Top Democrats: We want to win elections, no liberal plans

[wyldwolf]

Three Democratic congressmen who are about to take important leadership posts said on Sunday they plan to pass popular legislation blocked by Republicans but would refrain from pushing some of the most controversial elements on the liberal agenda.

The three, appearing on Fox News Sunday, are among the most liberal Democrats who will take over key committee chairmanships when Democrats regain control of the House of Representatives in January.

Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts, who will take over the U.S. House of Representatives committee that covers banking and other financial institutions, mentioned raising the minimum wage, providing cheaper drug coverage for the elderly and providing more affordable housing and help with college tuition as the focus of Democratic legislation.

"Our first efforts are going to be to do those things that I think the mainstream of America wants," Frank said. "Some things have become liberal because the right wingers who control the Republican party have abandoned them to us."

"Democrats like winning elections," said Rep. John Dingell of Michigan, the incoming chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee and the longest serving member of the House.

"We want to win elections and we're going to do our best to do so," he said. "This doesn't mean to get into any extreme positions on any matter. We'll do what makes good sense."

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyid=2006-11-26T182304Z_01_N26411308_RTRUKOC_0_US-CONGRESS-AGENDA.xml&src=rss&rpc=22

[acmejack]

1. Well they won't win many unless they include liberal plans!

But they'll figure it out, look at you, it took all day to find an appropriately conservative article to post. :rofl:

[wyldwolf]

2. Let's see. Rueters + top liberal Democrats = conservative. LOL!

Look at you - long on spin, short on substance!

[Cerridwen]

3. .

:spray:

:rofl:

[rucky]

4. Translation: We want to keep our jobs

Never mind doing those things we expect you to do when you actually do win an election.

Turds.

[upi402]

5. They wont win by continuing down the spineless center

Good luck wooses. Americans like strong, tough leaders. Can't get the hint from the last quarter century?
Americans are dumb and simple and easy to fool. Get busy with that and we'll have a better America.

I know there are handlers talking to them about 'the numbers are in the middle' -but seriously- how's that working?

[waiting for hope]

8. I can agree with you on that -

but hasn't this country been through enough with polarizing politics form the Radical Right and the Neo-Cons? Perhaps they see that those kinds of tactics divided this country and by swinging completely to the other side is not the answer. There are some so called "liberal" issues that can sell just as well as being labeled as "humanitarian" which would appeal to more people across the board. I just would love to see this country heal, I'm tired of being pissed off and angry - especially against certain Republicans, like my parents.

[Zenlitened]

6. Reuters contact page:

http://today.reuters.com/HelpAndInfo/ContactUs.aspx

You might be tempted to click on "Ask a Question" -- as in, "Do you have anyone on staff who knows how to write a headline that matches the content of the story?"

But that just ends up in the website janitor's in-box.

The third link, "Contact a Reuters Editor," might be a better bet.

:crazy:

[Nite Owl]

7. They ignor the left at their peril

We are the feet on the ground, the people who give money and time until it hurts. If they take a middle of the road approach and aim to please undedided republicans they are sure to lose in '08.

[political_outcast]

10. seems like they are doing exactly what the "left" in america wants

i.e., lip service to leftist economics ideas, and concentrating and focusing on social wedge issues. When I look at the typical "greatest posts" here on DU, it pretty much reflects what these democratic politicians are talking about.

[mzmolly]

22. Actually you have that backwards.

The left wants progress on economic issues that effect most americans, and the right wing is focused on divisive social issues because "fear and smear" is all they've got. Our legislative agenda is pointed out in this article, and refutes what you just said.

Welcome.

[political_outcast]

23. OK, so if I count and quantify and classify all DU posts, then....

....most of them will be about economic populist issues like progressive taxation, universal healthcare, labor supply and demand, unions, etc, and NOT about things like partisan politics (we already have acknowledged, correct, that the dem politicians are not into economic populism, right?), gay rights, gender, race, etc?

???

[mzmolly]

29. The OP was not about DU discussions, it was about those we just

placed in power and their agenda. What we discuss here is mainly "politics."

[Nite Owl]

24. What leftist economic ideas?

There really aren't any, they should be fiscally responsible. Something we haven't seen in a while now. The left doesn't want the bill to be sent to our children and grandchildren and expects programs to reflect what is best for the citizens of our country not the corporations. If that is leftist it is also responsible economics.

[political_outcast]

26. never heard of progressive taxation or universal healthcare?

oh, wait, I get it--DEMOCRATICunderground!

Got it!

[Nite Owl]

28. Universal healthcare happens to be

the responsible thing to do both economically and morally. It would save a lot of money and provide all with healthcare. Every other industrialzed nation does it so why can't we? Insurance company profits maybe? Laws for the citizens not the corporations. That is fiscally and morally responsible economics.
We do have progressive taxation only the loopholes allow the richest to get out of paying their share and corporations to pay little or nothing while shipping American jobs abroad and sheltering their incomes in overseas banks. It's irresponsible to make the middle and lower class bear the burden of taxation while the richest and most secure are allowed to get away with not paying their share.

[mzmolly]

16. Be careful not to take the media spin/bait folks.

We are putting forth a populist agenda, which by most standards is "liberal."

[aquart]

20. Exactly. And if this lulls the hysteria-prone, fine by me.

But let's not get hysterical on our own side. What I see is that they've reframed our issues as mainstream, what the country wants, not leftist or outside the mainstream. THAT ALONE MOVES THE NATION LEFT.

[mzmolly]

21. Yes they have.

We're all "liberals" now. :hi:

[Nite Owl]

25. They just need to be watched is all

just because they are dems they still have to have their feet held to the fire so to speak. We can't sit back and thing we have won and don't need to watch anymore.

[mzmolly]

30. Absolutely.

And they know they will be.

[PurityOfEssence]

9. What does it matter if you gain the world but lose your soul?

In case anyone wasn't paying attention, the BIG lesson of the '06 mid-term elections was that the reactionaries' seeking of continued power backfired in a major way. By doing all they could to remain in power by earmarks and sloppy subterfuge, they angered their base and got their asses handed to them.

Believing in something is the only thing that really matters. Knowing when to compromise is the stuff of greatness; doing so on a regular basis is idiocy.

The right needs to be directly attacked. This needn't be bolshevism, but it needs to be on an ideological basis. Ideologues suck, but principles matter.

[jaysunb]

11. Democrats need to get back to being Democrats.

And if that's called liberal or left...so be it.

[buddysmellgood]

13. Exactly. Liberal and conservative mean nothing with regard to politics. Democrats are

those that want good thing for people. Republican want your money.

[madfloridian]

12. This is exactly what they should do...it is what Bush should have done.

They are going to address things the people of America need right now.

I agree with that.

Talk about baiting, ww?

:rofl:

I say good for them, I think it is great...I think most of us here know they are going to take good care of our country.

[madfloridian]

14. Guys, don't take the bait on this. This is what our Dems should do.

They are doing the right thing.

[mzmolly]

17. Agreed.

:hi:

[mzmolly]

15. Note how the "Top Democrats" did not use this language to characterize

their plans? This is divisive spin on the part of the media who are also telling us there is about to be a massive internal war. "Top Democrats" have said that they are running a populist agenda, and that is a liberal agenda where I come from. Not to be redundant, but - "OF BY AND FOR THE PEOPLE" is what we as a political party are about.

[madfloridian]

18. Amen.

.

[Bombtrack]

19. the misleadingness of headlines from people like you make the NY Post look like Edward R Murrow

that's the ticket: Barney Frank is a fraud !

[wyldwolf]

31. you think I write for Rueters? I'm flattered.

[ProudDad]

27. Flamebait!!!

[LittleClarkie]

32. What makes you think that the plans they do have aren't considered liberal

and aren't things that Liberals would want to see done.

To say they have no liberal plans is entirely too broadbrush.