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DLC | Blueprint Magazine | July 23, 2005
Valuing Patriotism
...
Patriotism is the ultimate values issue. Democrats need not be embarrassed by it. And they ought not to let Republicans monopolize the emblems of national pride and honor. Democrats need to be choosier about the political company they keep, distancing themselves from the pacifist and anti-American fringe. And they need to have faith in their fellow citizens: Americans will accept constructive criticism of their country if they know the critic's heart is in the right place
rtwngAvngr said:http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm?contentid=253472&kaid=124&subid=307
Though it's good to see democrats be patriotic, they are heading towards true nationalist socialism.
The calm before the storm
by kos
Mon Aug 22nd, 2005 at 01:18:42 PDT
Ahh, the DLC's handywork:
Ed Kilgore, policy maven at the centrist Democratic Leadership Council (which recently accused war critics of "anti-American bias"), urged caution: "At this sensitive moment in Iraq, there's no position unifying Democrats about what to do next. We need to give it a little bit more time. Troop withdrawal doesn't represent the full range of our party. It doesn't make any political sense."
Let's ignore for the moment the ridiculous notion that a troop withdrawal doesn't make any politican sense. Let's really ignore the fact that there's a higher moral issue at stake in Iraq than politics, like people's lives.
Instead, let's focus on that "anti-American" DLC quote. That didn't come from Kilgore. Rather, it was his boss Will Marshall's handiwork.
By dwelling obsessively on U.S. misdeeds while ignoring the far more heinous crimes of what is quite possibly the most barbaric insurgency in modern times, anti-war critics betray an anti-American bias that undercuts their credibility [...]
Patriotism is the ultimate values issue. Democrats need not be embarrassed by it. And they ought not to let Republicans monopolize the emblems of national pride and honor. Democrats need to be choosier about the political company they keep, distancing themselves from the pacifist and anti-American fringe. And they need to have faith in their fellow citizens: Americans will accept constructive criticism of their country if they know the critic's heart is in the right place.
My draft version of this post included a whole refutation of Marshall's aargument, but really, it's all irrelevant. Ultimately, this is the modern DLC -- an aider and abettor of Right-wing smear attacks against Democrats. They make the same arguments, use the same language, and revel in their attacks on those elements of the Democratic Party that seem to cause them no small embarrassment.
Two more weeks, folks, before we take them on, head on.
No calls for a truce will be brooked. The DLC has used those pauses in the past to bide their time between offensives. Appeals to party unity will fall on deaf ears (it's summer of a non-election year, the perfect time to sort out internal disagreements).
We need to make the DLC radioactive. And we will. With everyone's help, we really can. Stay tuned.
Thought you would appreciate!rtwngAvngr said:This is better than boxing!
Kathianne said:Thought you would appreciate!
rtwngAvngr said:Patriotism is the ultimate values i...y genuine interest in protecting the country.
Merlin1047 said:Say what???
These ten-faced hypocrites can come out with a statement like this after looking down their noses at true patriots and deriding them as "flag wavers"?
It took worthless leftists to make "flag waver" a derogatory term. If they're embracing patriotism now, it's only because they think they can fool some people into voting Democrat in the next election - not because they have any genuine interest in protecting the country.
acludem said:This piece from the DLC is a well written essay that I happen to have some disagreement with. There are factions within the Democratic Party, but there are also factions within the Republican party. Don't believe me? Read the wonderful book "It's My Party, Too" by Christine Todd Whitman. There will always be internal debates within both parties. Our party encompasses moderates like Joe Lieberman, Al Gore, Tom Vilsack, etc, and liberals like Ted Kennedy, Hillary Clinton, Charles Schumer, etc. The Republican party has a similar division with moderates like John McCain, Arlen Specter, Olympia Snowe, and conservatives like Bill Frist, George W. Bush, and Pat Robertson. There are always internal power struggles within both parties.
acludem
acludem said:This piece from the DLC is a well written essay that I happen to have some disagreement with. There are factions within the Democratic Party, but there are also factions within the Republican party. Don't believe me? Read the wonderful book "It's My Party, Too" by Christine Todd Whitman. There will always be internal debates within both parties. Our party encompasses moderates like Joe Lieberman, Al Gore, Tom Vilsack, etc, and liberals like Ted Kennedy, Hillary Clinton, Charles Schumer, etc. The Republican party has a similar division with moderates like John McCain, Arlen Specter, Olympia Snowe, and conservatives like Bill Frist, George W. Bush, and Pat Robertson. There are always internal power struggles within both parties.
acludem
acludem said:I wouldn't say that. The left isn't split on whether America is worth defending, there is a split on what to do. Most of us will say to the President, to put it bluntly, piss or get off the pot. Either fight the war fully or get our troops out. Right now, we don't have enough troops over their to do the job right. Either send more people in and finish the job, or get our troops the hell out of there. I know a lot of anti-war lefties who agree with me on that.
As for the divisions on the right, I read some quotes from former Missouri Republican Senator John Danforth chastizing the far right for dividing the Republican Party by using gay rights as a wedge issue. Republicans are sharply divided between religious conservatives like George W. Bush, and moderates like John McCain.
acludem
acludem said:I wouldn't say that. The left isn't split on whether America is worth defending, there is a split on what to do. Most of us will say to the President, to put it bluntly, piss or get off the pot. Either fight the war fully or get our troops out. Right now, we don't have enough troops over their to do the job right. Either send more people in and finish the job, or get our troops the hell out of there. I know a lot of anti-war lefties who agree with me on that.
As for the divisions on the right, I read some quotes from former Missouri Republican Senator John Danforth chastizing the far right for dividing the Republican Party by using gay rights as a wedge issue. Republicans are sharply divided between religious conservatives like George W. Bush, and moderates like John McCain.
acludem
rtwngAvngr said:http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm?contentid=253472&kaid=124&subid=307
Though it's good to see democrats be patriotic, they are heading towards true nationalist socialism.
dilloduck said:Since getting our troops the hell out of there a totally unrealistic and fatal idea , why don't I hear the left screaming "send more troops" at the top of thier lungs? Why isn't Sheehan screaming send more sons?
Allanon68 said:What kills me is why do people think that not supporting the war is non-patriotic ? That could not be farther from the truth. I hate this war, and definately dont support it. However I wouldnt be slinging eggs at the troops or anything either, they are just doing what they are told. Pawns in some sort of Master plan by Bush. But not supporting the war or disagreeing with bush is far from non patriotism.
Allanon68 said:Your right I forgot, IRAQ flew the planes into us. It was all IRAQ , and thats where all the terrorists are ...in IRAQ, thanks for reminding me. End sarcasm
