After Malcolm and her group went after Barack Obama in the primaries, and became an issue in the Connolly/Byrne primary in June, they have been backing Nikki Tinker, a candidate running in a Democratic primary in Tennessee's Ninth CD against incumbent Steve Cohen, who is Jewish.
http://www.emilyslist.org/news...
Emily's Lists preferred candidate, bigoted, union busting lawyer Nikki Tinker, who was also endorsed by the DLC's Harold Ford, Jr., went down in flames this evening, based on returns, 79% to 19%.
Check out the revolting ad run by Nikki Tinker and paid for by members of Emily's List across the country:
The ad was so repulsive that Emily's List renounced the ad several days before the primary, as did the DLC's Harold Ford, Jr., but only HOURS BEFORE THE POLLS CLOSED! Perhaps Ellen Malcolm, Harold Ford, Jr., and the members of Emily's List who paid for this ad should collectively have their heads examined for not doing a better job of vetting their candidate.
And, perhaps, Emily's List should exercise more oversite on behalf of their members, prior to their endorsed candidate running television ads -what an embarrassing position for Ellen Malcolm and Emily's List.
Shame on you Ellen Malcolm!
Barack Obama issued a statment condemning the ad:
http://www.politico.com/blogs/...
Ford's family hisotry with Congressman Cohen go way back, but how Harold Ford., Jr., could continue to associate himself with Ms. Tinker after her ad hit the airwaves is beyond comprehension.
http://politics.nashvillepost....
The good news here is that the voters responded overwhelmingly and rejected the seriously flawed candidacy of Nikki Tinker.
It's a humiliation not just for the vile Tinker but also for those who endorsed her, especially EMILY's List and the DLC's Harold Ford, Jr. Her scurrilous, racist, anti-semitic attacks on the widely admired Cohen were so repulsive that in the last days before the primary EMILY's List felt obliged to renounce them. And so did her former employer, Harold Ford, though only a few hours before the polls closed.
Vile is right. Tinker, the people who made her ads, and anyone who supported her should be ashamed of themselves. Good riddance, and congratulations to Steve Cohen on his resounding victory over the bigots.
I should add as background that I know from a very reliable source that Nikki Tinker, the candidate running the ad, has said before large numbers of supporters that she planned to make Cohen's non-embrace of Christianity (i.e., he's Jewish) a key part of her campaign. And I'm given to understand that this aspect of her campaign is widely understood in Dem circles in DC. (emphasis added)
Well, Cohen beat her bad, and what would be the purpose of dredging this story up further? I doubt we'll hear any more about this.
But, whatever.
I agree with Lowell about the big tent. Another problem area is on the left. Glenn Greenwald and others are out there serving as our self-appointed PC police, seeking to expel Blue Dogs & others from the Democratic Universe. Beyond his contributions on civil liberties, I do not see Glenn Greenwald offering much to the progressive cause. I don't know who he thinks he is to even make such demands.
Progressives should be proud of the fact that we are helping to advance strong candidates and a positive agenda.
The problem isn't that there are Blue Dogs -- the problem is that the Blue Dogs (and many others) in question helped facilitate every single surrender to Bush since the election of two years ago. And we're not talking just a few meaningless issues -- we're talking about on the Iraq war funding; on issues of civil liberties and security (FISA); on other constitutional issues (military tribunals, habeas corpus, etc.).
Steny Hoyer, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Rahm Emanuel, Silvestre Reyes, Jane Harman, and a whole host of other Democrats (although not anywhere near a majority) sold out for two years to allow every single substantive piece of legislation that Bush, Cheney, and Rove desired when it comes to Iraq and homeland 'security.' They refused to use the constituional tools given them to start holding these criminals accountable, and as such the actors in this lawless era will most likely get off scot free.
It's absolutely imperative that, at the VERY least, they be made extremely uncomfortable for their selling out. Hopefully some or (preferably) all of them can be defeated in primaries in the near future.
Who knew it was PC to fight for bedrock principles you strongly believe in and to fight against politicians that would sell our constitution out. Certainly in my view, being a progressive means having principles rooted in fidelity to the constitution. I'm with Glenn and Jane.
You went on to issues. I agree with much of what you said.
However, there are a significant number of Democrats who represent moderate districts. I think if we do not want to end up where the Republicans are now, we need the Big Tent that Lowell wrote about.