Depending on how you measure it, it's pretty much true that any Democrat is better than any Republican, even if just a bit better. That said, the idea that "any blue will do," is one of the worst narratives floating around Democratic politics. The Democratic Party is about to suffer its worst losses in many years-- maybe decades-- not because of Republicans but because of conservative Democrats who worked with Republicans to sabotage Biden's extremely modest-- and non-transformative, but life-saving-- Build Back Better agenda. McConnell knew that without Build Back Better, the Democrats would have nothing salient to campaign on for the midterms. Manchin and Sinema, particularly, did a better job for the GOP than they could have ever done if they switched parties.
There is never a circumstance where Blue America backs a conservative Democrat, not one who is anti-Choice, not one who is anti-immigrant, not one who is anti-gay, not one who refuses to back the legitimate aspirations of the working class, not one who is corrupted by corporate bribes, not one who is anti-union. You think that just describes Republicans? It describes Republicans and conservative Democrats from the Republican wing of the Democratic Party-- the Blue Dogs, the New Dems, the so-called Problem Solvers and No Labels jackasses.
Yesterday conservatism-- and, in the person of Kelly, combined with dismaying political cowardice-- inside the Democratic Party manifested itself in the sudden defeat of Biden's nominee for administrator of the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division, David Weil. Weil was backed by every other Democrat and opposed by every Republican. Manchin, Sinema and Kelly suddenly crossing the aisle ended the Weil's chances.
Weil’s defeat on the Senate floor is a major defeat for the Biden administration, which has prided itself on its labor agenda, and for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, as leaders typically do not move items if they do not have the votes to pass.
Shortly after the vote concluded, Senate HELP Chair Patty Murray issued a statement lamenting the failure of “an exceptionally qualified nominee with a long track record fighting to ensure workers get the wages they have earned.”
Weil’s critics have faulted him for Obama-era policy moves on issues like independent contractor classification, joint employment designations and overtime pay, making him one of President Joe Biden’s most polarizing labor-related nominees. Several groups have been applying pressure on [corrupt, far right] Democrats like Sinema in hopes of tanking Weil’s nomination.
The Senate HELP Committee deadlocked 11-11 on a vote last year to approve Weil. Lawmakers eventually voted to advance his nomination along party lines in January-- aided by the absence of Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) at the time.
Anti-union lobbyists celebrated the defeat yesterday and will, no doubt, continue showering Sinema, Manchin and Kelly with bribes in the form of campaign contributions. The anti-union groups had warned that Weil would implement sections of the pro-worker PRO Act, that conservatives have kept bottled up in the Senate. What they were especially worked up over was the likelihood that Weil would hold franchises (think McDonald’s, Domino's Burger King, KFC, Ace Hardware, Cick-fil-A, Marriott, Pizza Hut and 7-Eleven) responsible for actions taken by franchisees, as well as Weil's suspected intention to reclassify independent contractors as employees so that their workers could form unions.
In the immortal words of Georgia Democrat and two-term mayor of Columbus Teresa Tomlinson, "It’s fear that cripples the Democratic Party. Fear of our policies, fear of who we are, and fear of the Republicans. Yes, fear is what has politically cost us in the last many election cycles. One cannot lead if one is afraid. The thing about leadership is that people want their leaders to be brave. They care less about what you think on the issues than whether you have the moxie to fight for them and the strength of conviction to tell them what you really think."
You know what primaries are for? Replacing conservative Democrats with progressives, something the CPC almost never tries to do... (and is sometimes on the wrong side of). Blue America was founded in 2006 to help progressives defeat conservatives-- first in primaries and then in general elections. Congress is filled with members we helped win their first races, against conservative Democrats and against Republicans. We have a great list of candidates this cycle that we hope you'll take a look at here and contribute to. In many cases, the primaries are right around the corner: May 3 in Ohio and Indiana, May 17 in Oregon, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and North Carolina (where Erica Smith faces someone to the right of Joe Manchin), May 24 in Georgia, June 7 in California, Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, June 14 in Maine and Nevada, June 21 in Virginia, June 28 in Illinois, Colorado, Maryland, New York... Please click on teh 2022 Blue America congressional thermometer above and give what you can to the House candidates you support. (Senate candidates are here.)
"It’s fear that cripples the Democratic Party. Fear of our policies, fear of who we are, and fear of the Republicans..."
It's more fear that progressive policies will turn off the spigots of money from corporations and billionaires.
"You know what primaries are for? Replacing conservative Democrats with progressives..."
From the party's perspective, primaries are where they enforce the money's wishes among candidates and, thus, the party as best as they can. They apply the big money they get from corporations and billionaires to smother good candidates and promote boilerplate hapless worthless feckless corrupt neoliberal fascist pussy democrap candidates... a topic OFTEN covered (but less often comprehended) by DWT.