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First They Came For ACORN
First Big Business, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, Lou Dobbs, the Religious Right, the Wall Street Journal, Mitch McConnell, and Karl Rove came for ACORN, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not ACORN.
Then they came for SEIU, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not SEIU.
Then they came for the Apollo Alliance, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not the Apollo Alliance.
Then they came for the Center for American Progress, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not the Center for American Progress.
Then they came for the Sierra Club, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not the Sierra Club.
Then they came for the National Organization for Women, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not the National Organization for Women.
Then they came for the other community organizers, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not community organizers.
Then they came for AFSCME, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not AFSCME.
Then they came for the National Council of La Raza, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not the National Council of La Raza.
Then they came for the NAACP, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not the NAACP.
Then they came for the ACLU, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not the ACLU.
Then they came for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
Then they came for the National Council of Churches, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not the National Council of Churches.
Then they came for the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.
Then they came for the AARP, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not the AARP.
Then they came for the Teamsters, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not Teamsters.
Then they came for the Catholic Worker, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not the Catholic Worker.
Then they came for UNITE HERE, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not UNITE HERE.
Then they came for the Immigrant Solidarity Network, and, the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not the Immigrant Solidarity Network.
Then they came for the National Education Association, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not the National Education Association.
Then they came for the U.S. Student Association, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not the U.S. Student Association.
Then they came for the American Association of University Professors, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not the American Association of University Professors
Then Big Business, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, Lou Dobbs, the Religious Right, the Wall Street Journal, Mitch McConnell, and Karl Rove came for the Democrats -- and there was no one left to speak out for the Democrats.
48 Comments so far
Show AllSpineless!
I wish they were spineless, however they are complicit, they are part of the Duopoly, part of the game. Ds and Rs are all part of the same country club. Has this not become obvious by now? We have a D Senate, a D House and a D White House; yet what has changed? We are living in Bush Jr's third term.
Is this how a functioning democracy works?
Exactly the point.
We don't hear this about this complicity from the media, or even from political writers.
Political discourse is muzzled in America. I do much enjoy and appreciate CD.
Hear, hear.
Muzzled is a nice word for it. It kills me how many people turn their faces upward into the piss, and are thankful for rain--
But this CD piece is also complicit, as it assumes that the Dems are some kinda victim. CD is overall better than MSM, but this piece is bearded apologist simple-minded and mostly plagarized drivel.
How can I get that job?
Peace.
One thing about Big Business, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, Lou Dobbs, the Religious Right, the Wall Street Journal, Mitch McConnell, and Karl Rove (and all the others) is how they won't just shut up and go away once they've destroyed their current targets. They're like animals (or would that be heartless vampires?) that, once they've tasted blood, must always search out another victim. Won't it be interesting watching them tear into each other!
While the Do-Nothing-Democrats deserve to go extinct, it'll mean all of us in the majority "Others" will have a chance to finally organize and replace them.
Shadre - they already tear into each other. They eat their own kind. They've been doing that all along. In the meantime, they're going to go after all of us because anyone not like them, they consider their enemy. When they're done, there won't be anyone left to replace them, as you suggest.
Big Business and the Democrats, there's no difference.
Professor Drier, no one represents you in Washington.
Don't forget all the immigrants they're going to go after as well. And the second and third generation immigrants too because they're just like their parents and grandparents that emigrated to this country.
Great article and posts.
Create a scientific experiment to prove that global wamrming doesnt exist. For example, we could say that the exhalation of the human population, combined with emissions from factories and autos will not kill us.
Create a simulation in the fox studios, with all their anchors and few Clear Channel morons, and invite these spineless democrats as well. Start with clean air, and gradually add carbon in the requisite percentage for the group sample for a couple of days -that represent about the next fifty years.
Party outside the transparent simulation enclosure.
Love
Zero
This piece deserves to go viral. I urge the habituates of this site to re-post this piece to whatever social network they are a member of: Facebook, MySpace, etc.
Similarly, if you are represented in Congress by a Democrat, this piece should be forwarded to them as well.
Why bother? WE are not represented in Congress (unless WE are a corporation with an address on K Street). Don't kid yourself; Representatives in Congress do not listen to the people.
However, a volatile demonstration outside the home(s) or other assets of these so-called representatives might get their attention.
Good point WTF; public opionion is routinely ignored. The Ruling Duopoly collectively flip off the US public and get away with it time and again. The Ds control both Houses and the White House, yet we have Conservative rule and Bush's third term. It is glaringly obvious to me that we do not live in a functioning democracy, but rather a Public Relations Democracy. Democracy in the USA means an expensive media show and PR spin with lots of meaningless fluff.
Yours & WTF's conclusion is exactly what the corporate managers want out of you. If not your assent, then your apathy.
Apathy hell, it is collective action we want. Which of our progressive leaders are leading the charge for massive civil disobedience?
I for one have written letters, emials, phone calls till I am blue in the face. The two-party de-facto ONE-PARTY rule is a sham. We do not have meaningful choice in elections and we don't have any say in public policy formation, corporations do. Don't listen to me: ask Noam Chomsky, Chris Hedges, Chalmers Johnson, Howard Zinn, etc. etc.
Wake up, working within the corrupt system is going no-where. We need massive civil disobedience to get the Oligarchy's attention.
If you are looking for leaders and find none, then it is incumbent upon the loud mouths to assume the mantle. Lech Walesa did the same thing in 1980.
NateW, you are very incorrect, and might I add, very ignorant on this issue. Most of us here on CD are "active" activists. I spend a considerable amount of my waking hours involved in Animal Rights, perhaps 4 hours/day, in addition to family, self and work duties. I knock on doors, run a table at fairs/markets, publish articles, run a website, make signs, videos, organize people, and speak gently with the many hundreds of people that I know about these issues; they are all converts. My wife volunteers at 2 shelters and rescues, transports and cares for special-needs animals until a caring home can be found, often interstate. We are busy, and breathless.
I am also deeply concerned about the environment, climate change, equal rights and collective ownership, and pissing on for-profit corporations.
I'm sorry, but I have a family and work that do not allow me to pursue all my interests. I give, and give, and give. Just because I don't have the time or pennies to drop everything to fly to DC for du jour's demonstration makes me no less an activist.
Wade Rathke, one of ACORN's co-founders, is having a book signing in DC at Busboys & Poets next week. I'm going to express my support for sure.
Anyone that defends Andy Stern and his crooked little empire, the SEIU should have their head examined.
The SEIU embodies everything that is wrong with bad Unions. Corrupt, money used for political and personal purposes that don't benefit their membership, on and on.
A disgraceful addition to this list.
I was thinking along these same lines regarding AARP.
Old Peculiar: Me, too!
I loathe Andy Stern, he is a corrupt sell-out. However in the USA with the worst worker protections and the lowest unionization rates in the industrialized world, I would rather have imperfect union representation than none at all. The well-off types would never understand that, enjoying comfortable bloated life-styles and callous, selfish, uncaring, nihilistic attitudes toward others; the type of people who are completely clueless on how the vast majority of Americans live.
Germany has among the highest unionization rates, and the HIGHEST LABOR COSTS in the world, for example, yet they export more high-quality, high-value added products than any country in the world. Thus, unions are good for the economy, not the other way round. When something says "made in Germany" on it, it means it was union-made and it means quality.
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Please, let's edit our commentaries numerous times before posting to Common Dreams, ex: "Center for American Program"
Van Jones could have been added to this list, or perhaps a separate "first, they came for..." listing could be created for individual leaders.
Valerie Jarrett is their next target.
Place a Jelly Bean to gum up the machine.
"Where is the Democratic Party backbone" John Edwards
Democratic Party Reform is as important as electoral reform, Media reform , and all the other reforms we get behind. Either we do it in the party, or we will have to do without.
Karita Hummer
The Democratic Party, with very few exceptions, are nothing more than a bunch of crooked, quisling, attorneys that represent the MIC and pose as Senators and Representatives of the American people! It is not that they are spineless and puerile so much, but they are totally corrupt and traitors to their oath to uphold the Constitution of the U.S. They are Benedict Arnolds ( with apologies to BA) that should be tried for treason and perjury. They will never come for the dems because they are part of the crime family!
"Then Big Business, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, Lou Dobbs, the Religious Right, the Wall Street Journal, Mitch McConnell, and Karl Rove came for the Democrats -- and there was no one left to speak out for the Democrats."
NO NO NO ! The Democrats allowed this to happen and then they act like abused spouses who defend the abusers. Very few in the Democratic Party are worth taking seriously these days just like the Republican Party.
Michael Moore hopes his movie will get us off the couch and into the streets for a most important cause: To get money out of politics. This is the fight the oligarchy dreads. It is the people vs. the conservative SCOTUS.
Moore is a filmaker and I like him, however he has not attempted at organizing civil disobedience on a mass scale. He supported Obama and trashed his one-time ally and mentor, Ralph Nader. For that, I am disappointed with him.
The author makes a point, however is a bit naive on one crucial issue: the Democrats don't speak out because they are part of the de-facto One-Party Rule. The Democrats don't speak out because they are allied with the Republicans. An "opposition" is only for trivial matters and PR spin.
Has it not become glaringly obvious? The Ds have large majorities in both Houses and control the White House; yet Conservative rule dominates.
Someone please explain how this represents a functioning democracy.
Exactly, there is only a facade of a difference in democrats and republicans which together both are the conservative rulers of this country and they are doing their damndest to hegemonize the whole world so those that don't, won't or can't stand up to the slick charlatan's doings and speakings for the vegetables in this country will be engulfed.
Now for the unspeakable, is it not time to seriously consider the 3rd party alternatives and I don't mean just thinking someone will be an independent and unswayed by those criminal bribers the lobbyist, I am talking about 3rd party people that talk the issues, open their connections for all to see or just plain transparent enough so people can determine whether they would vote for them or not.
Liberal Democratic Party voting types don't really come to help anybody out. And they certainly won't come to help out Afghan immigrant, Najibullah Zazi, out here in Colorado who is being framed up as a terrorist by Barack and his FBI. Why? They want everybody to fear 'security threats' forever and a day so that they can continue their occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan forever and a day.
Speak out NOW against these government antiMuslim witch hunts used to perpetuate their stupid war of terrorism mislabeled as being a GWOT.
The problem is that the Corporatists in the DLC who _still_ control the Democratic Party, are NOT representative of most of the people who VOTE for Democrats. They are a LONG way, in their ideology, from the majority of registered Democrats.
THAT is why we need Progressive Democrats to take BACK control of the party ... to expose the Democratic "Leadership" Council for what it really is ... a front for corporate interests.
I agree about the DLC, but there is more to it than that. Many have said what you are saying for decades, yet nothing changes.
The problems with our democratic process and electoral system are deep-seated and need to be reformed into truly democratic practices. What we have now is simply corporate oligarchy, they call the shots no matter if a D or R is in power.
We need something in the way of a party for the people. What we have now are two fat and comfortably lazy politcal entities that never stray very far from their Corporate Master's plans. The last words I want to hear from both the Democrats and Republicans is "Who turned out the lights?" The idea of mandatory health insurance is insanely opposable to the concept of a free democratic civilized society of laws and justice.
First they came for John Kennedy, and the Democrats did not speak up.
Then they came for Malcolm, and the Democrats did not speak up.
They also came for Martin Luther King, and the Democrats did not speak up. Making a federal holiday to honor someone killed by the federal government is a poor substitute for confronting the system that removed him from politics.
Then they came for Bobby Kennedy, and the Democrats did not speak up.
So when they came for Paul Wellstone, it is not a surprise the Democrats stayed silent.
Compared to this, ACORN is small potatoes.
---
Address to the General Assembly of the United Nations - President John F. Kennedy
New York - September 20th 1963
''Finally, in a field where the United States and the Soviet Union have a special capacity--in the field of space--there is room for new cooperation, for further joint efforts in the regulation and exploration of space. I include among these possibilities a joint expedition to the moon. Space offers no problems of sovereignty; by resolution of this Assembly, the members of the United Nations have foresworn any claim to territorial rights in outer space or on celestial bodies, and declared that international law and the United Nations Charter will apply. Why, therefore, should man's first flight to the moon be a matter of national competition? Why should the United States and the Soviet Union, in preparing for such expeditions, become involved in immense duplications of research, construction, and expenditure? Surely we should explore whether the scientists and astronauts of our two countries--indeed of all the world--cannot work together in the conquest of space, sending someday in this decade to the moon not the representatives of a single nation, but the representatives of all of our countries. ....''
"Never before has man had such capacity to control his own environment, to end thirst and hunger, to conquer poverty and disease, to banish illiteracy and massive human misery. We have the power to make this the best generation of mankind in the history of the world--or to make it the last."
-- John F. Kennedy, speech to the UN calling for an end to the Cold War and converting the Moon Race into an international cooperative effort, Sept 20, 1963, two months and two days before he was removed from office.
Nobody in power is going to do anything to really shake the boat. It's all about putting on a show and doing nothing, unless that action lines the pockets of those that already have it all.
If you defend what ACORN was doing then you might as well defend Blackwater too. You can't have it both ways.
Gee, I did not know Acorn was a mercenary corporation who murders people. Thanks for the credible information, I won't have to watch Fox news tonight.
Yeah, comparing Acorn to Blackwater is like comparing love to hate!
A stunning and absurd comparison. There was wrongdoing by Blackwater contributing to the deaths of thousands all for profit.
ACORN existed solely for the purpose of getting housing for those who couldn't afford it, and registering poor and minority voters. The "wrongdoing" was found by entrapment, harmed nobody, and those responsible have all been fired.
Not even a remotely credible comparison.
I had a telephone call about two hours ago from the Democratic Congressional Committee. Before the solicitor could make his pitch I told him that they have not been understanding the message--not one red cent for any of them until a public option health care plan is law. No plan--no money.
They will get the message if enough people make it clear that that is the condition sine qua non.
You kidding me? You're considering giving them money if they toss you some scraps?
It's no wonder they have such contempt for us.
I would have told them to ask the bosses over at United Health for another handout.
They sure aren't working for us anymore.
Perplexing and dressing that a lot of people still don't see it.
FOX & ACORN
The stings against ACORN characterize the distortion campaigns waged by FOX News to divert public opinion away from the destructive policies of their right wing supporters. They include: their deceptive indictments against health care & environmental reforms, their manipulations of science, and the unwarrented 2006 firings of U S attorneys Iglesias and Graves when they defied the administration's directives to prosecute ACORN and others because there was no justification.
Any transgretions by a few low paid ACORN employees, exposed by some doctored tapes, would be eclipsed by the trillions swindled by the money manipulators, Halliburton, et al--all of which have been downplayed by FOX.
The influence of these destructive journalistic abuses will not abate, until challenged by other media members and until their audiences gain some astuteness.
There's just one problem -- the ending is wrong. The last line is "the remaining Democrats, having completed their corporatist mission and ended the American Experiment, sighed their relief in finally being able to give up the charade, and changed their registration to Republican on the way to the bank to check their voluminous balances."
There's no Santa Claus, weeping Democrats. Let it go.
WAR IS A RACKET by General Smedley Butler. Read it and you'll see how America does business.
Hoa binh
Yikes. This is tiresome. You knew from the first line "they" were comin' for the dems and that "no one" would help them.
How did you miss that the democrats are standing around this gang-rape pool table whilst the Constitution are disregarded (except maybe to stuff into the victims' mouths to quell their cries--)
The last line should read: They never came for the Democrats, because half of them WERE Democrats.
Predictable, tiresome, nearly lifted whole-cloth from a better writer--
And mind-numbingly wrong.
Get out of the meme that the dems, or anyone of consequence, cares about us and tries to protect us.
They are merely a different head on the hydra.
peace.
Somebody had to say it...
We need something in the way of a party for the people. What we have now are two fat and comfortably lazy politcal entities that never stray very far from their Corporate Master's plans. The last words I want to hear from both the Democrats and Republicans is "Who turned out the lights?" The idea of mandatory health insurance is insanely opposable to the concept of a free democratic civilized society of laws and justice.