Elites' Democratic Days Are Numbered
Saturday 14 August 2010
by: David Sirota, t r u t h o u t | Op-Ed
(Image: Lance Page / t r u t h o u t; Adapted: Bernard Pollack, Jeffrey Beall, Angela Wolf, DaveJackson)
Call me an '80s junkie, but when I saw the results of this week's closely watched Colorado election, I immediately thought of "Spaceballs." In that Mel Brooks masterpiece, a Darth Vader spoof named Dark Helmet says "evil will always triumph because good is dumb." Make it "dumb and broke," and you have a powerful explanation for incumbent Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet's narrow victory over former state legislator Andrew Romanoff (D).
In just the 20 months since being appointed to fill the vacated Senate seat of now-Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Bennet became one of Congress' top recipients of corporate cash. A wealthy businessman who had never held elected office before, he ultimately raised and spent almost $6 million on his campaign -- more than any primary candidate in the history of Colorado. He was additionally aided by the Democratic National Committee and Organizing for America's phone-banking, by President Obama's full-throated endorsement and by the built-in advantages that come with a taxpayer-financed Senate office.
Romanoff, by contrast, swore off special-interest money from the beginning. As a former state House Speaker with a deep grassroots network throughout Colorado, he constructed a scrappy campaign on less than $2 million of mostly small-dollar, in-state contributions. In the relatively few ads he was able to afford, he juxtaposed his own progressive economic platform with Bennet's odious Senate votes to protect the big banks, oil firms and health insurance companies that Americans despise and that financed Bennet's campaign.
Alas, it wasn't enough. The Bennet campaign's ads obscured the incumbent's true record, and because those ads were backed with so much money, Romanoff's spots were like a pin dropping at a Metallica concert, and the challenger lost.
So it's true -- this particular political contest, like so many others, can indeed be summed up by paraphrasing Dark Helmet and noting that malevolent forces triumph because good is dumb and broke. The simple fact is, in elections across the country, many well-intentioned voters remain ill informed and many principled candidates are still too underfinanced to mount a winning campaign.
However, the longer view tells a different story -- one that may foreshadow the end of this "Spaceballs" axiom in the future.
Considering Bennet's wealth, corporate fundraising, incumbency and presidential support, it is astounding that a whopping 46 percent of this bellwether state's Democratic voters cast their ballots against him, against their own party's establishment and against their own party's president.
For those who care about a progressive economic agenda and about injecting democracy into the Democratic Party, this is encouraging when put next to the similarly impressive results of White House-thwarting Democratic primary challengers in Pennsylvania and Arkansas. And that trend explains the increasingly fierce pushback from Washington.
Yes, this is why President Obama's spokesman, Robert Gibbs, so vociferously berated the progressive movement on the eve of Colorado's primary, and why DNC powerbrokers moved so forcefully against Romanoff. He was the latest candidate to represent what those elites know to be an ascendant national progressive uprising inside the Democratic Party -- one that keenly understands money's corrosive effects on public policy and that, therefore, rejects the Beltway's corporatist model.
Seeing that this uprising threatens their power and their D.C. worldview, these elites are desperate to preserve Dark Helmet's principle -- so desperate, in fact, they have resorted to employing Obama's presidential campaign infrastructure to prop up more conservative candidates against progressive challengers in intra-party battles.
This unholy alliance managed to hold off the onslaught this time. But make no mistake -- Colorado is yet more evidence that the days of "Spaceballs" defining the Democratic Party are ending.
David Sirota is the author of the best-selling books "Hostile Takeover" and "The Uprising." He hosts the morning show on AM760 in Colorado and blogs at OpenLeft.com. E-mail him at ds@davidsirota.com or follow him on Twitter @davidsirota.
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Comments
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"comb the
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 11:23 — the shwartz (not verified)"comb the desert"
"perry-air(?)"
"I knew it, I'm surrounded by assholes."
-classic
a genuine populist movement
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 11:48 — Perivail Benway (not verified)a genuine populist movement that actually began to obtain power would be unacceptable to those in actual power. rather than promising a transfer of power to a vox populi, the developments discussed indicate developing domestic conflict. this is not new, just growing.
The key issue that is
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 12:24 — Carl (not verified)The key issue that is destroying "elite" Dems is their anti-worker pro-mass illegal immigration stance. They like their cheap nannies and gardeners, and so do their corporate sponsors, so they dismiss concerns from unemployed Americans as -- racists.
Want to win in November? Why don' the Dems step up and ban issuing new work visas to foreigners, which is around one million a year? Then announce that another Reagan era amnesty will never happen, so illegals might as well go home.
Illegal Immigration is just
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 12:55 — John (not verified)Illegal Immigration is just a Straw Man argument to rile the whiteman's fear of being outvoted, and is nothing more than a tool for the far right wing. A new scapegoat to fear, a new yellow terror!
If you wanted to end the illegal workers in one month it could be easily done! Since they come for underpaid jobs, simply send undercover agents to find out what rich company owners hire them. In many states this is illegal. Simply jail the CEO, the CFO and the top staff until their trial comes up, in a few months.
In one month there would be no jobs for illegals. They would be forced to raise wages and hire Americans.
This article is total
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 13:33 — Anonymous (not verified)This article is total BS.
First off, Bennett's victory by 9 percentage points was not "narrow".
Second, Bennett is one of the best young senators we have, with a 100% rating from the League of Conservation Voters.
Third, Romanoff is the career politician, not Bennett. Romanoff was upset that he got passed over for Salazar's vacant seat and made a bid to take it. It failed. Now it's time to move on.
Bennett and Romanoff would vote essentially the same way on every major issue. And Romanoff himself immediately called Bennett after the writing was on the wall and offered to do "anything I can to help."
That's the right spirit of things, TO! Bennett won, and it's time for Colorado Dems to get behind him and stave off the threat of wacko right-wing, Tea Party candidate Buck, whom Bennett will face in the election.
This kind of distorting article is divisive and only helps Republicans in the end. Let's cut the sour grapes act and keep our eyes on the big prize.
next up, Dave, hope springs
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 13:48 — Anonymous (not verified)next up, Dave, hope springs eternally dumb, keep wishing and writing articles how the forces of convention, those that voted for romanoff, including his clinton backed supporters; now there's a real progressive, were so tantalizingly close to changing the system throught their voting for a democrat, III say it again hope is dumb as far as good?!! maybe your good is dumb
The anti undocumented worker
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 14:03 — pro-worker everywhere (not verified)The anti undocumented worker diatribe by Carl smells a lot like a troll from the dark side stirring a pot of hate, Maybe Carl out to check out the total Republican Party right wing and the partly right wind Democratic Party's results of unrestrained Free Trade agreements. He might realize that undocumented workers are not the problem--its neo-liberal trade policies that enrich the corporate and multi-national elite at the expense of working people everywhere. Once Carl gets a handle on that, he may just be a tad more understanding about those hurt from these kind of polices and have more understanding about people just wanting to feed and take care of their families. No one leaves one's country without a difficult decision, and I am sure if Carl found himself in a similar situation, he might do the same. Stop blaming working people and look to where the fault is perpetuated. These undocumented workers are our brothers and sisters, more so than those that profit from polices that could care less about those who's surplus labor value keep them riding high in the saddle.
Previous comments - a mixed
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 14:41 — Anonymous (not verified)Previous comments - a mixed bag - have a somewhat sulphurous taint, as though the authors are not quite sure what they are saying but meaning to harm if possible. Maybe they would rather be saying, "let them eat cake."
I have nothing to add to
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 14:42 — Anonymous (not verified)I have nothing to add to this intelligent discussion. But what God wants will prevail.
I never ceased to be amazed
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 15:08 — Anonymous (not verified)I never ceased to be amazed that the claims by people such as Mr Sirota and his colleagues at organisations such as the Progressive Campaign Committee cannot see that their demands for ideological purity from the left make them identical to the Tea Party on the right.
Better to have a Democrat who votes for an agenda that is as progressive as can be achieved at the time than a Republican who votes against a progressive agenda 100% of the time.
The UK Labour Party went through a period of seeking ideological purity in the 1980's and resulted in 18 years of right-wing Conservative government led by the witch Margaret Thatcher and the Straw Man John Major. 13 years of Labour government that ended this year under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown was still not long enough to right all the wrongs of the 1979-1997 period, and the Democrats, if they listen to the PCC and their allies such as the author of this piece of fiction, are heading for the same period in the political wilderness.
More whistling past the
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 15:26 — Anonymous (not verified)More whistling past the graveyard!
Now that corporations can use their Billions in political races, progressive and populist movements are doomed.
Obama could have invigorated and fed his progressive base. Instead he chose to spit in its face.
The statements of Emanuel and Gibbs accurately reflect the attitudes of their boss.
It's Over! At least until the economy gets so bad that even the fundies realize that the GOP isn't looking out for their interests.
Romanoff is sour grapes.
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 15:26 — Christine (not verified)Romanoff is sour grapes. After he backtracked on supporting unions after he used our feet on the ground makes him a negative in my book. He talks out both sides of his mouth when making promises and he is the poster boy for "reaching across the aisle". No thanks. Bennett has his issues but he, so far, has been a good Senator. Time for Romaoff to find another career...hope his house didn't sell!
For those who think by
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 15:32 — ez4u (not verified)For those who think by jailing and fining company CEOs and top brass would solve the problem, and the illegals would just go home, you have a rude awakening coming.
Even if this were to happen, the illegals would still be here because they have nothing to back to there, and there is always going to be the small businessmen in America who will chance using these illegals.
When you hear the business people bashing our immigration policies, it's because they want to keep them here, not send them back to where ever home is. Most of them are Republicans, anyway. Sure they will pay lip service to please the wingnuts, but in reality they want the illegals here.
Save your ire for tea party
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 16:01 — Tom Outland (not verified)Save your ire for tea party darling Ken Buck.
He should be your target, not Mr. Bennett, who won a democratic and Democratic primary.
Another way to look at it is
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 17:05 — Anonymous (not verified)Another way to look at it is that Colorado is a conservative state, and votes that way most of the time.
The author is a self-avowed progressive liberal, who wants to aggressively pursue progressive dominance and goals in this country. Ok, that's fine.
So, the author sees, or wants to see, a mass-deception of Colorado voters, because he believes that people should vote for progressive liberal politicians and values. But this is not how the people of Colorado typically vote.
Face it, there is a reason that Colorado is home to some of the biggest, most aggressive, and most vile mega-Churches in the US. The people of Colorado, in mass (no pun), follow the brightest, sparkliest, and least intelligent message available. Of course they vote according to money.
And, 54% of the vote in a primary among a small portion of the state's voting population is not that small. Landslide victories are for movies and fairy tales.
The results in Colorado are not shocking, and not particularly meaningful, sinister, or prophetic. Making a mountain out of a molehill is not the way to win support and move forward with a progressive agenda.
Now, to be fair to Colorado and its people, I don't think that all of them are Bible-thumping imbeciles. I only believe that the state has a high concentration of that type.
Also, I do not mean to bash religion with my remarks, only the hypocritical and destructive mega-Church and hate-everything brands of religion.
Many of the comments here
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 18:02 — Robert Walters (not verified)Many of the comments here seem to reflect the attitude/mentality of the DNC corporatists and Robert Gibbs/Rahm Emanuel.
Pressing a progressive legislative agenda -- in particular, items that serve the needs of the diminishing middle class and working people (both poor and destitute) -- is NOT pursuing "ideological purity" in the sense implied by the derogatory comments. It IS pursuing the progressive, labor-friendly, human-oriented values for which the Democratic Party, at one time, stood for.
Immigration, like God, guns, gays, abortion, and now, Muslim community centers/mosques, are fear-mongering wedge issues thrown up to distract people from the pillage and rapine that is being waged on our nation by the corporatists of both parties.
Unfortunately, it seems to be more successful than not.
Aaahhhgg! "...make no
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 18:19 — Pedant (not verified)Aaahhhgg! "...make no mistake..." hackneyed writing of the worst. Mr. Sirota, you can do better than that. Take an imposition of 100 lines: "I will avoid cliché."
THE SHADOW DEMOCRATIC
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 18:34 — Anonymous (not verified)THE SHADOW DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Probably one of the most overlooked issues in all of this is the morphing of "Obama for America" into "Organizing for America-A Project of the Democratic National Committee."
Basically, it's the Obama campaign arm operating outside of traditional party circles, with its own agenda, keeping its zillion-member email list warm for 2012.
State and local party members were assured by the likes of Howard Dean and others that once the 2008 election was past, the valuable list would be shared and begin to join together with the party.
Instead, an email sent by Tim Kaine to OFA Democrats just last month is more telling: "When President Obama promised to bring change to Washington, we made a choice," it said. "We decided to build a new Democratic Party that, more than ever was focused on organizing and guided by the support of millions of Americans from across the country."
Unfortunately, OFA continues to operate outside of the party, while receiving its full backing and support at the same time. Sort of a "Shadow Democratic Party."
That sort of action was evident when OFA ran phone banks for sitting Senator Michael Bennet in Colorado and helped him just barely defeat his less-monied challenger this week. (Contrary to the math of an earlier poster, just 4% voting the other way is a pretty close swing).
It has disappointed many and likely pushed as many members away from the party as it has brought in. Until we change our focus to eliminate the involvement of big money, we can't expect the powers that be from working to change the system from the inside, and the grassroots is looking for some better type of fertilizer.
I was so glad to read at
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 18:48 — Edie (not verified)I was so glad to read at least 2 comments that "get" the immigration problem. I have been a Kennedy democrat all my adult life, but no more. The very real invasion of our country at a time of high unemployment and cutting of social services is aided and abetted by the "liberals". Who suffers most from this invasion? Blue collar black and white workers. Who benefits most with no responsibility? The elite owners who hire the cheap labor, thus lowering all our salaries and taking jobs from our most vulnerable citizens. This is not "hate" or racism, this is economics, pure and simple. I don't trust the republicans but you just can't vote for a democrat anymore. Obama has done more to polarize this country than anyone in history. He is worse than useless.
"Now, to be fair to Colorado
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 18:53 — fromcolorado (not verified)"Now, to be fair to Colorado and its people, I don't think that all of them are Bible-thumping imbeciles. I only believe that the state has a high concentration of that type."
And guess what? They're not Democrats and don't vote in Democratic primaries.
Most of them are concentrated on the east side of Colorado Springs.
Colorado is also filled with free-spirited, highly independent, outdoorsy types, many of whom are not religious or else are Buddhists. Ever hear of Boulder?
Also note: Colorado went for Obama in 2008, has a Democratic governor, and has two Democrats in the U.S. Senate!
We have a much lower percentage of "Bible-thumping idiots" than many states do!
"Many of the comments here
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 18:55 — Tom Outland (not verified)"Many of the comments here seem to reflect the attitude/mentality of the DNC corporatists and Robert Gibbs/Rahm Emanuel."
Guess again.
A lot of progressives supported Bennett.
The progressives are
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 19:25 — Anonymous (not verified)The progressives are stirring?!
From your mouth to God's ear, Mr. Sirota.
A little party discipline
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 19:28 — Todd Eastman (not verified)A little party discipline would go a long ways towards helping the Democrats and the progressive agenda.
The premise of this
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 19:31 — Anonymous (not verified)The premise of this article's title makes no sense whatsoever.
Bennett wins, so that proves the days are numbered for his "type" of Democrat?
Never mind that this "type" is slanderously distorted by this deeply misleading slash-and-burn editorial, which has to be the absolute worst lead article I've ever seen on TruthOut.
Also: The Republican primary in CO was a lot closer than the Democratic.
Bennett: 54.2
Romanoff: 45.7
Buck: 51.5
Norton: 48.4
If the Democratic one was "narrow", what was the Republican?
And, oh yeah, speaking of Republicans, let's remember who the enemy really is!
Bennett, a guy with a 100% rating from NARAL, Defenders of Wildlife, and the League of Conservation Voters (as previously noted), or Ken Buck, who opposes abortion even in cases of rape and incest, who says the federal government should get out of education, who wants to dismantle Social Security, and who supported the immigration law in Arizona?
WAKE UP.
Romanoff put his ego and
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 19:50 — fromcolorado (not verified)Romanoff put his ego and personal ambition ahead of the good of the state party.
He ran deeply misleading ads about Bennett and was endorsed by Bill Clinton.
All in all, I think Romanoff is a good guy for a politician, but I'm very glad he lost.
Romanoff won the precinct
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 19:52 — Ron in Littleton (not verified)Romanoff won the precinct caucuses and the County Assemblies and the State Convention (by 60%). Driving through Denver one day I saw the first Bennet lawn sign. This was after his campaign said we are running out of signs; better get yours now. So I did a straw vote on my way home. There were four (4) Bennet signs and forty-six (46) Romanoff signs.Even after the New York Times article about the bungled financial scheme by Bennet and JP Morgan that doomed the Denver Public Schools and their pensions, Romanoff was still gaining in the polls. What happened?? Something rotten in Democratic Party-land. I have not figured it out yet but I quit the Party the next morning (after the election).
"A little party discipline
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 19:58 — Anonymous (not verified)"A little party discipline would go a long ways towards helping the Democrats and the progressive agenda."
Absolutely!
Is the US dumping our
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 20:36 — Anonymous (not verified)Is the US dumping our subsidized cheap corn on Mexico? So that small farmers cannot compete in their local markets? So they want to support their families however they can, and risk coming north in the hope of finding some sort of job?
Is the US diverting what little water the Colorado River has left, so that it does not reach those small Mexican farms and once again, those farmers cannot support their families? We expect them to quietly stay in place and die?
If only our Elite
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 21:10 — Anonymous (not verified)If only our Elite Democracy's Days were numbered. Sirota predictably heads to the Sports Pages describing how some millionaires in congress are better then others. Is it too much to be cynical of the entire process? Clearly, this country can no longer claim it is a Democracy, or perhaps it can, with over 50% indifferent or hating politics and many others still clinging to what equates to a belief in Santa Claus. Naturally, the elite will never allow anything but an elite democrat, so vote for the next guy, who once again "compromises" better ideas, and your hopes and dreams.
I agree with Carl, the #1
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 23:03 — Mario (not verified)I agree with Carl, the #1 issue that is killing Dems is their support for mass illegal immigration. Their bosses want cheap labor and tell unemployed Americans who complain to shut up because they are racists or lazy.
Most Republicans support mass illegal immigration too, including that far right-wing Republican judge who struck down Arizona's popular law, but they know how to use this issue to make the Dems look stupid.
Only a crackhead can argue that if 100,000 foreign workers show up in a city, it has no effect on employment.
The further our political
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 23:48 — paul (not verified)The further our political system tilts to the insane right, the more people with humane and decent ideas are attacked as 'extremists'. Many a society has gone down this road to hell before.
"John" is absolutely right.
Sun, 08/15/2010 - 11:25 — True Progressive (not verified)"John" is absolutely right. The reason we have no immigration "reform" is because upper class Americans and employers big and small like things just as they are, illegals as a source of cheap and easily exploitable labor, and morons like "Carl" and other Tea Party types to man the barricades obstructing any kind of positive change.
So many fools have been
Sun, 08/15/2010 - 12:22 — Miguel (not verified)So many fools have been duped by corporate BS in illegal immigration. Their spin is that we must "reform" immigration by granting amnesty to 20 million illegals, so they can legally push American workers aside, or apply for welfare benefits. If we do that, no more illegal immigration will occur. They deserve it, because they managed to break the law for many years.
Isn't that absurd! Yet Dems repeat that BS and don't realize that even lowly educated American workers know that is BS and it makes the Dems sound like manipulative idiots who pretend to be "progressive."
And when workers protest
Sun, 08/15/2010 - 12:26 — Anonymous (not verified)And when workers protest that BS, we have anti-American racists call them "tea party" types, Glenn Beck lovers, or new slurs like nativists or xeonphonic. Why? Because their anti-worker rants in favor of open borders is so idiotic that they can't even debate anyone.
BTW, Glenn Becks boss, Murdoch, supports open borders.
We live in a country with
Sun, 08/15/2010 - 14:15 — Erich Von Freemason (not verified)We live in a country with only one party, and the Demublicans are in no danger of losing any elections.
"Elites' Democratic Days Are
Sun, 08/15/2010 - 14:33 — Liced-christ (not verified)"Elites' Democratic Days Are Numbered"
That could very well be the case, but so are our days on this planet. There's no "hope" here.
Go down to an unemployment
Sun, 08/15/2010 - 18:08 — Mario (not verified)Go down to an unemployment office and ask all those poor Americans if they think illegal immigration is a good idea. They will not understand the question, and assume you are joking with them.
How about this simple jobs program. We deported 380,000 illegals last year, so deport a million last year to "create" a half a million jobs.
BTW, where are the news stories about crops rotting in Arizonan fields that some Dems warned us about. The answer is that slave labor farmers were forced to offer higher wages to harvest crops since fewer illegals are around. Now my lettuce will cost $3.20 a head rather than $3.00.
Will Truthout write about that?
Most legal Citizens of this
Tue, 08/17/2010 - 00:40 — Anonymous (not verified)Most legal Citizens of this country would gladly pay more for a head of lettuce if it meant that they would have a job in order to be able to purchase that lettuce. This smokescreen of hate that is being fostered is nonsense. All that needs to be done is to throw the Employers that hire illegal workers in the County Jail, in with all the drunks and dope heads, and I guarantee that in a few months, most of the illegals would gladly go back to their own country and work to make it a more livable place to live.
This country has a Lawful way for other people to gain Lawful entry. The Law just needs to be enforced. Illegals broke our law when they came here illegally...and knew it. So why should they be allowed to stay ? We do not owe them a damn thing, but we do owe our own citizens a secure living and a fair wage. We are suffering the worst depression since the Great Depression and our own people are Jobless. That is not going to be allowed to stay this way..not without a Fight.
The Corporations are turning this country into a Fascist country. Wake up, people. You are being lied and cheated out of your own country by our very own Government. Is this what our sons and daughters shed their blood for ? And now we are being told to be Ashamed for not wanting illegal usurpers to just walk in and take over what we have worked and slaved for all these many years.