Can You Settle For A Candidate Like Conor Lamb -- IF THAT WHAT IT TAKES - To Regain The U.S. House.

[LovingA2andMI]

Last edited Wed Mar 14, 2018, 12:49 AM - Edit history (1)

Conor Lamb is Pro-Life, Gun-Friendly With Reasonable Restrictions and Fiscally Conservative. In MANY Congressional Districts Across The Nation, It Will Take A Conor Lamb Like Candidate to Win Against Any Given Republican.

Can You Settle For This Type of DEMOCRATIC Candidate - If It What It Takes To Win The U.S. House?

Link to tweet

46 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Time expired
	Yes, If This Would Make The #BlueWave Take Back The U.S. House
	43 (93%)
	No Way Ever! The Candidate Would Have To Be Ultra-Liberal Or Not Get My Vote
	0 (0%)
	Not Sure, Would Have To Study The Candidates' Position
	3 (7%)
	Would Make Sure This Type Of Candidate Is Primaried By A Liberal Candidate, Even If The Democrats Lose The Seat As A Result
	0 (0%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

[msongs]

1. sorta depends on whether or not he actually wins. nt

[BoneyardDem]

13. A far left candidate could not have created a horse race in this PA election

[Dulcinea]

64. This.

There are a lot of old-school Catholics in that area. They believe in helping the poor and less fortunate, & they're not gay bashers, but they're not what most people would consider progressive.

[Hoyt]

2. To a point. Draw the line at racism, hatred, warmongering, bashing poor, and a few other things. N/t

[wasupaloopa]

7. So if the repub wins you have all of those!

It makes no sense to throw your vote away like that

[TeamPooka]

33. Yes. If a racist or sexist is going to hold the seat contested it will have to be a Republican.

That's what our party is about.
So if we are going to get beat by a racist so be it, but the racist that wins isn't going to be a Democrat damn it.
Basic values are not for sale.

[Hoyt]

50. Point is, I can settle for a candidate like Lamb if that is what it takes to get someone who

will at least listen to the Democratic point of view. I don't think he is a racist, warmonger, poor basher, etc. And, I bet he will temper some of right leaning views when it comes down to it.

The key words in the OP are "IF THAT IS WHAT IT TAKES" in a solid red district. I believe that is what we faced yesterday.

[LonePirate]

3. Majority is important for two reasons: Committee chairs (investigations) & stopping R legislation.

Any legislation we pass as the House majority party will likely be blocked in the Senate due to the filibuster or will be vetoed by 45. However, we can turn over every damn leaf with the Russia/election investigations and we can put an end to damaging legislation being passed into law by the Republicans. In essence, we can stop the bleeding to a degree.

[Wounded Bear]

4. I will never be a single issue voter...

[wasupaloopa]

5. Yes we must get back into the majority

[Still In Wisconsin]

6. I wish we could find a few more candidates like this in Wisconsin. n/t

[eleny]

8. You can arm twist your own easier when you have the majority

It's a no brainer.

[LovingA2andMI]

9. In Michigan...

We will NEED some Connor (or Carol) Lamb type of candidates to take back Republican Seats Congressionally Mid/West & Up North Michigan. Period. So yes, if need be, this voter can live with it.

[sacto95834]

10. Depends on the District

If this is who the District supports, yes. They should always have a variety of Dem candidates, but if this is who they send, I believe in the big tent party.

This always assume a decent, non-racist crazy; yes we do have some in our party. But as long as they are willing to compromise and respect other Democrats, they are welcome.

[BoneyardDem]

11. He is personally (Catholic) against abortion. We don't know about legislation

....do we?

[pnwmom]

42. He is like Biden, Tim Kaine, the Kennedys and other Catholic Dems -- he is personally opposed

BUT supports each woman's right to choose for herself.

[treestar]

46. That is pro choice, so the OP is incorrect on that.

It is how they will vote that counts.

[pnwmom]

47. Right. The OP is wrong. All that matters is their public position

not their personal religious views.

[BoneyardDem]

71. I wasn't sure how to read the op....seemed passive aggressive, maybe

But it's so hard to tell on a discussion bb

[BoneyardDem]

70. That is exactly how legislation should be done

They are not elected to represent themselves but the constituency.

[PA Democrat]

52. He stated unequicovally that he supports a woman's right to choose twice during the debates.

That jackass Saccone had the gall to lecture Lamb on his morality for supporting choice.

[BoneyardDem]

73. It's as I thought, thank you for confirming

It's that type of thinking that leads to better pg prevention legislation, rather that after the fact punishment.

[regnaD kciN]

12. Yes, but it's a Catch-22...

...we may need those candidates to get a majority, but, once they're in Congress, they may block us from being able to achieve anything more than a watered-down version of our agenda. (Case in point: the "Blue Dogs" in 2009-10 who made the bailout, ACA, and pretty much the entire Obama agenda much less effective than they could and should have been -- for example, without that group, the ACA might have been Medicare-for-all.)

By contrast, when the Republicans gain a majority, it's one of True Believers who will vote in lockstep for the entire conservative agenda. Go figure.

[radius777]

17. Repubs have their moderates also,

mainly in the Senate, ie McCain, Collins, and others who blocked the atrocious healthcare bill the other day.

I get what you're saying though.

[radius777]

14. Of course, he's no Zell Miller.

Lamb is a pro-choice moderate who is on board with most Dem policies.

The important thing is he's a rising star, and could someday run for higher office, where he'd be 'free' to take more liberal positions.

[phleshdef]

15. I remember when the republicans took the house in 2010 by mostly beating blue dogs.

And there were some happy ass people here proclaiming progressive triumph. I think a LOT of those folks are posting on JPR now. Fuck them and everything they actually stand for. I'm a progressive. I'm part of the left. But I'm not a god damn, out of touch idiot who can't realize that we only ever win with a wide tent.

[FakeNoose]

16. Conor Lamb is pro-choice

Please check your facts before making a poll. Lamb is Catholic and he has stated that he's against abortion as a "personal choice." It doesn't mean that he is anti-choice, and the same is true for Senator Bob Casey.

[LovingA2andMI]

18. Personally, He Is Pro-Life...

That is a FACT. Now how he will vote, is to be determined. Either way, the point is -- is their ROOM for a Personal Pro-Life Candidate in the party. That is the question and the poll, stands.

[radius777]

20. He has the Biden/Kaine position

the former VP and VP candidate.. so I don't know what you're talking about... of course there is room as long as he's politically pro-choice (which Lamb has stated).

Bill Clinton won many conservative red areas with his moderate 'safe, legal and rare' position on abortion (which is actually the position that most voters across the country support).

We either stand for choice/women's rights or we don't; so while there is room for moderation on the pro-choice position, I would say that there is no room for anti-choice candidates in the Dem party.

[LovingA2andMI]

24. I.E. -- Personally Pro-Choice Does Not Mean A Candidate Will POLITICALLY Vote Against Choice...

#FYI

[LanternWaste]

61. Keep digging in.

Keep digging in. You're doing rather well considering, by George.

[EffieBlack]

32. Yes - he's anti-abortion but pro-choice

As are many people, including me.

[pnwmom]

43. He has ALREADY said he is pro-choice, just like Joe Biden. nt

[pnwmom]

48. No, that is NOT a FACT. His political position is PRO-CHOICE

regardless of his personal religious views that favor life. He is no more "pro-life" than Joe Biden or Tim Kaine and they both have strong pro-choice records. They are not pushing their personal religious views into the public sphere, which is what "pro-life" people seek to do.

[Zambero]

66. That's part of being pro-choice

Recognizing the right of others to make personal choices without interference from churches, single-issue activists, or politicians. Pro-choice does not necessarily mean pro-abortion.

[ecstatic]

22. +1. nt

[Historic NY]

19. I'll take 10 Lambs.....

Here's a few more that can win...

[link:http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/03/democrats-can-run-the-connor-lamb-strategy-over-and-over.html|]

[LeftInTX]

21. In deep red Texas, they get rejected by Democrats.

[ecstatic]

23. Of course! trump & the GOP are completely out of control

and need to be reined in by any means possible.

[GulfCoast66]

25. Why are you calling him pro life?

He has strongly stated he supports a woman’s right to choose. That is pro choice in my book.

Do you call Vice President Biden pro life?

[EffieBlack]

34. That's actually accurate

The anti-choice crowd has co-opted the term but they're not pro-life - they're pro-fetus.

[JI7]

37. not even that. i would say they are ANTI Choice

[Exotica]

39. This

Plus a million

[MaryMagdaline]

26. He won't cut CHIPS, SS, Medicare

Not a sadistic bone in his body. Strong support for public schools.

We are fighting a war. He has skills.

[NoMoreRepugs]

27. He certainly checks enough boxes for me.

[Hekate]

28. Not just Yes, but Hell Yes

[Olafjoy]

29. Yes!!

A Conor Lamb candidate would be competitive in Arizona

[AgadorSparticus]

30. Why is this even a question? Fascism is no fun.

[smirkymonkey]

31. I didn't realize he was pro life, but he spent his time in the Marine Corps prosecuting cases

of rape and sexual assault so I don't believe he is anti-woman.

"Lamb completed his active duty service in 2013 as a Captain and joined the Marine Corps Reserves. In a high-profile case in 2017, he prosecuted and convicted a Marine officer who had lied under oath and to The Washington Post about a sexual misconduct case."

Also, even though he is personally against abortion, he respects the right to choose: "Lamb personally opposes abortion but backs the Supreme Court's decision legalizing it. "Once you make something a right, it's a right. And it's like that for a reason," he told HuffPost. Lamb told the Weekly Standard he doesn't support a ban on abortion at 20 weeks"

I can deal with that over a republican Dominionist, can you?

[Cha]

38. The OP is wrong.. Conor Lamb is

politically pro choice like Joe Biden.. personally, he is "pro-life".. and in his case as a Dem.. it really is pro-life.

Oh, I see you already know that.. Smirky

Conor Lamb’s Campaign for Trump Voters in PA-18

snip//

But Lamb’s ability to find common ground has also left him vulnerable to Republicans who call him “two-faced.” A devout Catholic, Lamb is personally pro-life but politically pro-choice. A Marine Captain who served as a prosecutor in Okinawa, he is ardently pro-Second Amendment—one of his campaign videos features a clip of him firing an AR-15—and yet, as a former federal prosecutor who has dealt with the mayhem caused by armed criminals, he’s campaigning to strengthen background checks. More superficially, he’s a vocal advocate for the coal industry and for natural gas who has a worm farm in his kitchen and grows potatoes in his garden.

https://www.newyorker.com/news/dispatch/conor-lambs-campaign-for-trump-voters-in-pa-18

[smirkymonkey]

40. Hey Cha!

It's a great day, isn't it?

[Cha]

41. It's been

nerve-wracking.. So grateful Conor doing so well.. I can't wait until it's officially over!


Smirky

[Cha]

45. For you, Ms Smirky..

Link to tweet

Not sure who's saying that?

[smirkymonkey]

60. I have read about him and I am confident that he is a good Democrat

through and through, but thank you for that!

[NewJeffCT]

67. I believe it's not just Biden

but Tim Kaine as well is similar - he is personally pro-life, but is pro-choice politically. I believe Harry Reid was the same as well.

[Cha]

74. Thanks, Right.. I just thought

of Biden 'cause I saw a pic of them together in PA.

[DFW]

35. We have no choice. Remember what he was running for: the House of WHAT again?

REPRESENTATIVES.

I.e. to represent his particular district. If that's the kind of people that make up his district, then someone like Lamb is the best we can hope for from the people of that district. If someone like Saccone is the alternative, holy shit yes, give me Lamb instead. He is no idiot. He can meet with the people he represents, hold town halls, do what Gabby Giffords used to do. Go out and meet with your constituents, talk to them, show them why going left will be far better for them and their families than going right. But you can't do that as the guy who lost the election. You CAN do that as their duly elected representative in Washington.

Remember how Al Franken won his first Senate election by a few votes? He did a great job, communicated with the people of his state, and breezed to re-election. If Lamb maintains his lead, and takes this seat, then he has the chance to do the same. But the seat must be won in the first place, and someone to the left of Lamb wouldn't have had a ghost of a chance in THAT district. The people have to change their minds first before their representative in the House will. This is a start. I may have this wrong, but heard the Republicanss dumped $10 million into this race for Saccone. That's close to $100 per vote. In a presidential race, that's $6 billion. I'm betting that not even the Kochs are willing to ante up THAT kind of money to buy an election.

[JI7]

36. That's What It Would Take for Adam Schiff to be Chairman and Control over Intelligence Committee

Right ?

[pnwmom]

44. He's not "pro-life" he's PRO-CHOICE. His personal religious view is irrelevant

because he has already said he supports each woman's right to choose for herself.

[NCTraveler]

49. It will take getting behind the primary winner.

People should know that by now. Painting candidates as too far to the left to win in the general, before and during a primary, is a losing strategy.

Get behind the Democrat who wins the primary.

Damn straight I’m ok with Lamb. Not exactly my cup of tea but Saccone fucking sucks.

[bullimiami]

51. Ill take sane even with some disagreements.

[dsp3000]

53. Yes, and for 2020

i'm a democrat from PA. the party as a whole NEEDS to appeal to the center. appealing only to the ultra liberal wing of the party will drown out the rest of the reasonable voices in the democratic party and make undecideds vote republican. I think someone like this guy is exactly what we need in 2020 win the presidency in a landslide. moderates and center right repubs with a brain who want trump out will vote for someone like this

[zipplewrath]

54. What's his NRA rating?

Quite honestly, from what I've seen of his positions so far, they are only slightly to the right of most progressive positions. I think my current Senator (Nelson) is further right than this guy. But of course his actual votes will matter most. I wanna know how he expresses his "pro-life" position.

[beachbum bob]

55. no wide eyed liberal could have won in this district EVER

and lamb was successful in not allowing the republican machine to paint him as a Nancy Pelosi wide eye liberal and that is why he won. We democrats must NOT have litmus tests for our candidates. The candidate must be suited to win where they are running. What holds democrats together are the basic beliefs of govt helping those who need help, protecting our safety nets, insuring all kids can have the opportunity to succeed, its about a progressive tax system where those who have the most to lose pay the most in taxes, its defending our environment, its about being the beacon for all who wish to come to america to better their lives....its not anti-gun...its not pro-abortion...its not not defending our country.....

all those jill stein voters did not care about our democratic values that they were so easy to allow trump to trash...all those democratic voters who sat out the 2016 election rather than stand up against the trump chaos that is trashing all that has made america, america....turned their backs on our values

we must continue to shame them....as we take back our country. they can chose to help us win or continue to support trump and republican destruction of america

[dsp3000]

56. Excellent post.

Excellent post.

[GreenEyedLefty]

57. It's not "settling." I read his positions on all of those issues and he sounds very reasonable.

Regarding his being "pro life": As long as he helps keep abortion safe and legal, you can call him whatever you want.

[grantcart]

72. +1

[el_bryanto]

58. The qualifier "If that is what it takes" is key I guess.

Those who are less excited about this type of move would argue that it isn't necessary to move to the center right to win elections.

But it's good that Lamb won - certainly that's a good sign.

Bryant

[rock]

59. Yes

Any Democratic candidate is better than any republican turd!

[NotASurfer]

62. Reliable vote to impeach

First qualification anyone must possess

[IluvPitties]

63. Conor Lamb is a Democratic politician, so yes.

[Zambero]

65. The party that forsakes the middle will be in the minority

The GOP has swung so far right that they are boxed in by their own warped ideology. Running on a phony populist platform, with nothing to show for it other than a massive tax scam bill and attempts to decimate health care, is not setting well with American workers who expected more. Come November Republicans will pay a heavy price for this.

[llmart]

69. Your subject line sums it up perfectly.

n/t

[workinclasszero]

68. Trump and his traitor party are a very real threat to freedom and democracy

We need every hand on deck to stop them.

We need friends and allies even if we don't agree 100% on all issues, we will be united together to STOP TRUMP and rid this country of his fascist menace!