Meet the New House Democrats: They May Not Toe the Party Line

[Cow Poke]

Meet the New House Democrats: They May Not Toe the Party Line

I thought this was interesting...

The freshman House Democrats are the most diverse, most female class in history — and span the ideological spectrum. They arrive in Washington for orientation this week.

WASHINGTON — There is a former N.F.L. linebacker, a climate scientist, and a rapper with a Harvard Law degree. There is one immigrant from Somalia and another from Ecuador. There are two former C.I.A. officials, an Air Force veteran, a former Navy helicopter pilot, and a retired Marine commander — all of them women. Not to mention a pediatrician and a human rights advocate.

When these and other newly elected House Democrats arrive in Washington for their orientation this week, they will reflect the most diverse, most female freshman class in history — a group of political neophytes, savvy veterans of the Obama and Clinton administrations, as well as the first Muslim women and Native American women ever elected to Congress.

The class is ideologically diverse as well, spanning the philosophical spectrum from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a self-described democratic socialist from New York, to Joe Cunningham, a South Carolina lawyer who won a stunning upset victory in the Charleston suburbs, on the strength of his promises to put “country over party” and work with President Trump. That could prove a management headache for Democratic leaders.

“The new Democratic leadership and the entire Democratic caucus will really have to pull together to insure a unified legislative agenda that appeals to constituents in Brooklyn, New York, while appealing to constituents in Brooklyn, Iowa,” said Steve Israel, a former congressman from New York and one-time chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “The way to keep these new Democrats in 2020 is not to do things that force their voters to reconsider, and that won’t be easy.”

[Mountain Man]

They'll get in line soon enough. Here's how it works: the freshmen congressmen are sat down by the old guard and told, "You say what we tell you to say, and you vote how we tell you to vote, or we'll see to it that your political career is over." Those who resist find themselves without camaign funds and party support making it almost impossible to be reelected.

[Bill the Cat]

That's what Dave Brat said when he got elected as a TEA Party member.

[seer]

Do you really think Cortez will listen to that addled windbag Pelosi?

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Joins Climate Protest in Pelosi’s Office

Democratic socialist and Congresswoman-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-CA) spent her first day in Washington, D.C. as an incoming freshman by joining climate protestors in House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) office.

Dozens of protestors with the groups Sunrise Movement and Justice Democrats were staging a sit-in and greeted Ocasio-Cortez with raucous applause when she entered the office.

https://ntknetwork.com/alexandria-oc...elosis-office/

[JimL]

Do you really think Cortez will listen to that addled windbag Pelosi?

You mean will she listen to the best speaker ever to hold the position? Of course she will. seer, you have to realize that the reason you've been taught to personally hate the demonized Pelosi so much, is because your fearful leaders fear her so much. They don't go after the lightwieghts ya know, they go after the no nonsense tough adversaries who they fear like the devil. That's Pelosi!

[One Bad Pig]

I'll believe this when I see it.

[seer]

You mean will she listen to the best speaker ever to hold the position?

[Mountain Man]

Do you really think Cortez will listen to that addled windbag Pelosi?

She will if she wants to have a future in Washington. However corrupt and addled Pelosi might be, she holds a lot of power and can end a young political career with a snap of her fingers.

[JimL]

She will if she wants to have a future in Washington. However corrupt and addled Pelosi might be, she holds a lot of power and can end a young political career with a snap of her fingers.

I think you are mistaking "listening" for "obeying". You see obeying is what you do when repeating without question, like an automaton, everything that Breitbart et al put in your head. Of course the new class of reps will listen to Pelosi, unlike you conservatives who fear her so much, they respect her.

[Bill the Cat]

You mean will she listen to the best speaker ever to hold the position?

[Cow Poke]

I think you are mistaking "listening" for "obeying". You see obeying is what you do when repeating without question, like an automaton,...

You have just proven you don't know what "obeying" really is.

Of course the new class of reps will listen to Pelosi, unlike you conservatives who fear her so much, they respect her.

Fear her? She's not even all there, Jim.

[JimL]

You have just proven you don't know what "obeying" really is.



Fear her? She's not even all there, Jim.

Well maybe your political frauds have you believing that she isn't all there, but they know she's all there, and they are scared to death of her.

[Cow Poke]

Well maybe your political frauds have you believing that she isn't all there, but they know she's all there, and they are scared to death of her.

That's precious, Jim.

[Terraceth]

She will if she wants to have a future in Washington. However corrupt and addled Pelosi might be, she holds a lot of power and can end a young political career with a snap of her fingers.

In what way? Ocasio-Cortez already won--and not in a close victory either--when going up against one of the most "establishment" Democrats in the country (Crowley was Chair of the House Democratic Caucus!), who scored a lot of endorsements from top Democrats and big liberal groups, and outspent her more than 17-to-1. I'm not sure exactly what you think Pelosi is capable of doing that Ocasio-Cortez hasn't already been victorious over.

[Starlight]

I thought this was interesting...

The freshman House Democrats are the most diverse, most female class in history

I saw a stat that percentage of House Republicans who are both white and male has increased to 90%.

I leave you to ponder who percentage of the US is both white and male by contrast, and the extent to which this means the Republican party is now a party of identity politics that runs to the White Evangelical Male identity while the Dems are the party of "everybody else".