Dr. Eddie Glaude presents two reasons why Dems reluctant to create a filibuster carve-out for a voter bill to save our Democracy. One is not kind.
Dr. Eddie Glaude on filibuster
Professor Eddie Glaude never bites his tongue. He knows what he has to say, and he does it with the right tenor. He points out the real reason why Democrats so far have not created a carve-out for the filibuster to save our Democracy.
Nicolle Wallace first pointed out that the filibuster is not a constitutional law but a Senate norm. She said both Democrats and Republicans had created carve-outs for judges and other things they deemed important. One would think that saving our democracy should be more important.
“Where do you think the head of the Democrats are in their headspace,” Wallace asked. “About doing something abnormal to protect the right to vote?”
Dr. Eddie Glaude did not disappoint.
“I’m not sure, Nicolle. And I think there are two ways in which we could read this,” Dr. Eddie Glaude said. “And you used the word existential. I think for Republicans, given the data that Matt cited with regards to the changing demographics of the country, they view those demographics as an existential threat to the country. … They believe America should be a white nation. So they’re approaching the issue of voting in the ballot box as an existential question while many Democrats are approaching it as a procedural or process question. That’s the generous read.”
It was clear that Dr. Glaude does not believe that is the real reason.
“The more cynical read is that the voting, the “For The People Act” actually empowers voters across the board and would jeopardize Democrats’ political position. It would make insurgent candidacies even more likely because they could mobilize and actually get out the vote in very different — more people can vote, which means that politicians, no matter where you are on the political spectrum, would have to defend themselves. They have to defend their seats. So the cynical read — it’s not about Republicans, Democrats. It’s about politicians who are interested and invested in keeping their seats, and we have to understand that as one reason why some of these folk are hesitant, Nicolle, that’s the only reason I can jump, that’s the only conclusion I can come to because they’re saying one thing out of their mouths, and they’re doing another thing in terms of their practice.”
Glaude hits the nail on the head.