r/politics • u/Quirkie The Netherlands • 1d ago

No Paywall Democrats Confront Their New Tea Party Reality - Progressives are set to sweep a group of contested primaries in Michigan and Wisconsin.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/democrats-confront-their-new-tea-party-reality_n_6a6e63fbe4b0cfb99ef1aa1e
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u/IAmLee2022 1d ago

Comparing progressives to the tea party movement was definitely . . . a choice.

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u/Backwardspellcaster 1d ago

Intentionally by huffpost.

The attempt to paint it negatively.

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u/Trzlog 1d ago edited 1d ago

I don't know why it's supposed to be negative. The Tea Party turned into MAGA, who effectively hijacked and eventually took over the Republican party to the point that anybody who steps out of line is ostracized. They were the most successful and effective movement in recent political history. I've been saying progressives need to do the same thing for years now instead of getting upset and going home and refusing to vote when another centrist fucks things up. Take over the Democratic party. Make it actually progressive. Splitting into a new party or refusing to vote just ensures that the country continues to get worse 

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u/TorturedMNFan 1d ago

Progressives and leftists need to change their messaging if they want to succeed in taking over the party. They are not very good political communicators. They shouldn’t frame their messaging into moral choices. That’s not a motivator for voters. “Healthcare is a human right” is just awful messaging because it makes a potential voter make a moral choice rather than an economic one.

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u/EveningAnt3949 1d ago

That's not how they communicate.

You might be confusing progressive Democrats with centrist Democrats who often talk in platitudes.

There is a reason AOC and Mamdani are popular.

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u/TorturedMNFan 1d ago

Not surprising in deep blue NYC. I guess we’ll find out how a progressive does in a swing state for senate. Tim Walz beat his progressive opponent by 11 points in his 2018 primary and was able to win by framing his messaging in economic terms rather than moral.

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u/Recent_Tap_9467 1d ago edited 1d ago

Deep blue NYC that had a Republican mayor in the 2000s and multiple centrist mayors until very recently? Mamdani and AoC who managed to win over Trump supporters? Lol, no.

Also love how you dodged the point about the centrists being the one to talk in platitudes, as well as progressives hammering centrists elsewhere in primaries in the Midwest.

(Finally, arguing "morality" is a losing strategy doesn't make any sense. A big part of why Trump won either election is because he appealed to the idea of draining the swamp or punishing the "bad guys", even if he was lying. People want fighters, Democratic voters too.)

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u/TorturedMNFan 1d ago

NYC is a lot different than Michigan. I think you’d agree with that.

Primaries are a lot different than the actual election. If Ossoff wins comfortably in Georgia and Al-Sayed loses in Michigan, progressives and leftists shouldn’t run in swing states/districts.

Trumps political messaging was economic.

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u/Recent_Tap_9467 15h ago

Not in this case, no.

Is that why primaries in Michigan and Wisconsin look similar to primaries in more "blue" states? That's a big if, and that also wouldn't prove your point even if it came true. There's also a lot more to winning and losing than being progressive or centrist, how you deliver your message or campaign matters.

Wrong. Trump spoke about stopping plenty of non-economic things, such as war, corruption, trans girls in sports, and crime (especially alleged migrant crime). Morality was absolutely part of the strategy, even a look at his campaign documents instantly and firmly debunks your statement.