From remains an unabashed centrist who believes that economic growth, not the economic populism of Sanders or Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, is the answer. “It’s important the critical mass in the Democratic party show that it’s the party of opportunity, responsibility and community but not the party of the left,” he insists.

He also argues that the party should not be afraid to talk about law enforcement and developing a system of community policing rather than urging “defund the police”. Likewise it should embrace the idea of legal immigration and a border that is under control. From applauds governors who have made jobs available to people without college degrees.

  • WeUnite@lemm.ee
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    4 days ago

    I read the article and it doesn’t really seem that bad. What he says is this:

    “Basically what the party needs is some sort of a force – whoever it is – of people who are perceived as future leaders going out and saying: this is what we want this party to stand for. I did it in the 80s and 90s. They can decide what’s appropriate for the 20s and 30s.”

    He’s not telling us how he wants the party changed, he’s just calling for a big visible change in the party that will help us win elections again.

    • pjwestin@lemmy.world
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      4 days ago

      Except you’re glossing over the parts where he insists that being centrist and courting moderates, AKA the strategy Democrats have been losing with since 2000, was the path forward:

      From remains an unabashed centrist who believes that economic growth, not the economic populism of Sanders or Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, is the answer. “It’s important the critical mass in the Democratic party show that it’s the party of opportunity, responsibility and community but not the party of the left,” he insists.

      “The Democratic base alone is not enough to win elections, he warns. The party needs to reach moderate voters in the suburbs who “love the compassion” of the Democrats but question whether they have the “toughness to govern” as well.

      Every pundit is saying the same stuff he’s saying about working on the party’s communication, finding fresh faces for leadership, winning back the working class, etc., but he’s being dragged back out to push centrism and remind everyone of the one time this strategy payed off in the 90s. I mean, he’s literally saying they should, “not [be] the party of the left,” after Harris got her ass handed to her with a centrist campaign. It’s absurd.

      • ikidd@lemmy.world
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        4 days ago

        It’s already considered the party of the left by everyone except the left. They might as well lean in, because the centrists aren’t going to vote for them anyway, apparently.

        • pjwestin@lemmy.world
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          4 days ago

          Exactly. They’ve called literally every Democratic candidate in the last 20 years a radical socialist. They might as well run on some socialist positions, since some of them (for example, HEALTHCARE) seem real popular right now.

      • WeUnite@lemm.ee
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        4 days ago

        I get what you’re saying there. I should have read the article closer. Yes, you’re right about that.