The movement vs. the matriarch: "The lesson is that we are in a very different world right now."

[BeyondGeography]

Democrats worry about long-term implications of the feud between the speaker and the freshman firebrand.

An internal battle among House Democrats took on new life Thursday as lawmakers turned against each other over questions of race, with the latest flare-up ignited by controversial comments from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her chief of staff. Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her lieutenants tried to move on but Democrats from several different factions within the party dug in, refusing to set aside lingering tensions that first broke into the open two weeks ago during a massive blowup over a border funding package.

...After weeks of squabbling, some Democrats are concerned that the rift could have lasting implications. The caucus is gearing up to navigate through three weeks of tricky issues, from former special counsel Robert Mueller’s testimony to new immigration legislation.

...But members also recognize they’re caught up in a defining moment — the movement versus the matriarch. “The lesson is that we are in a very different world right now. And a freshman doesn’t necessarily have to sit back and mind their own business,” said Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Ky.). “When you have 4 million followers on social media, you are a force that has to be respected. But if you have that power, you also have to understand what you want to do with it, and if it’s to blow things up, that’s not helpful.”

...Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal said she plans to raise her concerns with Pelosi in an upcoming meeting about broader issues — specifically how singling out freshman women of color like Ocasio-Cortez works to “diminish progressive power” in the caucus. “I don’t think the speaker is used to having a group of members who has bigger Twitter followings than her. I don’t think most of us are,” Jayapal said in an interview Thursday. “God, it totally resonates with me, absolutely,” Jayapal said when asked if she agreed with Ocasio-Cortez’s comments about being singled out as a woman of color. "We women of color have faced this for such a long time... We are in a body of mainly old white men. You don't get to be here without having dealt with that, most people."

...Rep. Anthony Brown (D-Md.), a progressive and member of the Congressional Black Caucus, said he was shocked when one of his colleagues brought up Ocasio-Cortez’s comments while they sat on the floor earlier Thursday and asked how he felt about it. “Seriously? It’s just not an issue in the larger caucus, it just isn’t,” he said, calling it “a distraction” from policy wins like this week’s massive defense bill, which he said is the most progressive in decades. “The caucus is working, and sometimes it’s not pretty, and it gets a little heated and tense,” Brown said. “What we’re doing right now is an example of the caucus is actually working.”

More at https://www.politico.com/story/2019/07/11/nancy-pelosi-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-feud-1407292

[liberalmuse]

1. I'm hoping Pelosi can rise above this.

She's got the years of experience and hopefully the wisdom. AOC really resonates with a lot of people. To be fair, I lost a lot of faith in our older Reps when they all voted for the war and didn't hold Bush II's feet to the fire when they had both Houses. It would be a huge mistake to try to minimize these new, outspoken Representatives. They are a long awaited breath of fresh are in a very stale, borderline stinky Congress.

[BeyondGeography]

3. Disruption in this case is exceedingly healthy...A lot of people have been on cruise control

It’s human nature. The combination of safe seats and a rigid seniority system have created levels of job and status security in the Democratic House that are foreign to the day-to-day struggles of everyday Americans.

Voters might not be able to articulate that but many have picked up on the disconnect. Things get a little worse all the time and they’re the ones paying the price. These particular freshmen were not sent to Washington to get in line and social media gives them an outlet that their predecessors never had. It’s called change. You can whack these newbies all you want, but that wouldn’t be the end of it.

[brush]

11. See post number 7.

Somebody needs to learn how to operate rather than throw bombs.

[BeyondGeography]

13. The way we run things the Leader has enormous power

Much more than on the Republican side where committee chairs are term-limited. Our seniority rules result in a strict culture of conformity and a very long road to power which is why a lot of promising younger Dems have left the House in recent years.

Any rookie, especially an envy-inducing star like AOC who displaced one of Pelosi’s buddies no less is going to be up against it in this environment. Organizations that stifle innovation and are hostile to change end up satisfying fewer and fewer people. The status quo cheerleaders here should think about where this is all heading if we don’t change the way we operate.

[GulfCoast66]

5. Except the new representatives who took moderate leaning seats,

Which resulted in our 2018 victory are not fans of the members you speak of.

One thing we all need to admit. A Democratic House in the majority is more moderate than one in the minority.

Personally, while pretty far left, I would prefer a more Moderate Democratic lead house to a republican one.

And that is our choice. If we are in the majority AOC will be an outlier. No 2 ways about it.

Now that is. Give us time and s Democratic President and Senate and who knows where we can go.

[brush]

7. Just think if AOC had begun early on to build a voting block of other reps..

she could've went to the Speaker with actual leverage that could've torpedoed that bill if it wasn't changed.

IMO in six months in office a lot of that time has been spent battling with the Speaker and other Dems on social media and in the corridors of the House as she did today by accusing Pelosi of singling out the four progressive women of color. When asked if she was accusing the Speaker of bias she said "of course not."

Well which is it? That was a verbal oxymoron—she insinuated the speaker is a racist one minute and in the next second when challenged she says of course the Speaker isn't racist.

I want her to learn to use her considerable gifts to wield what power she can actually gather around her in the House and cut down on the bashing of the Speaker and other Dems. She'll be much more effective that way.

[Thekaspervote]

10. This!!

[msongs]

2. some people want to be celebrities and know the location of every camera. some people

work quietly and methodically without the need for me me me all the time. takes all kinds

[BigmanPigman]

4. I hope the Dem Party doesn't repeat what the

Tea Party did to the GOP. We need to stick together.

[GulfCoast66]

6. Right now our more vocal members would fit in my kitchen.

Most Democratic Congress members are keeping their eye on the prize.

[BigmanPigman]

9. I hope they keep it up!

We can't afford infighting at this time in history.

[DeminPennswoods]

8. Yarmuth is absolutely right

The younger generations (Millenials, GenZ) are different. They live and play by different rules than us oldsters do. They are not afraid to speak truth to power. They are not willing to wait their turn. In fact, they are a lot like I remember being as a young Boomer.

But the truth is, this whole dustup was not caused by the Dems of the left. It happened because some members are afraid holding ICE accountable hurts their re-election chances. Personally, I doubt that argument since those voters are not going to be voting for Dems regardless.

[Autumn]

12. We really have some major problems in this country. These younger politicians recognize

that we need solutions and we need them now. The way to get that is through the people and social media is a tool to do that. They aren't going to get change by reaching out across the aisle or giving the Republicans what they want. What these young politicians are facing in their future is going to be more difficult than what any of the older politicians have faced. Never has a president given a wink and a nod to his media sycophants and his followers when they have openly encouraged death threats against women of color elected to Congress. Time for those who have no urgency to change and recognize that business, as usual, and the way politics have been conducted for their entire career no longer works and it's time to step aside. Middle of the road and working with those who have no care for the world or its people will not solve Climate Change, immigration issues, public safety, homelessness or any of the other daunting issues facing them. When you are in your late 60s and 70s in 20 years none of that will matter to you. But it will to the younger people facing those problems. I applaud their backbone and willingness to speak out even when they step on the toes of the elders and leaders.