As I watched Rachel Maddow’s closing segment, my blood boiled. More so than ever, it is clear that we need to clean house in the National Democratic Party leadership.
Rachel Maddow and Joy-ann Reid get it
Rachel Maddow’s last segment points out a major problem within the Democratic Party, a lack of vision and a blindness to the clear path forward. Several seats were vacated when the congresspeople were appointed to serve in the Trump administration.
According to Roll Call,
At a panel here Thursday during the minority party’s issues retreat, Rep. Denny Heck of Washington, who chairs the DCCC’s Recruitment committee, said he would remain realistic, but optimistic, about the potential for Democrats to fill the positions long held by the opposing party. The four seats are the ones held by Republicans picked to serve in the administration of President Donald Trump.
“The starting point is that we have to all acknowledge that those seats are all held by Republicans and they’ve been held by Republicans for quite some time,” Heck said.
Tom Price, the congressman from Georgia-06, recently got confirmed as President Trump’s Health and Human Services Secretary. While Price won his election by +23% margin, Donald Trump only won with a 1.5% margin. That means the district must at least be contestable.
According to Rachel, there is no Democratic Party activity in Price’s district to contest it. This lack of engagement demonstrates a complete lack of vision.
Since the election of Donald Trump, the masses have mobilized. The crowds seen throughout the country are organic, not astroturf. They along with many of those people who voted for Republicans are now scared as the Republican Party displays its recklessness on an hourly basis. Americans understand they have much to fear and much to lose.
It is for that reason that DNC members but bring in new blood into leadership, specifically Keith Ellison for DNC chair. New, young, Progressive leadership will try new tactics and not rely on the same ideas that have failed Democrats for the last few decades.
Rachel Maddow and Joy-ann Reid get it. Their ending dialogue said it all.
“Democrats, if you are not moving forward right now, you are losing ground,” Rachel said. “Good evening Joy.”
“Good evening Rachel,” Joy-ann replied. “You know you almost wish it was like, I don’t know, an opposition party that knew how to do politics or something.”
“I think the Democratic Party is about to find that their base is their own opposition party,” Rachel said. “Which is going to make them do politics.”
“Isn’t that amazing?” Joy-ann replied. “The are being driven, literally dragged by their voters to do the right thing. And they are going, ‘Oh, you want us to fight. We will get on that.'”