Nice Guys Finish Last
By Barbra Streisand
This is a key moment in our history. We cannot let the right wing roll back thirty years of social progress. We must mount a strong, strategic and targeted offense against the Republican revolution that is now sweeping all branches of government.
Democrats should have one goal, and that's to win back the House, Senate and Presidency so they can fight for and represent the needs of ordinary Americans. Unless we win, we'll be consistently on the defensive with our fingers holding the dyke against the resurgence of the far right. We should draw attention to the differences in our parties, hold accountable those currently in power and make them pay for their actions on Election Day. This is not a time to be weak.
The public responds to strength. Democrats don't have to be ruthless like the Republicans, they just have to be strong. Remember the example set by Reagan, with whom the public consistently disagreed on policy issues while they strongly approved of him. They respected the fact that he held strong beliefs, even if they disagreed with the beliefs themselves. I think they feel the same way about George W. Bush. Look at his ratings - how could such a destructive man be so popular with the American people?
George W. Bush has turned out to be exactly the man we knew he was. Why is anyone surprised? Those who knew his abominable record in Texas aren't surprised. Actions always speak louder than words. The promises with which he wooed centrist voters are the promises that have been broken. Not only is he poisoning our air and water by withdrawing his promise to enforce carbon dioxide emissions standards and arsenic regulations, but he's poisoning our political system as well. Bipartisanship only works if you can trust the other side. As we have learned in the past weeks, we cannot trust George W. Bush.
We have a President who was selected rather than elected. He stole the presidency through family ties, arrogance and intimidation, employing Republican operatives to exercise the tactics of voter fraud by disenfranchising thousands of blacks, elderly Jews and other minorities. Don't forget the five "wise men and women" of the Supreme Court installed the President they wanted in the White House, ignoring the will of the people. In my view, that was the "Supreme Coup".
Sometime this year, Justices Rehnquist and O'Connor will probably resign. Democrats have the numbers and they must have the will to filibuster against a right wing assault. Democrats should not be afraid to speak out and remind the public of what happened last November. Perhaps some of them are up for reelection and, therefore, might be afraid to rock the boat. Well, I disagree. Rocking the boat is what wins elections!
Ralph Nader had the audacity during the election to say there is no difference between the two parties. How preposterous and tragic that campaign ploy now proves to be. Even his own environmental concerns are victims of the Bush Presidency he helped to create. We have a Congress passing laws that benefit the privileged few at the expense of the working men and women of this country. We have a Supreme Court favoring the rights of multi-national corporations over most Americans. We must speak out against this injustice.
Our nightmare has become a reality. We knew this would happen but prayed we were wrong. It is unbelievable to me how quickly Bush and the Republicans have moved in the past several months. They have re-instituted the Reagan global gag rule banning critical funding to international organizations that perform pro-choice services, which will lead to further over-population and a rapid increase in the spread of AIDS. They have overruled Congressional laws protecting the rights of the more than 40 million disabled Americans. They have overturned safety regulations that were ten years in the making and protect American workers from some of the most common work-related injuries. They have revoked rules requiring government contractors to hire union employees. They have removed the American Bar Association from the review of potential court appointees, making it easier for radical right judges to be appointed. The man who stole the slogan "Leave No Child Behind" has proposed $200 million in cuts for childcare programs, leaving these same children behind. Where is the compassion in this kind of conservatism?
Who benefits from this Republican strategy? Those who bought and paid for the election of George W. Bush - corporate America, that's who...banking and financial corporations like MBNA, chemical companies, energy companies and the oil industry.
George W. Bush's first months in office have been filled with shameless quid pro quos and paybacks. There are some quid pro quos that don't hurt anyone. Others, that put private interests over the needs of the American people, are quite destructive. More than $3 billion was spent on federal campaigns last election cycle. Even if we can't directly link this money to votes taken in Congress, it is obvious that money buys influence and access under the current system.
And how long will we continue to let the Republicans use the pardon issue as a tool of distraction? Why focus such attention on contributions to a Presidential Library Foundation? Democrats should talk about Republican pardons. George Bush protected himself by pardoning those linked to him in the Iran-Contra scandal. He pardoned a heroin drug trafficker and a terrorist who was responsible for 73 deaths. Clinton's pardons have no impact on the health and welfare of the American people. What the Republicans are doing to our country does! As Rose Kennedy said about John Kennedy: "Great men have great flaws." But they still can achieve great things.
Democrats need to speak on TV, on radio, on the Internet and in the newspapers about the election and keep hammering home the legislative favors Bush is granting his corporate supporters in exchange for their campaign contributions. Journalists need to spend the same amount of energy and resources investigating Bush and Cheney as they spent over the past decade investigating the Democrats. Democrats need to organize, to motivate, to inspire the disillusioned citizens and the disenfranchised voters of this country who think their votes don't matter. Democrats must reach out to voters who want sane gun control, voters who want to protect choice, voters dedicated to saving the environment.
Unfortunately, some people are still being fooled by Bush. Many voters are not sufficiently informed to protect their own self-interests. Some of the public seem to believe the Republican rhetoric that big government is bad. They need to realize that government spending means money spent on people; on the social services they all benefit from like after-school programs, safe highways and food inspections. I find it ironic that the Republican mantra against big government wants that same government to invade our bodies and our bedrooms...the most private of issues.
Despite the problems we face, Democrats are the party of, by and for the people while Republicans are the party of, by and for the corporation. Democrats must keep reminding people of that! Democratic leaders and policymakers have to fight for the concepts and ideals that have shaped the Democratic party for generations. Our country cannot afford to wait. Just being nice doesn't work. Democrats should fight before it's too late! There's not a moment to lose.
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