BTL:Conservative Democratic Leadership Council Biggest Loser in 2002 Election

Democrats who sided with Bush's tax and Iraq war policies lose seats in House and Senate

Interview with Manning Marable, professor of history and political science at Columbia University conducted by Between the Lines'Scott Harris.

When all the votes were cast and counted in the Nov. 5th congressional mid-term election, the Democratic party made history. Bucking the decades-long trend of political parties in opposition to a first-term president gaining congressional seats, the Democrats instead lost control of the U.S. Senate and saw their membership decline by five in the House. Without a clear message and with many Democratic candidates allying themselves with key Bush administration positions on war with Iraq and tax cuts, political observers were not surprised at the party's losses.

The Republicans, now in effective control of all three branches of government -- executive, legislative and judicial -- will be in position to fully control the agenda in Washington. The GOP has signaled that in the years ahead their program will include making permanent, large tax cuts for the wealthiest sector of society; authorizing oil exploration in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge; and the appointment of Supreme Court and federal judges pledged to weaken reproductive rights, civil rights and consumer protection law.

Although the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 and the popularity of a "war-time" president were said to be factors in the Democrat's failures, the party's move to the right was also a critical issue in the view of many progressive activists. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Manning Marable, professor of history and political science at Columbia University. Marable, a supporter of the Green Party's Ralph Nader in the 2000 presidential election, examines the 2002 election results and what the Democrats must do to rebuild their party.

Manning Marable is the author of "The Great Wells of Democracy," published by Basic Books. Visit Dr. Marable's Web site at www.manningmarable.net

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