Joe Manchin in his op-ed today said he couldn't vote for a bill that he couldn't explain to the voters back home.
The good news, Joe, is that it isn't that hard.
Let me help, drawing a little inspiration from the history of Civil War & Reconstruction.
wvgazettemail.com/opinion/op_ed_…
The good news, Joe, is that it isn't that hard.
Let me help, drawing a little inspiration from the history of Civil War & Reconstruction.
wvgazettemail.com/opinion/op_ed_…
I support pro-democracy measures, Joe Manchin might say—protecting voting rights, #DCStatehood, filibuster reform, &c—because:
1. they're just;
2. they're now made "partisan" by an assault on democracy by the leaders of the other party;
3. that assault hurts my constituents.
1. they're just;
2. they're now made "partisan" by an assault on democracy by the leaders of the other party;
3. that assault hurts my constituents.
What's this got to do with Civil War & Reconstruction?
Before the war, some white Northerners forged an alliance with African Americans, opposing slavery and supporting equal rights on principle—think, abolitionists and Radical Republicans, swayed by argument #1. But ...
Before the war, some white Northerners forged an alliance with African Americans, opposing slavery and supporting equal rights on principle—think, abolitionists and Radical Republicans, swayed by argument #1. But ...
the success of anti-slavery politics depended on winning the support of white Northerners who weren't principled anti-racists.
They needed to be convinced that slavery before the war, and racial restrictions on the suffrage afterwards, hurt *them*—along the lines of argument #3.
They needed to be convinced that slavery before the war, and racial restrictions on the suffrage afterwards, hurt *them*—along the lines of argument #3.
GOP politicians obliged, drawing on ideas developed by abolitionists & Radicals.
They argued that the "slave power" perverted democracy, infringed on the rights of Americans everywhere in the country, and denied access to "free soil" in the territories.
dissentmagazine.org/online_article…
They argued that the "slave power" perverted democracy, infringed on the rights of Americans everywhere in the country, and denied access to "free soil" in the territories.
dissentmagazine.org/online_article…
In 1866, moderate Republicans balked at equal suffrage.
But within a few years, they embraced it as the best means to achieve goals that mattered to them. A stable post-war peace required blocking the return of the pernicious "slave power" in new form.
But within a few years, they embraced it as the best means to achieve goals that mattered to them. A stable post-war peace required blocking the return of the pernicious "slave power" in new form.
https://twitter.com/Stephen_A_West/status/1304131188014092288?s=20
If arguments from principle (#1) don't sway Joe Manchin and his constituents, arguments from interest should (#3).
It's increasingly clear that some mix of pro-democracy reforms are the only way to secure policies on infrastructure, health care, labor, etc. that they support.
It's increasingly clear that some mix of pro-democracy reforms are the only way to secure policies on infrastructure, health care, labor, etc. that they support.
Joe Manchin needs to make that case.
And he needs to accept the reality of #2—that leaders of the other party simply don't want bi-partisanship or compromise.
That was the case in the polarized politics of the Civil War era, and in our politics too.
And he needs to accept the reality of #2—that leaders of the other party simply don't want bi-partisanship or compromise.
That was the case in the polarized politics of the Civil War era, and in our politics too.
To be clear:
This isn't an argument that history is repeating itself—that polarization is as bad now as it was then, or that we're headed for another Civil War.
It's not. We're not.
But there's still a lesson to be learned.
This isn't an argument that history is repeating itself—that polarization is as bad now as it was then, or that we're headed for another Civil War.
It's not. We're not.
But there's still a lesson to be learned.
The success of anti-slavery politics depended on a broad coalition & a range of arguments.
If Democrats succeed today, they'll need both as well.
There's a clear path for Joe Manchin to explain this to his constituents & be part of that success—if he really wants to.
/fin
If Democrats succeed today, they'll need both as well.
There's a clear path for Joe Manchin to explain this to his constituents & be part of that success—if he really wants to.
/fin
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