Senate Democrats have announced that Mark Warner of Virginia has been added to their leadership team -- as a policy development advisor. This is disappointing. Warner is a "centrist", with close ties to the business community. In other words, he is a "blue dog" that has sold out to Wall Street and the giant corporations.When Elizabeth Warren was added to the leadership team last week, I had hoped that senate Democrats were finally coming to their senses, and were finally going to return to a policy of helping ordinary Americans. Warren's appointment seemed to give some balance to a leadership that was already slanted toward Wall Street.
But this appointment (of Warner) dashes that hope. It is a clear signal to Wall Street that they are still firmly in their camp -- that the Warren appointment was just to throw a bone to progressives (who have not been happy lately), and not a real desire to change.
I view the Warner appointment as a step backward for the Democratic Party -- and with his input into policy, we can be pretty sure no real progressive policies will be pursued.
(The caricature above of Warner is by DonkeyHotey.)
