Centrist Democrats gather, sans Barack Obama

It attracted attention last summer when the then-crowded field of Democratic presidential contenders stiffed the annual convention, held in Nashville, of the Democratic Leadership Council (which, we noted in a post at the time, once was "the prime incubator for fresh party approaches to politicking and governing, with an emphasis on addressing middle-class concerns)."

Today, the DLC wrapped up its 2008 gathering in, of all places, Chicago. Yet despite the convenient location for the newly crowned presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, the Windy City's own Barack Obama, the DLC still isn't feeling the love.

Obama was back in his hometown Sunday but, rather than swing by the convention, he was represented by a surrogate. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley pressed his case, explaining to the conventioneers that Obama needed some family time.

Despite the absence of the party's star attraction, DLC members were strongly urged in a closing speech by the group's head, former Rep. Harold Ford of Tennessee, to marshal their efforts on Obama's behalf.

The Chicago Tribune's Swamp blog wrote about the wrapup on the conclave in an item headlined "DLC leaders embrace Obama," which can be read here.

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[Plain Jane -- BORN & RAISED IN THE U.S.A.]

So much for party unity. The Democratic Party has been hijacked by an arrogant youngster who has no experience , has never been in a position where he's had a chance to show leadership skill and has little or no understanding of American traditions and values.
Did the party think we would be so enthralled by his skillful oratory that we wouldn't notice?

[Slobodan Voroshilov jr]

He took(Jeremyah) his cat to the veterinary's and complications with an ingrown nail kept him at the cat's
side for 6 hours. Anyway Barack hates the centrist
reactionarys and is interested mainly in the ACLU agenda
He will be marching in San Francisco at next week's
GBLT protest and meeting with evangelicals after.

[Ed Banks]

With his head swollen so huge, Obama is fond of taking voters for granted. Once again his ego has led him to snub another powerful group led by my friend Harold Ford Jr. To the women, Obama tells them to get over it and to independents he starts fli-flopping. And not to centrists, he has snubbed them. To the white voters, he simply said, Oh they will come around. This type of arrogance will surely sink this man and his over inflated ambition. We all want change but not another novice like Bush.

[VJ Machiavelli]

Well, who else would they "Embrace", McCain ?

They are now all joined at the "HIP" for BITTER" or worse.

VJ Machiavelli
http://www.vjmachiavelli.blogspot.com

[SandraL]

About time the Democratic party returned to its strengths (making government work for people) and sent this gang of corporatists back to the fringe where they belong. The DLC is a failure.

[dumdum]

blah...blah...blah....all the intelligent people in this country voted Bush back to power...LOL

[captainkona]

Screw Harold Ford Jr. and the DLC. They no longer have a place in the Democratic party. They act like Repiglikans, vote like Repiglikans, lie like Repiglikans.

Obama doesn't need them and he knows it. The DLC are the spineless slugs that have rubber stamped the BushCo agenda from jump. They are the reason Bush was able to veto landmark legislation when the Dems in Congress introduced bill after bill.

Straight to Hell with them all.

[cataplasm]

Well its good to see the Repuglican shills are fully on message. Does Rove type them all himself or does he send out notes for all these people? Its shameful that every new twist out of the republican machine is immediately parroted across the Internet by these people. Instead of these attacks designed to define Obama negatively why don't they stick to the issues. Oh yes, after eight years of complete mismanagement the last thing you want is to talk about issues!

[maz hess]

Choose your friends wisely. You will have them in your back.

[Alex]

Obama doesn't need the DLC. The DLC is an afront to the DNC and should just be ignored.

[marc christophe]

Obama differs from the DLC because he is a radical leftist who does not wish to find common ground with anyone to the right of William Ayres, Rev.Wright or his beloved Che Guevara. Obama does not speak for any Democrat who works for a living, saves and invests for his or her future, believes in private property, who aspires to any future above being a subsistence laborer, who is patriotic without shame, or who believes we are a nation of free human beings and not competing "interest groups". The Democratic party has always stood up for working people, but the lunatic fringe has clearly usurped that role and wants to fundamentally change America into "Amerika", and "liberate" the American people from their freedoms in the name of soviet-enforced economic "equality". Obama and his fetid ilk can rot in hell. I've lived under sovietism and can tell you that you do not want it in "AMERIKA"

[HereEveryone...HaveSomeSalt]

Why is it that Obama's ambitions are over inflated? There should be little question at this point as to whether or not EITHER of the candidates are qualified for the presidency. They obviously both are. Why one over the other in your opinion?
Why is it that Obama doesn't understand American values? That seems like the most unjustified comment of them all!
Someone should try talking about WHY they think that he is under qualified (something more than the so called "snubbing" of the DLC. For crying out loud people!), because I have yet to see a convincing argument.
Its really hilarious how worthless these comment sections are, and how brazen and ridiculous people's comments can become.

[Aiken Blue]

Obama has his values down right, family before meetings. He will not compromise on his family and that is something that McCain has not shown. McCain has compromised on his family's relationship forgetting that it can be the greatest support to his career. Obama is a man who deserves respect, honor and the presidency of America. Go Obama!! Help us get him elected, visit WhyObama08.org!