The Ultimate Self-Own
A few days ago I read an eye-opening article written by a Sanders organizer who basically asserted that there was really nothing the Democratic Party could do to get them to vote for Biden. His view was that the “party establishment” robbed them of victory on Super Tuesday by pressuring Pete and Amy to drop out, and that this was an intentional move to stop Sanders’ momentum. Let’s be honest, it’s probably true.
Here’s a basic truth: THERE IS such a thing as the party “establishment.” There are deep and historic ties between elected officials and key donors and influencers. There are critical endorsing entities, such as unions and super PACs. There are levers that get pulled, pressure that gets exerted and favors that get exchanged. Party entities and leaders don’t just raise money, they determine where and on whom it is spent.
It is also true that THERE IS a huge group of loyal Dem voters who always show up in primary elections, and generally move in the direction they believe to be most likely to succeed in the general election, often less inspired by who they DO vote for, than worried by some perceived weakness in who they DON’T vote for. In between, there are voters moved by local issues national issues, gender, race, age, or other affinity, and those who simply follow the lead of their parent, spouse or best friend. Some voters are inspired by a candidate’s vision while others simply vote for whoever wins the nomination.
This is the reality of the Democratic Party. Bernie, of all candidates in recent memory, did the best job of mitigating the Party’s institutional influence by building a formidable army of supporters and dedicated donors. If ever there was a candidate who could stare down “the establishment” it was he. In the end, the dedicated reliable traditional Dem primary voters went back home to what they trusted. And sadly, this has caused some to now believe that their top priority is to DESTROY the Democratic Party.
Problem is, the Democratic Party, in all is variations and flaws, in its imperfections and injustices, is all that stands between us and the abyss of white supremacist authoritarianism that has completely taken over the GOP. The Republicans are NOT playing to win elections. They are playing to STOP fair elections from ever happening again, because demographics simply no longer work in their favor. In twenty years, the GOP won’t be able to win elections anywhere but in the reddest of red districts. Hampering real democracy is now mission-critical for them.
The COVID chaos is giving Trump all the distraction, cover, and excuse he needs to take ever-more dangerous steps towards dictatorial control. And the Democratic Party is the last barrier to keep him from succeeding. So if there are people who think the way to a more just and equitable America is to undermine the Democrats and help the most immoral and dangerous wannabe dictator in recent American history gain more power, they are deluded beyond redemption.
NOW is the time for EVERY rational, decent patriot to table any and every excuse, intra-party feud, personal slight, policy beef, local dispute, long-standing grudge, or other priority, and put their ENTIRE EFFORT into removing Trump and his enablers from power. It IS Up 2 Us, and it WILL TAKE ALL OF US (socialist, progressive, centrist, moderate, independent, ex-Republican, libertarian, Green or nothing at all).
If we fail to do so, we won’t just lose the election. We risk losing the mechanisms to have and win any fair election in the future, which to my mind is the ultimate self-own.