Why Do They Lie About Progressives?
(But Still Want Us To Like Them)
by Still Bernin'
The following two videos from The Jimmy Dore Show say a lot about the people who slur progressive activists and candidates:
Why do these DNC corporate-money-lovers seem so bitter and angry? Bernie Sanders is still the most popular politician in the country, and his progressive stances on universal health care, a living wage, and free college education (among others) are extremely popular with the majority of Americans. If anything, shouldn't they welcome Bernie into their fold and accept and promote these progressive ideas so they can regain seats in Congress and in state houses across the nation?
Jimmy Dore says it well: "They'd rather lose to Trump than win with a progressive." Another telling quote about the Democrats: "You're just Republicans in Democrat clothing." By labeling Bernie-supporters as the "alt-left," the corporate Dems seek to marginalize and shut out true progressives in the party. However, in doing so they've created even more outspoken progressives. They don't seem to realize they've sown the seeds of their own destruction. Even the corporatists' selection of Senator Kamala Harris as their "Clinton substitute" has backfired, as Jimmy shows in the video below:
"Doing the same things over and over again and expecting different results is the definition of sanity," jokes Jimmy. So, corporate Democrats think Harris is perfect to run in the 2020 presidential election? A younger version of Hillary Clinton, Harris has her own scandals to deal with, such as not prosecuting current Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin while she was California's Attorney General after Mnuchin committed thousands of illegal foreclosures. A "winning" choice? An honest progressive candidate? Yeah, right.
Harris is "progressive" and doesn't support single payer health care? Uh-huh. She takes lobbyist money and says she's for the people? Does the DNC think we really believe that? You know what I say to the Democrats? "Would you buy the Brooklyn Bridge from me? I'll sell it to you cheap!" (In other words, once conned, it's easy to see through a con artist's tricks. We're onto your tactics, DNC.)
The corporate Dems must believe true progressives are so gullible we'll fall for their blatant lies without blinking an eye. Luckily for us, we're not quite that naive, and we voice our objections loudly. It's why the corrupt DNC is so frustrated with us and will continue to act out their fears and prejudice by smearing progressives and creating distractions such as Russiagate to take the focus off their move to the right.
No, the Democrats are not a "centrist party" as they tout. In the last 30 years, they've transformed themselves into a right-wing party by taking large sums of money from billionaire oligarchs. You haven't seen the DNC come out to support the Move to Amend organization, to rid us of the Citizens United ruling, have you? It's deliberate--I don' t think they just forgot about it. They want to keep their super-rich donors happy. Money is speech, especially when you're filling the Dems' war chest coffers.
Those who think that the Democratic Party can be changed from the inside, consider this: Is joining them worth it? Once inside, will you find yourself sucked under into their quagmire of greed and deceit? Will you find yourself trapped and unable to escape with your integrity intact?
Now, more than ever, it's time to say good-bye to the Dems. Any party that feels rigging their own primary elections is a good thing isn't honorable. Making a deal with a less than honorable organization is bound to lead to heartache. It's time for a fresh start--and Draft Bernie for a People's Party is there, ready to pick up the pieces of the self-destructive Democratic Party and support progressive candidates to fill the empty slots left behind by these money-loving lie mongerers.
If you can't bring yourself to trust a new and untested party, why not try an older third party, the Green Party. With a motto of "people, planet and peace over profits," you can't go wrong there as a progressive. Whichever path you choose, choose one that you can live with and one that reflects your morality. Never join a group out of fear or coercion. You'll only regret it later, like so many ex-Dems are doing now.Progressives believe in a future where all are free from the shackles of poverty and fear. Progressives believe in a future where the people's needs are ranked well above billionaires' needs to make obscene corporate profits. Let us walk confidently into that future--not crawl in fear in the shadows of the establishment factions. Break the two-party habit today. You--and your future--will be glad you did.
Dr. Cornel West tells us exactly what the Democrats have delivered over the past 100 days--disappointment: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/24/democrats-delivered-one-thing-100-days-disappointment?CMP=share_btn_gp
BIO: Still Bernin' sees a brighter future away from the dark clouds of the "lesser evils" of the two-party system. All we have to do is believe in ourselves and follow our conscience in the voting booth.
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Take action this week--
In a related story, here's an update from Our Revolution about the People's Platform petition and the Summer for Progress activism. Do you feel the DNC is getting the message? Nina Turner and other progressives stood at their front doors in Washington D.C., and the Dems still wouldn't let them in. Can we assume they'll change their corporatist ways?
Over
100,000 of you signed our petition in support of the People's Platform,
but when we went to deliver it to DNC headquarters they did not
appreciate our presence. Despite the attendance of current and former
DNC officials and Members of Congress in our group, we were shut out
from entering the building. Citizens engaging in the democratic process
deserve better and despite what happened, we will continue pushing for
policies that enhance the quality of life for all.
We cannot
wait for change, we need to make the change we want to see happen.
Together, we made the DNC “Feel the Bern” last summer with sustained
grassroots pressure and adopted the most progressive platform in the
Democratic Party's modern history, but since then they have pushed back
at every turn. We need to show House Democrats that our grassroots
movement is more powerful than the party establishment. Will
you donate $3, or however much you can afford to help Our Revolution
continue our campaign and keep the pressure on for our Summer for
Progress?
Unlike
the presidential primaries where millions of independent voters were
barred from state primaries and caucuses, our push for the People's
Platform does not restrict people based on arcane party rules—it's just
about us. With the full participation of voters of all party
affiliations who believe in our progressive ideals and the People's
Platform, we can present a united front that is more powerful than the
sequestered party elites who resist the change we need to see. It is
time to make the Democratic Party “Feel the Bern” again.
The DNC
may think that they can continue working behind closed doors, but they
will know different when millions of us come knocking.
In solidarity,
Nina Turner
President
Our Revolution
President
Our Revolution
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From 314 Action:
Betsy Southerland worked for the EPA for 30 years. This week, she resigned.
Southerland, a director at the Office of Water, called out Trump and Scott Pruitt’s blatant disregard for protecting public health and safety in a scathing exit letter. Here’s an excerpt:
“Today the environmental field is
suffering from the temporary triumph of myth over truth. The truth is
there is NO war on coal, there is NO economic crisis caused by
environmental protection, and climate change IS caused by man’s
activities. The majority of the American people recognize that this
protection of public health and safety is right and it is just.”
Trump and Pruitt have steadily been trying to undermine and sabotage the EPA since they arrived. They’ve fired dozens of scientists and have given jobs to their buddies in the fossil fuel industry. They’ve torn up or scaled back environmental regulations, including one that protects children from brain damage-causing pesticides. They’re already being sued by multiple states.
States shouldn’t have to sue the EPA for access to clean air and water. The interests of the American people should come before those of the fossil fuel industry. And lifelong employees like Betsy, dedicated to protecting public health and safety, shouldn’t be forced to quit.
Add your name to stand with Betsy and against Trump’s EPA sabotage.
Thanks for standing in solidarity with science.
Harmony Knutson
Director of Advocacy
314 Action
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Verizon Wireless was just caught in the act of what looks like a blatant violation net neutrality.
Last week, without warning or permission from its customers, Verizon throttled bandwidth speeds down to 10Mbs. Users trying to stream video or use certain apps were caught in an internet slow lane and couldn't do anything about it.
But because of Title II net neutrality protections, the press has called the company out.1
Verizon, AT&T, and Comcast have argued that they should be able to regulate net neutrality on their own, without FCC rules. Verizon just proved why we can never let that happen.
Will you chip in $5 to help fight for net neutrality?
Verizon has argued that it was performing a "test" on bandwidth that was perfectly legal.2 But the truth is that Verizon can brazenly break net neutrality rules because it has confidence that FCC Chairman Ajit Pai—a former Verizon attorney—will dismantle net neutrality and let the company off the hook.
The 2.5 million comments our Day of Action to Save Net Neutrality generated to the FCC show that the public is united against the Trump FCC's repeal of net neutrality.
As for the CEOs of AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon—they have turned down the invitation to speak before Congress and defend their stance.3 They know that there is no public good argument in favor of disbanding net neutrality rules.
Instead, the telecom industry is relying on the over $25 million in campaign donations it made during last year's election to convince Congress to support Pai's effort to destroy net neutrality.4
Our voices need to be louder than Comcast's checkbook. We are continuing our fight for net neutrality and organizing meetings across the country to put pressure on the FCC and Congress to keep Title II protections in place.
Will you chip in $5 to help stand up for net neutrality against Verizon and Comcast?
Thanks for standing with us,
Kurt Walters, Demand Progress
Sources:
1. USA Today, "Verizon slows video traffic, causing concerns for net neutrality advocates," July 26, 2017
2. Ibid.
3. Endgadget, "Tech CEOs haven’t yet agreed to attend House net neutrality hearing," July 31, 2017
4. OpenSecrets.org, "Telecom Services & Equipment: Top Contributors to Federal Candidates, Parties, and Outside Groups," accessed August 4, 2017
I detest the fact the Democrats are trying to usurp the movement by claiming they're 'Progressive, too.' Bullshoot! They're neo-liberals or republicans in disguise and have been for thirty+ years. Frankly I think the Progressive movement should be proud to call itself Socialist. That's one handle the Dem's will never try to claim for themselves.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the Dems seems to be into McCarthyism with this "Russia, Russia, Russia!" business. Don't they realize there's already a right-wing party--the Republicans? If they were smart, they'd listen to Bernie and follow his lead, but they're obviously not that smart. (And the corporate cash speaks loudly in their ears.) It's time to ditch the evil duopoly once and for all.
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