Fuck The DLC, And The Fucking Horse They Fucked In On

So I'm listening to the podcast version of this Sunday's Meet The Press, with DLC Chair Harold Ford debating Markos of the Daily Kos. When talking about what a Democrat would have to do to win the presidency, Ford says that any Democrat will have to prove that they are 'trustworthy' on 3 topics: defense, family values, and taxes.

Pardon my French, but from what orifice did he pull this bullshit? I mean, seriously. It's like Karl Rove wrote his talking points for him. The clear indication is that, by their nature, Democrats are 'not to be trusted' on these three issues. If this is the case, you're not going to win much of anything by delivering the 'Republican Lite' version. If people want Republican solutions, they're going to vote for Republicans. We might as well disband the Democrats and move to Scandinavia, home of Amazonian women and good social health care systems. Hmmm, not a bad idea, but off topic for tonight.

I'm sure that, if pressed on the topic, Ford would probably have something reasonable to say on these topics, which I would agree with. Like maybe suggesting that, by dedicating half a trillion dollars of military spending on an unnecessary war in a part of the world where the people are already predisposed to hating us, maybe the Bush Doctrine is actually worsening our security. That things like torture, gaybashing, and eliminating health insurance for children aren't part of any Christian message I ever read. And that yes, Democrats are going to raise some taxes for some people today, but what we're really doing is cutting taxes for your children, and their grandchildren, because we aren't going to run up 4 trillion more dollars in debt over the next 8 years.

Which is great, and I agree with those things. But by admitting that the Democrats have to prove themselves trustworthy on these issues, you've already lost the battle.

There's a fine line between spin and lying, and lord knows I think the Repubs have fallen far to the wrong side of it plenty of late. But, you do have to give them credit - by picking on a preferred nomenclature ('death tax' for instance), or a particular way of talking about an issue (we have to go to Iraq to get those people that attacked us on 9/11!) and sticking to it, week after week and year after year, they really do change public perceptions.

Ford can't be out there talking about how Democrats are 'weak' or 'vulnerable' on these subjects. To do so invites further hot air from the bloviators and means the Dems will continue to have to play defense on these charges. Lead with your attack, then cover your flank if necessary later on - it's the only way you win in the game of political football.