Thank you for this response! I agree with all of it. I’d add one thing, Chrissy failed more than just the people of Coatesville or West Chester. We are all one illness or accident away from relying upon Medicaid. My daughter was born disabled and has been on it and will hopefully remain on it for the rest of her life. Al Greene has done more to protect my daughter than Chrissy has.
“The president was saying he had a mandate, and I was making it clear that he has no mandate to cut Medicaid,” Green told reporters, referring to the health care program used by 80 million Americans. “It’s worth it to let people know that there are some of us who are going to stand up against this president.”
Who criticized me? Some were white people, some were black, and one was a Cuban friend out in California that I called because in the post I didn't publish, I wanted to ask if my assessment (like yours) was that "Latinx" was a term from over-educated whites who ignored that there are many different types of people of Hispanic extraction. She agreed with that, but blasted me for my defense of Chrissy.
As for finding common ground - you'd be AMAZED at how many "progressives" are purists to the point of being unwilling to consider ANYTHING outside of what they see as acceptable.
I am a liberal in the vein of FDR, and the words of JFK. I am not now, have never been, and never will be, a progressive. Last summer I wrote a long post about the differences between liberals and progressives, and I'll try to find it for you.
The problem with progressives is that they cling tenaciously to using terminology like Latinx. They rally behind banners like "Defund the Police" that are not only dangerous for the party, but, when implemented, DO NOT WORK, as they found out in Burlington, VT. If you suggest to them that we need to negotiate for a reasonable solution that we CAN win on, they consider it an abandonment of all values.
I have more to say, and I bet you do, too. It's a good conversation, and potentially together we could find a way to get more people to common ground. I hope that we can set up a phone call because this is important.
I do have more to say. If most people in the party think that yielding some ground is ceding all ground, then we, as a party, are in big trouble. My husband (Trump supporter) reminded me that Trump won the largest minority votes of any Republican candidate in 50 years. (https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-black-voters-gains-results-1982939)
Dems are no longer meeting the needs of racial minorities. Not that I believe Repubs will, but minority voters are tired of being sold a bag of goods that never materializes. After a lackluster Biden presidency and Harris's unfortunate association with that admin, Trump and all his blustering bravado look convincing and appealing. (Con men always do, right?)
If the Democrats remain static and refuse to change or adapt their platform, we will continue to lose elections and people like Trump will remain in power. This is a Code Red, but the Democrats are treating this situation like it's urgent-care level.
There are people who dislike—even HATE—what Trump is doing (a la laid-off federal workers), but what solid alternatives have the Democrats offered those people?
During the run up to the election, I spoke to a lot of people of color. I was "follow up" to initial canvassers. I also watched many focus groups to try and understand.
The biggest messaging problem the Democratic Party has is its inability to speak in sound bites. We want to e-x-p-l-a-i-n. We want to be nuanced and inclusive.
This can be seen in, for example, the GOP line "Harris is for she/her, Trump is for you." That covers all races, and was incredibly effective.
In Hispanic and Black focus groups, what I kept hearing EVEN FROM IMMIGRANTS was that the current immigrants are taking MY job, and the jobs of my friends and family. The worst --> "This crop of immigrants is all criminals. No good people like when we came here."
But my bottom line is that white both black and white women voted for Harris at the same level as they had voted for Biden in 2020, no one else did. And I think a lot of that is due to people's economic frustrations (and believing the "China will pay the tariffs" lie) and the fact that Kamala Harris was a black woman. I think we cannot overlook overt racism as a factor.
Thank you Kassel for your thoughtful and nuanced response to my Substack.
When you talk about standing up for others, it echoes something I've always lived by. I stand up for people of color because I am white. I stand up for LGBTQIA+ people because I am cis and straight. I am a product of NYC in the 60's when the Jews worked with the Black Panthers (yeah, I was a kid, but I used to listen from the next room). My dad carried me as a little kid to civil rights marches. I STAND UP when I see things that are wrong, And yes, I've got stories but I'll spare you. I tell you this because you don't know me, and I wanted to provide some context. I am well aware that I carry privilege because I'm white.
But also, I earned the gravitas I have. And in every instance, I endeavor to use it for good.
On the issue of Chrissy's action. I agree that it was wrong, and I hear your anger and frustration. She has heard it, too. I know this because we've been talking a lot. And that is NOT because we're both white, but because we have a personal relationship that goes back years. One of the things that she is planning to do is call out OTHER breaches of decorum. I know it's not enough, but it's a start.
Posting and then posting to the next several points.
I hope that she understands voting against censure was a necessary, "good trouble" John-Lewis type breach of decorum.
I'll admit, she's got constituents on both sides. It was a lose-lose situation, either way. For? You piss off the people who hate Trump. Against? You piss off the people that agree with Johnson.
As I reflect more on the situation, I'm trying to give Chrissy grace because I'm sure this was a difficult decision for her. However, as a member of the Democratic Party and what it currently stands for (do we even know anymore?), she should've voted against censure in solidarity. In the end, those 10 Democrats handed Johnson a symbolic win. None of the Dems had to vote to censure Green; it would've happened anyway. The vote to NOT censure was also a symbolic gesture.
Many of us feel the gravitas of what is happening around us and voting against censure (which he knew would be the penalty for his actions) would've showed America that all House Democrats will stand against a man acting like a dictator.
I found this Buzzfeed article, and it's a good representation about how people (who support the Dems—including me!) feel like they're watching the DNC leadership disintegrate in real time.
Final note: This censure thing is bigger than Chrissy and 9 other Democrats. It showed the country we're not united and don't know what the hell we're doing. The Republicans are a well-organized machine (like a certain group back in the 1940s). Fractured voters and legislators are not going to defeat that.
I have to interject here. Kassel has provided a well thought and respectful response. She provided her perspective as a woman of color and your response seems dismissive of it because of your history of civic engagement. When Black Americans are taking the time to educate, I think it’s helpful to reflect upon what they are teaching. Rather than bringing the focus back to ourselves.
I IN NO WAY intended anything dismissive -- throughout a number of comments back and forth between Kassel and myself -- I have looked for common ground, because I believe that listening, talking, and working together is how we overcome the current problems. I assume you will find this "dismissive" also - but it is not intended that way - I am ALWAYS willing to learn and to understand.
Thanks, Kassel! I have another Substack to follow!
You're welcome!
Thank you for this response! I agree with all of it. I’d add one thing, Chrissy failed more than just the people of Coatesville or West Chester. We are all one illness or accident away from relying upon Medicaid. My daughter was born disabled and has been on it and will hopefully remain on it for the rest of her life. Al Greene has done more to protect my daughter than Chrissy has.
Which I agree with, which is unfortunate.
“The president was saying he had a mandate, and I was making it clear that he has no mandate to cut Medicaid,” Green told reporters, referring to the health care program used by 80 million Americans. “It’s worth it to let people know that there are some of us who are going to stand up against this president.”
A vote against censure would've been just that.
Who criticized me? Some were white people, some were black, and one was a Cuban friend out in California that I called because in the post I didn't publish, I wanted to ask if my assessment (like yours) was that "Latinx" was a term from over-educated whites who ignored that there are many different types of people of Hispanic extraction. She agreed with that, but blasted me for my defense of Chrissy.
As for finding common ground - you'd be AMAZED at how many "progressives" are purists to the point of being unwilling to consider ANYTHING outside of what they see as acceptable.
I am a liberal in the vein of FDR, and the words of JFK. I am not now, have never been, and never will be, a progressive. Last summer I wrote a long post about the differences between liberals and progressives, and I'll try to find it for you.
The problem with progressives is that they cling tenaciously to using terminology like Latinx. They rally behind banners like "Defund the Police" that are not only dangerous for the party, but, when implemented, DO NOT WORK, as they found out in Burlington, VT. If you suggest to them that we need to negotiate for a reasonable solution that we CAN win on, they consider it an abandonment of all values.
I have more to say, and I bet you do, too. It's a good conversation, and potentially together we could find a way to get more people to common ground. I hope that we can set up a phone call because this is important.
Again, THANK YOU SO MUCH for your post.
I do have more to say. If most people in the party think that yielding some ground is ceding all ground, then we, as a party, are in big trouble. My husband (Trump supporter) reminded me that Trump won the largest minority votes of any Republican candidate in 50 years. (https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-black-voters-gains-results-1982939)
Dems are no longer meeting the needs of racial minorities. Not that I believe Repubs will, but minority voters are tired of being sold a bag of goods that never materializes. After a lackluster Biden presidency and Harris's unfortunate association with that admin, Trump and all his blustering bravado look convincing and appealing. (Con men always do, right?)
If the Democrats remain static and refuse to change or adapt their platform, we will continue to lose elections and people like Trump will remain in power. This is a Code Red, but the Democrats are treating this situation like it's urgent-care level.
There are people who dislike—even HATE—what Trump is doing (a la laid-off federal workers), but what solid alternatives have the Democrats offered those people?
I'll wait.
During the run up to the election, I spoke to a lot of people of color. I was "follow up" to initial canvassers. I also watched many focus groups to try and understand.
The biggest messaging problem the Democratic Party has is its inability to speak in sound bites. We want to e-x-p-l-a-i-n. We want to be nuanced and inclusive.
This can be seen in, for example, the GOP line "Harris is for she/her, Trump is for you." That covers all races, and was incredibly effective.
In Hispanic and Black focus groups, what I kept hearing EVEN FROM IMMIGRANTS was that the current immigrants are taking MY job, and the jobs of my friends and family. The worst --> "This crop of immigrants is all criminals. No good people like when we came here."
But my bottom line is that white both black and white women voted for Harris at the same level as they had voted for Biden in 2020, no one else did. And I think a lot of that is due to people's economic frustrations (and believing the "China will pay the tariffs" lie) and the fact that Kamala Harris was a black woman. I think we cannot overlook overt racism as a factor.
Thank you Kassel for your thoughtful and nuanced response to my Substack.
When you talk about standing up for others, it echoes something I've always lived by. I stand up for people of color because I am white. I stand up for LGBTQIA+ people because I am cis and straight. I am a product of NYC in the 60's when the Jews worked with the Black Panthers (yeah, I was a kid, but I used to listen from the next room). My dad carried me as a little kid to civil rights marches. I STAND UP when I see things that are wrong, And yes, I've got stories but I'll spare you. I tell you this because you don't know me, and I wanted to provide some context. I am well aware that I carry privilege because I'm white.
But also, I earned the gravitas I have. And in every instance, I endeavor to use it for good.
On the issue of Chrissy's action. I agree that it was wrong, and I hear your anger and frustration. She has heard it, too. I know this because we've been talking a lot. And that is NOT because we're both white, but because we have a personal relationship that goes back years. One of the things that she is planning to do is call out OTHER breaches of decorum. I know it's not enough, but it's a start.
Posting and then posting to the next several points.
I hope that she understands voting against censure was a necessary, "good trouble" John-Lewis type breach of decorum.
I'll admit, she's got constituents on both sides. It was a lose-lose situation, either way. For? You piss off the people who hate Trump. Against? You piss off the people that agree with Johnson.
As I reflect more on the situation, I'm trying to give Chrissy grace because I'm sure this was a difficult decision for her. However, as a member of the Democratic Party and what it currently stands for (do we even know anymore?), she should've voted against censure in solidarity. In the end, those 10 Democrats handed Johnson a symbolic win. None of the Dems had to vote to censure Green; it would've happened anyway. The vote to NOT censure was also a symbolic gesture.
Many of us feel the gravitas of what is happening around us and voting against censure (which he knew would be the penalty for his actions) would've showed America that all House Democrats will stand against a man acting like a dictator.
I found this Buzzfeed article, and it's a good representation about how people (who support the Dems—including me!) feel like they're watching the DNC leadership disintegrate in real time.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/michaelabramwell/democrats-singing-on-house-floor-reactions
Final note: This censure thing is bigger than Chrissy and 9 other Democrats. It showed the country we're not united and don't know what the hell we're doing. The Republicans are a well-organized machine (like a certain group back in the 1940s). Fractured voters and legislators are not going to defeat that.
I think you'll like Chrissy's next step - I'm posting about it late morning.
I have to interject here. Kassel has provided a well thought and respectful response. She provided her perspective as a woman of color and your response seems dismissive of it because of your history of civic engagement. When Black Americans are taking the time to educate, I think it’s helpful to reflect upon what they are teaching. Rather than bringing the focus back to ourselves.
I IN NO WAY intended anything dismissive -- throughout a number of comments back and forth between Kassel and myself -- I have looked for common ground, because I believe that listening, talking, and working together is how we overcome the current problems. I assume you will find this "dismissive" also - but it is not intended that way - I am ALWAYS willing to learn and to understand.