I belong to MoveOn.org so you don't have to.
It is interesting how we on the right see the defeat of Blanche Davis compared to how those on the left see it. We think she was defeated because she was not conservative enough. We think she was repudiated because conservatives abandoned her when she abandoned her principles. We think she was defeated because she was too far left. We see her defeat as our victory.
The left thinks she was defeated because she was not left enough. To the left, this elections shows "that Democrats who side with corporate interests to block President Obama's agenda will suffer for it at the ballot box." The left sees her defeat as their victory.
One thing is for certain; there is no middle anymore. I am not sure this is a positive development. Sometimes pragmatic centrist can play an important roll. Not every issue is black and white; there are many shades of gray. Also, incremental change is less frightening than radical change. Nevertheless, the battle lines or more clearly drawn than ever before. There is no room for moderate Republicans or moderate Democrats anymore. We are more polarized than ever. We are no longer playing within the 45 yard lines. There is no longer room to "reach across the aisle." We are in a struggle for total victory and winner-take-all.
With the battle lines so clearly drawn the stakes are higher than ever and if we fail to win, defeat will be more devastating than ever. The November elections really may be decisive as to whether or not our nation remains free and capitalistic or becomes a socialist authoritarian nation. Unless we win enough seats to restrain the Obama juggernaut, by 2012 we may no longer recognize our county and the left's gains may be irreversible. I do not think the political choices have ever been more clear. We on the right must open our purse and put boots on ground like never before. We must match the energy and money of the MoveOn crowd. I know at times we all grow weary of the battle but now is not the time to take a break. Too much is at stake to let the radical left gain more power.
I am reposting this email so you can see how the left interprets this election and see their commitment to victory. Here is the email I received from MoveOn.org:
Michael Sherrard, MoveOn.org Political Action"
Late last night, I wrote you from Bill Halter's victory celebration in Arkansas, after his amazing finish in the Democratic primary. He held Senator Blanche Lincoln, one of the worst corporate Democrats in Congress, under 45% among Democratic voters, and forced a runoff election in three weeks.
Halter's campaign team has gathered in Little Rock today to decide on their plan for the runoff. After being outspent more than two-to-one by Sen. Lincoln, their funds are nearly exhausted. They're trying to figure out what they can afford and whether the MoveOn members who helped him do so well last night will come through again.
His campaign urgently needs more support. We've already received 6 donations from Nashville, and it'll only take 9 more to reach our goal of $200,000 in emergency funds today—can you chip in $5?
For more, see my email from last night below.
–Michael and the rest of the team
Hi—
I'm in Little Rock at Bill Halter's election-night celebration, and the energy here is truly incredible. Bill just told the crowd: "Today we put the special interests and political insiders on the ropes, and in three weeks we're going to knock them out."
Halter's supporters are ecstatic because he just handed a huge defeat to Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln. Despite being outspent by more than two-to-one, Halter kept Lincoln below 45% of the vote—and now both candidates are headed into a runoff election.
Make no mistake, this is big news. For the first time, voters have shown that Democrats who side with corporate interests to block President Obama's agenda will suffer for it at the ballot box.
But even as we're celebrating, it's time to double down. Because Sen. Lincoln is a favorite of big corporations, she still has millions in the bank—and she'll spend all of it smearing Bill Halter.
The runoff is in just three weeks, and Halter's staff just told me that they urgently need more funds to continue the campaign.
Can you help us raise $200,000 in emergency funds for Bill Halter? That'll take 15 donations from Nashville. Chip in $5 here:
And on behalf of everyone here in Arkansas, thanks for all you do.
–Michael and the rest of the team
Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.
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Rod,
ReplyDeleteAs a person playing from the left side of the field, I find something things I agree with you here about and others that I disagree with you about.
If Blanche had been defeated by someone more conservative, I might agree with your assessment about who has rights to claim the victory. However, my understanding is that Halter is more liberal than Blanche.
I do believe that we are becoming more polarized and that this is not good for our country.
Yet there might be a different way of looking at things where the left and the right have more in common.
I've spoken at conferences where the lefties complain about big business and the righties complain about big government. Perhaps these complaints have more in common than people realize.
Perhaps the issue is both large corporations and large governments which work together to take advantage of the common man. Perhaps Halter's victory and Rand Paul's victory are similar expressions of dissatisfaction with the current ruling class, whether they are ruling from Pennsylvania Avenue, K Street, or Wall Street.