The end of the ‘class warfare’ talking point?

July 30, 2007

It’s been clear for a while now, but it’s becoming increasingly obvious all the time: among Democratic presidential hopefuls, populism is in. (via Greg Sargent)

Democratic Sen. Barack Obama lashed out at the power of the oil, insurance and pharmaceutical industries in blocking progressive policy in Washington as he sought to bolster his credentials as a governmental ethics reformer.

“The reason that we’re not getting things done is not because we don’t have good plans or good policy prescriptions,” Obama said. “The reason is because it’s not our agenda that’s being moved forward in Washington — it’s the agenda of the oil companies, the insurance companies, the drug companies, the special interests who dominate on a day-to-day basis in terms of legislative activity.” […]

“We can’t settle for a second ‘Gilded Age’ in America,” Obama said in a reference to Roosevelt’s time at the turn of the 20th Century. “Unfortunately, that’s what we’re seeing these days.”

Obama said the country needs a president who does not see government as a “tool to enrich” friends and corporate interests, but serves as a “defender” for fairness and opportunity for ordinary Americans.

In recent months, John Edwards has been emphasizing this issue more than the other credible Democratic candidates, but given the subject matter, the more the merrier.

As Greg noted, “[I]t’s certainly interesting to hear the candidates, at least rhetorically, framing the debate in such stark terms, without worrying about the ‘class warfare’ countercharge that for so long set Dems quaking and scurrying off to their consultants for advice.”

I don’t doubt that we’ll hear the “class warfare” phrase bandied about tonight on Fox News, but I think this might be the first cycle in a long while in which Dems don’t seem to care.

Toss in a little justice for the Bush Laden Crime Family unlawfully occupying the People’s Executive Branch and Obama would have my vote — but I’m not holding my breath for that. As a result, I will reserve my vote for a candidate who cares about justice and the integrity of our Constitutional Republic as much as ideology.

Please feel free to bash me to your hearts’ content for my expression of political anti-solidarity.

  • I never understood why Dems cowered before the ‘class warfare’ meme while repubs delighted in their ‘cultural civil war’.

    I always wanted to hear the Dems say something like this: Repubs have been waging class warfare for 3 decades. We didn’t ask for it, but we’re going to end it. And we’re going to win it.

  • Good for Obama. It’s about time the Democrats quit worrying altogether about what the Faux News Bushies say.

    The “class warfare” is going on every day, and the little people are filling mass graves. How many people died this year so that the corporations could make more money?

  • I don’t doubt that we’ll hear the “class warfare” phrase bandied about tonight on Fox News, but I think this might be the first cycle in a long while in which Dems don’t seem to care.

    Yes, I hope so. I’m sure that will resonate with Fux Snooze’s huge audience of oil, pharmaceutical and health insurance CEOs.

  • What the hell is the matter with stating the obvious that this IS class warfare? It really is. It’s not us smelly masses picking on the fabulously wealthy. It has always been the upper upper upper class beating on the rest of us. All one has to do is look at the policies favored by Repub economic policies favor, drum roll, the ultra rich.

    The problem is that too many people (in particular, the lower/middle class Repubs) don’t realize that they’re supporting the very people who are screwing them over.

    No, Senator McCarfee, I’ve never been a member of the Communist party. Don’t care to be, but I’d also would NOT enjoy living in a world run solely for the pleasure of the rich while the rest of us fight for the scraps they throw. What many of the rich seem to forget is that they are not alone in this world.

  • Denying S-CHIP to children whose parents can’t afford health insurance, denying veterans’ benefits to enlisted soldiers due to “personality disorders” isn’t class warfare. Taxing the income of hedge fund managers as income rather than capital gains, now that’s class warfare.

    The class warfare card has been played too many times. There has been systematic class warfare since the Reagan years. We all know who won.

  • “We can’t settle for a second ‘Gilded Age’ in America,” Obama said in a reference to Roosevelt’s time at the turn of the 20th Century. “Unfortunately, that’s what we’re seeing these days.”

    Egads, what semiliterate moron at the Chicago Litterbox Liner, er, I mean the Tribune, managed to screw this one up? The Gilded Age wasn’t in the time of Roosevelt (I assume the halfwit meant Teddy), it was the time up through McKinley. TR is associated with the Progressive Era.

    The Chicago Tribune: we’re not even good litterbox liner, unless you have no other alternative. Look what we did to the L.A. Times.

  • I sure as Hell hope we’re not all done talking about class warfare. As a member of the middle class, I can vouch for the fact that we’re still under attack. Doesn’t look like the poor are faring too well either.We should definitely be talking about class warfare.

  • The reason Dems are finally less afraid of the “class warfare” accusation is that Bush’s maladmin has managed to stomp on the middle class. As long as it was just the poor being screwed, nobody thought it was something worth fighting over. Especially when chances of “bettering oneself” were fairly good for lower middle. But now that the course is reversed — the middle is more likely to slide down than to scramble up — the “poor” base is, potentially, huge. Therefore, there’s no risk in defending it.

  • What did Molly Ivins’ rich friend say about class warfare–“Yes it’s class warfare and we’re winning.”

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