Moveon Slams Top Democrat in New Ads

Moveon.org is launching radio ads against select Members of Congress who voted for the credit card industry-written bankruptcy bill yesterday. While most of those targeted are Republicans (and rightfully so), one of them is Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), the second-ranking Democrat in the House. As the Minority Whip, Hoyer is responsible for organizing Democratic opposition to the Republicans' right-wing agenda. Instead, he voted for the GOP's bankruptcy bill. Now, Moveon is going to make him pay a price.

It's true, as Moveon's Tom Matzzie says, that Hoyer is pretty solid on most issues. But the bankruptcy bill was an issue of economic fairness that should be core to the Democratic Party's mission. Moveon's decision to smack Hoyer shows that they understand that lawmakers change when offered both carrots AND sticks. If all Moveon did was offer praise to Democrats, it wouldn't be helping the Democrats or, more importantly, the progressive cause. By once in a while taking a Democrat out to the woodshed, they will be helping to enforce more Democratic unity down the road. And that is really the key to long-term success.