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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSwing district Democrats consider association with AOC toxic for reelection
https://www.yahoo.com/news/vulnerable-dems-fret-getting-shock-130031629.htmlShe should ask before sending cash to ppl who don't want it.
Autumn
(45,942 posts)brooklynite
(96,882 posts)campaigns don't sink or swim on a $5,000 contribution. But the damage will already be done.
Autumn
(45,942 posts)brooklynite
(96,882 posts)AZProgressive
(29,346 posts)I know how to counter their arguments better than some Democrats who forfeit and give in. Even before AOC Democrats were scared of GOP attack ads.
Autumn
(45,942 posts)that are elected in those swing districts Moderates should try doing that. It's supposed to be a big tent ya know.
brooklynite
(96,882 posts)...and aren't at risk of losing seats to Republicans.
Autumn
(45,942 posts)But we still support the moderates and they should do the same. If Progressives are not wanted on their team they should show their courage and convictions and tell us to get lost. I'm sure most Progressives would oblige them.
Demsrule86
(70,800 posts)primary Democratic held seats or run for seats with Democrats retiring.
Autumn
(45,942 posts)...and aren't at risk of losing seats to Republicans.
I was referring to my state, which is a heavy blue state that used to be Republican.
wellst0nev0ter
(7,509 posts)And they did it by embracing "socialism" and promising $2,000 checks.
Bettie
(16,835 posts)everyone is to say that the "moderates" are EVERYTHING and should be the only ones allowed to run in any race.
Yes. I am frustrated with the constant bashing of Progressive Democrats.
We're either part of the party or we aren't and someone needs to decide that. Fact is, neither progressive nor moderate can win without the other, so only serving one side isn't the answer either.
Autumn
(45,942 posts)Both are needed because for all the praise Republicans often get they are not going to become moderate Dems and help our side in what needs to be done. But one thing I'm sure of, moderate policies have us gotten us where we are at and moderate policies are not the solution to get us where we need to be.
Bettie
(16,835 posts)move in a progressive direction, which was rather surprising to me.
I like that he is willing to listen and willing to swing for the fences instead of aiming for a walk to first.
Autumn
(45,942 posts)in a progressive direction. He's always been willing to look at a situation from all sides. He sees what has to be done if we are all to survive. Moderate polices will not get us there. I think he is the first president to actually see and understand what young people are going though and what they are facing.
Carlitos Brigante
(26,746 posts)Demsrule86
(70,800 posts)both the House and the Senate. AOC is smart and I like. Her views align more with my core beliefs. However she would not have a chance of winning a statewide election in Ohio. She would need the bluest of districts even to win a house seat and Ohio doesn't have many of these...And moderate do not go into liberal states to 'help'. Most understand what is needed to win. We must tailor our candidates and our strategy to individual states.
Howard Dean was very successful because he implemented a 50 state strategy. We need to keep doing this. We also need starting at grass root level to try to get the progressive message out there in red and purple states. I believe it is possible and those running for local office are the ones that would most benefit from AOC and other's help. We are finally getting policy done...lets not blow this with election tactics doomed to fail. The best thing AOC could do is channel her money into the DNC and let them distribute it...without using her name to moderate and purple states. Hillary was and is a prolific fund raiser but does not publicize it.
Journeyman
(15,132 posts)it's not like her presence hasn't generated controversy in the past.
Celerity
(46,154 posts)Journeyman
(15,132 posts)I appreciate your clearing that up. It's good to know.
joetheman
(1,450 posts)knows what she is talking about and is not afraid to voice her opinions or the facts.
One day she may even be President!
TheBlackAdder
(28,800 posts).
It sounds like the candidates receiving the money could either return it or keep it and fight fire with fire.
Ask the GOPers to voluntarily release the sources of all of their hidden campaign donors--which they won't.
Then make assertions that they could be money laundering by criminals, foreign agents or governments.
Then ask why they are hiding it it it's not something they'd be ashamed of having divulged.
.
Cha
(304,152 posts)It's not about individuals.. It's a Team Effort!
Bettie
(16,835 posts)they don't want AOC on the team. At. All.
Cha
(304,152 posts)the House.. so Anything to Help the TEAM!
Autumn
(45,942 posts)uponit7771
(91,317 posts)... messaging and poor candidates.
There's no way we shouldn't be on the attack RIGHT HOT DAMN NOW about kGQP anti democracy message.
Cha
(304,152 posts)uponit7771
(91,317 posts)... messaging / feedback infrastructure that would allow us to send out a message and get it tested in hours time to beat the kGQP upside the head with through a myriad of outlets and channels.
The kGQP walks around kicking sand cause all they have to do is blame democrats and their minions will believe them mostly because of the messaging infrastructure they have
AZProgressive
(29,346 posts)Politico
The New York Democrat sent the contributions to her colleagues to help keep the House majority ahead of a tough cycle without directly contributing to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, with which shes publicly clashed. But Ocasio-Cortez's largesse and an oversight at the campaign headquarters has instead raised awkward questions among her colleagues as some swing-district Democrats fret over whether to return her money before the GOP can turn it into an attack ad.
Some members whose campaigns got unexpected Ocasio-Cortez cash are seeking answers directly from DCCC Chair Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.) and his top staffers. DCCC aides gave lawmakers wire transfer information to Ocasio-Cortez's aides without the approval of more senior officials, according to multiple people familiar with the contributions.
(Snip)
While some are grateful for the infusion of cash, at least three Democrats have so far either declined the initial transfer or said they would return the money: Reps. Conor Lamb of Pennsylvania, Carolyn Bourdeaux of Georgia and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, according to multiple sources.
Several people involved with the episode described it as an unforced error by the DCCC, with the staff of its campaign arm failing to anticipate the political ramifications of putting their partys most polarizing figure on their donor rolls of vulnerable members known as frontliners.
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/02/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-campaign-contributions-478943
empedocles
(15,751 posts)mjvpi
(1,542 posts)Send the money back, good grief. After President Biden implementing Progressive ideas for two years, AOC is going to look mainstream. Biden is proving that government works. Swing state Dems who talk limited government and run as Republican light are going to have a harder time running from Bidens record than from AOCs $5000.
Celerity
(46,154 posts)malaise
(277,091 posts)That is all
pwb
(12,144 posts).
Celerity
(46,154 posts)uponit7771
(91,317 posts)Dem4Life1102
(3,974 posts)Celerity
(46,154 posts)ms liberty
(9,755 posts)Hassin Bin Sober
(26,667 posts)Voltaire2
(14,608 posts)Mad_Machine76
(24,766 posts)but she is a bright young woman and has a bright political future and I have never understood the Republican attacks on her, nor some Democrats' feeding into the idea of her being "toxic". Her ideas are not wacky or way out of the maintstream.
Wanderlust988
(564 posts)Are out of the mainstream in this country.
AZProgressive
(29,346 posts)It helped her in her race against Crowley.
I'm tired of talking about defund the police especially on this website.
Read We Do This Til We Free US by Mariame Kana which is a new release. Activists like her are not going to stop advocating for those policies which is a local city budget issue. It has already passed in several cities. LA & Austin off the top of my head.
I personally think Trump and the whole Insurrection & right wing militias is out of the mainstream.
Edit: I edited Houston to Austin
https://theappeal.org/austin-cut-police-budget-supportive-housing-homelessness/
Voltaire2
(14,608 posts)uponit7771
(91,317 posts)... none of those others messages should take root if democratic party messaging is coordinated and effective and it should start RIGHT HOT DAMN NOW !!
triron
(22,240 posts)Mom of Baltimike
(11 posts)While I may agree with her ends, I don't agree with her means.
She does too much bashing of Democrats and the Democratic Party.
And the Socialist tag is a deal breaker for many voters.
BradAllison
(1,879 posts)We've lost the semantics battle to the ignorant.
Mom of Baltimike
(11 posts)Defund the Police?
A minority view, but we all get tagged with it.
I'd like to see police unions banned.
Voltaire2
(14,608 posts)How dare she give other Democratic candidates money! That is the sort of behavior that just has to stop.
uponit7771
(91,317 posts)... it wont have anything to do with AOC but poor campaigning
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)these specific Dems in swing districts through the DCCC without endangering their reelections by associating them with her, socialism, etc. It is reasonable to wonder why she made sure her name would appear on their donor lists.
uponit7771
(91,317 posts)... but they are allowed to focus on AOC because our messaging infrastructure is dirt azz poor.
The kGQP gets to boil puppies alive on prime time TV but AOC is the problem !?!?
Damn
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)on the radar warning of the giant forces ranged against democracy on the right.
In fact, all the anti-Democratic and socialist fringe movements together are a problem only as their hostility against the powerful progressive Democratic Party aids the enormous forces for white Christian nationalism and fascism on the right.
In these anxious, frightening times, however, their usual combined 10% or so was able to draw a few more percentages of support, and worse to undermine the beliefs of many who didn't vote, to throw the nation to the Republicans in 2016. Even the less hostile ones knew that was possible and did it anyway. Those who continue don't regard destroying their own claimed agenda as a mistake or feel even the slightest remorse at what they've brought on everyone.
Crazy, very dangerous times.
Our children and their children will ask us, What did you do? What did you say? For some, this vote may be hard. But we have a mission and a mandate to be on the right side of history. ~ John Lewis
uponit7771
(91,317 posts)Celerity
(46,154 posts)The entire article is written with loaded words and is deffo another, oh so typical, Politico 'Dems in disarray' shit-stir hit piece.
snip
Several people involved with the episode described it as an unforced error by the DCCC, with the staff of its campaign arm failing to anticipate the political ramifications of putting their partys most polarizing figure on their donor rolls of vulnerable members known as frontliners.
Chris Hayden, a spokesman for DCCC declined to comment on the details but said: We appreciate Rep. Ocasio-Cortez's ongoing commitment to a Democratic majority. Due to a miscommunication, some transfers were made in error, but that has been addressed.
snip
Still, other Democrats said they saw Ocasio-Cortezs interest in helping endangered incumbents as a positive sign for party unity, even if they were stunned by the method. And privately, the liberal star already is personally close with some of the frontliners, many of whom were elected in the same blue wave that helped Democrats recapture the House in 2018.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)Ocasio-Cortez needed it in order to donate directly, so the name Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez would show up when anyone checked for donors.
Let's not pretend that all politicians aren't aware that donor names can cause trouble. That's why some in vulnerable districts had to reject the donations. Not because they don't like Ocasio herself, but because many of their constituents are worried about an evil socialist takeover.
Remember how we lost so many seats in the house in November? Those fringe elements yammering about socializing America and "defunding" the police, some of whom insisted they really did want to close down police departments? Those wingers were augmented by the right to defeat us, and it worked. A lot of fools were alarmed into voting Republican.
AZProgressive
(29,346 posts)I'm sure you are unaware of problems in policing and solutions to address to them.
New Toolkit Tallies Up Victories and Summarizes Strategies to Defund the Police
(Snip)
In the wake of the right-wing white supremacist storming of the Capitol and attempted coup on January 6, 2021, the demand to defund police is more urgent than ever. There is growing evidence that many federal, state and local law enforcement officers, including Capitol Police, participated in, facilitated and condoned the events of January 6th including video footage of Capitol police removing barricades to allow white supremacists onto Capitol grounds, standing aside as they entered the building while denying entry to journalists, taking selfies with insurrectionists and directing people who intended legislators harm to their offices. The events of January 6th were not a justification for increased policing, they were a perfect encapsulation of the reality that policing does not keep us safe including from white supremacists.
Our response to white supremacist violence cannot be to pour still more resources into police who have repeatedly been shown to participate in and condone it, especially as the pandemic claims record numbers of lives each day and the unprecedented economic crisis deepens, leaving more and more people at risk of eviction, hunger, and violence. Nor can it be to give police more power to fight domestic terrorism, which will predictably be used against the very same communities currently targeted by police for instance, a number of states have already used the attempted coup and threats of more white supremacist violence to resurrect laws first introduced to suppress #BlackLivesMatter protests. It is more imperative than ever to reduce the funding, power, weaponry, and reach of law enforcement agencies that have made it abundantly clear through their actions leading up to and on January 6th that what they are committed to protecting is a white supremacist status quo, not the safety of Black and Brown communities.
The demand to defund police did not arise in a vacuum. It is rooted in a long legacy of challenges to white supremacist violence, and demands to end institutions created to control, regulate, disempower, and suppress Black communities, and for collective investment in meeting community needs through collective care. It echoes the demands of the Black Panther Partys 10-point platform for Black Liberation: We want an immediate end to POLICE BRUTALITY and MURDER of Black people
. We want land, bread, housing, education, clothing, justice and peace. It is rooted in a central demand of the Movement for Black Lives Vision for Black Lives, first launched in 2016 in the wake of the Ferguson Uprising: Invest/Divest We demand investments in the education, health and safety of Black people, instead of investments in the criminalizing, caging, and harming of Black people. We want investments in Black communities, determined by Black communities, and divestment from exploitative forces including prisons, fossil fuels, police, surveillance and exploitative corporations. The BREATHE Act, birthed by the Movement for Black Lives in 2020 in response to legislation and policy proposals advancing superficial reforms that do nothing to address the root causes and systemic nature of police violence, represents a federal legislative articulation of the Invest/Divest framework.
Over the past six months, organizers across the country have won significant victories in campaigns to reallocate funds from bloated police department budgets to meet community needs. They extracted over $840 million from police departments, and secured investments of at least $160 million in communities. They removed cops from schools in over 25 cities, saving an additional $34 million for investment in meeting student and community needs. They have engaged more people than ever in conversation around defunding police departments as a pathway to achieving genuine and lasting public safety by meeting material needs and resourcing and building community-based safety strategies, and to eventually abolishing policing altogether. They have faced and overcome significant resistance from police fraternal associations, pro-police lawmakers, and reformists whose proposals to tinker with the mechanisms of policing while leaving its foundations untouched have been wielded as a wedge to discredit their demands. They have wisely tuned out willful misrepresentations and dilutions of defund demands by political pundits and mainstream media outlets and stayed true to their vision. And they have learned valuable lessons to guide next steps in continuing campaigns to #DefundPolice.
https://truthout.org/articles/new-toolkit-tallies-up-victories-and-summarizes-strategies-to-defund-the-police/
Why does Manchin get to do whatever he wants in West Virginia but Progressives are not allowed to support a local city budget issue?
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)This is DU, not in the Cave, and we're the white hats.
The Biden campaign and DNC/DCCC knew exactly why support in a bunch of swing districts collapsed after being good for months. Because they ASKED voters why they made their choices.
People who don't understand that they've shot themselves and others in the head or, worse, do and don't care because they're doing their own frivolous and deadly version of "owning the libs" from the left, are in grave danger of finding themselves living in a far-right police state.
And after enjoying claiming for years that we already are, they're going to be extremely surprised.
AZProgressive
(29,346 posts)Max Rose attended a BLM protest then the Republicans and police unions attacked him. All he did was go to a protest.
His campaign wasn't effective.
Bill de Blasio is the worst mayor in the history of New York City, Rose says in a six second video as he looks into the camera. Thats the whole ad.
https://www.nationalreview.com/news/thats-the-whole-ad-dem-rep-max-rose-cuts-fifteen-second-video-calling-de-blasio-the-worst-mayor-in-the-history-of-new-york-city/
We were probably lucky to win that district in 2018 since Giuliani also won the district when he ran for mayor and the NYPD became a lot worse while he was there. Democrats do still have more house seats than they did in 2016.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)And wouldn't want to. Have a nice evening, AZProg.
Autumn
(45,942 posts)and had her staff ask the DCCC for it? Because the article didn't say that. Is that something that you are attributing to her just on your own or do you have an actual link to back that up? If you don't have a link that a pretty nasty petty smear.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)They all know that.
You have to remember, Autumn, due diligence requires ALL politicians to vet their wannabe donors for the same reasons: to keep embarrassments off, can't be accepting donations from The Pillow Guy or Konstantin Kilimnick, and also to watch for and refuse illegal donations, preferably before the FEC and media find them.
OF COURSE, vulnerable Democrats in swing districts with lots of conservatives had to get the name of a donor many of their constituents love to hate and who represents what they genuinely fear off their lists. As shown by this RW cartoon. Yes, that very sinister and sleazy figure on the left is supposed to be Ocasio-Cortez. Ridiculous, but that how many of the conservative constituents of her Democratic colleagues in swing districts (choose to) see her.
Understand their problem?
Autumn
(45,942 posts)Alrighty then. So you are going to ignore the fact that the DCCC aides gave lawmakers wire transfer information to Ocasio-Cortez's aides without the approval of more senior officials and go with she did it just to tar their image with her name. Got it.
Yay Team
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)not the crazy whackos, more normal peoples', which is why I think it's worth noting.
Exactly the mirror opposite of Democrats' viewpoint, where RW crazies and one of their dreadful pols would be the people on the left and on the right a rational Democrat listening and worrying that the end is near.
Autumn
(45,942 posts)unintelligent assholes who hate anything and everything and only consider themselves. Conservatism is a mental illness and in no way close to normal.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)feels about the half we fall among. Sounds like there are some real things in common.
Not to be built on, though! We all really do have other, better commonalities to work on. Need for air and water, for instance.
Autumn
(45,942 posts)and all progressives fall into care about their follow human beings and the earth. Those fucking conservatives care only for themselves and we will never have any commonalities with them. They don't care about air and water, future generations or anything. The conservatives that some moderates wax melancholic about do not exist. They are all gone, just as the dinosaur is gone. The residue that remain of conservatism are the dregs.
AZProgressive
(29,346 posts)AOC is correct in that cartoon.
This article is more than 2 years old
We have 12 years to limit climate change catastrophe, warns UN
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/08/global-warming-must-not-exceed-15c-warns-landmark-un-report
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)To a lot of conservatives Ocasio-Cortez represents a threat to all that's good and decent. They can't define socialism any more accurately than most of Ocasio's supporters, but nevertheless it frightens them far more than global warming.
That's why OCASIO-CORTEZ'S COLLEAGUES HAD TO REJECT HER DONATIONS.
That's the subject here. They're not rejecting her, just public association with her.
AZProgressive
(29,346 posts)This article is more than 2 years old
We have 12 years to limit climate change catastrophe, warns UN
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/08/global-warming-must-not-exceed-15c-warns-landmark-un-report
I'm tired of these bad faith attacks on AOC.
AZProgressive
(29,346 posts)We have 12 years to limit climate change catastrophe, warns UN
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/08/global-warming-must-not-exceed-15c-warns-landmark-un-report
She didn't come up with that out of thin air.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)I don't know if I actually learned about LBJ's notification to congress about global warming in 1965 when it happened or in my physical geography class in college a few years later. But that's how long it's been a critical issue for me.
I'd actually appreciate it if Ms. Ocasio-Cortez paid some attention to environmental issues in congress. Her record so far is quite poor and, as she says, time is running out. All she really has to do is support those of her colleagues who are working very hard on it.
AZProgressive
(29,346 posts)Conservatives turn around and attack her like she made up. Republicans have been doing Climate Change DENIAL since Al Gore. After so much denial some centrist Democrats moved to right of Al Gore on environmental issues.
Conor Lamb doesn't want to ban fracking. He is one of the few people who returned their donation from AOC.
LAMB URGES SPEAKER PELOSI TO REJECT FRACKING BAN; ALLOW A VOTE ON BIPARTISAN BILL TO INVEST IN CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY
https://lamb.house.gov/media/press-releases/lamb-urges-speaker-pelosi-reject-fracking-ban-allow-vote-bipartisan-bill-invest
What he is calling to reject is legislation from AOC.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)have happened. We can't know her intent, toward Lamb or any of the others,, after all.
It's enough to, as the OP points out, recognize the simple truth that her name on donor lists potentially endangers seats in swing districts currently held by Democratic congressmen.
Maybe start saying nice things about her to Republicans you run into to correct their misapprehensions.
Arazi
(6,882 posts)Then you'd know this was a DCCC error instead of rushing to critique her
Autumn
(45,942 posts)to AOC's "nefarious behavior" in this matter.
I think?
No proof but that doesn't matter.
Autumn
(45,942 posts)George II
(67,782 posts)Autumn
(45,942 posts)George II
(67,782 posts)Autumn
(45,942 posts)So hows bout you blame the DCCC staff for fucking up. Yay team
George II
(67,782 posts)....campaign finance regulations.
Here's what I responded to:
That "donor list" is an integral part of any campaign's FEC filings. Anyone who gives more than $200 is listed in a campaign's FEC filing and therefore is on their donor lists.
uponit7771
(91,317 posts)The poor skills begins by allowing the right to set the message by not attacking first with the truth.
None of the stupid shit matters if kGQP are defending themselves because of their own hatefilled associations which are 100% fucked up to begin !!!
Johonny
(21,817 posts)Trump lost votes in almost every swing district compared to other GOP candidates. It's obvious demonstrating how their opponent is just like Trump is the key to victory. Don't let their support of Trump get away.
George II
(67,782 posts)tonedevil
(3,022 posts)Response to tonedevil (Reply #60)
George II This message was self-deleted by its author.
Mariana
(14,941 posts)George II
(67,782 posts)LetMyPeopleVote
(153,634 posts)The Defund the Police stupidity cost some good Texas candidates some races that we could have won. I saw GOP defund the police ads in two state house races in ads that called all Democrats socialist. The GOP candidate won both races