Ocasio-Cortez on Biden endorsement: 'We'll see'

[The Magistrate]

49. If Her Goal, Ma'am, Is To Advance Left And Progressive Policies In Our Country

She is making a very bad mistake. One the left has been making for a long time. Every time the left makes clear it cannot be relied on for support in the coalition that constitutes the Democratic Party, the left loses more influence. When the threat of withholding support actually does result in defeat for the Party, the result is not that the rest come hat in hand to the left apologizing and asking what they can do to make their error right. Rather it is simply dislike, even hatred for leftist factions which act as saboteurs, and a resolve to find more reliable voters elsewhere. Which means moving further towards the center. Even by the loosest definition, the 'progressive left' constitutes no more than a third of the Party's primary electorate. From such a minority share, posturing as the 'base' of the Party, or proclaiming 'we are the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party' is worse than futile. It is destructive and alienating, particularly when the threat of withholding support in elections lurks always in the background. The base of the Party are those who can be relied to vote for its candidates, come hell or high water.


"Defeat of a hated enemy is something to be for."