Saturday, August 13, 2005

Democrats are confused, bothered and bewildered

Deepening conflicts within the Democratic party have the party faithful flailing in all directions. According to Sheryl Stolberg the Democrats are in confusions over how hard to push the abortion issue during the Roberts confirmation hearings. And it looks like many Democrats are jumping ship. Former Democratic Senator Bob Kerrey says, "By all accounts it looks like he is going to get confirmed. So they (Robert's Democrat opponents) are in a very difficult position." Kerrey goes on to say that younger Democrats are ready to abandon Roe vs Wade. "They're arguing that the Democratic Party would have been better off if, rather than this being a national debate, this being a state-by-state issue," he said. "Roberts is not alone."

Even Lanny Davis, an arch-liberal advisor to Clinton, can't find any attack points. "It's lifetime tenure in a pivotal vote that could decide an impact on the lives of most Americans, more than any other issue facing the American people today," he said. "But the Democratic Party hasn't come up with a way to focus on why this is so consequential."

Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the Democratic leader, has urged fellow Democrats "to hold their fire" until after the hearings. Senator Mary L. Landrieu of Louisiana, said she was leaning toward supporting the nomination. Senator Hildebeast is not saying anything. Ralph Neas of People for the American Way says the issues should be Roberts' stances on the environment, workers' rights and civil rights. "That's what needs to be articulated. That's what's at stake, and no one is doing that effectively."

It seems to be the opinion of the Democratic leadership that they must not allow the abortion issue to be their main reason for attacking Roberts. I wonder why not? Have they ever stopped to consider the fact that the majority of Americans consider unfettered abortion to be immoral? Of course they have, and now they have to figure out a way to try to stop this confirmation without saying why and without knowing how.

Leaderless, rudderless, hopeless.

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