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Political motivation requires an enemy. Republicans are the enemy to Democrats. Democrats are the enemy to Republicans – unless it’s the far left or far right, of course. The fringes are more concerned with the “heretics” in their party, those they believe are not pure enough to be called “Republican” or “Democrat.”

No organization or “wing” of the Democratic party is as detested by the “progressive” purists as the Democratic Leadership Council, the organization that recruited Bill Clinton and propelled him to the presidency – making him the only twice elected Democrat since Franklin Roosevelt. The “enlightened” ones in the party (the bunch that have never won a national election) often ask the rhetorical question, “what is the difference between the DLC and Republicans?” This question is a silly one. They surely know the answer to it. But the attacks on the organization have reached a fever pitch as Hillary Clinton, a DLC member, pulls further away from the pack in national and state polls.

The question, though, deserves exploring. If so many people in the “netroots” are convinced the DLC is “Republican-lite,” they’re either seriously misinformed or are using the label to further their ideology among the rank and file of the party. So, the question was taken up yet one more time this week on Democratic Underground by “dmallind”, and it was perhaps the best answer I’ve seen in a while.

1) Anti-science agendas. When did the DLC ever nominate a virulent anti-contraception wacko as head of the FDA, or prevent the Surgeon General from supporting a sensible health initiative because it offended the fundies? Let alone censor websites that talk about earth sciences?

2) Fiscal restraint. What DLCer supports budget deficits of 300B+, not including an off-budget war – to finance tax cuts for millionaires. Last DLC prez we had raised top bracket income taxes and got us a surplus. Bad DLC! Bad!

3) Politicization of DoJ. Only two USAG’s of that same DLC prez’s choice were removed for reasons other than promotion or term completion – both committed acts of moral turpitude.

4) Unemployment reduction. DLC prez – went from 7.1% to 3.6%. GOP prez? Back up to 4.6%. Bill Richardson has created tens of thousands of new jobs in a high-poverty state however, against the national trend. Bad DLC again! No!

5) Pro-choice. Name the DLCer who wants to overturn Roe or nominate “strict constructionist” judges at all levels. Now name the GOPer who hasn’t used at least one of those code words.

6) Starting wars of choice. Combat deaths of troops sent into harm’s way by DLC prez = 0 (accidental deaths in Bosnia and Somalia was Bush’s baby before you try either). GOP prez? Gosh who knows but 4000 or so at least. Hillary (and Bill Richardson – who is DLC too right) says she’ll bring the troops back in a sensible manner. DUers say she won’t (will he?). Forgive me if I go with the one who will actually get to make that call.

7) DLC prez – plummetting violent crime. GOP prez – back up again! No difference there (OK OK that’s probably a corollary of decent economic stewardship, but it’s also got to be affected by hopelessness and lack of optimism in society too)

8) Health care – DLC candidates at least want to get it for more people. Sorry if they don’t want to do it your way, but GOPers don’t give a damn and 46 million is fine by them. You asked for differences I believe. Not perfection right? Ask someone whose sick kid gets covered – even via a for-profit HMO if need be – if they like the difference or not.

9) Cronyism and corruption. No a DLC prez won’t pick people they don’t know and trust for key cabinet or senior positions (would Kucinich? Would anyone?) but they are generally not too keen on unqualified buddies, no bid contracts (one of Hillary’s key issues I believe) and the rest. In fact Hillary actually has the best plan in this area I’ve seen so far – even better than my choice Bill Richardson. Here it is:
Banning Cabinet officials from lobbying a Hillary Clinton administration.
Strengthening whistleblower protections.
Creating a public service academy.
Ending abuse of no-bid government contracts and posting all contracts online.
Cutting 500,000 government contractors.
Restoring the Office of Technology Assessment.
Publishing budgets for every government agency.
Implementing Results America Initiative to track government effectiveness.
Tracking and eliminating corporate welfare.
Expanding voting access and safeguarding voting machines.

Now does that sound like GOP to you? Why?

10) Oil industry ties vs. Energy reform. Which GOP candidate wants to put billions into alternative energy research? Bill Richardson and Hillary Clinton both do.

For centrist political thought and opinion, visit DonkeyDigest