I trust you all know that Democrat Jon Ossoff has a chance to win a runoff election in Georgia’s 6th Congressional Distract in June. I think his odds are good, but I fear that some of the same forces on the left that helped Trump in November may split the party, because they don’t consider Ossoff’s moderate stance ideologically pure enough.
Another special election, another near upset for Democrats. Running against a slew of Republican competitors to replace Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price in Georgia’s 6th congressional district, Democrat Jon Ossoff fell just short of the majority needed to avoid a runoff. He will now face the second-place finisher, the infamous Karen Handel, on June 20.
It’s a good sign for Democrats — and a good test case for the areas of the country where Hillary Clinton did unusually well. But they should be wary before using Ossoff’s campaign strategy as a template for the rest of the country. To win in districts President Trump dominated in 2016, Democrats would be well advised to adopt better class politics…
…Clinton’s campaign was by and for upper-class white-collar professionals, and Ossoff (perhaps wisely) followed her lead. His extremely bland campaign was about responsible governance, an end to corruption, and bipartisanship. In a wealthy, largely white Georgia suburb, that plays pretty well — as it probably will in similar places, like Texas’ 32nd and 7th districts, which Clinton actually won. Run a more competent and energetic version of her basic campaign strategy, and Democrats ought to be able to scoop up those seats without breaking a sweat. (Colin Allred, a former NFL player, has already declared for the 32nd, which Democrats did not even contest in 2016.)…
From <This Week>
Karen Handel is the woman-hater that helped transform Komen for the Cure into the Republican pawn that almost succeeded in defunding Planned Parenthood. For more, I wrote about her here, here, and here. A choice between Ossoff and Handel is no choice at all, but I certainly won’t call him the lesser of two evils. That’s what many did with Clinton and look what happened. Ossoff’s stance may be less than ideal, but he’s with us on virtually all the issues that matter. That makes him a good, not a lesser evil. He has to be low key about it because of his district. Here he is with Rachel Maddow.
We need to take a realistic approach to taking America back from the Republican Reich. Here in Oregon, Jeff Merkley can take a democratic socialist line and that will work. In more conservative areas, our candidates must take a more moderate stance, with the understanding that moderate is a different path to a similar end, not a corporate sellout. We must be flexible in order to…
RESIST!!
10 Responses to “Ossoff’s Moderate Stance”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
I could not agree with you more. So here's the good news – http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/4/21/1655087/-Bernie-Sanders-Endorses-Jon-Ossoff
I never regarded Hillary as the lesser of two evils. I considered her, if not great, at least good, maybe very good. That may be faint praise, but it still is praise. As you say so well, "moderate is a different path to a similar end, not a corporate sellout." The DCCC did come through for him in the week before the special primary, with some money and nine bodies. And they will continue to support him. also, grass roots contributions are still coming in. We still stand a chance.
Nor did I, but she did run as heir apparent more than on popular agenda.
Yes, certainly so it appeared to most people, I guess. Since i was watchinh the platform very closely, I didn't see it that way myself. But I can certainly understand why people did.
That's true. The platform was very progressive. I remember feeling surprise that she did not base her campaign on it.
Keeping my fingers crossed!
Gotta run, take good care, Thanks, Tom.
Too damned bad Ossoff could not get that 50%. The GOP is bound to pour huge amounts of money into this next campaign, and the Dems need to REALLY get behind him!
Let's hope they learned their lesson, now that they helped put Trump in office.
Let's hope that Democrats get out the vote for Ossoff. There cannot be only one path in the Democratic Party because it is made up of a diverse population with regional priorities. Having said that, all pathways must unite to strike at the very dark soul of the Republican party. Additionally, let's hope that Republicans remain split.
I do indeed remember Handel from the Komen fiasco and the crusade against Planned Parenthood, even without your nudges. She is a disgrace!
Resist and Persist!!!
?
Top notch analysis there, TomCat. For a district in Georgia, even though it's generally a well educated and higher income district, Jon Ossoff is as progressive as his voters will accept. What is very important with a mentally unstable, delusional president at the helm, is that Ossoff comes across as a stable, very rational and above all sincere candidate. That is not the lesser of two evils, that is a good, solid candidate. I hope he continues on this path and wins his seat in June.
?
Resist & Persist!
Thanks all! Hugs!