Is The DLC...Old Wine In A New Bottle?

DENVER, CO -- In the 1990s, the Democratic Leadership Council and the governing elite of the party were in sync. Today, the DLC has never been more polarizing. Liberals castigate them as the party's Judas -- the apostles of everything wrong with the Democratic Party.

"Don't be fooled by the day to day political chatter," the DLC's Bruce Reed said at a press briefing. "Ideas are the best way to move a party forward."

A reporter noticed that the DLC seemed not to embrace the word "centrist" anymore.

"The DLC has always believed in furthering the first principles of our party," said DLC founder Al From. "We are about promoting ideas that are progressive and are grounded in traditional Democratic values but offer new ways to further them. If that's called centrist, then we're centrist."

But the buzzword today isn't centrist -- it's "commonsense." The DLC can't call its agenda centrist or liberal or progressive, whereas Republicans are quite comfortable calling their agendas conservative.

"This is a main street project, not a K Street project," said Iowa Gov, Tom Vilsack of the DLC's American Dream initiative, a laundry list of proposals for Middle Class families. (Capital M, Capital C.)

"I think that the DLC / New Democrat approach is stronger than ever before today and where it is strongest is where we are governing –- in the states," From said.

But nationally... he wouldn't go there.

A reporter pointed out that the DLC usually invites the chair of the party to speak. Said From: "We always invite the chair of the party, but the discussion here is always about ideas...." His voice trailed off.

The American Dream Initiative is the result of collaboration by Sen. Hillary Clinton, Gov. Vilsack and Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware. It's predicated on the idea that the "basic bargain" of America -- if you work hard and play by the rules, you'll be taken care of -- has been broken by outmoded political philosophies and by years of Republican misrule.

The American Dream initiative is aspirational, a favorite adjective here in Denver. Here are some of its pillars:

-- "cutting wasteful corporate subsidies"
--"cutting unnecessary Federal Consultants by 100,000"
--"third party reporting of capital gains"
--restoring paygo rules in Congress
--An American Dream grant that "rewards" states based on the number of students who graduate and attend college. It'll cost $150B over ten years.
--a refundable 3K college tuition tax credits
--holding schools and students accountable
--Requiring every employer to open a retirement account for every worker
--Provide incentives for savers
--Tax credits to stimulate innovation
--A "smart energy policy"
--Greater accountability in corporate governance
--A "home mortgage deduction for everyone"
--A $5K "refundable" tax credit for the down payment of a home
--Lots of health care; a variety of incremental proposals to expand access to care, access to information, etc.

Is this old wine in a new bottle?

Will Democrats have to raise taxes to fund this stuff? A DLC spokesperson says no -- the total cost of these initiatives would be offset by spending cuts and efficiencies. [MARC AMBINDER]