I’ve been in the base of the Democratic Party since I was 10 years old, handing out leaflets and putting stamps on envelopes for George McGovern’s campaign in 1972. I’ve donated many hundreds of dollars over the years and volunteered my time to elect Democratic candidates, I’ve only voted for one Republican in my life and that was because I knew him personally and he was a moderate, decent guy. In the 38 years of being in the base, I know what the base looks like. Hamsher, Greenwald and Uygur…I’ve served with the base, I know the base, the base are friends of mine, firebaggers, you are not the base.
The base of the Democratic party in all seriousness are unions, African Americans, Hispanics, women, younger voters and college educated folks. Here is a great breakdown of who voted in 2008. By definition, the base are your most loyal voters. The ones who always turn out for your party, the ones who work for you, support you and can be counted on. Does that describe the people who are claiming to be or represent the base? I don’t think so.
The definition of “The Base” of the party has been conveniently redefined by those in the blogosphere who are really out for a quick buck, and who are attempting to snatch and wield power by threatening candidates with challengers and by raising money for specific candidates who they feel they can control. I had to laugh when the “professional left” comment came from Robert Gibbs and many of these bloggers ran to jump in front of that bullet. They claimed that title so fast, my head spun. And what exactly did Robert Gibbs say that they were all so incensed about. “I hear these people saying he’s like George Bush. Those people ought to be drug tested,” Gibbs said. “I mean, it’s crazy.” The way I interpreted there outrage over that comment was that they were admitting that they think Obama is like Bush, which is just plain fucking crazy and Robert Gibbs was dead on by saying they need to be drug tested. If you were offended by his comment, you deserved to be and let me tell you, YOU ARE NOT THE BASE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. If you were the base, you would not even entertain the notion that President Obama is like George Bush, it wouldn’t even cross your mind. Go look at this site and tell me this president is like George Bush.
I personally feel like the party I have been loyal to since the time I had an opinion about politics has been hijacked by opportunists. You might notice that they have to keep telling people, mostly the compliant media, that they are the base. They have taken the Republican tactic of repeat, repeat, repeat and used it for their own ends. And I’m pointing fingers squarely at the worst offenders, Jane Hamsher and Arianna Huffington. They both have built networks that raise money for “non-profits” and targeted PAC’s for the candidates of their choosing. They both prey on public outrage and anger, purposely misleading readers with headlines, purposely giving selective information to rile up their followers and often blatantly lying and mischaracterizing facts to bolster their twisted views. They have been playing people on the left for years and getting away with it.
I am here to tell you that “The Base” is alive and well and supporting this president. Even with the worst economy since the great depression, according to a recent Quinnipiac Poll, the President gets an 81 – 12 percent approval rating from Democrats. On the Afghanistan War, the issue the firebaggers love to throw at him and say is so unpopular…well, “Despite increased casualties, American voters say 58 – 33 percent that eliminating the threat of terrorists operating from Afghanistan is a goal for which American troops should fight and possibly die”. Sure, some numbers in the poll aren’t very good, and like I said above, considering the state of the economy, this president has some pretty strong support. What I might call, “The Base”.
Like this:
Like Loading...
