(SENATOR CHARLES) SCHUMER A PARTY POOPER NEW BOOK: DEMS 'LOST TOUCH' WITH MIDDLE CLASS

New York Post ^ | January 20, 2007 | IAN BISHOP

[lowbridge]

In a revealing new book on politics, Sen. Charles Schumer comes out with guns blazing - not at President Bush, but at his own Democratic Party.

Schumer, one of the most powerful figures in Washington, rips his party for being in the clutches of special-interest groups for too long and for losing touch with the middle class.

-snip

His manifesto puts forth 11 meat-and-potatoes issues that he insists Democrats must press. He says the secret recipe to winning over the Baileys and other middle-class voters is a "50 percent solution."

That means Democrats should aim to boost math and reading scores by 50 percent, and increase anti-terror funding by 50 percent.

Furthermore, they should try to cut child obesity, children's access to Internet porn, cancer mortality and abortions all by 50 percent.

[lowbridge]

Furthermore, they should try to cut child obesity, children's access to Internet porn, cancer mortality and abortions all by 50 percent.

Abortion Issues (Back to top)

2006 Senator Schumer supported the interests of the Planned Parenthood 100 percent in 2006.

2005-2006 Senator Schumer supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 0 percent in 2005-2006.

2005 Senator Schumer supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 100 percent in 2005.

2004 Senator Schumer supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 100 percent in 2004.

2003-2004 Senator Schumer supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 0 percent in 2003-2004.

2003-2004 Senator Schumer supported the interests of the Democrats for Life of America 0 percent in 2003-2004.

2003 Senator Schumer supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 100 percent in 2003.

2001-2002 Senator Schumer supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 0 percent in 2001-2002.

2001 Senator Schumer supported the interests of the Planned Parenthood 100 percent in 2001.

2001 Senator Schumer supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 100 percent in 2001.

2000 Senator Schumer supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 100 percent in 2000.

1999-2000 Senator Schumer supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 0 percent in 1999-2000.

1999 Senator Schumer supported the interests of the Planned Parenthood 100 percent in 1999.

1996-2003 Senator Schumer supported the interests of the Planned Parenthood (Senate) 100 percent in 1996-2003.

1995-2004 On the votes that the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Assocation considered to be the most important in 1995-2004, Senator Schumer voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.

http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=H2661103

[lowbridge]

http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=H2661103

[Farmer Dean]

It's not that they lost touch with middle America,it's the fact that middle America finds corrupt,pompous pricks to be unappealing.

[brivette]

Schumer is the second most despicable Senator we have. He's a liberal's liberal that should not be in office.

[golfisnr1]

I think there a bunch tied for first. Notably Schummer,Kerry,Reid,Kennedy and Durbin. Dodd is by himself in second. Byrd is just disgusting.

[Jagman]

The Democrats left the middle class behind when in the 1970s they consciously shifted to their current support for what can only be characterized as "Ewwwwww! causes" like gay marriage, abortion on demand, trans-gendered whatever and the like. Today's Republicans act like yesterday's Democrats, and today's Democrats act like they are insane. I don't see much room for conservatives anywhere in the spectrum anymore.

[HoosierHawk]

I'm sure his book will be read by dozens and dozens of people, but who will believe a word of it?

[Radio_Silence]

They forgot to add his 100% solution - that is, 100% of gun rights should be stripped from the common citizen.

I despise this guy more than just about anyone in Congress.

[CyberAnt]

As usual .. the dems continue to believe we're too stupid to figure out he's running for re-election in 2008.

[what's up]

I think there a bunch tied for first. Notably Schummer,Kerry,Reid,Kennedy and Durbin.

Don't forget Clinton and Boxer. And our own Hagel should be added to that list IMO.

[furquhart]

This kind of stuff is dangerous. It's how Clinton won - and, for that matter, a large part of how people like Tony Blair and Canada's Liberals won too.

"Childhood obesity", "cancer", and all the rest of it are things which matter, but which most conservatives geniunely think are up to individuals, not the government. Sadly, most of them are too gutless to make the case for that - so, instead, they get outflanked by the left on these issues.

The left (the modern left, at least) cannot win elections based upon macro-issues - the great issues of the day - the size of government, taxes, the armed forces, crime, immigration, etc - but they can (and do) win by running in such a way as to attempt to push all the issues that matter to the sidelines and, instead, having us debate silly side issues.

[Condor51]

Chuckie the problem IS you've lost touch with REALITY.

But you're not alone, it's everyone in New York. You, Spitzer, Bloomie, RUDY, that mope Weiner, etc, etc. It's always, NY this, NY that. NY blah, blah, blah. You're all a bunch of arrogant assh*le know-it-alls and think the sun rises and sets on Times Square. Guess what, that ain't so. In today's world NY is irrelevant. Not one thing there is 'needed' by the USA, including Wall Street. That could be run out of Keokuk Iowa and not miss a beat.

You're fictional Baileys are further proof of your delusion. FYI jackass the 'average family' DOESN'T live on Long Island and in 98% of the USA, there's no need to "scrape by" on $75K a year (Not even in RAT controlled Chicago).

The 'average family' lives in a small town in the middle of Kansas, they BELIEVE in God and they go to church, they like GUNS (plural), DON'T have abortions every other year, don't have three ex wives a mistress and a a gay 'lover' on the side. They DON'T have a Gay Pride Parade then a 'Dress Up' Ball at City Hall -- and could live like royalty on $75,000.00 a year you schmuck.

ps Chuckie: Most of the USA detests New York and every perverted deviate thing it stands for. Sheesh, the best thing in NY may be Donald Trump - and that ain't saying much is it.

[canuck_conservative]

You've also just described how most Canadians feel about Toronto, our own self-described "center of the universe".

[sageb1]

"it's everyone in New York"

Contrary to popular opinion, most of NY is red, not blue.

[lowbridge]

In today's world NY is irrelevant. Not one thing there is 'needed' by the USA

Well, how about our pizza? Best in the USA. Best in the world. :-)

You NEED our pizza.

[Gritty]

(The Dems are) losing touch with the middle class

This makes sense. It is probably the reason they are trying to destroy it.

[JZelle]

Bravo!

[sphinx]

Exactly. There are 1001 petty issues that can be used to churn the new cycle -- at least, if you have the media on your side -- but only a handful of big issues matter in the long run. The top of my list: the war/terrorism/islamic radicalism; family formation/illegitimacy, which is the root of the social issue in the United States; entitlement reform; tax reform; international competitiveness; fixing the schools; energy independence.

These issues are tough and the democrats have made it clear that they plan to take a dive. They are simply no-shows on everything that matters. That might not really matter in the long run except that they also play smash-mouth negative politics against anyone who actually tries to address real issues.

[xkaydet65]

Chuckie Cheese, one of my two Democratic Senators, fails to grasp the real issue here. Yes the Dems lost the middle class. But what's his plan to win them back? Use gov't and taxes to solve all problems. The Gov't will cut cancer death by half. The Gov't will spend enough $ to raise reading scores by 50% The Gov't will make us immortal. Gov't can't do these things by fiat, taxation, and spending. When the Dems learn that they'll be ready to try to win back the MC.

[Condor51]

NY Pizza?!? Puh-lease.

Chicago invented Pizza - and the Hot Dog.