John,
Did you stay up to watch the debate? It was filled with highs and lows, some important points from multiple candidates, but one theme stood out the most: progressives Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren were pitted against several corporate establishment Democrats -- and they crushed them.
When CNN pushed GOP talking points challenging the feasibility of Medicare for All and the Green New Deal, Bernie and Elizabeth teamed up and passionately fought for the bold policy plans that will actually create a country that works for everyone.
What did the corporate shill dems like Tim Ryan, John Hickenlooper, and John Delaney do? They attacked Medicare for All and advocated for the for-profit insurance companies that are ripping people off, pushing people into debt after hospital visits, and forcing people to choose between paying the rent or affording medication like insulin.
As Mayor Pete Buttigieg pointed out, they used Republican scare tactics and shouted “socialism!” to try and scare Americans away from the kind of changes we so desperately need.
They tried to argue that our progressive values and policies are too extreme and will lead to four more years of Trump. Hickenlooper said that with bold ideas like Medicare for All, debt-free college tuition, a Green New Deal, and other progressive policies, we “might as well Fedex the election to Donald Trump.” That’s bullshit.
The debate moderators didn’t help either, with every question framed as an attack on progressives. They actually asked, “Is Bernie Sanders too extreme to beat Donald Trump?” What kind of question is that?
We see what’s happening here, John: they’re trying to make Democrats question if we’ve gone too far left. And in response to that, we couldn’t agree more with Bernie's and Elizabeth’s responses:
“I don’t know why anyone goes through the trouble to run for president just to talk about what we really can’t do and shouldn’t fight for.” – Elizabeth Warren
“I get a little bit tired of Democrats afraid of big ideas.” – Bernie Sanders
No matter who the Democratic nominee for president is, I can tell you this: Democracy for America will continue to push for the progressive policies that America needs. We will continue to work day in and out to elect progressive leaders up and down the ballot all across the country who aren’t afraid to advance bold plans to fix the problems we’re facing.
We'll do it together. We’re only able to do it with your help, and right now, we’re short on our monthly fundraising goal. With our progressive values on the line as corporate and establishment ‘Democrats’ and Republicans attacking us like never before, will you pitch in $5 or more to support our work?
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Let’s show those on both sides of the aisle that anything less than bold, progressive action is not enough for the American people.
-Charles
Charles Chamberlain, Chair
Democracy for America
