Ignore the Whiners Bleating About “Dems in Disarray” or “Electability”
While I have not done a scientific survey, I’d be willing to bet variations on “Democrats in Disarray” is one of the most oft-repeated topics for campaign analysis in the mainstream media these days.
Lacking enough data to engage in “horse race” reporting (most people are not firmly committed), pundits use perceived and real differences among Democrats, extrapolate them into absolutist positions, coupled with stern warnings about facilitating the re-election of Donald J. Trump as President.
This is a disservice to the democratic process, an insult to the intelligence of voters, and just plain lazy.
I have no problem reading about Biden’s boneheadedness about bigots, Marianne Williamson’s now-retracted vaccine comments, or Buttigieg’s recent screwup as Mayor in handling a police shooting. One story isn't going to make up my mind at this point.
All those factoids go into a little box in my political consciousness, to be re-examined as needed prior to the day I fill in my ballot. As the time draws near, I'm going to winnow my list down.
I get it that some people have already made up their minds. Good for them. Not good are those acting as though ad hominem attacks on candidates are an effective method of persuasion.
Trump’s arrogant nicknames for those seeking the Democratic nomination don’t influence my opinion on candidates. They do deepen my determination that he’s not fit for office. And Dem on Dem mudslinging usually counts --in my mind-- against both candidates.
Today’s Union-Tribune op ed section features a deep dive by editorial board member Chris Reed, making the case for progressives in the party being out of touch.
In 2020, the Democrats’ dominant (or maybe just loudest) faction — social-justice liberals who demand much bigger government and are eager to demonize those who don’t share their orthodoxy about all that’s wrong with America — may be shocked to learn how much their party’s rank-and-file dislikes them.
This analysis (and Reed has plenty of company in the chatitariat) leads to the conclusion that former Vice President Joe Biden’s political history will inevitably splinter the party should he win the nomination.
Biden may be a perfect fit with “traditional liberals.” But he’s never going to be accepted by most “progressive activists.” And this could come to haunt the millions of Americans who desperately hope Trump is defeated in 2020. If Biden is nominated by Democrats, a third-party bid by a progressive purist feels inevitable. If, as Bouie writes, Biden amounts to a well-disguised “Trump light,” how can true progressives possibly unite behind him? How can they not find someone like Bay Area billionaire Tom Steyer — who’s spent tens of millions of dollars on TV ads urging Congress to remove Trump from office — to seek the White House?
After acknowledging it’s early in the process, Reed reiterates his premise:
But if Biden hangs on, the civil war on the left is going to be something to behold. And, no, Donald Trump won’t tweet that it’s sad.
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The notion of progressives as dilettantes, willing to lead followers off a cliff for the sake of political purity ignores the widespread disdain people have for Donald Trump and the horrible excuses for human beings around him. It also suggests that (some) people haven’t learned from their mistakes.
Given the choice between more concentration camps and Joe Biden, I have little doubt about my enthusiasm for voting.
There are, of course, contrarians in every movement. In this time of social media dominated discourse, they may seem to have an outsized influence. They certainly are the darlings of troll-bot armies, regardless of sponsor.
And we can look for Never-Trumpers dreaming of a closet conservative to join the noise, as is the case with Max Boot’s diatribe against Senator Elizabeth Warren in the Washington Post. (Spoiler alert: the deficit will suddenly become important again.)
But when the rubber hits the road and it comes time to campaign and get out the vote, these types lack the political fortitude to make their case in face to face encounters.
A good example of this can be found looking back at efforts to elect a Democrat in the 49th Congressional District in 2018.
Supporters of one of the candidates who failed to make the cut in the primary vowed to stay home on election day and/or proclaimed eventual winner Mike Levin too weak of a candidate to win in the general election. They also promised to primary the Democrat should he win.
The results of the general election weren’t even close, with now-Congressman Mike Levin winning by 13 points. While the GOP is expected to put significant energy into trying to win back the seat in 2020, there is no Democrat with name recognition even interested in running against Levin.
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On the national stage, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders was the first of 17 Democratic presidential candidates to endorse the pledge circulated by Indivisible promising to actively work for whoever becomes the nominee. (Interestingly enough, Biden is among the 6 that haven’t signed.)
We must defeat Donald Trump. The first step is a primary contest that produces a strong Democratic nominee. The second step is winning the general election. We will not accept anything less. To ensure this outcome, I pledge to:
Make the primary constructive. I’ll respect the other candidates and make the primary election about inspiring voters with my vision for the future.
Rally behind the winner. I’ll support the ultimate Democratic nominee, whomever it is — period. No Monday morning quarterbacking. No third-party threats. Immediately after there’s a nominee, I’ll endorse.
Do the work to beat Trump. I will do everything in my power to make the Democratic Nominee the next President of the United States. As soon as there is a nominee, I will put myself at the disposal of the campaign.
Hundreds of local chapters have also signed a similar pledge, as have hundreds of thousands of other activists.
Here in San Diego, two of the largest Indivisible chapters will be announcing a merger this weekend at an event in Logan Heights. Downtown and Central will become San Diego Indivisible Persist.
(Disclosure: I am a supporter of the new group and participated in discussions leading to the merger, so of course I’m giving it a shameless plug)
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The other excuse for Democrats losing the 2020 election being marketed by pundits and talking heads is electability.
What a load of crap. Remember who was leading the GOP primary polls at this point in 2016? Donald Trump wasn’t even close.
(Via Jen Hayden at Daily Kos)
As Maurice Mitchell recently wrote for Prism, let’s start being honest about what “electability” really means.
To political pundits and the press: I invite you to swap the word “electability” with “white;” “viability” with “well-funded by large-dollar donors;” and “likable” with “male.” Maybe then we’ll have a news cycle in which a politician who reinforces racist or sexist norms is the one deemed unelectable. At the very least we’ll live in a media environment where we are fully transparent about the biases that have kept progressives, women, people of color and other underrepresented communities out of the halls of power for a generation.
The first Democratic Presidential Primary Debates are set for June 26, & 27, to be broadcast on NBC, MSNBC, and Telemundo at 6pm Pacific Daylight Time.
With 10 Democrats appearing each night, it’s gonna be a cattle call. You should watch it anyway. With friends. Listen to what they have to say. Talk about it. Don’t let some asshole tell you who’s “electable.”
From NBCNews:
Night One will feature, from left to right: de Blasio; Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio; former Housing Secretary Julián Castro; Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey; Warren; O'Rourke; Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota; Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii; Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington; and Delaney.
Night Two will have, from left to right: Williamson; Hickenlooper; Yang; Buttigieg; Biden; Sanders; Sen. Kamala Harris of California; Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York; Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado; and Swalwell.
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Today’s Thought:
https://twitter.com/TheGoodTomi/status/1141486473805475841
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