Democrats had big wins throughout the country this week. It was bigger than everyone expected. In fact, many feared that Democrats would lose the big one, the Virginia governorship. Progressives came out in droves.
It is likely the activation of the Progressive base by the various Progressives groups like Indivisible and others that sealed the Progressive success in these elections. Throughout the country, they have been relentless. Big money did not do it in 2016. And big money did not do it in 2017. Investment in the grassroots did. Daily Kos contributor and DNC member Chris Reeves wrote that that was the DNC’s modus operandi in Virginia.
- In Virginia, rather than TV, the DNC committed to more than $1.5M in field programs. This is something that state parties have asked for, funding for get out the vote programs over TV programming. While one election isn’t a pattern, let’s just say these results certainly help sell this.
- 100% of the money the DNC invested in Virginia went to organizers and technology tools for them. No TV. We engaged in hiring minority hiring practices to put more members of a community talking to their own communities.
One would think that the last election cycle would have illustrated that communication with the grassroots as opposed to a sea of money from millionaire and billionaire donors is more effective at getting people to the polls. A narrative that speaks to people’s conditions with solutions that solve their problem on a daily basis what they want. The answer always looks like a far left solution to the wealthy whether Democrat or Republican.
Polls show most Americans want Progressive policies, Medicare for all, Guaranteed Basic Income, Labor Unions, Pay It Forward Tuition, a Social Security one can live on, and more. These policies are considered far left even by some in the Democratic Party.
In a recent interview with on MSNBC with Stephanie Ruhle, the following exchange occurred with Stephen Cloobeck.
“When Democrats continue to say, ‘Down with the billionaires. We can’t stand the rich,’ said Stephanie Ruhle. “A lot of people want to be rich. So is it the right message that Democrats are going with?”
“It’s so effing wrong,” said Stephen Cloobeck. “I’ve talked to Schumer. I’ve talked to Wyden. I’ve talked to Pelosi. And I said if you use the term billionaires again, I’m done. Because it’s aspirational. I didn’t start with anything. Just penalize everyone that’s done well? We all want to do well. And we should be the party of doing well. We should be a party, of business and leadership. And it is very very disturbing when I hear the millionaire or billionaire word. And I told them to stop it. Knock it off.”
“Then are you worried that the Democratic Party is going too far to the left?” Ruhle asked.
“So much so it drives me nuts, Cloobeck responded. “So much so it would make me quit the party. And I’ve made it very clear I’ll cut your money off. And others will do the same.”
In other words, donors to the Democratic Establishment are telling the leaders of the Democratic Party to ignore the will of the people to maintain some middle ground advantageous to the few. And if the Democratic Party does not oblige, the wealthy donors will pack up and leave.
Stephanie Ruhle then continued her questioning based on a false premise.
“Right now there is an opportunity,” Ruhle said. “If Democrats lose for example in the state of Virginia. If that isn’t a wake up call, that the Democratic leadership needs to get together and say we’ve got to find a middle ground, because if the Democrats continue to go far to the left, you’ve got that whole group in the center that just aren’t going to go the way of Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders. And then you’re gonna fracture the party even more.”
The fracture within the Democratic Party has more to do with the leadership and the grassroots than with Democrats and Progressives in general. There are those who want to hold on to the middle because that is where the “Progressive” wealthy Establishment Democrats reside. Ironically, it is not that far away from where the Conservative wealthy Establishment Republicans live. It is the concept of the left rail and right rail being different but heading in the same direction.
The 2016 election proved that American don’t just want Left or Right rails. Their current economic and social conditions demand a derailment. A Progressive derailment is much more advantageous to the masses than a Right Wing derailment which would be the virtual enslavement of “the other,” people of color, women, the poor, gays, and many others.
The election of people of all types, political persuasions, and values is probative. It illustrates that the Progressive movement has the reach most activists knew it had.
Progressives do not need to fight what many refer to as the Establishment. They just need to replicate Virginia, New Jersey, Washington state, the elected that was not supposed to be electable, women, and more. Progressives must run for precinct chairs in their Democratic Primaries. Most importantly saturate the primaries with Progressives for local, state, and national offices.
Progressives must realize that winning is more effective than talking. The most recent election proves we are well on our way.