According to Robert Borosage of the Campaign for America's Future, the Republicans' attempt to use the "Do Nothing Congress" label is like "mugging the postman and then complaining that the mail's not being delivered." In other words, to the extent the Congress isn't getting things done, it's the Republicans' fault. As Trent Lott (R-MS) admits, the obstruction strategy is "working well for [Republicans]." Perhaps, but it's not working well for us, the American people. Not that Trent Lott and his ilk give a rat's you-know-what about the American people (unless they're super rich or own a major oil company, that is).
Fortunately, Democrats are fully aware of the Republicans' tired old strategy and are launching a campaign to fight it. In coming weeks, they will be holding press conferences, rallies, protests, and other events to raise public awareness of exactly what Republicans are up to. What ARE they up to? According to Sen. Stabenow, it's nothing less than an attempt to ensure that nothing gets done on health care, stem cells, the 9/11 Commission recommendations, or Iraq - in spite of the clear results of the last election. And their strategy is to use filibusters not just on matters of high importance, but on procedural motions and everything else, to the extent that they're on pace for a record 153 filibusters by the end of this Congress.
Rep. George Miller (D-CA) says even more bluntly that the Republican strategy is "designed essentially to nullify the election." According to Miller, Republicans are "fully prepared" to use the filibuster, veto, and other tools of obstruction in order to "stand between the American people and what they want." Republicans are also trying to "hold onto the last vestiges" of the 1-party government we had for so many years, the same government that brought us a "wave of corruption" - Tom DeLay, Jack Abramoff, Randy "Duke" Cunningham, Bob Ney, etc., etc.
Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) pointed out that the White House and Republicans in Congress "see an entirely different world" than the rest of us, and it's "stark." For instance, they spend $12 billion a month on Iraq, yet they argue against providing health care for children. What they're doing is protecting their friends - the HMOs, the drug companies, etc. The frustrating thing is that Democrats are "ambitious" about "set[ting] America on the right track." Yet, "everywhere you turn, they are obstructing."
The question is, how to get the American people's attention about the GOP attempt to thwart their will. How do we defeat the Republicans' "desperate attempt to hold onto their discredited and dying neocon ideology?" According to Robert Borosage, we "go out to America so Americans know what's at stake." We target specific Republican Senators - McConnell, Sununu, Domenici, Coleman, Collins, Ensign, Grassley, Voinovich, Roberts, Dole, Allard...and John Warner. And we spread this video around.
The bottom line is that we can't allow Republicans to play these games with our nation's future, then try to blame the Democrats when Congress doesn't "get anything done" - thanks to THEIR obstructionist tactics. We need to let everyone know what's really going on here, which is a bunch of reactionaries acting like...well, reactionaries. Today's press conference was just the start.
Don't believe me? Take a few minutes and peruse the latest Democracy Corps polling memo [warning PDF!!!].
Some have focused on the gridlock, partisan bickering and the declining esteem and concluded the electorate is poised to say, "a pox on both your houses." Many in the press have reported both parties as equal offenders against the public good and sensibilities. That completely misreads the current moment and the trends unfolding before them.As a start, the Democrats are maintaining stable and nearly landslide leads in both the race for President as measured by generic performance (51 to 41 percent) and the named ballot for Congress (52 to 42 percent) - untouched by the battles between the Democratic Congress and the President.
When asked this question:
"The gridlock in Washington leads me to want to see more Democrats elected to Congress"
Americans supported Democrats by a 10 point margin (50 to 40), and Independents supported Democrats 49 to 31, an 18 point margin!
That's right, on the issue of gridlock Democrats win Independents by 18 points!!!
There's a ton more, but here's a final thought:
A growing percentage of the country, now 61 percent, want their member of Congress to vote to change President Bush's direction on Iraq and start requiring a reduction of troops; just 35 percent want their member to not undermine the President. The margin for a Congressional mandate has grown from 16 to 26 points in the last month. The forces pushing voters to demand change are growing, not diminishing.
Gridlock is an albatross around the neck of the Gilded Obstructionist Party. Tie it tight!
For this reason we must stand on principle against any attempt to muzzle free speech. I would rather hear the vitriolic of the numb minded "alternative media" than to attempt to interdict a whisper campaign justified by their subjugation. I can always turn them off. We must never allow them the higher moral gound.
For this reason, we must endeavor to allow the closest scrutiny of our motives. We must not shy from the light of day in the manner the Virginia Republicans have demonstrated is their mein. A video of any appearance should be seen as an opportunity to spread the gospel, not a gottcha vulnerability.
For this reason, we Democrats must be an open book. Americans are a phenomenally fair and just people. We must not play into the elitist ethic that claims there are some who just don't have the requisite acumen to participate in the process.
For this reason, we should celebrate. Remember, the truth shall set you free.