The Democratic Party can compromise on principles to win but it cannot be a cult

[La Lioness Priyanka]

I, and many Democrats have always stated that party purism does not work. Brooklyn and rural Alabama requires different democrats.

However, what we cannot have is a fucking cult. So we cannot hear for months on end to end centrist democrats like Joe Manchin (who by the way votes with democrats 80% of the time ),but on the other hand champion Heath Mello, because one of them is supported by sanders and the other is not.

That is not sustainable, that is the building of a cult. A cult where someone is acceptable if sanders endorses but not if he doesn't.

For months we got lectured that democrats were too centrist, only to be told now that centrism is needed in some districts, and nothing changed barring the endorsement of sanders.

This argument lacks any kind of internal consistency and coherence and is not building a party, but seems to be building a cult where the say so of one man makes things go from unacceptable to completely necessary.

[Kahuna7]

1. ...

[La Lioness Priyanka]

6. Thanks!

[lpbk2713]

2. I couldn't agree with you more.

The mindset of "either you're with us you're against us" has cost Dems numerous
elections. We need to learn how to compromise and how to find the middle ground.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

5. Lol. Ok.

[sheshe2]

4. K&R

Thank you Pri~

[La Lioness Priyanka]

7. Welcome hon!

[bettyellen]

8. those throwingDems under the bus are doing Putins bidding at this point - useful idiots.

[m-lekktor]

21. one of the signs of a cult is stifling criticism of leaders.

so I find your post about "throwing DEMS under the bus" in a thread using a cult analogy ironic/amusing.

[bettyellen]

23. LOL- that's if I was defending one person- unless you think the Dems are a cult? I can't imagine

Where that idea would come from- they are a very diverse coalition. There's nothing cult like about defending a majority of your chosen political party. Singling out one person is quite different.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

36. Lol

[BainsBane]

9. There is something odd about complaining about the center

while arguing right-wing positions like abandoning women's rights.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

10. Very curious, no

[loyalsister]

11. I have avoided this argument

but I really think it is worthwhile to point out that the difference in influence of these politicians is relevant to the conversation. Ignoring that factor in order to forward what is essentially a purity argument is intellectualy dishonest.
This isn't about the Bernie vs. Democrats pettiness. It's about getting voters to vote for Democrats. I understand this because those of us who are politically active here have to accept that there are anti-choice Democrats in the state legislature. But, when it comes to health care, housing, and basic equity issues they are reliable.

If it were the governor or US senators, it would obviously be a deal breaker. But, getting over a severe flaw when there are so many other important factors to consider is painful but necessary to keep Democrats in some districts.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

16. Mayors and governors have a huge impact in people's lives

Cuomo and de Blasio have a lot more influence in my life than most senators do

[loyalsister]

19. You wouldn't be from NY would you?

Manchin affects the lives of people outside of WV because he votes on federal policies. Thus, it is reasonable that some people outside of WV are critical.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

25. Manchin voted with Dems 80 percent and is from a bright red state

Those who want to primary Manchin are truly dumb.

But those who want to primary Manchin but totally think mello is great, are hypocrites

[radical noodle]

12. Excellent!

A great critique on what's going on. Jim Jones also had a cult with an economic message.

[ehrnst]

13. He could draw crowds. (nt)

[radical noodle]

29. Yes, and had great refreshments

for them as well.

[JHan]

14. Succinctly stated :)

[Lucky Luciano]

15. I still love Bernie, but I also think he stepped in a pile of poop with Mello.

Endorsing Mello was beneath him.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

18. Glad he did, if only to watch his supporters defend the importance of compromise

It's been funny.

[ehrnst]

32. Yes, "don't let the perfect be the enemy of better."

Where have we heard that before....

[JI7]

38. i don't think support for Mello was the problem as much as his response to Ossoff

[Hekate]

17. KnR, Lioness

[m-lekktor]

20. and then there is the crowd who find reason to go after and relentlessly attack anybody

associated with Bernie , who complain about purism and then become purists themselves whenever it happens to be somebody Bernie supports!

[mac56]

24. THIS

[La Lioness Priyanka]

26. Lol ok

[George II]

22. Someone the other day lectured that since the Democratic Party lost 1,000 seats in recent years...

...at all levels of government, the Party needs to move left. I asked where the bulk of the candidates who won were positioned vs. the Democratic candidates, to their left or to their right. The expected answer was to the Democrats' right.

So, I followed with the question "well, if Democrats are losing to candidates that are to their right, how can moving even further to the left win more seats?"

Sadly, I didn't get an answer.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

39. they never seem to have an answers as to why russ feingold lost. or zephyr teachout.

[TNNurse]

27. Excellent point.

I am sure there is someone with whom I agree 100%. However, I am almost 68 and have not yet met that person, not even the guy I married 38 years ago.

[mcar]

28. So odd that some who call for primarying

any Dem who voted to approve Drumpf's cabinet, but we have to welcome and endorse anti-choicers.

[ehrnst]

33. or voted against a single symbolic amendment despite a stellar progressive career... (nt)

[mcar]

34. Yes

[Gothmog]

30. I do not support remaking the Democratic Party into a cult based on the personalty of one person

[lunamagica]

31. Excellent post!

[comradebillyboy]

35. Another excellent post...nt

[La Lioness Priyanka]

37. kicking for tuesday cultists