The Dems’ Unrequited Love for Occupiers

December 6, 2011

As Dems Continue Hypocrisy of Milking Wall Street for Campaign Cash, “It’s Complicated” Between Democrats and Occupiers

As reports of criminal behavior surrounding Occupy protestors continue to surge, Democrat Leader Nancy Pelosi is claiming the group’s shenanigans nonetheless have been “politically helpful to Democrats.”
What is certain is that Occupiers don’t particularly care for Democrats— going so far as to protest a DCCC fundraiser.
Occupiers are right about this much: Democrats have been entirely hypocritical by bashing Wall Street in public while at the same time taking campaign cash from Wall Street in private.

BACKGROUND

As reports of criminal behavior surrounding Occupy protestors continue to surge, Democrat Leader Nancy Pelosi is claiming the group’s shenanigans nonetheless have been “politically helpful to Democrats”:

DEMOCRAT LEADER NANCY PELOSI: OCCUPY “POLITICALLY HELPFUL TO DEMOCRATS”: “Despite some unfavorable polling, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi still thinks the Occupy movement has been politically helpful to Democrats.”(Brian Beutler, “Pelosi: Occupy Movement Enhances Dems’ National Message,” Talking Points Memo, 12/5/2011)

“OCCUPY PROTEST SITES CONTINUE TO ATTRACT DANGEROUS CRIMINAL ELEMENT”: “Occupy protests across the country are becoming better known for the crimes happening at the protest sites as opposed to the confusing political messages the occupy movement is putting out through their signs and daily marches.” (Kerry Pickett, “Pickett: Occupy Protest Sites Continue to Attract Dangerous Criminal Element,” The Washington Times, 10/26/2011)

What is certain is that Occupiers don’t particularly care for Democrats—going so far as to protest a DCCC fundraiser:

“AS OCCUPIERS PROTEST DEMOCRATS, DEMOCRATS COURT OCCUPIERS”: (Jessica Brady, “As Occupiers Protest Democrats, Democrats Court Occupiers,” Roll Call, 12/3/2011)

HOUSE DEMS BRAINSTORMING WAYS “TO MAINTAIN TIES WITH THE LEFTIST PROTESTORS”: “Congressional Democrats still haven’t quite figured out how to harness the energy behind the Occupy Wall Street movement for political gain, but they nevertheless are incorporating the group into their messaging as a way to maintain ties with the leftist protesters.” (Jessica Brady, “As Occupiers Protest Democrats, Democrats Court Occupiers,” Roll Call, 12/3/2011)

OCCUPIERS TO SOON PRIMARY HOUSE DEMS? “OCCUPY DC TARGETS CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS,” PROTESTS DCCC FUNDRAISER: (Tim Craig, “Occupy DC Targets Congressional Democrats,” The Washington Post’s D.C. Wire Blog, 12/1/2011)

BUT DEMS ARE STILL LOYAL TO THEIR OCCUPIER BASE:

“DESPITE ATTACKS, DEMS STANDING BY OCCUPY WALL STREET”: “For weeks now, Republicans have attacked Democrats for voicing support for the Occupy Wall Street protesters, in particular faulting the DCCC for standing up for them. And the incidents of violence and excess have led some neutral commentators to predict that Dems will pay a political price if they align themselves with the movement.”(Greg Sargent, “Despite Attacks, Dems Standing by Occupy Wall Street,” The Washington Post’s Plumline Blog, 11/22/2011)

“NANCY PELOSI STANDS BY OCCUPY WALL STREET IN FUNDRAISING E-MAIL FROM DCCC”: (Aliyah Shahid, “Nancy Pelosi Stands by Occupy Wall Street in Fundraising E-mail from DCCC,” NY Daily News, 11/22/2011)

OBAMA TO “OCCUPIERS”: “YOU ARE THE REASON I RAN FOR OFFICE”: “A few minutes later, Obama acknowledged the Occupy protest movement again, saying: ‘You are the reason I ran for office.’” (Bernie Becker and Alicia Cohn, “Obama Heckled by Protestors at New Hampshire Speech,” The Hill, 11/22/2011)

EARLIER PELOSI COMMENTS ON OCCUPY WALL STREET: “GOD BLESS THEM”: “‘God bless them,’ Pelosi said, ‘for their spontaneity. It’s independent … it’s young, it’s spontaneous, and it’s focused. And it’s going to be effective.’” (John McCormack, “Pelosi on Occupy Wall Street Protestors: ‘God Bless Them,’” The Weekly Standard, 10/6/2011)

DCCC CHAIRMAN REP. STEVE ISRAEL (D-NY) DOUBLES DOWN ON SUPPORT FOR “OCCUPY”: “ ‘When the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, you no longer have an economic base,’ Israel said. ‘Occupy Wall Street really does manifest a true, deep anxiety about the shrinking middle class.’” (Bianca Dennis, “Congressman Israel Lays Out Plan for 2012 at CU Dems Event,” The Columbia Spectator, 11/21/2011)

DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE HAS PETITION FOR “100,000 STRONG STANDING WITH OCCUPY WALL STREET”: (Beth Fouhy, “Democrats See Minefield in Occupy Protests,” Associated Press, 11/17/2011)

DCCC WEB PAGE CALING FOR SUPPORT FOR OCCUPY WALL STREET IS STILL GATHERING SIGNATURES: (“Goal: 100,000 Strong Standing With Occupy Wall Street,”Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Accessed 11/23/2011)

Occupiers are right about this much: Democrats have been entirely hypocritical by bashing Wall Street in public while at the same time taking campaign cash from Wall Street in private:

DEMS RECEIVED $202.6 MILLION FROM SECURITIES AND INVESTMENT INDUSTRY SINCE 2006: (“Securities and Investment: Long-Term Trends,” OpenSecrets.org, Accessed 12/5/2011)

DEMS RECEIVED $39.8 MILLION FROM COMMERCIAL BANKS SINCE 2006:(“Commercial Banks: Long-Term Contribution Trends,” OpenSecrets.org, Accessed 12/5/2011)

DEMS RECEIVED $12.4 MILLION FROM FINANCE AND CREDIT COMPANIES SINCE 2006: (“Finance/Credit Companies: Long-Term Contribution Trends,” OpenSecrets.org, Accessed 12/5/2011)

DEMS RECEIVED $158.7 MILLION FROM REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY SINCE 2006:(“Real Estate: Long-Term Contribution Trends,” OpenSecrets.org, Accessed 12/5/2011)

“OBAMA AT WAR WITH SELF OVER WALL ST.”: “First, the White House signaled it would make anger toward Wall Street central to President Barack Obama’s reelection campaign. But then, Obama warned against demonizing all of Wall Street — only a few days before he sympathized with the Occupy Wall Street protesters who do exactly that.” (Carrie Budoff Brown, “Obama at War with Self Over Wall St.,” Politico, 11/4/2011)

“ZIGZAGS BETWEEN EMBRACING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND VILIFYING IT HAVE SHADOWED [OBAMA’S] PRESIDENCY: “The White House’s Wall Street whiplash stretches to the earliest days of the administration, with Obama conciliatory one minute and confrontational the next.

“His zigzags between embracing the business community and vilifying it have shadowed his presidency, exposing him to charges from Wall Street that he’s out to get them and from liberals that he coddles Big Business. Based on his own statements, Obama himself can appear undecided about which way to go — an incoherence that has left both sides dissatisfied as he seeks reelection.” (Carrie Budoff Brown, “Obama at War with Self Over Wall St.,” Politico, 11/4/2011)