Barbara J. Stock
Will the real Democratic Party please stand up
By Barbara J. Stock
The finger-pointing has begun. The questions are being asked. How did John Kerry lose this election? Was it the "Moral Majority" flexing its muscles? Is the Democratic Party out of touch with America? Was it feared that Kerry was weak on national defense? Was John Kerry just too liberal for most Americans?
In truth, it was all of those and none of those. The problem is the Democratic Party is having a serious identity crisis. Like a living being with a split personality, this party is pulling itself apart.
This split was never more apparent than this last presidential election. On one side there are the traditional Democrats such Joe Lieberman and on the other are the extremes like Howard Dean and John Kerry. Kerry tried very hard to swing to the center, but people just didn't believe him. Americans not living on either coast are, for the most part, conservative.
If one listens carefully, this far left side of the party has even renamed itself. It often calls itself the "Progressive Party." What does "Progressive" mean? I feel it is interchangeable with "Socialist Party." There is a fair amount of evidence to prove that statement. The frightening thing for America is this: the far left, or socialist wing of the Democratic Party, is taking control of the party.
A list of members of the Socialist Party of America was once proudly displayed for members to see until that list became public. On that list were such prominent names as Nancy Pelosi, now a powerful force in the House. All the members of the Black Caucus were listed. A new caucus has been formed called the "Progressive Caucus." What is their goal? As stated their goal is to advance the socialist agenda in America. Their names are listed on a page called "Socialism in America."
No senators were foolish enough to actually join this group and allow their names to be published. But those "Progressive" senators are not hard to identify. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, Hillary Clinton of New York, John Kerry of Massachusetts, Barbara Boxer of California, Diane Feinstein of California, and Patty Murray of Washington are the most visible and powerful. It is these senators that are the most important and influential committees. If Tom Daschle of South Dakota had been re-elected, would have also been on that list. But Daschle's far-left assignment of bringing the Senate to a virtual halt many times to block any bill or judge that the Progressives found unsuitable to their cause, was more than the people of conservative South Dakota could stand. The others, however, are in states that are firmly under the control of the far left of the Democratic Party.
The old guard of the Democratic Party, like Zell Miller, has said that he "didn't leave the party — the party left him." This is a true statement. There was a day in this country when prominent senators such as Joe Biden of Delaware, didn't publicly call the president of the United States, "brain dead." There was an era when in times of war, senators such as Ted Kennedy, didn't call the president a liar "who deceived the American people." The rhetoric has never been more hateful.
Post election comments from the supporters of the Progressive Party were bitter and spiteful. Those Americans who live in the red states were called ignorant. The youth vote that did not turn out in droves to vote for Kerry as expected was called "unreliable brats." Anyone living in a Bush state has been labeled a member of the "radical religious right." Warnings have gone out that this group will force religion down everyone's throat, have gays jailed, and force women to have a baby every year. What they don't seem to realize is that those "old Democrats" crossed over and voted against John Kerry. They had to for Bush to win.
A liberal site I visit had perhaps the saddest picture that I have seen thus far. It was picture of a man with his little daughter in his lap and they were holding a sign that said, "Sorry, a bad guy won Washington." It had a little crying face drawn on it. For socialists, this was a crushing defeat. So devastating was this defeat that this man apparently wanted to teach his child at a young age that Republicans are bad people. How sad.
Why do these Progressives hate George Bush so much? It's more than the fact that he is a Republican. Bush represents everything they hate about America. George Bush does not put great stock in the United Nations. He is vocal about his belief in God and perhaps the most unforgivable, he is pro-life. Bush supports a strong military and has shown he is not afraid to use it when the country is threatened — with or without United Nations approval. Bush does not believe in the redistribution of wealth. He actually wants to tax Americans less. Progressives are horrified at the very thought of lowering taxes. Progressives were also horrified to learn on November 2, 2004 that much of America does not agree with them.
Make no mistake these Progressives are passionate about their beliefs. A man, supposedly so overwhelmed with grief that Kerry lost the election, went to ground-zero in New York and killed himself. Liberal web sites are blaming Bush for this man's death. The fact that this man was probably psychologically unstable long before the election would never occur to them. Michael Moore is telling despondent Americans "not to slit their wrists" over the Bush win. An angry Nancy Pelosi held a press conference where she demanded that Bush must "reach out to the other side" if he wishes to get anything done.
Adding insult to injury, the Progressive Party not only lost the White House, but Senate and House seats as well. It's well on its way to being a long-term minority party. That was not its plan. That was not the way it was supposed to turn out. Some Kerry supporters are so depressed they have threatened to move to Ireland or Canada and one is rumored to be recovering from the shock in a monastery.
This radical group — these "Progressives" — will regroup. They will examine their mistakes and try not to make them again. Bill Clinton was able to fool Americans into thinking he was a centrist. But he wasn't, not really. The people were not fooled in 1994 either and hobbled Mr. Clinton by electing Republicans to the Senate and House to control him. Fearing he wouldn't be re-elected, which is all he cared about, Clinton turned on his Progressive followers and caved in to many of the Republican demands. Clinton then embarrassed them further by showing that the far left had few, if any, morals as well.
So this brings us full circle. Morals. Did the majority of Americans sicken of the Progressive agenda? It seems they did. So expect, within reason, the far left to suddenly find God. The Progressive branch will never give up the abortion issue but will abandon the gay community if it must. These socialists will do and say whatever they must to win. The problem is, they won't mean it. They never have in the past and I don't expect them to find honesty now.
© Barbara J. Stock
The finger-pointing has begun. The questions are being asked. How did John Kerry lose this election? Was it the "Moral Majority" flexing its muscles? Is the Democratic Party out of touch with America? Was it feared that Kerry was weak on national defense? Was John Kerry just too liberal for most Americans?
In truth, it was all of those and none of those. The problem is the Democratic Party is having a serious identity crisis. Like a living being with a split personality, this party is pulling itself apart.
This split was never more apparent than this last presidential election. On one side there are the traditional Democrats such Joe Lieberman and on the other are the extremes like Howard Dean and John Kerry. Kerry tried very hard to swing to the center, but people just didn't believe him. Americans not living on either coast are, for the most part, conservative.
If one listens carefully, this far left side of the party has even renamed itself. It often calls itself the "Progressive Party." What does "Progressive" mean? I feel it is interchangeable with "Socialist Party." There is a fair amount of evidence to prove that statement. The frightening thing for America is this: the far left, or socialist wing of the Democratic Party, is taking control of the party.
A list of members of the Socialist Party of America was once proudly displayed for members to see until that list became public. On that list were such prominent names as Nancy Pelosi, now a powerful force in the House. All the members of the Black Caucus were listed. A new caucus has been formed called the "Progressive Caucus." What is their goal? As stated their goal is to advance the socialist agenda in America. Their names are listed on a page called "Socialism in America."
No senators were foolish enough to actually join this group and allow their names to be published. But those "Progressive" senators are not hard to identify. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, Hillary Clinton of New York, John Kerry of Massachusetts, Barbara Boxer of California, Diane Feinstein of California, and Patty Murray of Washington are the most visible and powerful. It is these senators that are the most important and influential committees. If Tom Daschle of South Dakota had been re-elected, would have also been on that list. But Daschle's far-left assignment of bringing the Senate to a virtual halt many times to block any bill or judge that the Progressives found unsuitable to their cause, was more than the people of conservative South Dakota could stand. The others, however, are in states that are firmly under the control of the far left of the Democratic Party.
The old guard of the Democratic Party, like Zell Miller, has said that he "didn't leave the party — the party left him." This is a true statement. There was a day in this country when prominent senators such as Joe Biden of Delaware, didn't publicly call the president of the United States, "brain dead." There was an era when in times of war, senators such as Ted Kennedy, didn't call the president a liar "who deceived the American people." The rhetoric has never been more hateful.
Post election comments from the supporters of the Progressive Party were bitter and spiteful. Those Americans who live in the red states were called ignorant. The youth vote that did not turn out in droves to vote for Kerry as expected was called "unreliable brats." Anyone living in a Bush state has been labeled a member of the "radical religious right." Warnings have gone out that this group will force religion down everyone's throat, have gays jailed, and force women to have a baby every year. What they don't seem to realize is that those "old Democrats" crossed over and voted against John Kerry. They had to for Bush to win.
A liberal site I visit had perhaps the saddest picture that I have seen thus far. It was picture of a man with his little daughter in his lap and they were holding a sign that said, "Sorry, a bad guy won Washington." It had a little crying face drawn on it. For socialists, this was a crushing defeat. So devastating was this defeat that this man apparently wanted to teach his child at a young age that Republicans are bad people. How sad.
Why do these Progressives hate George Bush so much? It's more than the fact that he is a Republican. Bush represents everything they hate about America. George Bush does not put great stock in the United Nations. He is vocal about his belief in God and perhaps the most unforgivable, he is pro-life. Bush supports a strong military and has shown he is not afraid to use it when the country is threatened — with or without United Nations approval. Bush does not believe in the redistribution of wealth. He actually wants to tax Americans less. Progressives are horrified at the very thought of lowering taxes. Progressives were also horrified to learn on November 2, 2004 that much of America does not agree with them.
Make no mistake these Progressives are passionate about their beliefs. A man, supposedly so overwhelmed with grief that Kerry lost the election, went to ground-zero in New York and killed himself. Liberal web sites are blaming Bush for this man's death. The fact that this man was probably psychologically unstable long before the election would never occur to them. Michael Moore is telling despondent Americans "not to slit their wrists" over the Bush win. An angry Nancy Pelosi held a press conference where she demanded that Bush must "reach out to the other side" if he wishes to get anything done.
Adding insult to injury, the Progressive Party not only lost the White House, but Senate and House seats as well. It's well on its way to being a long-term minority party. That was not its plan. That was not the way it was supposed to turn out. Some Kerry supporters are so depressed they have threatened to move to Ireland or Canada and one is rumored to be recovering from the shock in a monastery.
This radical group — these "Progressives" — will regroup. They will examine their mistakes and try not to make them again. Bill Clinton was able to fool Americans into thinking he was a centrist. But he wasn't, not really. The people were not fooled in 1994 either and hobbled Mr. Clinton by electing Republicans to the Senate and House to control him. Fearing he wouldn't be re-elected, which is all he cared about, Clinton turned on his Progressive followers and caved in to many of the Republican demands. Clinton then embarrassed them further by showing that the far left had few, if any, morals as well.
So this brings us full circle. Morals. Did the majority of Americans sicken of the Progressive agenda? It seems they did. So expect, within reason, the far left to suddenly find God. The Progressive branch will never give up the abortion issue but will abandon the gay community if it must. These socialists will do and say whatever they must to win. The problem is, they won't mean it. They never have in the past and I don't expect them to find honesty now.
© Barbara J. Stock
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