Discussion of an MLK quote on MLK day

So...today's MLK day. I have a lot of respect and admiration for the man. He saw wrong in society and he strove to fix it. He told it was it was and pushed for change against two parties unwilling to budge, and he will be remembered I think as one of America's greatest heroes. Hats off to you Martin Luther King Jr., you were awesome.

Now, I have a lot I could say about him. I could discuss his criticisms of capitalism and support for the basic income (yeah, he was for that and saw a lot of the same problems with capitalism that I talk about frequently), but in my current mood railing against the democrats, I have a better quote to discuss:

First, I must confess that over the last few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Council-er or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I can't agree with your methods of direct action;" who paternalistically feels he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by the myth of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait until a "more convenient season."

Shallow understanding from people of goodwill is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection." 

 Source

If you wonder why I spend so much time railing against the democrats when we're dealing with a radical republican party who is a much more blatant and greater threat, my logic is very similar to this quote. We know where the republicans stand. We know they're against our cause. We know they are an opponent and that they must be defeated. But more nefarious than that is the moderate who will try to sympathize with you and pretend to be on your side...before selling you out and stabbing you in the back. The democrats are the moderates here. They do exactly what MLK described. And you know what? They're a greater obstacle to change than the GOP. We know where the GOP stands, we know what they're capable of. They're the enemy we know. But the democrats are the ones we don't know. They take up our cause only to sell us out and dash our dreams in the eleventh hour. And when their betrayal, our cause is lost. Real economic and social justice cannot be achieved until we bring the democratic party into line or until we can replace it. If they refuse to stand for anything, no one will.

The democrats' feet must be held to the fire. They must support the progressive cause without wavering (outside of legitimate pragmatic objections) and not sell out to the right. There can be no waiting. No voting people into office with the promise that they'll maybe address our issues at some distant future date. No "incremental change." No ignoring us. They must stand for our cause, or they must be voted out and replaced with those who do.