You know what I’ve always admired about the United States? We’re one of the most culturally mixed countries in the world. Our diversity is our strength. This doesn’t always work out in practice, to put it mildly, but the fact that so many of us are immigrants or descendants of immigrants from such a variety of places is something I’ve always been proud of as an American.
The same is true for the modern Democratic Party. It’s a big tent, and has room for people of all races, creeds, and colors. It also has room for people with different ideological stances. Some Democrats emphasize economic issues. Some Democrats emphasize social issues. Most are somewhere in the middle. But we are far better off as one party. (Just take a look at the UK, where the economic issues/social issues divide has absolutely splintered the left — literally into two separate parties. If Labour and the Lib Dems were one party, they’d have a chance against the Tories. As is they’re totally screwed).
We need each other. And that means that people who are focused, right now, on excluding others from the party — on shrinking our tent rather than growing it — are doing a massive disservice. In fact, they’re doing Trump’s work for him.
Let’s be clear about what I mean, on two fronts.
The Democratic coalition has to have room for people like Bernie Sanders. Absolutely has to. He is a strong voice for economic justice. He can be tone-deaf on social issues, but he is good at articulating fundamental Democratic economic policy, and also at communicating with a particular subset of traditionally Democratic voters that we need in the party. To emphasize his distance from the party, rather than what he and the party have in common, is to widen a divide within our coalition at a time when we can’t afford it.
That said, the Democratic coalition and progressive movement absolutely have to have room for people like Jon Ossoff. Sanders, today, said that Ossoff is not a progressive. This was a foolish thing to say, one which makes unity and mutual respect between the various intra-party factions harder rather than easier. Especially because Ossoff is progressive, especially on social issues. In fact, he’s far more progressive in many ways than a candidate Sanders is campaigning with tomorrow — Heath Mello, for Omaha mayor, who actually sponsored an anti-choice fetal ultrasound bill. Given Ossoff’s opponent, he is likely going to spend the campaign in full-voiced defense of Planned Parenthood and a woman’s right to choose. He deserves better than to be attacked from the left when he’s standing up for progressive values.
Right now, we should be drawing lines around the Democratic party and the liberal coalition, not within them. This means no one gets kicked out. Not Ossoff — he’s not as progressive as some want him to be on economic issues, but he’s fighting on the right side 90% of the time. And not Sanders — whether he screwed up today or not, he’s our 90% ally as well. I don’t have a high opinion of his comments, but some of the anti-Sanders stuff I’ve seen today is far too harsh on someone who’s been a vocal and consistent advocate for critical progressive issues.
This tent’s big enough for all of us, and that’s one of the best things about our party. It’s what’s going to sustain us through the wilderness. Let’s recognize that and act accordingly.