I know there’s been some debate about the necessity of keeping the Dems together to stop Bush’s Social Security scheme, but no matter which side of the divide you’re on, this is encouraging news.
Two groups of prominent Democratic centrists plan to oppose the centerpiece of President Bush’s proposal to restructure Social Security, potentially dimming administration hopes of building bipartisan support for its top domestic priority.
The Democratic Leadership Council, the party’s leading centrist organization, and Third Way, a new group working with moderate Senate Democrats, expect to issue statements soon opposing Bush’s push to divert part of the Social Security payroll tax into accounts that individuals could invest in the stock market, officials of the groups say.
The opposition is significant because both groups have aggressively argued that Democrats should not flatly resist changes to Social Security. Also, in the past some of the leading officials associated with the Democratic Leadership Council have backed the type of private investment accounts Bush is promoting.
If there were any Dem factions prepared to bolt from the party line on this, it was these two. Yet, just as the debate is getting underway, both are sticking with party principles. Whether you like the DLC/Third Way wing or not, it’s heartening to see everyone on the same page when it comes to Bush’s destructive plan. As Josh Marshall noted, “[I]t seems clear that every major Democratic policy group from the most leftish labor-liberals to the newest New Dems are united in believing that the Bush Social Security phase-out plan is bad policy for America.” Considering what we’ll be up against, it’s welcome news.
I think my favorite part of these announcements is what it will mean for wavering congressional Dems. Too often, some of the Dems with weaker knees bolt if they see others doing the same thing and use the number of fellow dissenters as cover. At this point, the Social Security Wall of Shame only has one member. With the DLC and Third Way standing in opposition to the White House approach, the list hopefully won’t get much bigger.
…Democratic liberals see resistance from the leadership council and Third Way as signs that the party is consolidating against the private account idea.
“My own view is the tide is beginning to shift away from private accounts,” said Bill Samuel, the AFL-CIO’s legislative director. “I think this is going to be seen more and more as an ideological battle, and the centrists are going to feel much more comfortable returning home to the mainstream of the [Democratic] party.”
Al From won’t like that “mainstream” remark, but the sentiment is certainly correct.