The Number One Mission for Liberals and Progressives in 2010: Get Out the Democrat Vote

If you think 2009 sucked politically, imagine starting 2011 without a Democratic Party majority in the house or a minimum filibuster breaking 60 Democratic Senators. Worse, imagine the house and senate seasoned with newly elected teabag patri-nuts.

If you enjoyed watching regular Republicans blocking and delaying legislation then you’ll love teabaggers with no understanding of the legislative process, no respect for others in congress, and no reason to compromise on anything. I suspect congress and the government—not merely the progressive agenda—would grind to a halt. Budget measures, such as defense appropriations, which no party is willing to completely block for long, would be in jeopardy.

Liberals and progressives have ample reason to be disappointed with President Obama. He has been unwilling to push for torture investigations; he did not push hard enough for more progressive health care reform legislation; he has not proved to be a “fierce advocate” for gay and lesbian rights. The list goes on and on, but that doesn’t matter.

One of my favorite of Aesop’s Fables is that of “The Snake and the Wasp,” in which a wasp lands on a snake’s head and begins repeatedly stinging the snake. The snake rushes about wildly, trying everything it can think of to dislodge the wasp, but nothing works. The wasp keeps stinging the snakes head. Finally the snake sees a wagon approaching, and thinking, “this will teach that wasp, the son of a bitch,” the snake sticks his head under the wagon’s wheel, which crushes both the wasp and the snake’s head, killing both. The moral (for the snake) is: make sure the vengeance you extract isn’t worse than the offense.

For liberals and progressives the effect of not getting out the vote for the Democrats is apt to be worse than President Obama’s offenses. Let’s not stick our heads under the wagon wheel.

Neither having the facts on our side nor better ideas will matter this year; conservatives are not listening. Mindless hatred of Obama has right-wing voters fired up and looking forward to the November elections. Control of congress in 2011 and 20122 will depend entirely on whether we can motivate enough of the voters who supported Obama in 2008 to vote Democrat again in 2010.

If possible donate—even a little helps—to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (supports campaigns for the House) and/or the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and/or the Democratic National Committee (Even if you don’t donate, visit these sites for lots of good information and register to stay connected). Talk to and e-mail every Obama supporter you know. Send them the links to the Democratic Committees and stress the importance of voting this year! Nothing less than the ability of congress to continue governing this country (even minimally) is at stake.