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Merge the DLC and RLC

Posted by PAUL SILVER in At TMV.
Jul 1st, 2008 | Comments

Steven Thomma wonders about the future of Centrists in the article Does Obama’s rise mean less clout for Democratic centrists? They noted that while the Centrist Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) was meeting in Chicago Obama did not attend, even though he was home this weekend.

While I favor a Democratic take over of Government in order to correct GOP negligence and advance progressive policy, it stands to reason that the Democrats will also eventually spin out of control and descend into self dealing and other variations of corruption.

And this seems to me an opportunity for the DLC and the moderate Republican Leadership Council (RLC) to merge into one centrist organization to harness the growing ranks of independent and moderate voters. These groups have more in common with each other than they do with the extremists of their own parties.

Since many districts around the country lean heavy Conservative or Liberal it is unrealistic to expect candidates of opposite temperament to be elected. And so we will always have conservative and liberal representatives. But an influential Centrist organization can promote candidates, from either party, with pragmatic and collaborative sensibilities. This could provide the leverage in congress for just enough open mindedness and reasonable compromise to move our country forward through increasingly complex challenges in Health, Immigration, Energy, Environmental Protection…

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Polimom

Merging the RLC and the DLC is an interesting thought, Paul. I could see a home for my own political ideals in such a union.

But I think Stephen Thomma is way ahead of himself in suggesting that Obama signifies less clout for the DLC. Personally, I see a lot of ideological overlap there. But I also think the DLC is seen as a part of the Clinton "brand", and I wouldn't expect Obama to publicly align there just yet -- if at all. He's shocking the far left enough already.

BBQ

I grew up with progressives but never full bought into the whole agenda (too anti-business, anti-America, anti-capitalism). Always felt more at home with DLC and with Moderate Republicans.

Problem of a merger would be what policies do you keep. DLC is more big gov't than RLC. I just don't see it happening that and both sides are committed to their parties, can't ever seeing a third party.

What I really would like to see with or without a McCain victory is that the Libertarians and Moderate Republicans can bring back control of the party. Making it less a Social Conservative/Neo-Con Christian Party and turn into back into a Fiscal Conservative and more traditional Republican national defense mantra.

runasim

Merge?
What would be the platform?

TranspartisanBabe

OK...I totally have an agenda here. I'm always looking for opportunities to drop in "transpartisan." And this seems a perfect opportunity.

I wonder if this could be a Transpartisan group of party members? Transpartisan literally means "beyond party", where one holds their own partisan beliefs at the same time seeking to understand and respect others beliefs. Occassionally, a mind is even open to changing an opinion. Transpartisan is also about seeking a paradigm shift from "either / or" thinking about solutions where we are presented with two options: the R or D choice. Bi-partisan solutions are compromises between these two choices where no one is happy. (Reference FISA) A transpartisan solution would shift our view of the "problem" in such a way that new solutions appear that we couldn't see or imagine before. I've seen this happen with individuals and experienced it in my own life. Email me offline if you want specifics. If this could happen within our political system...WOW! We'd be making progress and solving our dilemnas instead of fixating on some of the minutiae like flag pins, laughs, hair or mis-speaking beer instead of bill. (Although I found the last one funny,)

This paradigm shift in thinking may need skilled facillitation for groups in the beginning. As more and more people become skilled, it will just happen. Our country already has people who do this like Bill Ury and Mark Gerzon and organizations that host conferences like Reuniting America and Transpartisan Center. Soon there will also be a Citizens Summit for a grass-roots effort. Is anyone ready for the political transformation that could happen as a result? Or do we want to continue as we are for a while longer? The choice is ours.

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