Unfortunately, the reason for this is simple: democrats seek donations from the same corporations and financial institutions the GOP does. They are silent because big business likes Bush.
A recent case in point was the bankruptcy bill that Democrats like Joe Biden and Joe Lieberman voted for because they get big bucks from the credit card companies in their states. They are not going to criticize something they are paid to vote for.
This is related to the recent criticism of Howard Dean. Party leaders aren't mad because he has shown symptoms of having a spine, but because he won't kiss the ass of the traditional democratic business fat cat donors.
Even more aggravating is that Howard Dean is raking in more contributions than his predecessor. Dean could make the party something that truly looks out for regular people instead of our current choice of two business parties, one with religious nuts and one without, because it won't have to kiss the ring of big business.
The Chamber of Commerce wing of the Democratic Party is frantic about this. Taking care of business is more important to them than even winning. Those of you that teach college know what this kind of party is like at a local level, one more concerned about kicking construction contracts to friends than giving faculty healthcare or having a school paper.
Consider the words of FDR on corporate power and ask yourself how many Democrats would say this today:
"The first truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in essence, is fascism - ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling power. Among us today a concentration of private power without equal in history is growing." - President Franklin Delano RooseveltTalk radio host Thom Hartmann nails it in this brief article. If you want the democratic party to represent you, take a minute to give a few bucks to the DNC, and say that you are only giving the money because of Howard Dean. Even if it's just a symbolic $2 or $5, it will send a message.
BUY BACK THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
KEY EXCERPTS:
"He doesn't speak for me," they say, apparently longing for the days when their spokesman was taking big checks from multinational corporations, signing corporate-friendly trade deals, and defending sex scandals.
The simple truth is that corporate interests have hijacked our nation, theocrats want to take us back to the days of the Salem Witch Trials (with gays playing the part of witches), and the "stars" in the corporate "mainstream" media have been so terrified by Bush administration threats of loss of access (which could then lead to the loss of their own 6- and 7-figure income jobs) that they perpetuate administration lies and tremble at the thought of actually asking a tough follow-up question when Bush prevaricates.
Howard Dean points out these uncomfortable truths. And, like the little boy who said that the Emperor had no clothes, those entrenched in the status quo are trying to hush him up.
But the status quo is bankrupting our families, gutting the middle class, putting a bulls-eye on American soldiers and tourists around the world, devastating our environment and our children's future.
...it's critical that progressives infiltrate and take over the Democratic Party. After all, it was started by radical progressives like Thomas Jefferson, and reached its greatest electoral victories in the 20th Century when Franklin D. Roosevelt promoted an unabashedly progressive agenda.
...I realized that if I really wanted the DNC to pay attention to my comments I should make a tangible gesture. I pulled out my Visa card and made a small donation. It was only ten dollars, but if a million of us did the same, it would make people stand up and take notice.
FULL TEXT:
Published on Friday, June 10, 2005 by CommonDreams.org
Dean Just Told Them The Truth and They Thought It Was Hell
by Thom Hartmann
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