I got a copy of the DNC 2012 Election poll in the mail yesterday. I filled out the poll, even though it seemed like it was really a fund raising letter disguised as a poll. I turned down their request for money, and thought you might be interested in why I did so:
Patrick Gaspard
DNC
Dear Mr. Gaspard,
Enclosed is the 2010 Presidential Election Poll – thank you for the opportunity to respond.
In the past few years, I contributed to the DNC and OFA. I planned in my 2011 budget to continue the contributions this year and next. I believe that it is important that Democrats retain the White House and Senate, and regain control of the House.
However, I am very disappointed in Democrats in general and the President in particular. He has ceded entirely too much ground to the Republicans in the last two years. His style is too conciliatory. He refuses to accept that Republicans will not compromise in any meaningful way. His quixotic quest for bipartisanship has failed and has led to some very poor outcomes – on health care reform, on financial regulation, and especially on the Obama-McConnell tax cut of last year.
Some things are worth fighting for. Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Tax increases on the wealthy – both higher income taxes and higher estate taxes. Tax increases on corporations – GE should pay income tax. Maybe not 35%, but certainly not 0%. Big oil should not be subsidized, and neither should big agriculture. Civil rights. LGBT rights. Safety nets for the unemployed and the poor. Jobs.
When I see the President take a stand and fight for these issues, I’ll contribute to the DNC. Until then, I’ll send my money elsewhere – for example, I’ve already contributed to the Wisconsin Democratic Party when their Senators stood up and left the state, and I may send more for the WI recall elections.
The Republicans presented a 2012 budget plan today. It is unacceptable. The plan was no surprise to anybody. The President should have been prepared with a response that should have been out first thing this morning. The response should be a clear and unequivocal NO to killing Medicaid, NO to making any further cuts in discretionary non-defense spending, and a call to increase taxes to fund the necessary functions of government.
Please forward these comments to the President.