Since September, moderates and progressives in the Democratic party have been working towards finalizing a deal on the two tent poles of the Biden domestic agenda: the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and the Build Back Better Act.
We are not going to retrace the history of all the arguments. Progressives shot for a $3.5 trillion, moderates wanted much less. Negotiations from two members of the Democratic caucus representing each camp—Rep. Josh Gottheimer representing the Centrists and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) for the Congressional Progressive Caucus—resulted in a deal.
They understood after the Nov. 2 election that the current stalemate was no longer tenable. And on a late Friday night, the House passed the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill by a 228-to-206—with 13 Republicans in support and six Democrats voting against.
More importantly, the deal sets a firm date for a vote on the House’s version of the Build Back Better Act—although we have seen those promises like this broken earlier this year.
All of this made us wonder—where is the outrage for the six Squad members who voted against the bill? After all, a national poll last week revealed that if Dems cannot enact the Build Back Better plan, more would blame progressives (40%) than moderates (33%).
We understand each district is different and we trust voters to elect candidates—Democrat or Republican—that best reflect their values. And we know with a slim margin Dems have in Congress makes for having to accommodate every member.
But at what cost? We come to argue that Democrat leadership should no longer support Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jamaal Bowman, Cori Bush, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib—as well as organizations like the Sunrise Movement—and more forcefully, look to find a strong primary opponent to defeat them. In the same week that both Senators from Virginia stated their party sustained significant losses due to the inability to campaign on federal legislation being passed, especially infrastructure, the six voted against the bill and turned their back on President Joe Biden and leaders of their party who told them their vote was needed.
Its is not just us here in North Jersey wondering why the House members voted against a bill that had overwhelming support from their party. The New York Times noted in a story last week about Ocasio-Cortez’s district and her vote against the infrastructure bill, “Even in her New York City district — perceived as one of the most liberal in the nation — there are sharp disagreements unfolding over how far left the party should go and how change is best achieved.”
Let us say this loudly—progressives play an important and large role in driving the agenda of the Democratic party. But the actions of the Squad and their push for far-left policies not in-step with an a majority of Americans created the type of red wave in New Jersey that led to the historic defeat of State Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3).
The Democratic party should invest resources into primary opponents that are more aligned with President Biden’s agenda. After all, Pressley in the 2020 campaign endorsed and actively participated in online fundraising for the liberal bid and of former Glen Rock Councilwoman Arati Kreibich when she ran in the primary against Gottheimer.
We believe that Ocasio-Cortez, Bowman, Bush, Omar, Pressley and Tlaib have a choice—continue to behave like gadfly’s instead of lawmakers and enjoy the view as the minority party in Washington where none of your priorities will be considered nevertheless passed. Or understand that your power to drive the agenda is used best when you see the bigger picture of progress being better than perfection.
If the six Squad members continue to be more concerned about their leftist ideology rather than enacting Democratic policies that will help the U.S. grow and prosper, party leaders are obligated to pursue all opportunities to find a primary opponent that will.
You are welcome to your opinion, but calling them “Democrat” legislators instead of Democratic gives away your bias. I would rather see any of these six in office than any Republican, but I would also like them to realize that if you can’t get the whole package, half is better than none. Still, correcting trumpism is a work in progress; like The Former Guy did, it takes no time to blow things up and a long time to rebuild them.
The Democrats have more than enough on their plate in the 2022 elections to not waste time and resources on seats they control easily.
They seem to be no more interested in destroying our country than anything essential. Garbage in, garbage out.
Climate change is the biggest priority. Infrastructure comes behind, for a simple reason:the best roads will not help us when submerged under flood water. Just dealing with infrastructure is rearranging the chairs on the Titanic deck.
Well Now; Perhaps these 6 public servants See that much 0f this Revival America Bill is a lot 0f Bull 0r’n Porking it’s way thru!! AND; While a few will benefit GREATLY from it; Many More will be looking 0n the 0utside in and won’t reap any Benefit’s from these Billion’s!! These 6 Valiant heroes have restored themselves in the Eye’s 0f the People’s as truly representing them & in the people’s best interest’s..//
Bologna. You deserve crap roads and crap bridges. NJ will greatly benefit from this. The spending will be transparent. I was happy to help pay for New Orleans levee construction that saved the city recently, and I trust honorable Americans will be happy to help pay for the much needed new tunnel under the Hudson that Crisp Crispy, in an act of self loathing canceled. Whatever is wrong with you, get some help. I’m fed up with reading your style of B.S.
The writer of this idiotorial does not understand the district from which AOC comes nor does he understand their strategy. I do no agree with it but to primary these six is to waste money. They know what they are doing and what their constituents want, which are the items in the next bill—things that the rest of the civilized world already has for its citizens
And b’ye the w’ay Rob your grammar and punctuation get you an F. You litter your comment with improper use of apostrophes and semi colons. I suggest a remedial course in grammar and punctuation. It will give your comments greater authority because as is, you come across as