The Naked Truth/Jamala Rogers
Stakes for Midterm Elections Grow Higher
In my previous column, I pushed for the election of Francesca Hong as a path to resuscitating a democracy on life support. I criticized the Democratic Party elites for always defaulting to the status quo and being tone-deaf to the literal cries of their constituency for economic relief and political freedom. Working people in this country are suffering under the MAGA regime and are desperately looking for candidates who fight for the working class and defend our democracy.
These are the processes and behaviors of the Democratic Party that I find despicable. I urge you to observe when and how it makes decisions, and for whom. Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley narrowly defeated state Rep. Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist whose campaign effectively addressed affordability issues. At some point, polls had Hong some 30 points ahead of Crowley.
Under Wisconsin law, Hong could have asked for a recount given the election margins. Who knows? Maybe she would’ve emerged as the victor. Instead, Hong immediately conceded, endorsed Crowley, and joined him on the campaign trail. She opted to help build a united front against the right to defeat MAGA-inspired Congressman Tom Tiffany. For me, this affirmed her character as a person, not just as a candidate.
Now, recall that Crowley was forced to suspend his campaign due to low poll ratings and diminishing funds. Crowley was on his way to chill in Jamaica with no interest in how he could contribute to the fight against Tiffany. Crowley was called back into the race by the state Democratic Party elites with promises of financial support and critical endorsements, the first big one coming from outgoing governor Tony Evers. This affirmed his character as a person, not just as a candidate. Time will tell how Governor Crowley will show up for Wisconsinites.
What I'm saying is that voters must be observant of all the nuances and cues that tell us about what manner of person we’re dealing with as a candidate. Enough of just what they say during a campaign; we’ve been fooled too often by that singular criterion. What are their values in real life, how do they treat people, how do they conduct their business, what do people in the community think about them? We should incorporate questions about character into discussions regarding electability.
Angie Nixon, also a DSA candidate, won big time in red Florida. Nixon faced whistleblower Lt. Col. Alex Vindman, who played a key role in Trump’s first impeachment. Democratic bureaucrats believed that Vindman’s reputation and status would give him a decisive edge over Nixon. Her hard work over the years for working families canceled out the 20-1 fundraising dominance that Vindman enjoyed. Let’s see if Vindman endorses Nixon and shares some of his war chest with her. Let’s see if the Florida State Democratic Party rallies around Nixon’s candidacy for a victory over Tiffany.
The November election should not just be about individual candidates. It must be about candidates who bring their full positive selves and vision into public office. It must be about a new direction for the country, one that is unapologetically inclusive of the beauty of all its people, not just the few.