In 2010, Will Democrats Offer More Than Anti-Tea Party?

LAS VEGAS -- November looks grim for the Democratic party, and no group knows that better than progressive activists.

They grumble that President Obama and Democrats in Congress have capitulated to conservatives and special interests. They say lofty visions for health care and Wall Street reform were watered down to laws that will be toothless or ineffective at best. Other priorities like immigration reform and the repeal of the military's "don't ask don't tell" law have yet to materialize.

The liberal base's dissatisfaction is evident in the poll numbers: Just 28 percent of Democrats said they were very enthusiastic about 2010 in a recent Gallup poll, compared with 51 percent of Republicans.

But that's less evident this weekend here at the Netroots Nation conference, the year's largest gathering of liberal activists. A smaller, more progressive, Democratic majority would be an acceptable outcome to this year's midterm elections, liberals say - but they aren't prepared to cede the majority to the Republican Party, which they stands for nothing besides destroying the Obama presidency.

At his Netroots keynote address, Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas, a conference organizer, said disdainfully that Democrats have done nothing to motivate him for this November.

"What's motivating me is the tea baggers," he said. Moulitsas relished over the prospect of watching Tea Party-backed candidates, like Nevada's Republican Senate candidate Sharron Angle, under perform in November, potentially prompting the GOP establishment to shun the movement.

But is keeping the Tea Party at bay enough motivation to bring out Democratic voters? How can the party bring back the young and minority supporters who voted for the first time to support Mr. Obama?

Karen Benzer, the head coordinator of the Southern Nevada Coalition for MoveOn.org, said there's too much at stake in her state to let Angle defeat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

In a state with the nation's highest unemployment rate, where empty commercial buildings and boarded up small businesses stand in stark contrast to the glitz of the Las Vegas strip, Benzer said it's unacceptable for Nevada Sen. John Ensign to join his fellow Republicans in blocking the extension of unemployment benefits.

"A lot of horrific things are happening in our state," she said. "How can you with a straight face go home to your state and not extend unemployment benefits?"

As an activist who calls potential Democratic voters in Nevada, Benzer said, "When we call, people are a little grumpy, but they know the alternative."

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

Perhaps no Democrats may be more motivated by the anti-Tea Party agenda than liberals in Minnesota's sixth district, which is represented in the House by Tea Party icon Michele Bachmann (seen at left).

Bachmann's Democratic opponent, Tarryn Clark, is running an "unprecedented" campaign in the district, said Clark's spokesperson, Carrie Lucking. While Bachmann has stepped up her leadership in the Tea Party, recently starting the official congressional Tea Party caucus, Clark has raised more money more quickly than any other Bachmann challenger to date, according to Lucking.

However, Clark has campaigned on more than just the anti-Bachmann message, Lucking said, offering a positive alternative of "getting the work of the people done."

"I think folks are frustrated with what's happening in Washington, and what's not happening," Lucking said.

Liberal commentators often pin the blame on Mr. Obama for what doesn't get done in Washington. And there's more he could do to enthuse liberals ahead of the November, they say.

For one thing, Democratic Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, a speaker at the conference, said the president could get U.S. troops out of Afghanistan or do a better job explaining why they need to be there.

"I haven't heard any politican or any general tell us straight why are we there," Schweitzer said in an interview with Hotsheet. "If we're going to continue to have support from people in this country for this war, they at least have to tell us why we're there. I don't even know."

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Schweitzer (at left) said the president could also do more to make corporate America "put their money where their mouth is."

"These corporate CEOs know the recession is over," he said. "What we need them to do is start employing Americans again."

But while liberals may expect more of the president, Schweitzer said, "Let's not destroy the good in search of the perfect."

"Can we say the left got everything they wanted? No," he said. "But this administration is not even in its two-year mark, and they've already done more than the Bush administration did."

Most recently, Democrats in Washington disappointed some on the left by abandoning a plan to include a cap-and-trade scheme in an energy bill. Schweitzer, who has aggressively pursued alternative energy and carbon emissions reductions in his own state, said it shouldn't matter.

"It's not an approach I would take anyway," Schweitzer said. "I think there's better systems that invest in domestic energy... that would encourage us to decrease our carbon emissions."

MoveOn's Benzer said she is also willing to forgive Democrats for letting Republicans stall the extension of unemployment benefits for so long.

"It took two months to get it through," shes said, "but it got done through the pure determination of Sen. Reid."

If Democrats want to do more to reassure voters, Benzer said, they can pursue a solution to illegal immigration "that's agreeable to everyone."

"The states are badgering the federal government to do something," she said.

Tammy Johnson of the Applied Research Center, a group that focuses on racial justice, agreed that along with the economy, immigration is an issue that could motivate the base.

"There were a lot of people who came out and voted for [Obama] for the first time who won't be there" this November, she said. "In order to recapture those people... he needs to make sure his economic reforms are deep and broad. If he really wants to capture the young people, he needs to make sure he speaks to things like the DREAM Act."

The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act would provide a pathway to citizenship for undocumented students who came to the United States as minors and meet other certain criteria.

More Hotsheet Coverage from Netroots Nation:

Brian Schweitzer: Sometimes Lucky is Better than Good
Are Liberals Too Concerned with Being "Colorblind?"

[maxboll]

THE THRUTH IS AMERICANS LOVE SO MUCH, THE OBAMA'S PROGRESSIVE AND PROSPERITY POLITIC'S. AMERICANS WILL REWARD THE CONTIUATION OF SUCH OBAMA'S DOKTRINE. YEAH

[tanarg]

These socialist-wannabes just make up stuff as they go along about the Bush years, don't they? Talk about creepy!

Another Obama lie came to light today. Turns out he wasn't "surprised" at all by the decision to free the Lockerbie bomber. He knew about it, all right.

Obama's a lying, you-know-what who's going to have something truly to be surprised about in November if he fantasizes like the leftists posting here.

Half the country knew from the start that Obama was very bad for America; half didn't. As another poster has said, the Independents are GONE, and you know what that means.

[realist51]

and really when the trian comes running along and bam they vote the democrates out then what? we go back to old republican't ways? like what good happen under them they had control of congress from 94 to 06 NO healthcare reform , No minumium wage increases, wall street deregulation, millions of lost jobs, unsecured borders, 2 wars over seaes and dumb cluck t like the govenor asking why were there lets see oh nyea we were suppose to go there to get BIN LADIN, this mission was never accomplished, now was it however i do remember that the one and only civilian aircraft flying after 911 was a goverment charter to get the rest of the saudie royal family out of the country, yea like the republicans really have all the answers to the problems. i believe they call it lets do nothing for the average american just pump in all kinds of corperate welfare and call it tax cuts and reganomics lets all be just a service(servent) society

[lagunagal]

As I wrote below 51. November is going to give those like you, Democrats and Republicans alike a very rude awakening. A little testy there 51? Good.

[perish2]

realist51...

Are you really Boomhower?

[lagunagal]

SUZQ,

I travel this country over as part of my job. I go to hotel restaurants, lounges, local watering holes, local family restaurants, colleague?s homes, etc., and other than hotel staff, Obama's policies are the main subject which are summarily rejected and adamantly apposed. The closest I get is ?I had no idea he would do this?. Well neither did I. Why can?t I, across this nation, find someone like you Que in the real world calling these folks teabaggers in real time to their faces? It doesn?t much matter at this point. The talking is over and you know it. When the American people enter and exit those voting booths alone in November it?s going to be quite interesting. It was I, an Independent along with 10?s of millions of others that made Obama possible. Now get this Suzie. Without the Independent vote, you folks are back down to what 23%? We went along which made your now little world a temporary majority and got stung BIG. November is going to give those like you, Democrats and Republicans alike a very rude awakening. There will be no victory without the Independents as we have flown the coup on this administration. What is hilarious is that you actually think this little political experiment is going to continue. I defer until November.

Hey SUZQ, there?s a train coming! No there?s not! Okay??WHAMM and the last thing to go through yours as well as your collective left winger?s mind will be you?re arse. Until then SUZQ, until then.

[Smokey75]

Yeah the Dems will be more then anti party the will use the tired excuse of "It?s not our fault its Bush's Fault", just as Obama has been doing for 2 years. Obama is like two year old who thinks he doesn't have to take responsibility for anything he does.

I can't wait until 2012 when we elect an actual leader, I don't care if it is a dem or republican I just want an actual leader for a president! I get so tired of the speeches where all we is ?I I I I I? and ?Inherited Inherited Inherited? It is way past time for Obama to start taking ownership of the economy and the wars.

[Smokey75]

I voted twice for bush and I am proud to admit it because he was 10x the president Obama is turning out to be.

Just curious how many times did you hear Bush say "But Clinton" when something went wrong. Bush was a real leader he accepted his faults and took blame he didn't use the previous president as an excuse for every one of his failures as Obama does.

Obama is joke he has no sense of leadership all he has is "I inherited this" and "But Bush did it", and when those to things fail he counts on his supporters to just call everyone racist who opposes him. That is why I said I can?t wait for 2012, I don?t care who wins as longs we get a leader for a president not an excuse maker.

[soetoro]

Ever notice how odummer is ALWAYS looking to the side in his pictures?? This poor sap CANNOT utter a word without his TELEPROMPTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[syslmod]

Tea Party = British Loyalists during revolution

[prohb]

The conservative agenda
Anything goes market economy -> Income redistributon from poor to rich -> corporatism -> corporate fascism

[wdh3007]

No they all get voted out & fired this November!

[chatmandu7451]

The progressive agenda.
1. Income redistribution > socialism > communism