[I added the material at the end of this post at 1:49 p.m. the same day I posted it.]
I’ll admit it, I’m a fan of the Democratic Party – but more for what it isn’t than for what it is. Here’s an example of what it isn’t: a hand-puppet for big business.
Several Democratic and Republican lobbyists agreed GOP consultants often get it wrong with Democrats because their corporate pitch is such an easy sell in Republican offices, which already are ideologically sympathetic to businesses’ concerns.
Meeting with Democrats, some Republicans neglect to factor in a much wider array of constituencies that hold sway with the new majority, including labor, environmental and consumer groups.
“Republican lobbyists are used to walking into an office and just saying, ‘I’d like you to do this,'” said one Republican operative who regularly lobbies across the aisle. “With Democrats, you really have to hone your arguments, and you really have to sell them on policy.”
Hone your arguments? Sell them on policy? Imagine! Next, they’ll be insisting that the lobbyists explain how their proposals are good for Americans, or something loony like that.
[Quote quoted from Talking Points Memo.]
Late Update: I suppose that, in the interest of fairness and accuracy, it’s worth pointing out what the above quote boils down to if you really think about it: Republican politicians sell out the American people as soon as a lobbyist suggests it; Democratic politicians (“Democrat politicians,” to use the president’s little playground taunt) make the lobbyists talk a good game first. Oh, well.