Many continue to live in 2016 questioning whether the Progressive Wing of the Democratic Party is at fault for Hillary Clinton’s loss. Most Progressives I know dusted off their loss in the primaries and went all in for her. In a time when the country seems ripe for a Progressive candidate, the question is, can one expect Centrists and Corporate Democrats to vote for the most progressive candidate.
If one starts to observe the assault on Progressives by the media, Centrists, and Corporatist Democrats, it is not easy to ascertain. I am around so many good Centrists Democrats who believe that Progressive have horns. I think it is that they mostly feel the country is not where we are at and that we could bring the whole thing down and cause the reelection of Donald Trump.
Will we get the support from Democratic Centrists
Corporatists and Neoliberals are pushing that narrative and it is false. Most polls indicate that Americans are more Progressive than the media and most in the Center are articulating. Recently I wrote the piece, “No need for Democrats to fear their Progressive wing, join it” that I wish all would read.
Assuming that candidates who are in tune with the wants and needs of three-fifths of Americans are unelectable is not only wrong but lazy. That is the problem with our politics today. Too many ivory-tower-supposedly-Liberal pundits are distorting or articulating false narratives that tend to stick. As I mentioned in my article “A warning to the Democratic Party: You cannot win like this,” the American people are already with us.
At least three-fifths of Americans support the following.
* A federally funded healthcare system that provides everyone with insurance.
* Unions should have the same or more influence than they have now.
* Limits on campaign spending.
* Support for renewable energy and climate change.
* Reproductive rights of women.
* LGBT rights.
* Higher minimum wage.
* Legalized marijuana.
* Free childcare.
* A path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.There is no need for rank & file Democrats to fear that the Progressive wing of the Democratic Party will kill the Blue Wave. In fact, the converse is true. The excitement is the belief that we just may be at the point where real Progressive policies can be realized after the current shift to policies that represent a clear and present danger to the personal economies of most Americans.
Just like NASA uses the gravitational field of other celestial bodies to slingshot probes in different directions to use its propulsion resources effectively, we must use the attacks by both the Right and anyone else to accentuate Progressive positions and values. Those who oppose us will get all the media platforms they want in an attempt at marginalization. At times they will bring us to their appearances with the expectation to either put us on the defensive or to ridicule us
I explained in the post “The five issues Democrats and Progressives must push to win 2018 midterms,” we must have a simple message at the tip of our tongues ready to tell constituents what Democrats will do for them.
Here is the bottom line. I wrote this in a group where we had Democratic factions fighting.
I do not want to be presumptuous here. But I feel I must say this for what it is worth. The Democratic field is going to be huge. The absolute truth is that there is at least an 80% similarity on issues, even with the more neoliberal candidates. Democrats cover a wide spectrum, from very left like I am to what I call Republican-lite. Every gradation of Democrats running is better than what we’ve had. I may feel that what I think is best like every single Democrat believes as well.
It is my job, our job to make that case to convince others that our position is the preferred one. for us to get to our ultimate candidate. If you are making your case in anger or disdain for someone who is simply doing what you are as well, no one will be listening, just talking to thin air. If we want to win we better first listen, analyze, make/modify our case, and then move on. And when the primary is over, unite behind the choice. It is a democracy.
My concern is something I heard on Morning Joe when one of the panelists, Donny Deutsch, a purported Democrat & Liberal first said he would vote for Trump if a particular Democrat won the primary. Really. I’ve always made it clear I would be supporting the choice of Democrats. When Bernie lost in the 2016 primaries I made it clear at Daily KOS that I would be all-in to support Hillary and I worked my a$$ off for her.
I can sit and drink a cup of coffee with anyone who supports any candidate and still genuinely like the person. It is not hard to do that when one realizes that we live with people and not politicians. In fact, most politicians forget about us, the individual, soon after the election.
Politics, Democracy ain’t easy. I sure wish we did a better job teaching it in schools.
Let’s bite the bullet and do the right thing. Like I said in the video, it is now time to determine if the support will be there. If not, new coalition building must start early.