Well, the bickering between the Pragmatic and Liberal Progressive Wings of the Democratic Party did not take long to come out into the open.
Less than 24 hours after President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris gave their victory speeches emphasizing unity and moving the country forward, Democratic House Representatives of both wings of the party just had to go on the morning talk shows and start sniping at one another.
This actually started on Thursday when Virginia Representative Abigail Spanberger, at a meeting of the House Democratic Caucus, blamed the slogans of “Defund the Police” and “Socialism” were the cause of the defeat of about half a dozen centrist Democrat Incumbents.
Never mind that no Democrat ran on defund the police or socialism.
These comments were met with pushback by Representatives Ilhan Omar, and Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez on CNN yesterday (Sunday).
That was followed by rebuttals by Centrists like Pennsylvania Representative Conor Lamb and Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan (in an interview this morning on CNN.)
This open quarreling between the wings of the Democratic Party less than 24 hours after the calling of the Presidential race for their ticket is counterproductive and will only serve to aid and comfort the opposition.
When I was growing up, my parents instilled in me the idea that differences within the family stayed within the family.
Instead of racing for the nearest talk or news show, Democrats should meet behind closed doors and:
- Refine the policy blueprints to meet the dynamic of the likely reality (a Democratic House and a divided Senate with increased Democratic seats but either a majority based on Kamala Harris as the tie-breaker or a small Republican Majority.)
- Strategize a game plan to get Democratic Priorities addressed through legislation and Executive Orders.
- Learn from what went right and wrong in the 2020 campaign, build on that, and plan for Democratic gains at state and local levels in 2022.
Those three steps will best move the country forward.
Not rushing to CNN and MSNBC and letting out the dirty linen.
Come together Democrats and fight to move the country forward.
Stop fighting each other.
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This is a battle for influence in the Biden Admin more than an argument meant for consumption of the electorate. I suspect that we will have to use interim appointments rather than confirmed appointments for many positions, which is due to McConnell’s reckless and unprecedented threat to block any ‘Progressive’ appointments. Because of this, I see the DNC wing’s nonsense as aiding and abetting the GOP’s blockade of the Biden agenda.
These “centrists” are the Republican wing of the Democratic Party, i.e. Republican Lite. They really needs to be primaried in 2022. If we only had a DCCC & DSCC who stayed out of Democratic primaries and wholeheartedly supported the primary winners, the Democratic Party just might be closer to what it’s supposed to stand for.
I would like a little time to enjoy the win for a bit before the sides line up, too.
But calling one side “pragmatic” is a might bit incendiary.
Some would say that the liberal progressives calling for a green new deal because the climate is about to drastically alter life on earth are being pragmatic.
I could make the case for another dozen progressive liberal causes.
Pragmatic meaning politically pragmatic is one thing, but the designation is a bit subjective.
It’s like starting a fight just with the title.
That was not the intent.