I am absolutely amazed at the extent to which so many voters cede all power to the politicians they like; as if making demands or even asks of them is somehow offending them or being mean or demanding. Power concedes nothing without a demand. The civil rights movement demanded.
They marched on JFK in 1963 — that wasn’t a match FOR him. MLK and @repjohnlewis marched in Selma to demand MORE from LBJ AFTER he delivered on civil rights. Anti-war protesters consisted of people who likely voted for Johnson. BLM contorted President Obama and demanded change.
Immigration and LGBT activists went at the Obama administration and made demands and got DACA and the end of DOMA and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Since when was it liberal orthodoxy to not ask for anything and just wave the pom-poms for fear the candidate might feel alienated ??
President Obama used to say this all the time: you want me to do something: make me do it. Push me and then elect me a congress that can get you what you want. That’s called politics...
I am astounded hearing the shushing rhetoric when it comes to demands by black women. Y’all realize that is the job of activism, right? To make demands of the politicians whom you can actually negotiate with...? Who should folks make demands of? Honest question.
I can assure you progressives are making demands of the Biden campaign. Environmentalists are. Unions are. Are some of y’all arguing in all seriousness that black voters, especially Black women who basically carry the party, must meekly ask for nothing??
No demands? Just let him pick who he wants and like it! So what if the pick dampens turnout? The awfulness of the candidate on the other side never guarantees turnout. That is not how turnout works. And that is not even counting a pandemic plus the power of incumbency.
Similarly when it comes to congressional Dems. Of course progressive leaders like @RevDrBarber, activists and progressive reps are pushing for more in the bills and decrying what’s left out. That is what activism IS. Demands rooted in a commitment to the people and not politics.
So long as we’re taking about reasonable things that a candidate or politician can do or propose within their power, and not just random sabotage, there is nothing wrong with making demands of politicians. Thought I’d throw that out there on a Sunday night as food for thought.
