New Group to Tout Democrats' Centrist Values

The Washington Post ^ | November 11, 2004 | John F. Harris

[neverdem]

Third Way Plans to Focus On 'Moderate Majority'

As Democrats continue to stagger from last week's election losses, a group of veteran political and policy operatives has started an advocacy group aimed at using moderate Senate Democrats as the front line in a campaign to give the party a more centrist profile.

Third Way is the latest in a series of organizations aimed at rescuing Democrats from the perception that they have lost touch with middle-class voters, particularly in the heartland states that voted overwhelmingly for President Bush over Sen. John F. Kerry.

The group, which has enlisted the support of several senators from Bush-backing "red states," hopes to rebut the notion that Democrats represent an outdated brand of liberalism by producing new policy proposals designed to create a "moderate majority," said Matt Bennett, Third Way's communications director.

"It's one thing to publish op-eds -- that's important," Bennett said, "but to really reach voters, we need to have concrete legislative proposals on the table. Post-election, it's clear that progressive centrists must have a response equal in scale and scope to the tectonic changes that Bush is proposing."

The group, which has been in the planning stages for months and will make its public debut early next year with the unveiling of a legislative agenda, is holding a high-powered skull session over dinner at a Georgetown mansion tonight.

Nancy Jacobson, the wife of Democratic pollster Mark Penn and a Democratic fundraiser, is playing host to the group, which includes several former senior aides in the Clinton White House. Among them are former communications director Don Baer, policy adviser William Galston and Ron Klain, who worked in the counsel's office in addition to serving as chief of staff to former vice president Al Gore.

"The answer to the ideological extremes of the...

[neverdem]

Moderate Majority, progressive centrists, blah, blah, etc., it's still a pig with lipstick.

[BenLurkin]

You said FRiend. America isn't go to fall for it anymore now that the democrat media has been 'outed'.

[dighton]

... it's still a pig with lipstick.

Yep. “Let’s pull one over on the rubes.”

[facedown]

...it's still a pig with lipstick.

And no wings.

[uncitizen]

Lipstick Liberals.

[TexasTaysor]

which includes several former senior aides in the Clinton White House. Among them are former communications director Don Baer, policy adviser William Galston and Ron Klain, who worked in the counsel's office in addition to serving as chief of staff to former vice president Al Gore.

And they are going to convince the red states they are centrists?

[TexasTaysor]

And I for one am fed up with this "progressive" label they are now using....they should be called what they are, and called it publically...they are socialists.

[Hardastarboard]

progressive centrists

The Dems are getting more efficient with their lies. This one only took two words.

[Brilliant]

"Moderate Majority" as opposed to "Moral Majority." They just can't deal with morality, can they?

[xtinct]

Do the NEW and improve libs think we haven't saved ALL their post-election statements about the dummies in 'flyover' zone?

Do they think we won't use those statements against them?

[Clemenza]

Third Way is the latest in a series of organizations aimed at rescuing Democrats from the perception that they have lost touch with middle-class voters, particularly in the heartland states that voted overwhelmingly for President Bush over Sen. John F. Kerry.

Third Way ping!

[Ciexyz]

Oh, please. Look at the state of PA as governed by Democratic "Fast Eddie" Rendell. His main concern is pushing thru slot machines and gambling parlors and muscling the state legislature to allow the Democratic-controlled city of Pittsburgh to tax suburbanites working in the city - as in, raising the occupation tax from $10 to $140 a year plus an income tax on wages. And as soon as he got in, the state income tax went up.

Dems = tax and spend.

[c-b 1]

"but to really reach voters, we need to have concrete legislative proposals on the table. Post-election, it's clear that progressive centrists must have a response equal in scale and scope to the tectonic changes that Bush is proposing."

Start by repealing all gun control laws, if they won't do that, their gun grabbing arms aren't long enough to reach this voter.

[12 Gauge Mossberg]

"A party rather different from the rest, Third Way combines democratic socio-economic reform and inclusive nationalism with co-operative internationalism and ecological awareness; supporting the right to genuine self-determination for peoples throughout the world. The resultant synthesis, still evolving, offers an alternative approach to politics -- a new perspective, in contrast to the failed and outdated dogma of past and present governments...."

http://www.thirdway.org/

Third Way = Socialism

[KingNo155]

A new Ringleader is not going to change their image, everyone knows The Democratic National Circus is run buy and is the party of clowns.

[mabelkitty]

Be warned of political strategists asking for what makes us "tick".
They are searching for a palatable middle ground to advertise to in the next two election cycles.

[bayourod]

Moderate on abortion = ?

Moderate on Iraq = ?

Moderate on gay marriage = ?

[Holden Magroin]

I thought the Democrats already had a "centrist" group: the Democratic Leadership Council. I guess that hasn't worked out.

[mississippi red-neck]

rescuing Democrats from the perception that they have lost touch with middle-class voters, particularly in the heartland states

This is the problem with the Democrat party.

Until they realize that it is not a matter of perception but one of reality they're not going to improve their party.

[neverdem]

Thanks for the link.