Labeling No Labels
In the aftermath of November's WWF-like bludgeoning suffered by the Democrat Party, a "grass roots" group arose from the mat. Devised to counter the effective clout of the TEA Party, No Labels has emerged as yet another identity face lift for estranged leftists.
Whatever your political poison, you will never confuse the recently-unveiled No Labels group with any sort of grass roots movement. By definition, such a movement is generated naturally and spontaneously, and remains viable and cohesive through its shared values and collective strength of purpose. No Labels is anything but.
As with any new player on the American political scene, objective scrutiny is in order. Was there a label for No Labels prior to its name change? What is the group's alleged purpose? Who are its principle organizers, supporters, and funding sources?
What we're told
This past week, No Labels kicked off its inaugural conference at New York City's Columbia University, hosted by one-time Republican, currently Independent, and always leftist billionaire Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Touting a "non-partisan" initiative, the group unveiled its slogan, "Not Left. Not Right. Forward." You can almost hear the MSNBC track music in the background, no?"Yet politics is all about passion and partisanship, and there are no varying degrees - you either are partisan or you are not." We were ostensibly informed that No Labels is seeking to attract Americans in what pollsters routinely identify as the vital center, a non-ideological ground where the commitment is to "get things done." The gist of the conference? Follow us, the enlightened ones, down the path of political amity, cooperation, and compromise. Why, what a wonderful world this can be if you trust in us and forsake partisan politics.
Perhaps the group's most-favored line is, "Passion and partisanship are fine, but we can overthrow the tyranny of hyper-partisanship that dominates our political culture today." Yet politics is all about passion and partisanship, and there are no varying degrees - you either are partisan or you are not. Further, without partisanship the chances are excellent that your form of government is authoritarian. But there are many more hiccups than this within No Label's sublime scenario of earthly Eden.
Genesis
Referencing the three questions above, the who in No Labels is as follows: The group is the brainchild of Nancy Jacobson, a veteran Democratic activist, fund raiser, and wife of Democrat pollster Mark Penn. Also included as co-founders are political consultants Democrat Kiki McLean and moderate Mark McKinnon, and for-hire speech writer John Avlon. It's purpose?"Transparency and honesty are apparently not core values of the fledgling No Labels movement, which has raised more than $1 million in seed money." No Labels lauds itself as a new centrist, pro-"common sense" advocacy group designed to strengthen the "mainstream" in America. A Web site statement of purpose attempts to define "mainstream" and the group's noble raison d'etre. Tread lightly and carry a pooper scooper.
Determining the group's funding, however, is quite another matter. Transparency and honesty are apparently not core values of the fledgling No Labels movement, which has raised more than $1 million in seed money. No Labels spokesman Adam Segal would not reveal the sources of funding now or in the future, and declined to comment further on the record. That doesn't sound very reputable or trustworthy, does it? Especially for an alleged non-profit political advocacy group that claims its grass to be firmly rooted in the will of all those hapless, disaffected Americans it hopes to someday represent.
However, the Wall Street Journal reported last month that donors include Loews Corp. co-chair Andrew Tisch, Panera Bread founder Ron Shaich, and ex-Facebook executive Dave Morin. According to a Salon report, Shaich and Tisch appear to be pro-corporate Democrats, with Tisch tithing to Senators Joe Lieberman, Evan Bayh, and Kirsten Gillibrand over the years. The report did not indicate where Morin, a young Silicon Valley investor, is coming from politically.
In the trenches
Regardless of its flowery statement of purpose and holier-than-thou mantra, the No Labels lineup appears to be generously populated with Democrat Party operatives, progressives, liberals, political fence-sitters, flip-flopping opportunists, and recently-rejected RINOs who lost reelection bids.
Proud No Label luminaries include the aforementioned Bloomberg and group founders, disgraced professional opportunist Charlie "Flipper" Crist, Democrat Senators Joe Manchin (WV), Evan Bayh (IA), and Kirsten Gillibrand (NY); Democrats Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and California Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado; RINO Representatives Mike Castle (DE) and Bob Inglis (SC) who took umbrage at being thrashed"If you believe any of them, I've got a sweet deal on a health care plan to sell you." in primary elections by conservatives; RINO talking head Joe Scarborough of MSNBC, CNN bubblehead David Gurgen, and even anti-conservative scribbler David Frum is on board. There are more of this ilk but you get the picture.
Each of the above-mentioned are uniformly left to far-left of center or timid fence-sitters, including the group's mastermind, founders, and funding sources. Which begs the question: How on God's green Earth can these people look Americans in the eyes and honestly declare, "I want to bring back common sense and reason into the political process - remove hyper-partisanship from the equation." If you believe any of them, I've got a sweet deal on a health care plan to sell you.
Hypocrisy
It should be apparent to even the most obtuse amongst us that the No Labels movement is a fraud, merely another label change for a failed ideology. As the November election debacle illustrated, this gang needed a fresh name. Remember, first they were Democrats. When they ruined that brand they changed to Liberals. When they ruined that they changed to The Left. When they ruined that they changed to Progressives. Now that they've ruined that they hope to re-emerge as No Labels. They hope nobody notices as they worm themselves back into prominence.
No Labels would simply be "Socialists" if they thought Americans would swallow it. Make no mistake. This whole No Labels thing is entirely deceitful. The pro-American TEA Party movement was a spontaneous, grass roots movement. Even MoveOn, radical and anti-American though it is, had a spontaneous following at its inception. The No Labels "movement" is not a movement at all. It is a top-down political agenda overseen by statist political operatives, failed professional politicians, and opportunists.
It's purpose is nothing less than to marginalize the Republican Party and minimize the growing power of conservatism that is manifesting itself within the American majority. Its ranks are populated with those who promote the Nanny State and asset"We call such action principled, and any politician who stands by principles must by definition be partisan." redistribution. The November election was no small matter to the Left, and they are now scrambling because the American people - to their great dismay - have seen what happens when socialists wield unobstructed power and near-authoritarian control of government.
Independent-minded action in government is laudable - but only if it is firmly based in constitutional law, does not harm the financial integrity or sovereignty of the nation, and reflects an honest effort to enhance the American people's opportunity for success in life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. We call such action principled, and any politician who stands by principles must by definition be partisan. How can any politician who serves based upon his or her heart-felt convictions be otherwise?
It is only the unprincipled or uncaring who shun labels and fear partisanship.
In the United States of America, we don't need some stealth group with ulterior motives and members who stands for nothing lecturing us on how to promote principled ideas or defend core values. What we DO require are politicians with the courage to quit lying to the American people and publicly declare the ideals to which they are committed.
America Held Hostage: 762 Days to Freedom.