Are We Doing the Bidding of Conservatives?

Before the election, my colleague Rick Perlstein counseled the next president to embrace a big and bold liberal agenda immediately after entering office, in the mold of Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson, or else the opportunity for real change would be lost.

But Rick also recognized success is not just as simple as proposing big ideas. It's also navigating the inevitable attempts from conservative obstruction. He pointed to the cautionary tale of President Jimmy Carter.

Early in his administration, Carter's approval was soaring and he got a bold clean energy bill passed in the House.

But then Carter got derailed by a conservative campaign to sensationalize a non-scandal involving his budget director:

Sloppy record-keeping and the sort of petty favoritism endemic to provincial banking had brought Carter's close friend and budget director Bert Lance, a former banker in Georgia, before a Senate subcommittee for minor questioning. [Former Nixon aide and New York Times columnist William] Safire raised a series of where-there's-smoke-there-must-be-fire insinuations. He hinted that the Teamsters Central States Pension Fund (which "the Labor Department says corruptly bankrolls Las Vegas mobsters," Safire helpfully reminded readers) played a role, along with, of course, the Chicago Democratic Machine -- and Arabs!

Safire penned eight Lance columns over the next four months, sometimes twice a week. He repeated the original charges, dropping ones others debunked, ever implying that the charges he still mentioned were the only ones he had made all along, counting on the public's short memory to cover the fact that his original case was falling apart. Most often, his columns baited reporters: Why were they "refusing" to investigate Lance like they had hounded past Republicans? More cunningly, Safire larded the columns with less-than-subliminal linguistic references to Watergate. "Lancegate," he implied, was exactly the same. He even declared a memo by the Manufacturers of Hanover Trust was "the 'smoking gun.'" (Readers were counted on to vaguely recall that the "smoking gun" tape that had brought down Nixon two years earlier also involved the derailing of an FBI investigation.)

It worked, at least where it counted: in the court of political cartoons. Washington Post editorial cartoonist Herblock gave Carter a "Checkers Award," after the infamous cocker spaniel Richard Nixon used to save his hide in a famous 1952 speech. Syndicated cartoonist Pat Oliphant went with a more straightforward depiction of Carter as Nixon: "Stonewall it. ... They're out to get us." Lance resigned; the Justice Department handed down indictments. Even though Lance was eventually completely exonerated, the damage was done. Carter, like Obama, had run as a "different kind of Democrat" -- pure, unsullied. So saboteurs like Safire had a clear challenge: "prove" that Carter was just another impure politician, if even on the shakiest of pretexts.

After Carter was knocked down several pegs, his energy bill died, and window of opportunity for bold progressive change was slammed shut.

Rick warned:

That, of course, is what the right will try on the next Democratic president. They will take the possibility that Obama might break through the icy seas of conservative stasis and try to render it an absurdity. There is now an army of Safires and a Republican Party full of Senator No's. Recall William Kristol's famous memo enjoining congressional Republicans to refuse to deal with President Clinton's proposed health-care reforms. "The plan should not be amended," he wrote, "it should be erased." The right might not be at its strongest, but it certainly understands that the American system favors fell swoops, on offense as well as on defense. The system provides conservatives with opportunities for obstruction in profusion -- no matter how low their approval ratings.

And so it is this month. President Obama started off with a big and bold economic recovery bill, and quickly got it passed in the House.

But this week so far, media coverage has been dominated with ginned up hysteria over tax mistakes already rectified, and phony claims of "pork" in the economic recovery bill -- all aiming to paint the new White House as hypocritical old politics.

Are we learning the lesson from the Carter administration? Are we keeping our eye on the ball? Or are we falling into the same traps?

Did we consider it more important to save the nomination of Tom Daschle, who was picked specifically so he could navigate universal health care through his former Senate home? Or did we go holier-than-thou over relatively minor matters, doing the conservatives' job for them?

Are we flooding Congress with phone calls (Call 1-866-544-7573 NOW!) to keep President Obama's economic recovery bill big and bold? Or are we overly focused with perfection, letting conservatives, despite their diminishing numbers, dominate the phone lines?

We have not lost this progressive moment. Yet.

Prospects for the bill still look good. But we don't want to drag it across the finish line. We want to win strong so we'll have to momentum to build on the victory, because there is a ton of work left to do on global warming, health care, workplace rights and infrastructure.

Achieving those bold legislative goals are what's most important right now. If we allow ourselves to get distracted by the daily "nontroversies", and take our eyes of the ball, this progressive window of opportunity will slam shut on our fingers.

Originally posted at OurFuture.org

Comments

[ProudLiberalDan]

Face it, "new politics" is a farce and doesn't work. Only if conservatives were interested in it could it work.

The time has come to go to good old fashioned power politics. Pass the bills you want and strong arm 1 or 2 Republicans in the Senate to keep them from filibustering.

What we need are Democrats with spines, people like Howard Dean who aren't afraid to stand up and fight.

There isn't a single progressive advance in American history that happened from negotiation with conservatives.

If Obama wants to practice this DLC-triangulation, that's his business. Congress is an equal branch of government and its time for the Democrats to start standing tall and fighting again.

Start with replacing Reid with a Senate Majority Leader with the skills and cold-bloodedness of LBJ.

[fruity]

I agree, they want to divide us. All of a sudden they are talking about poor little me, how I need the money and that the other guys are not. I dont see it as Dems or Reps, I think they've infiltrated both! I think we need to start drawing the comparisons and making the separation that CONGRESS is the problem, not our Prez! He's got the world on his shoulders, he is carrying everyones burdens. I think its a terrible sight to see people knocking him down. I consider any ding towards my President as a punch in the gut to us little potatoes. If we don't stand up and show them we know what they are doing, they will ruin our 4 years of hope and aspiration towards our American Dream!

[saldunn]

You better believe it and it is digusting. People need work and relief and all the media is doing is giving the repbulicans their points. When Bush was in office, everything was quiet on the front/ the republican party owns the media .., and that's straight up. Don't believe me watch MSNBC (morning joe and mathews)

[enoughalready]

Obama has tried to be a uniter.

The GOP want to keep us divided, period!

The most important issue is the economy. The GOP is the obstructionist party.
They don't seem to want to come together and unite for the benefit of all Americans. They continue to try for more tax breaks when it is their tax breaks for the rich that brought this mess of an economy on in the first place. The GOP's deregulation of the financial instutions in this country got us further into this deep black hole in space! The GOP doesn't know what they are doing when it comes to economics but they are trying to push the same old dead horse around again and again.

Why listen to them at all at this point. They don't seem to have our best interests at heart.

More jobs creation in the form of infra-structure is what is needed and less tax cuts. Let's build America and see what our dollars are spent on instead of an increasing debt that brings no evidence of where the money went.

Every Republican administration brings higher deficits, a greater national debt and absolutely nothing to look at for the dollars wasted.

Tell your Senator's to spend for jobs and stop trying to bring the GOP into the fold. They simply will not come to the table. Put the GOP on notice - this past election should have opened their eyes - they are simply blind to the American people!

[cam]

Apparently winning an election doesn't count unless the right wins it.

We have the political baton - time to run with it. The harder the right has to run to keep up the faster we'll get where we need to go.

[ProudLiberalDan]

Winning an election only counts if the winners take power and USE IT.

The Democrats have big power and a once-in-a-lifetime chance to use. Drop the naive and ineffective "new politics" and come out swinging.

[jerrypl]

Hey, just look at who President Obama has chosen to surround himself with: more conservative Democrats who have strong ties to Wall Street, the Fed and the predatory bank thieves.

Obama lost his populist message for Change when he appointed these people.

He is already showing he is too willing to hand over huge sums of taxpayer's cash to failed and dead "too-big-to-fail" banks without transparency or accountability. Oh, now there is a non-retroactive salary cap. Big deal. trillion have already been hoarded by the economic vampires.

The people must push this stimulus agenda.

http://eye-on-washington.blogspot.com

http://consumerreform.blogspot.com

[Jezreel]

"Are We Doing the Bidding of Conservatives?"

Yes. We are.

[afram1]

Morning Joe has thrown out a new meme, "The worst start in Presidential history?"

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

The Right is framing the debate making Obama to be a clumsy upstart conducting business-as-usual, and the stimulus as a liberal pork-filled wrongful spending bill.

Resist that, good people. There needs to be wave of support for the stimulus, for the things that are pluses in the package.

No one is above criticism, the President included..­.but recognize when it is being used to defeat the man and his plans for the country before he even has a chance to start!

[harriscrl3]

Those darn liberal elite media. If they want to criticize Obama do so over his failure to prosecute Bush for War Crimes and torture but they dont have the GUTS. Meanwhile people are praising the NYT for their analysis on Daschle and we are suppose to go Oh our investigative media is back.

The media is coming off as hypocritical they are quibbling over taxes and IGNORE torture.

Carol

[ThesagaciousOne]

Sounds to me that you are saying that the only way these wonderful, progressive initiatives can get passed is by hiding them under the rubric of "Hurry! Hurry! National Emergency Spending To Keep From Going Down The Tubes!" Stirip out the non-stimuluos junk. Fund it separately (Iindividual bills, an omnibus spending bill, whatever). If the program(s) are worthy they'll get funded.
If Rep. Pelosi, Sen. Reid, Pres. Obama, Robert Gibbs, or any other politician cannot justify a provision as an economic stimulous with a straight face and without mumbling it does not belong!

[Gidster]

Government spending is 100% stimulus.
There is less than 1% of the bill considered wasteful, that leaves 99% to be used!

It took the conservatives 10 years to break the economy peddling their diversities as tangible assets, so it will take a while to fix.

[aofh]

The CEO of the company I work for today said that he and his management team believe that the USA will be in recession for 5-to-10 years. They believe that China and Asia will be in recession for 3-to5 years. Clearly, these guys do not have a lot of faith in America right now. Let the Republican justify their prescriptions, too.

[schicklett3]

I would like to add that the media is also allowing the conservatives to turn our country into "big brother." Way too many self-righteous "McCarthy's" on the air waves destroying peoples lives in one fell swoop.
The press has lots of power, but, that power is often used in the wrong way. Sensationalism has replaced journalism, and getting the "scoop" has turned reporters into blabbering idiots.
Ratings has replaced real news and our country will suffer for it.
So, let the conservatives and their agenda flood the airwaves..­.let our new president and his administration fail....le­t our country go bankrupt..­.give lots of attention to the whiny crybaby republicans that are trying to detract attention away from the fact that their president ruined our country.
Never fear - I'm sure Britney or Paris will do something utterly stupid that will garner all the media coverage soon. ;)

[serena1313]

We are in the midst of an economic melt-down that worsens by the day. Daily thousands are laid-off -- 60,000 this year already. Passing this bill ASAP before unemployment gets out of hand should be the number-1 priority!

The GOP misinformation campaign goes unabated. While they monopolize (2 to 1 -- 3 to 1) the airwaves with disinformation and manipulated facts, the media happily parrots their talking-points. It is baffling why the democrats are not countering the spin.

Studies done by CBO, Moody's Economy.com, Centre for America Progress Action Fund, etc. show the stimulus impact on job growth and return on each dollar spent on infrastructure investment are much greater than tax-cuts.

The Republicans want us to believe tax-cuts will stimulate economic growth. Every dollar spent on a capital gains tax-cut returns: 37 cents, corporate: 30 cents whereas extending unemployment benefits: $1.64, increase in food stamps: $1.73.

Every $10 billion spent on infrastructure investment will create more than 60,000 jobs. The CBO estimates the House version of the recovery plan will create 3.6 million jobs (Moody: 3 million).

Conservatives need to stop manipulating the facts. Democrats need to start educating the public with the facts. The media needs to stop parroting the GOP talking-points and start reporting the facts!

Otherwise our current situation will look prosperous compared to what is in store in the near-future!

[schicklett3]

Brilliant!

[mxrider21]

your contrdiction is in returns and benefits. You are right it "returns" money in tax cuts......­that's money back, benefits is money spent and and never seen(plus you shoud work for benefits). 30 cents back is better that 1.73 gone forever. The fed cannot work this out. They can mandate funds but then the states must distribute. Solve the problem at hand......­if the feds want to step in an help, fix the housing issue of bad mortgages.­....that's all borrowed money anyhow....­.if 750 million didn't work under Bush, what makes you think 1 trillion is going is going to work under obama? This whole bill is total bullshit! Let it ride and last I checked, chapter 7 is still legal, let the companies fail. Under 7 they can re-organize and re-finance and carry on like others have in the past. This bill will make this recession worse and will cost us way more in the long run. They won't be telling us to not make children to save the planet when this mother passes....­.they'll be asking us to produce like rabbits because someone will have to pay for this. It's only fear, so don't fear it, take a chance....­.start a business..­.apply for 20 jobs.....t­his isn't the end of the world....I ve read worst history than this.

[Gidster]

Ok, so we let thousands of businesses fail, maybe a million more jobs lost, and screw em, Americans need to work for things, not have them given to them, let em die in the cold if they did not plan for this?

The Bush bailout was basically a cronyism give away. No oversight no strings, at Paulson's request, Bush and company scared congress into passing it or America would fail.

Obama's plan at least has job creation and infrastructure that will help now, and investments that will help later.

Remember the Bush tax cuts helped to bankrupt our economy! He cut taxes then invaded a country on credit! How do you suggest that broke people start a business when banks are in an extreme risk avoidance mode? Obviously you have been spared many tribulations of this crisis from your sanctimonious language and less than compassionate demeanor, but millions of American's are hurting, losing homes, jobs, and any ability to care for themselves and you parrot Republican talking points!!!

[6543]

Great article - and yes, at least the media are falling right into the Repub trap. I believe President Obama is smarter than that but it would help if he got some encouragement from the media ( and by media I mean other than Fox news of course).
It does surprise me that the media is really nitpicking these issues to death. For Pete's sake he's only been President for 2 weeks. The Republicans would look totally foolish if the media would just ignore them.

[momof3inGA]

Corporate-run media isn't falling into the trap -- they ARE the trap.

[island-in-alabama]

Exactly.

It amazes me that so many people still can't see the corporate media for the propaganda organ that they are.

The ultra rich are terrified that they might have to give back some of what they've stolen from the American people and are mounting a full-on attack on President Obama using their MSM tools. They'd rather see our economy collapse than give back any of their ill-gotten gains.

Why do the rich hate America?

[canadianhousedyke]

You're gonna tell me that the GOP congressman don't have dirty little tax secrets in their closets? Here's the thing, OBAMA promised a new kind of politics and a new kind of administration, and being the first black president, he simply can't pull the abuse of power tricks of the previous government, he has too be three times better, three times more skilled, more honest, his chosen people three times more "clean" then anything that would be expected of the choices of any of the white presidents. This isn't just because he's black, although thats a part of it, but because he's FIRST.

Hilary Clinton, if she'd become president, would have been held to the same double standard, she would have been expected to be morally, politically, tax superior to all the Good Ole Boys.

There's millions of Obama supporters out there who ARE NOT part of the washington establishment, who didn't make a pledge to "play nice" with the Republicans, who should get off their asses and cover their mans back by being as bad as they have to be. Send the Republican Congressmen a message.

"Our man IS the real thing, he IS a gentleman, he DOES care about you and those who voted for you but WE are NOT Obama. And WE.... don't have to play nice. So you better start running to your accountants and offshore accounts, cause YOUR taxes...ar­e coming OUT."

[lotuslike]

Great post...tha­nk you! I am absolutely with you on this.

[mxrider21]

What are you racist? and a woman hater? Why do you see color and gender? Do you have something in your background that you have to apologetic for? Obama is the POTUS. Clinton is the Sec. of State. Get over it. How can you see race and gender when in all fairness the last administration broke the mold? I suppose you hate mexicans too. Double and triple times better....­that's insulting and racist.

[Gidster]

It's seems that We are all playing touch football in the back yard, the Republicans are still playing full contact tackle ball.

The Republicans have shown themselves to be rigid ideologists that put their party's power and influence ahead of America's needs.

RNC chairman Steele ignorantly said "Government has never created a single job in the history of mankind"

The irony of that statement, RNC Chairman, former Lt. Governor of Maryland..­.Governmen­t "Jobs" have provided a nice living for him and his family.

[mcfried]

The truth is the right are out in force - look at the number of negative parroted comments on any news website. President Obamas approval rating is close to 70 % but about 70% of the comments are negative. In many cases individuals post multiple times. Groups like Move on etc need to combat this organized Rush strategy in both calls an emails not just to our representatives but to media outlets and comments on stories.