Kerry, Edwards lead in first contest of Democratic presidential campaign

[IndianaGreen]

Kerry, Edwards lead in first contest of Democratic presidential campaign
By Patrick Martin
21 January 2004

In analyzing an event such as the Iowa caucuses, it is always necessary to keep in mind that the Democratic Party is one of the two main political institutions of American capitalism. It serves the interests of the financial oligarchy, and the ruling elite is deeply concerned with the selection of the candidate who may well, if circumstances warrant it, replace George Bush in the White House.

For all the attempts by the Republican Party and the media to present Bush’s reelection as an inevitability, there are serious divisions within the American ruling class, and fears that the recklessness of the Bush administration, in both foreign and domestic policy, has set the stage for disaster. A debacle in Iraq or Afghanistan, or a major financial crisis at home, could lead to a rapid collapse in political support for a government that was installed, not through the popular vote, but through the undemocratic intervention of the Supreme Court.

All the more reason for care in selecting the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party. Before entrusting any individual with the executive power of the American government for the next four years, the ruling elite puts them through their paces. This involves a process of political competition among the candidates and manipulation of public opinion through the mass media, which is not an exact science and has many uncertainties. But notwithstanding such complexities, in the final analysis the ruling elite will choose the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party. Iowa was the first step in that decision.

It has been clear for several months that there are grave reservations about Dean in ruling circles. His campaign peaked several weeks before Iowa with the endorsements by former vice president Al Gore and former senator Bill Bradley, the two major candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2000. But Dean has been under relentless attack in the media since the New Year began, and this certainly had its impact in Iowa.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/jan2004/iowa-j21.shtml

[jpgray]

1. LOL! Dean the socialist's friend? Are you kidding me?

Let's match him with the insider corporatist Kerry on a few simple things. Dean takes PAC money (Kerry doesn't), has private dinners with contributors (Kerry doesn't), and has been endorsed by a bevy of heavyweight Washington insiders (ahem, "ruling circles"?). The author obviously has a pro-Dean bias, but the facts just don't support his claims and do his cause little credit. Read DU's own MSchreader for analysis of Dean in his publication--he points out why Dean is a false idol if you're interested in change from the status quo. To me his statement reflects the values of fighting corporate/class domination of politics, whereas this just seems anxious to cover up the facts.

Dean, like Kerry, is a blue-blood, mainstream, corporatist Dem. The media and a few of his most ardent supporters maintain this fantasy about Dean's insurgent qualities, but it all comes down to his being perceived as the "anti-war" candidate. His actual policies are largely reflective of the DLC, the DNC, and other major Dem organizations. Certainly his endorsements are a who's who of the "ruling class".

I like Dean, but this article is "silly" with a capital "s". If Dean (or Kerry, Clark, Edwards &c) is the candidate for socialists, then I am Mickey Mouse.