Well but, sir, this is another example of one of my theories about "perception;" that all things, every thing, is multi-faceted, different sides, like a diamond or something.
I'm aware of that more-sordid side of the DLC as you outlined, but I concentrate on another side of the DLC; the side that shows professional Democrats truly interested in the long-term existence of the party, and in winning elections.
And as of late, they've been admirably successful.
Actually they are generally a complete disaster.
What was wining was when Howard Dean was putting you on offensive by building local party organizations with actual a say in their own candidates for local office.
Remember, Rahm is DLC in chief at the House and in the White House.
What they did in 2009-2010 was quite confusing. They ditched the local party structure in favor of the OFA structure which was loyal to only Barack Obama and during the municipal elections where you build candidates locally to run for higher offices (the proverbial minor league in politics) they sent out people carrying around petitions in blind canvasses for HCR.
In the 2009 election it backfired majorly.
In 2010, they sent out their usual professionals from DC to run all the congressional races and got their asses handed to them except in areas which have machine operations.
I can give you a contrast to the GOP model. Generally speaking, your campaign managers for congress and the Senate are local boys who understand the state, the history, the institutions etc. Therefore you have campaign managers that don't make stupid cultural mistakes.
The DLC paratroops kids in from DC into districts they never lived in and they think are "backward." Generally on messaging in the races he candidates get killed because they have a person who isn't from the area running the campaign so the person doesn't take the candidate out to the areas they need to go to and sends out mailings that pisses off the locals.
You also take the political campaign people and pay them to stay on the ground when the person goes to Washington running a seperate political office to their constituent office to ensure the goodwill of the elected officials.
DLC run campaigns are heavily focused on mailings and advertising and are extremely weak on having the candidate going out and meeting with the public.
If a DLC campaign manager has a choice between an hour on the phone raising money with the candidate and an hour out talking to people in the district, they put the candidate on the phone to raise money.
Dean ran campaigns in 2006 opposite to the DLC model, and him and Rahm had huge fights over with it.
Also the Dean portion of the campaign will set up a democratic party in Montana and fund a party operation out there in hopes to win local elections and improve the party's name. A DLC operation is only responsible for the biannual congressional races.
Generally DLC operations are focused on traditional democratic strongholds. I think the reason why Dean had a different approach was because he was from a more rural state and understood the importance more of the retail side.
Frankly the GOP could make gains in the Urban centers if they were willing to make the investments into them. I think Rudy showed that for you guys a while ago. I'm surprised more attempts haven't been made in other areas.
