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babylonsister

(172,527 posts) Wed Jul 4, 2018, 04:33 PM Jul 2018

Rhode Island Dems in uproar as party seeks to oust three progressive women [View all]

Rhode Island Dems in uproar as party seeks to oust three progressive women
At the same time, the party is standing by a lawmaker who has been charged with sexual assault and perjury. It also backed a former lawmaker who has been arrested several times.
by Alex Seitz-Wald / Jul.03.2018 / 3:15 PM ET / Updated Jul.03.2018 / 5:18 PM ET

WASHINGTON — As it tries to fend off a progressive insurgency, the Democratic Party in one of the bluest states in the country is facing open revolt after endorsing candidates — including a Trump-voting former Republican — in primaries against three progressive women up for re-election this year.

Progressives across the country say they're fighting an out-of-touch party establishment, but nowhere are the battle lines more clearly drawn than Rhode Island, where the state is run largely by Democrats who oppose abortion rights and get "A" ratings from the National Rifle Association.

The long-simmering fight burst into the open this week after the Rhode Island Democratic Party released its slate of endorsements, which critics say is aimed at punishing three women who ousted old-guard incumbents two years ago.

Meanwhile, the party stood by a lawmaker who has previously been indicted on charges of sexual assault and is accused of domestic abuse, and who is currently under indictment on perjury charges. It also backed a former lawmaker with multiple arrests on his record, including one in 1994 vehicular homicide, over the vice chair of the Rhode Island Democratic Party Women's Caucus.

The endorsements have sparked rebellion in the state, and not just from the left.

more...

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/rhode-island-dems-uproar-party-seeks-oust-three-progressive-women-n888666

46 replies

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Rhode Island Dems in uproar as party seeks to oust three progressive women [View all] babylonsister Jul 2018 OP

Those women need to be applauded and supported, not driven away. CaliforniaPeggy Jul 2018 #1

Hear, hear! GreenPartyVoter Jul 2018 #2

Yes. Sophia4 Jul 2018 #31

This is a disgrace. What the hell have we become? nt Ferrets are Cool Jul 2018 #3

Fuck that shit. Tactical Peek Jul 2018 #4

Finally! The progressive insurgency has arrived! I support it. Tatiana Jul 2018 #5

+1000 smirkymonkey Jul 2018 #6

Me too! +1000! nt scarletwoman Jul 2018 #10

Thanks for posting. I made a donation to all three. SharonClark Jul 2018 #11

As a Rhode Islander bdamomma Jul 2018 #12

I gave Moira Walsh $20 RandySF Jul 2018 #29

Why is the first thing I think -- old white men WhiteTara Jul 2018 #7

How did Rhode Island end up this way ? The state party run by anti choice and NRA thugs ? JI7 Jul 2018 #8

There has been rampant, mafia-tinged corruption in RI politics for decades Tarc Jul 2018 #9

Tarc bdamomma Jul 2018 #13

Rhode Island politics is a weird mix of unions, socially conservative Democrats and corruption hack89 Jul 2018 #45

This is disgraceful. AtomicKitten Jul 2018 #14

Where in California is this supposedly happening? R B Garr Jul 2018 #15

The entrenched establishment Democrats are defying progressive policy AtomicKitten Jul 2018 #16

That is not what happened. No numbers were provided R B Garr Jul 2018 #17

Democrats who take corporate money work for their donors, not the people. AtomicKitten Jul 2018 #18

This is what I'm talking about. Empty insults that R B Garr Jul 2018 #19

A statement of fact is not an empty insult nor an exaggeration. /nt AtomicKitten Jul 2018 #20

It is when you don't provide context mythology Jul 2018 #21

The "context" you've added is your opinion. AtomicKitten Jul 2018 #23

This is another perfect example of biased or omitted "facts" R B Garr Jul 2018 #25

And you ignore the fact that top Democrats in California AtomicKitten Jul 2018 #35

These are just biased talking points, not facts. R B Garr Jul 2018 #36

They are facts. Apparently unpleasant hard cold facts. AtomicKitten Jul 2018 #37

They are not facts. They are your interpretations R B Garr Jul 2018 #42

Ugh, and I see how you completely distort what Democrats R B Garr Jul 2018 #38

Exactly! It was submitted as more of a "values statement". R B Garr Jul 2018 #27

Only facts that support a biased viewpoint are presented. R B Garr Jul 2018 #24

It is true. The established Democratic Party is not listening to younger dissenters Sophia4 Jul 2018 #32

It is not what happened. One man's campaign is not R B Garr Jul 2018 #34

We weren't going single payer we were going the way of Germany. joshcryer Jul 2018 #43

Those are literally things the Republicans have done... joshcryer Jul 2018 #41

Too strong language for someone not in RI. nt greyl Jul 2018 #26

Kick Tatiana Jul 2018 #22

I gave Moira Walsh $20 RandySF Jul 2018 #28

Awesome! I think she will put it to good use. Tatiana Jul 2018 #30

There is ratfucking going on in my state RhodeIslandOne Jul 2018 #33

Of note, Bernie won the Rhode Island primary by around an 11% margin CentralMass Jul 2018 #39

I know RhodeIslandOne Jul 2018 #40

Incredible (but not necessarily surprising given the attacks on liberals/progressives of late). demmiblue Jul 2018 #44

WTF?!?!? Tom Rinaldo Jul 2018 #46