The senate recently put its official stamp of condemnation on moveon.org, the leftist political website that punishes any liberal who is not a radical socialist and attempts to call distinguished military officials liars. The vote was essentially an overwhelming affirmation of disapproval. Many democrats joined Republicans in a 72-25 vote. Moveon.org’s favorite radical liberals, Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama, were not on the affirming side. Clinton voted against the measure and Obama, perhaps displaying some type of conscience, did not vote at all. Moveon has made it clear that any Democrat who supports the war effort, has any sign of bipartisan leanings, or in anyway appears to be a moderate will be outrightly disowned by the organization. One has to think, after such a loud outcry by senators on both sides of the isle, moveon will be busy condemning for sometime coming. While it is somewhat comforting to have some proof that not all Democrats have become radicals, or at least they are not so willing to display it as Mrs. Clinton is, there are some disturbing things to consider about this senatorial action.
Consider that two Presidential candidates, Clinton and Chris Dodd, voted against the moveon measure. While their vote was consistent with their opposition of the war, it is a rather outright way of displaying such feelings. It is true, according to most polls, the majority of Americans do not agree with the war in Iraq, either on an overall basis or because of certain conduct. Despite the statistics however, many of the anti-war crowd are not very favorable of those who willingly display condescension in the name of proving a war invalid. Condescension was exactly what Hilary Clinton displayed when she effectively called General David Patreus a liar. This does nothing to persuade the moderate wing of her party, many of whom do not support the war, but are not willing to unmercifully and methodically destroy the troops’ morale. Many people, undoubtedly including some in congress, would rather blame President Bush instead of a distinguished army general who has done nothing but exhibit exemplary conduct. This is much more politically safe and does not give off the appearance of a radically left-leaning maverick. All that was not good enough for Senator Clinton though. She must remain firmly entrenched with the moveon cause. Clinton has obviously forgotten, or at any rate disregarded, the fact that she is running for President of the United States. While she is undoubtedly sure that she will receive precious few votes from right of center, she must be aware that independent swing votes will be at a high price. Just as the Republican Party has been asked to display something evidently different than the status quo, something other than an open-purse style of administration, Clinton and the democrats will be asked to do other things than just oppose the war. Historically, Americans haven’t generously given their votes to a candidate many view as being a radical. Clinton has made many controversial comments about healthcare, taxes, and the war. She is so committed to the far left, like moveon, that it will be a tough challenge for her to reverse her stance in the future. Even her husband figured out what she has been unable to thus far. Bill Clinton realized any form of a radical agenda would not endear him to a great fraction of the American people. On that basis, President Clinton ran a centrist campaign, and it earned him two terms. Before Clinton pledges her support to organizations so willing to criticize any moderate democrat, she should consider the effect of her action.
The democrats criticized the moveon vote because of their claim that it is distracting congress from the important issue of war. On its face, this claim is actually true. It is worrisome that congress has become concerned with the views of organizations. Obviously, congress has no power to prevent moveon from publishing its opinion, nor should they have that ability. The senate’s action was pure political symbolism and has no lasting effect. It is true that the war is in need of attention by congress. There are a number of bills floating through congress about Iraq that demand more concern than does an unruly group of activists. Nearly all lawmakers, Democratic or Republican, will be able to agree with that. If the democrats were so interested in making sure attention was focused on the war and the troops fighting it, why then did they draw up their own version of the condemnation resolution? If the vote was so unimportant, why didn’t they just refuse to donate their time to the issue? Obviously it mattered enough for Democratic leaders to counter the condemning actions of the Republicans. It must be noted, the Democratic version, which was sufficiently vaguer than the Republican version, was given the affirmative vote by Hilary Clinton.
Senator Clinton and the Democratic Party must realize what they are falling into. The primary season will be here soon enough. Suddenly, voters who haven’t been giving the Presidential contest a great deal of attention will be awake and listening. These voters will be looking for something substantive to base their vote on. Backing the party into the left corner with moveon.org will do little to attract moderate voters or please moderate politicians in the party who are not willing to attempt the ruthless discrediting of a respected General.