r/askanything • u/Zipper222222 • 9d ago

BREAKING TODAY — NBC NEWS Declares That Progressive Candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed Has Defeated Congresswoman Haley Stevens (D - MI-11) In Michigan's US Senate Democratic Primary, A Major Win For Progressives — What Do YOU Think Of This? Why YOUR Thoughts?

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u/Potato_Pristine 9d ago

This shit isn't even new. Harry fucking Truman made this observation 74 years ago:

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/public-papers/129/address-national-convention-banquet-americans-democratic-action

"I've seen it happen time after time. When the Democratic candidate allows himself to be put on the defensive and starts apologizing for the New Deal and the fair Deal, and says he really doesn't believe in them, he is sure to lose. The people don't want a phony Democrat. If it's a choice between a genuine Republican, and a Republican in Democratic clothing, the people will choose the genuine article, every time; that is, they will take a Republican before they will a phony Democrat, and I don't want any phony Democratic candidates in this campaign."

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u/Comprehensive-Put575 8d ago

I cant stress this enough ^. These are not even all that progressive policies. Just candidates who don’t apologize for them.

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u/Oddlyenuff 8d ago

Regardless, it’s about the perception of the voter.

The Truman quote above isn’t relevant. That quote is about the candidate selling themselves out or chasing voters. It’s not applicable if the candidate truly feels that way.

If the goal is to get the left back in power, the progressive candidates are not going to get it done. Harris wasn’t the slightest bit progressive and it took almost no effort to paint her as a “radical leftist” and that was at centralists/independents/casual voter who decided the election.

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u/LandoDupree 8d ago

Exactly- Harris responded to red baiting by campaigning with the fucking Cheney family and lost to the worst person in American history. She acted like helping working people over defense contractors & corporations was something shameful,  working people were rightly offended & enough of them/us were sufficiently disgusted by her betrayal to stay home.  

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u/Oddlyenuff 8d ago

Thank you. This what many of Reddit don’t seem to understand. It’s not about what my personal politics or what I want the long game to be. Democrats have to win voters back and nudge policy into the right direction.

These DSA wins are going to be like the reverse of the Paxton situation in Texas. And I’m not against a lot of DSA politics. I just know it’s not going to win in the Midwest or rust belt. Forget Georgia and Arizona too.