Decision ‘08

The Democrat-Nutroots® Divide

Dean Barnett takes a look at the Kossack reaction to Israel’s war with Hezbollah, and he sees still more trouble ahead for candidates who seek to pander to the progressive blogosphere. Barnett first notes the silence of the front-pagers:

THE CONFLAGRATION in Lebanon has provided an example of the people-powered movement’s potential to be a liability for the politicians who have tried to curry favor with it.

Perhaps sensing that this issue could highlight just how far removed the Kos community is from the American mainstream, Moulitsas and his other front-page bloggers have opted to ignore Israel’s war. Combined, the half dozen front-pagers have written exactly one post on the subject. And that post, authored by Moulitsas, simply declared that he wouldn’t write anything further on the subject. So while the most important story of the year develops, the nation’s leading progressive blog has chosen to focus on the Indiana second district House race between Chris Chocola and Joe Donnelly. Nothing wrong with that; it’s their prerogative to blog about whatever they like.

Barnett is too charitable here; it’s remarkable that there has been such a lack of interest on the front page of the most-viewed political blog of what has surely been the story of the year. In fact, it is inconceivable that Kos has not directed this (even if not explicity - after all, what was the purpose of going on the front page to say he wasn’t going to blog about this issue other than to lay down the party line? Blogging to say you’re not blogging is difficult to comprehend otherwise); no other explanation makes sense. But why would Kos and his chosen few who have the keys to the front page be silent on this issue? Because they know their audience too well:

…[I]nside the Kos diaries, it’s been a different story. The conversation in the diaries has been overwhelmingly anti-Israel–and potentially disastrous for the Democratic party.

One diarist labeled Israel “a destabilizing force in the region” and saw “no difference between Iran’s support of Hezbollah and Hamas in the form of finances and even arms and The United States’ financial support of Israel.” Before modifying this diary into a more moderate form, the author opened his essay with the declaration, “Israel is showing the entire world why the Iranian President was absolutely right to suggest that Israel cease being a sovereign state as is.”

Barnett doesn’t cherry-pick here; he gives other examples, and you could easily come up with dozens more yourself in less than a half-hour. You would be hard-pressed, however, to find even three pro-Israel diaries. And note the tone; we’re not talking policy disagreements, but explicit messages against the very existence of Israel.

True, not all the diarists go that far, but the undeniable fact is that the progressive left (not the left, mind you - you know the subset I speak of) is overwhelmingly against Israel and draws no distinction between defense against terrorist acts and the acts themselves.

Perhaps you still aren’t convinced. Here is the topic page for ‘Israel’ at Daily Kos. Look for yourself - it doesn’t matter if you do it now, three hours from now, tomorrow, next week, or next month. The subject matter will be the same. The tone will be the same. John Kerry, Mark Warner, Harry Reid, and every other politician that associates himself with this hateful site will someday rue the association, if there is any justice (oh, not Kerry, he has no shame - but I’d like to think better of Reid and Warner)…