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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThese five freshman congresswomen changed history by becoming unlikely leaders on impeachment
(CNN)When a group of moderate House freshmen Democrats moved from hard no to hell yes on starting an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump, they changed the dynamic for House Democrats, and indeed -- the course of history.
The reason they made their announcement and explained their reasoning as a group, in an op-ed in The Washington Post, is because they had already formed a bond over their national security background -- especially the five women: Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Abigail Spanberger of Virginia, both ex-CIA officers; Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania who was in the Air Force; Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey and Rep. Elaine Luria of Virginia were Naval officers.
They met on the 2018 campaign trail as first time candidates who kept bumping into each other at events with mutual donors and supporters.
When they got to talking, these five would-be congresswomen realized that they had a lot in common, despite being from different parts of the country: they all had careers in national security they were trying to parlay into elected office.
They became fast friends, and called themselves the "badasses."
"I think badasses kind of came organically from the group since we all had either served in the military or in the CIA," Houlahan said.
They are now a band of sisters who bonded while storming the unfamiliar terrain of politics.
"Being able to text folks and say, 'you know, I'm really getting hit up on this issue, how have you been handling it?' 'I'm not sure how to translate my service into something that's relatable. How do you guys do that?'" Slotkin said she frequently asked the others.
"We have a lot in common," said Spanberger. "We all were working to flip seats to be elected in places where voters may not typically vote for people like us or with our backgrounds."
https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/28/politics/badass-women-impeachment-democrats-oped/index.html
Video at the link. This is why we shouldn't necessarily purge moderates out. #NotAllModerates Moderate Dems generally do the right thing on important party line matters like this, especially these freshman women.
Cha
(297,026 posts)they represent "moderate" parts of our Country and no doubt helped us win the Democratic House Victory in 2018.
Without which we wouldn't even be having the Impeachment conversation.
Thank you for this article, IronLionZion..
https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/28/politics/badass-women-impeachment-democrats-oped/index.html
TwilightZone
(25,451 posts)A lot of DUers really have no clue what makes up the Democratic party and seem to assume the rest of it is just like they are.
It's becoming more liberal, but it's quite certainly not exclusively liberal. And never has been.
https://news.gallup.com/poll/225074/conservative-lead-ideology-down-single-digits.aspx
Cha
(297,026 posts)It makes me crazy when the importance of our moderate Dems across the Country aren't respected for who they are and what they bring to the party.
It's kind of a big picture outlook
The Blue Wave was mostly won by moderates and Healthcare was an important issue!
The midterm elections cemented Obamacare's legacy and showed Democrats can actually win on healthcare
snip//
With Democrats' victory in the House, Obamacare repeal is dead.
Democrats hold a strong advantage on healthcare and Obamacare looks stronger than ever.
Three deep-red states expanded Medicaid, a key part of Obamacare, via ballot initiatives
More..
https://www.businessinsider.com/2018-midterm-election-results-obamacare-healthcare-big-winner-2018-11
TwilightZone
(25,451 posts)The insistence that one size fits all is frustrating, and it still sometimes surprises me that supposedly politically-savvy people continue to make that assertion. All politics are local in the end.
Cha
(297,026 posts)looking at the whole picture.. they're not helping.
KPN
(15,641 posts)Point of fact, I had always thought of myself as moderate. I still do. I am not a socialist and have never considered myself far left. However, here at DU I have been characterized or accused or labeled as such. In part, its a function of having been around for almost 7 decades. But I havent, nor have my basic views regarding the role of government, changed. If I am impatient, it is not because Im radical or far left, its because Im tired of backsliding toward right center and actually right on issues that affect every citizen for 4 straight decades. I am a moderate.
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)I view them as a necessary step in the progression. They win seats more liberal candidates have no chance of winning. The best ones change with their districts, becoming more progressive with time. People need to remember that California was once pretty reliable for republicans and a lot of the democrats that came from there were blue dogs, same with Washington State and Oregon. Virginia is a state that used to be reliably red, but is now blue and getting bluer.
appalachiablue
(41,113 posts)TY. I was very much aware of the influence, esp. of Reagan in DC for 8 years, what a time.
On the Old Dominion, Virginia, better hurry up turning blue..
mcar
(42,287 posts)They are putting country before their own job security.
Eating our own is not a winning strategy.
catbyte
(34,358 posts)won with only 50.6% of the vote to Mike Bishop's 49.4%. Someone to the left of Slotkin wouldn't stand a chance and Michigan Democrats know it. republicans have held that seat since 2001. Our district includes Oakland County, north of Detroit, which is a bastion of the gop.
mcar
(42,287 posts)She is a true patriot.
BigmanPigman
(51,582 posts)in this chapter in history! Whenever I hear any of them discuss what drove them to their final decision it really is a lesson in patriotism.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)flibbitygiblets
(7,220 posts)colsohlibgal
(5,275 posts)Against a more fair tax system, which has been chipped away at since Reagan? Open to more war?
I question trying to entice more moderates, the millennials are an enormous block and skew way more progressive than their parents. They more than anything drove the big mid term democratic gains in Congress. I think we need to excite them.
It is funny most people seem to get more moderate as they age, the opposite has happened with some of us.
TwilightZone
(25,451 posts)We probably shouldn't write them all off, unless you believe we can do without half the party.
https://news.gallup.com/poll/225074/conservative-lead-ideology-down-single-digits.aspx
"They more than anything drove the big mid term democratic gains in Congress. "
No, the big mid-term gains were almost entirely because of moderate candidates winning swing districts.
"Moderate Democratic candidates were the big winners of swing congressional districts in the 2018 midterm elections, flipping most of the 28 key House districts from Republicans control and winning key gubernatorial races, including Michigan, Wisconsin, Kansas, and Illinois. Democrats net gain in the House was 26 seats."
https://www.vox.com/2018/11/7/18071700/progressive-democrats-house-midterm-elections-2018
pazzyanne
(6,546 posts)I strongly support policies that improve human conditions, but being an older member from the Midwest, I am more conservative than many members here. Does that mean I have no right to be here? Sometimes I wonder when there are comments made by some members. My personal views do not keep me from supporting our candidates, no matter what!
Thank you, TwilightZone!
IronLionZion
(45,403 posts)if you don't live in their district, you don't have to vote for them. Most of them flipped suburban seats held by Republicans but became more competitive as demographics changed.
It makes sense for someone like AOC to primary a moderate in NYC, but not in suburban Richmond Virginia. Our efforts are best spent on increasing our numbers in Congress so that long time liberals can have leadership positions. We saw this with Dems taking over the house so Pelosi became speaker again. We need to do that with the Senate and more state legislatures.
rickyhall
(4,889 posts)onetexan
(13,032 posts)This goes to Reps AOC, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, & Ayanna Presley as well, among others. 2018 brought incredible female power into the halls of Congress. I hope they continue in politics for a long time, continue to fight for us & be great role models for future young women. i'm sure their parents are so proud.
catbyte
(34,358 posts)Tarc
(10,476 posts)I have three extremely bright lines that cannot be crossed; pro-choice, addressing racial disparity (incomer, institutional racism, police brutality, etc...) and LGBT rights.
Environmental issues, spending, taxes, foreign policy, there's wiggle room for compromise and give-and-take, a Dem doesn't have to match my beliefs 100% in those areas, I'll listen to them.
The first 3? Firm and absolute, IMO.
yuiyoshida
(41,829 posts)tweeted
intheflow
(28,451 posts)Last edited Mon Sep 30, 2019, 01:45 PM - Edit history (2)
this is a whole heap o whitesplaining. What about the POC whove lead this charge way ahead of the curve?
Rep. Al Green filed for impeachment in 2017
Rep. Maxine Waters called for mpeachment in 2017
Rep. Rashida Tlaib called for impeachment in January
But somehow, 5 white women who finally moved to the side of impeachment last week are the leaders.
*Edited to add link to the original tweet I got this from.
Link to tweet
SMC22307
(8,090 posts)The party needs unity, not accusations of racism lurking in every corner. I applaud Green, Waters, and Tlaib for their actions, but Pelosi didn't believe there was enough there. You may not like it, but if impeachment is couched in terms of national security by those who actually served in the military and CIA, "middle America" will likely get on board, as we're seeing in recent polls.
IronLionZion
(45,403 posts)I get what you're saying. But the last week was the tipping point where Dems got enough votes to proceed.
There are many articles posted on DU about the gang of 4 and Maxine Waters. I posted this because there wasn't anything posted like it.
Response to intheflow (Reply #25)
intheflow This message was self-deleted by its author.
Bettie
(16,083 posts)with regard to your final comment.
I don't see an effort to purge moderates. Rather, I see an effort to purge liberals from the party by exclusively catering to moderate/conservatives.