TNR rips New Dems. Finally.

After the appearance of many misguided arguments supporting the DLC and their appeasement tactics, this appeared online at TNR. Noam Scheiber reprints some letters from moderate Democrats expressing their support for the bankruptcy bill. The bill that was written by and for credit card companies-- who are already earning record profits-- and prevents people from filing for bankruptcy because of things like catastrophic medical costs.

His conclusion?

". . .support for the bill by Democratic moderates betrays a striking obliviousness to the most important debate underway within the Democratic Party. Moderate Democrats have been under assault from grassroots liberals lately for selling out Democratic values in their rush to appease conservative interests. I normally think this criticism is highly misplaced, and that moderates have exactly the right instincts when it comes to social issues and foreign policy, even most economic issues. But in this case the moderates proved the liberals' point for them, which could set back the cause of moderates within the party for months, if not years. It really is a colossal, inexcusable mistake."

When you consider my previous post, you have to wonder-- if the public (blue and red) is against this bill, and its only boosters are giant corporate contributors, what's with the pious rhetoric from moderate Dems? The only answer I can think of is that inside the Beltway, the DLC is still convinced that the only way to be a good Democrat is to roll over and expose your belly to the claws of the far-right. Wake up, guys-- this is going to be used as a bludgeon during the next election cycles.