Trump administration is radicalizing Democratic voters, creating a challenge for the party,

[elleng]

Rep. Adam Schiff says.

'As protests spread over policy announcements from the Trump administration, Democrats must work to encourage participation in politics, but face a danger of the party becoming too radicalized, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) said Tuesday.

“The radical nature of this government is radicalizing Democrats, and that’s going to pose a real challenge to the Democratic Party, which is to draw on the energy and the activism and the passion that is out there, but not let it turn us into what we despised about the tea party," Schiff said.

During a meeting with reporters and editors in the Los Angeles Times' Washington bureau, Schiff also discussed his role as the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Select Intelligence Committee under a Trump administration and how Democrats will manage in the minority.

Ever since the election, party leaders have been debating: "Did we lose because we were too far to the left and we had too small a tent, or did we lose because we are too mainstream and didn’t energize the base?" Schiff asked.

"We are obviously having that debate, but there’s a whole new element, which is the reaction to the Trump administration that makes this different in kind, certainly different in intensity, than I think we’ve ever seen after an election,” he said.

“The more radical the administration is, the more radicalized our base becomes, which just feeds the Breitbart crowd, and who knows where that ends.”

Democratic leaders have to channel public reaction to Trump's actions into progress, rather than deadlock, Schiff said.'>>>

http://www.latimes.com/politics/washington/la-na-trailguide-updates-rep-adam-schiff-trump-administration-1485895271-htmlstory.html


DAMN this wimpy 'thinking!'

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Fuck that.

[elleng]

2. Right. DAMN!

[TDale313]

3. Yep.

[vlyons]

4. That's what primaries are for

To get the best Dems possible running in the general election. As far as I'm concerned, there is no "getting along" with Republicans, because they are criminals. In WW II, those who tried to work WITH Fascists, rather than resist, were called "collaborators."

[HassleCat]

5. This way, that way, left, right, center...

We used to be able to hold together a diverse coalition of Democrats from all over the spectrum. Now we try to figure out how to get 100 voter turnout from what's left. Shifting left or right will not do it.

[AJT]

6. I think he's talking about deadlock within the party

like the Tea Party fought with other republicans. I think he's talking about party unity so progress can be made. We still need to be the adults in the room WHEN (not if) we get back into a power position. Remember, we're the ones who value critical thinking skills and rational thought. All the passion needs to be focused into well thought out action.

[BadgerMom]

7. Christ on a cracker!

Rep. Schiff, you've been too centrist for too long. Figure that out or be washed away by the progressive tidal wave about to hit all of you.

[marybourg]

8. They're correct. I'm radicalized.

And lovin' it!

[msongs]

9. schiff says its OUR faults. yeah right I think maybe aware/activated is more like it than radical-

ized

[dalton99a]

11. +1

[murielm99]

10. This is stupid.

You start at the local level. You elect precinct committeemen who know their local people. You find viable people to run, and present them to the state party. You work from there.

I am sick of academics and media types telling us what we need to do. We know. If you want to help, get boots on the ground to elect Democrats at all levels.

[yurbud]

12. the reason to dislike the Tea Party is the policies they push not their activism

[yurbud]

13. translation: vote for us, then let us take care of our donors and ignore you

[starshine00]

14. the only definition I know of radicalized

is the way Maajid Nawaz uses it in his book "Radical" about his time as an islamic extremist.

So this man is essentially saying that folks are being 'radicalized' into an extremist viewpoint by an outside force, that being some sort of doctrine or further left entity, which of course he doesn't name, because of course there isn't one. He's taking away people's responsibility for their actions, saying they don't own their agency, it is from an exterior source.

I see reactionary politics, and I despise them on either side, but to say people are being 'radicialized' is such a falsehood. I don't see a mass of people out in the streets whose beliefs have changed. I see people expressing their beliefs, that they have always held.

[Phoenix61]

15. I think he meant to say actively engaged

Calling our reps non-stop. Showing up at their offices asking difficult questions and demanding answers. Massive public protests that have caused the media to report on what they are doing and not doing. Our dem reps aren't used to this. They whine they can't get anything done because they have been too damn lazy to fight hard. They want to go to work and get along with everyone. Sorry, that isn't going to work anymore. We are watching now and taking names. Deal with it.