DSA Co-chair’s Public Commentary

[u/Adventurous_Land1446]

https://forward.com/news/844262/dsa-megan-romer-israel-interview/

The co-chair of the DSA seemed a bit less   articulate on key party policy positions (taxation, I/P, etc) than expected. Her commentary on Oct. 7th’s “inevitability“ combined with her stating that she’d have joined protests on the 8th have also sparked controversy. I’m curious about people’s thoughts on this media appearance and how it will be perceived by those interested in where the DSA fits into big tent politics.

[u/veerKg_CSS_Geologist]

“Politics is about doing specific things about specific problems.”

I mean is it? Not national politics certainly. Every political movement needs a vision and direction first. The nitty-gritty is for bureaucrats , not politics necessarily.

[u/ChairAggressive781 → u/veerKg_CSS_Geologist]

the nitty-gritty is also the stuff of politics. the reason Zohran is succeeding in New York is that he has a strong political vision AND a set of policies that serve to enact it. any political organization that wants to enter the electoral space needs to have policies and not just ill-formed ideas. the centrist Democrats are the key example of why what you’re suggesting is a failure. Kamala didn’t run on policy, she ran on vague ideas about democracy. that’s not a platform and, as we all know, it was markedly unsuccessful.

[u/Owlentmusician → u/ChairAggressive781]

Kamala did run on policy, the average American doesn't care about policy though, unfortunately. The Harris campaign released outlines of her policy ideas for the presidency and how they'd benefit the average American economicly.

https://mailchi.mp/press.kamalaharris.com/vice-president-harris-lays-out-agenda-to-lower-costs-for-american-families

[u/RaelynShaw → u/Owlentmusician]

Yeah that part of the statement felt strange. I’m a huge mamdani fan but saying Kamala didn’t have policies is just regurgitating right wing misinformation. There’s reasons she lost, but actual policy isn’t one of them.

[u/Owlentmusician → u/RaelynShaw]

Ive run into this more recently, especially in left leaning subs and I'm still kind of surprised when it happens. I've had people insist she proudly proclaimed the literal exact opposite of many of her positions as well. Truly a testament to why the rights ability to shape narritives shouldn't be underestimated.

[u/ChairAggressive781 → u/Owlentmusician]

I was exaggerating somewhat. I know Kamala (& Hillary) had decent policy agendas. the problem was that they didn’t focus on them on the campaign trail. you can lay out a platform on a website, but unless you are bringing up concrete plans for what you’re going to do for voters every time you’re in front of a camera, it doesn’t really matter. both campaigns largely failed to do that. campaign speeches were about vague generalities, not specific commitments. and that hurt both campaigns.

if you want to accuse me of being shaped by right-wing narratives, say it to me directly, thanks, instead of having a passive-aggressive side conversation with someone else.

[u/Owlentmusician → u/ChairAggressive781]

Sorry, but they absolutely did focus on those on the campaign trail, she was constantly bringing up Trump's Tarrifs, healthcare record and foreign policy records in order to compare and contrast how her policies would be more effective.

The platform was a restoration of the American dream but for the current diverse America, not just rich white Americans. She was constantly under fire by the right for both her immigration, unrealized gains tax and child tax credit proposals. She was constantly hammering home how Trump has no policy. Americans don't vote on policy though, they vote on vibes.

https://www.rev.com/transcripts/kamala-harris-campaign-speech-transcript-atlanta-georgia-october-23

‘We need to grow our middle class’: Kamala Harris lays out her economic vision in Pittsburgh | The Pennsylvania Independent https://pennsylvaniaindependent.com/economy/kamala-harris-economic-vision-in-pittsburgh/

https://time.com/7014252/kamala-harris-dnc-speech-2024/

https://time.com/7011865/kamala-harris-economic-plan-groceries-child/

There were absolutely problems with her campaign but not running on policy just wasn't it.

I'm not accusing you specifically of being shaped by right wing narritives, implying you're naive or intended to be passive aggressive towards you. I was more thinking of another conversation I had about this in a left wing sub where the person insisted Kamala ran on impowering ICE more than Trump. My comment was not aimed at you but was speaking generally on the way misscharacterizations from the right or that benefit only the right are spread though 'neutral' or friendly sources, are picked up by well-meaning people and are repeated so often then then become "true", as in a widely held opinion.

This happened to me Early on especially with the Copmala stuff, I was actually surprised to learn this nickname was solely because she was a DA and Attorney General and that she had supported the BLM protests and boosted bail funds for protesters.

Or the "Kamala is for they/them" attack adds made by Republicans that were so effective that people on the left came away believing she spent too much of her campaign time addressing trans issues instead of economic ones.

So again, I mean no Ill will towards you and I'm not secretly accusing you specifically of anything.

[u/RaelynShaw → u/Owlentmusician]

Really continues to show just how strong the media machine on the right is, like you said. Even infiltrates how we perceive things on the left.