.

Wellstone showed us the way. Suck up to the masses but the message left of Center.

Could you expand a bit on what Moore means by showing the selfish how progressive policies benefit them?


Cher