There was some hubbub over at Kos yesterday about some media reports and the DCCC, today Jim Bonham addresses that—and does so very well.
I talk with some of the folks over there from time to time–as my cross posts there make obvious. Not a close relationship or anything where I get super secret information, but let me say, everyone I have talked there works hard to win Democratic seats. And they stay amazingly neutral in primaries when I’ve dealt with them. I’m involved deeply with Jeff Smith’s campaign for the Missouri 3rd. They have neither done anything to help or hurt any of those candidates, but I can guarantee that on August 4th, they’ll be committed to whomever the nominee is. They will have to make decisions regarding where resources will go and that is their job. That’s a tough job. Any of us might say we’d do it different, but trust me this isn’t a bunch of old guys sitting around in a backroom, these are people who work obsessively towards winning a Democratic Majority this fall in the House. Help ’em out.
… and girls… 🙂
thanks for the trackback!
hugs,
steve
Ooops. That’s like a Republican mistake.
At the implementation level I’m sure they all want to elect Dems in the abstract.
However, the Beltway Dems are tone deft about how big an opportunity 2004 is. The money is flowing freely. They could get more volunteers. All they have to say is that they are going for a big (60+ House seat) victory.
Kerry is raising so much money he’d love to ditch the federal money and federal spending limits, but he can’t figure a way to do it that doesn’t look bad.
Clinton only became popular in contrast to the House GOP leadership. The DLC Dems know their pro-business message will be an easier sell if the Dems feel vulnerable from the GOP. There are Dem interest groups that would rather have the GOP control, or at least be close, in the House.
I really don’t think there are any so-called DLC dems left (except Lieberman). I think they all feel that this is do-or-die and the middle ain’t where it’s at — and in any case, the DCCC seems to have the money and the press this year.
As to business climate (what? not gay marriage?) — eventually they have to leave the beltway and go home and are finding angry voters — on both sides of the fence.
The pig has become too thin to deliver pork to all. I blame the lo-carb craze. Plus Bush.
For a long time I considered myself a DLC guy. They cured me of that with the non-sense over th war and the constant over the top criticism of Dean who I was attracted to because of what he had in common with the DLC.