Has the Democratic Party Lost its Soul?

Tolstoy plays chess.

The New York Times, a strong advocate of President Obama and the Democratic party, stunned liberals with its article Clinton Tells Russia That Sanctions Will Soon End (P.3, September 9, 2012).

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton pledged Saturday that the United States would soon lift cold-war-era trade sanctions on Russia, but she did not address human rights legislation in Congress that has so far stalled passage, infuriated the Kremlin and become an unexpected issue in the American presidential race.

In a nutshell, the article states that the Obama administration would like to grant Russia normal trade status, but evil Republicans in Congress support legislation that punishes Russian officials for human rights violations.

I'm being sarcastic of course. Congressional support for human rights legislation is bipartisan, and liberals were not stunned by Obama's attempt to normalize trade relations with Russia. Few cared that Russia supports Syria's dictatorship and, along with China, prevents the world community from doing anything. Few cared that Russia capitalizes from the embargo on Iran, giving the mullahs a way to run around otherwise crippling sanctions. Few cared that Putin suppresses civil liberties in his own country, denying free speech and right to peaceful assembly, and increasing corruption in both government and business. The Russian government is even refusing humanitarian aid from the United States, terminating all programs by the United States Agency for International Development (as described in With Aid Cutoff, Kremlin Recalibrates).

A high ranking Democrat criticizes Russian policy as not working but still says “I do think this president and the secretary of state and vice president have been effective and engaged in pushing back and in building a multilateral coalition, in engaging in areas of the world where we've been able to lead.” 

Pure gobbledygook! Well, you can't have it both ways. It seems that the Carter Doctrine--letting human rights guide foreign policy--is dead. We are back to a policy of realpolitik that is closer to 1970s detente than the more usual musings of the American left; that is, caring for the downtrodden and encouraging liberal democratic reforms. Obama has morphed into Richard Nixon. Obama's "reset" with Russia is complete. If you think the leadership of the Democratic Party has lost its soul now, wait until after the election when Obama has promised Russia's Medvedev that he will have more "flexibility" in working together on arms control and other concerns.