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A divided party: Progressives threaten Democratic lawmakers

By: Byron York
Chief Political Correspondent
11/03/09 2:39 PM EST

MoveOn.org is sending out emails today seeking more contributions for its campaign to defeat any Democratic senator who does not fully support Obamacare. Yesterday the left-wing activist group asked members to contribute "to a primary challenge against any Democratic senator who helps Republicans block an up-or-down vote on health care reform." Today, MoveOn reports that it has received $2 million in pledges in less than 24 hours. "It's a clear sign of how angry progressives would be at any Democrat who helps filibuster reform," MoveOn executive director Justin Ruben writes in the new email.

"The larger the war chest we can offer a potential challenger, the stronger the signal we'll send to conservative Democrats," Ruben continues. "So we're setting a huge new goal: $3 million in total pledges by the end of the week. That's plenty to launch a serious primary challenge."

MoveOn is already planning radio ads targeting Louisiana Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu and Arkansas Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln over the health care issue.

MoveOn's new campaign comes amid much discussion in the political world of divisions among Republicans, with many analysts reading the presence of third-party candidates in New York's 23rd District and in New Jersey, and coming primary battles in Florida and elsewhere, as proof of deep, and perhaps disastrous, divisions inside the GOP. One publication recently dubbed it a "nightmare scenario" for Republicans. But MoveOn's new threat of primary attacks on Democratic lawmakers suggests that the story might be a bit one-sided. Democrats who stray from progressive orthodoxy might be in for big trouble -- and the divisions inside the Democratic party might be just as big a deal as the problems inside the GOP.

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Reader Comments

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lizfrom canada

Nov 3, 2009

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PitbullDad

Nov 3, 2009

This is where you might win the battle but lose the war. MoveOn wants to defeat conservative Democrats and replace them with liberal Democratic candidates, but the result will be a conservative Republican elected in a district that last voted for a conservative candidate. So who wins? the Republicans.

Kim

Nov 3, 2009

The oddball left rants about conservative "litmus tests" and how wonderful a "big tent" s while it expels Joe Lieberman and tries to convince conservative Democrats to elect Barny Frank clones. Thank goodness the left is as stupid as it is otherwise we would have to invent them

Whaddya know

Nov 3, 2009

You mean the Dems are not offering a 'big tent'?
Any diversion from hard left orthodoxy is met by multi million dollar donations to bring primary challenges against those who would question The One and his socialist/collectivist plan for America. Aren't these the same bunch who were laughing at the race in NY-23 because the RINO candidate isn't (now wasn't) 'Republican enough'? Sure seems like there's such a thing as not 'liberal enough' too.
I think PitbullDad is absolutely right, and I welcome a crop of hard left candidates in the climate currently being created by the Reid/Pelosi/Obama axis.
Bye Bye Liberals, Hello and welcome back Constitution and Reaganism.

rick

Nov 3, 2009

it would appear that while democrats like to portray conservative republicans as angry and hate mongers, that the left wing moveon.org crowd are the real dangerous radicals. for far too long, left wing extremists have said vile things and rioted at at financial summits with the liberals in congress and the main stream media saying silent. however, when middle class americans protested at town hall meetings they are called nazis and criminals. the hatred and polarization in this country emanates from the left, not the right or the middle

akw

Nov 3, 2009

Oooh, oooh, oooh! Go for it, Moveon. I love watching how you Dems prove how BIG your tent is! You're so cute. Too bad you keep forgetting that you liberals only make up 20% of the electorate, whereas moderates are 35% and conservatives are 40%. So, bring on your liberal "challengers" and let's "get it on"! ROTFLMBO!!

JMM

Nov 3, 2009

What a crock. Soros could foot this bill alone if it's so important to him. Cough up George and stop using these poor people as pawns.

Don L

Nov 4, 2009

This is good news - blue dogs might bite if a stranger like Soros beats up on them. This could backfire easily.

greg

Nov 4, 2009

The loony left, such as MoveOn.org, has taken over the democrat party. They impose litmus tests, a dem has to be pro-abortion, believe the Global Warming hoax, believe in huge, intrusive governmnet, believe in heavy taxation, and believe in all things Politically Correct.

I laugh every time I see some dem talking about how the gop has to allow more freedom of thought in their ranks. Notice they all say that, because that is the script they are reading from, no freedom of thought or expression allowed in the dem party.

JamesJ

Nov 4, 2009

Liberals live under the delusion that it is possible to pick up fecal matter by the clean end.

JamesJ

Nov 4, 2009

Liberals live under the delusion that it is possible to pick up fecal matter by the clean end.

Savannah

Nov 4, 2009

Do the dems represent their districts and states or Soros? I thought we the people were their bosses. Seems they're being purchased by a rich Greek guy who already owns most of the country and the current pres.

bobc

Nov 5, 2009

Soros should be investigated and fined, just like Hungary has done!

I see him on financial programs spouting off that our dollar is done for, while he has betted against it.

I don't understand why financial shows keep asking him on, nor why we aren't investigating him!

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A divided party: Progressives threaten Democratic lawmakers

By: Byron York
Chief Political Correspondent
11/03/09 2:39 PM EST