Today's Christian Science Monitor is reporting that the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) is suspending its operations due to a lack of funds. The Democratic Leadership Council was formed by moderate Democrats in 1985 in response to Ronald Reagan's re-election in 1984. The group was supposed to bring the Democrat party back to the center of the political spectrum after the party had drifted significantly left.
The Los Angeles Times reported today:
"This week, the DLC said it was shutting its doors because of financial problems. The move was hastened by the departure of its leader, Bruce Reed, who was hired by Vice President Joe Biden as his chief of staff."
There have been other organizations that have grown out of the DLC that also claim the 'centrist' label (although many of them are left of center).
According to the Christian Science Monitor:
"And there are plenty of other centrist Democratic organizations picking up the slack. The Progressive Policy Institute, a think tank that spun off from the DLC in 2009, is alive and well. So is the New Democrat Network and Third Way. The Center for American Progress, founded by Clinton White House alumnus John Podesta, also qualifies as centrist and has the benefit of close ties to the Obama White House. The last DLC-er who could make that boast - the group's CEO, Bruce Reed - just left the organization to become Vice President Biden's chief of staff. He had just completed a stint as executive director of Mr. Obama's fiscal commission."
I will admit to being very skeptical about President Obama's 'move to the center.' I am more inclined to watch his actions, not his words, during the next two years. Unfortunately the 'blue dog' Democrat is becoming an endangered species. There are only 25 'blue dogs' left in Congress at this point. The DLC at least provided the possibility of compromise between Republicans and Democrats. Now that the DLC is gone, I find communication and compromise much less likely.
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