Democrats in Split-Screen: The Base Wants It All. The Party Wants to Win.

[yallerdawg]

UNITY!

Source: New York Times, by Alexander Burns and Jonathan Martin

Democrats are facing an open breach between the demands of their political base and the strict limits of their power, as liberal activists dream of transforming the health care system and impeaching President Trump, while candidates in hard-fought elections ask wary independent voters merely for a fresh chance at governing.

*****

It may be essential for Democrats to reconcile the party’s two clashing impulses if they are to retake the House of Representatives in 2018. In a promising political environment, a drawn-out struggle over Democratic strategy and ideology could spill into primary elections and disrupt the party’s path to a majority.

*****

In a special election that has become the most expensive House race in history, Mr. Ossoff, a 30-year-old former congressional aide, presented himself as essentially anti-ideological. Greeting suburban parents near a playground and giving a pep talk to volunteers, he stressed broadly popular policies like fighting air and water pollution and preserving insurance coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.

*****

The tension between Mr. Ossoff’s message and the appetites of the national Democratic base has not appeared to hinder his bid for Congress. He has raised more than $23 million, an astonishing sum, largely in small online donations from Democrats seeking to put a dent in the Republicans’ House majority. Several polls over the last week showed Mr. Ossoff leading his Republican opponent, Karen Handel, though both parties agree that the race remains a tossup.

*****

Read it all at: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/11/us/democrats-midterm-elections.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0

[murielm99]

1. I don't see any tension between Ossoff's message

and the national base. We all want the same things. We may vary from region to region in what we prioritize, we may be a big tent, but this is ridiculous.

I am tired of seeing articles about how divided the Democrats are. I have never seen more unity and activism, not even in the 1960's. An article like this is designed to cast doubt and hurt Ossoff's chances for a win.

[Squinch]

3. Great minds. I was writing essentially the same thing at the same time.

[riversedge]

4. Agree, I think the msm is trying to show Serious disaray within the Dem Party. crap and boring!

[yallerdawg]

6. What a relief!

After the 2016 presidential election, I was worried that we learned nothing!

As long as we're all on the same page, everything should be hunky-dory!

[ehrnst]

14. You'd think that would be common sense. (nt)

[Squinch]

2. Essentially, the message here is that there are people in the D party who want what they want,

but compromise is necessary if they are going to win seats and take back power.

Duh.

In what situation, in what political party, has that ever NOT been the case?

And yet, true to form both here in DU and in the press, it's being presented as a big schism within the Democratic party, a big problem for Democrats, proof of the essentially flawed nature of the Democratic party.

I am so freaking tired of that bullshit.

[betsuni]

23. +1

[mcar]

5. NYT obviously doesn't understand what "base" means

The base of the Democratic party is women and POC, not Sanders supporters. The entire article is based on a false premise.

[bettyellen]

7. Was going to say this too

[mcar]

8. I just can't tolerate these ridiculous

"analyses" anymore.

[bettyellen]

9. They ignored Hillary's policy talk all last year and claimed she had none... now they ignore the

Majority of voters. While we watch them slober over those ignorant haters. WatF?

[mcar]

11. It's galling

[bettyellen]

12. This is why so many women are leading the resistance and running for office !

[mcar]

13. Yes we are!

So good to see.

[bettyellen]

15. Any word on your friend? I'm hoping for a happy ending.

[Amaryllis]

10. Dems need to quit having this kind of discussion and deal with the paperless, unauditable

republican owned Diebold voting machines in GA and other places, and Interstate Crosscheck, and all the other R voter suppression efforts if they really want to start winning.

[Susan Calvin]

20. This. nt

[Alice11111]

16. Win

[yallerdawg]

17. A large amount of Ossoff's campaign contibutions have come from California.

They most definitely want to win!

[Alice11111]

18. I sent mine in from NM

[yallerdawg]

21. This election could stop the Republicans dead in their tracks!

If a Democrat takes Newt Gingrich's old stomping ground - nowhere is safe.

Thank you for YOUR contribution!

[Alice11111]

24. Your welcome

[guss]

19. slum lords

they redistrict so much and have such a hate radio that no one who is good and the best will never fill a role as
a great candidate. they just put their best daddy boy slacker forward and all the red hats love em.

[Skittles]

22. translation: women, black folk, gay folk, get thee to the back of the line