General Discussion

QueerDuck

(2,344 posts)

273. Calling for party loyalty isn't a purity test... it's basic political math.

Mon Jul 6, 2026, 10:01 AM

Yesterday

A purity test excludes people or candidates who don't agree 100% of the time. Unity asks us to work together despite our differences so we can actually defeat Republicans.

Framing requests for party cohesion as an effort to "shut down progressives" is absurd. It turns a smart standard strategy for winning into an artificial grievance. Debate is good, but if we don't unite behind the winner, none of our agendas move forward.

When someone conflates a call for unity with a purity test, it totally misses the point of a big-tent party. Purity tests narrow the coalition by creating rigid litmus tests.

It really doesn't help for anyone to falsely claim "victimhood" when merely asked to cooperate. Robust debate during the primary is healthy, but winning the general election requires everyone to show up at the ballot box.

It's as simple as that.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

1 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

SamuelAdams

309 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

We just fucking cannibalize each other fucking ourselves over and over. [View all] boston bean Sunday OP

But I think it's just the word. Run on the platform and people will be fine with it. The policies all poll Scrivener7 Sunday #1

Right on. Run on the principles and ditch the label. Ocelot II Sunday #2

If we must have tags, progressive is as good as any to step to the left of center. Magoo48 Sunday #50

Ditching the label is going to be hard. The reich wing media is running with it like and Olympic sprinter Cheezoholic Sunday #81

Winning is too much for some people. BComplex Yesterday #271

They won three primaries in one of the most liberal cities in the country. SamuelAdams Yesterday #292

Completely agree Lategame Sunday #5

I agree Felicita Sunday #31

All we need to do then, is point out that they are social democrats. BComplex Yesterday #272

I will refer you to post #2. Democrats are winning across the country because - Democrat stopdiggin Yesterday #293

"Social Democrats" blubunyip Yesterday #279

lol - and finally we get to the point. TBF Yesterday #294

It's the damn purity tests. And I won't vote for this or that person because...... boston bean Sunday #7

Purity testing has been the bane of Democrats. Lategame Sunday #13

The " no purity test" talking points angrychair Sunday #41

Umm no. No no no no. boston bean Sunday #54

100%. Thank you. Democrats need to stop blaming others for past failures and adapt to realities. For God's sake, we KPN Sunday #154

It not the discussion we are talking about creeksneakers2 Sunday #160

Calling for party loyalty isn't a purity test... it's basic political math. QueerDuck Yesterday #273

Yes, we "vagina voters." How dare we vote for HRC and VP Harris? mcar Sunday #110

Importantly shore up Social Security as part of a platform. Prairie_Seagull Sunday #24

T H I S ! ! ! Cosmocat Yesterday #287

Additionally Prairie_Seagull Yesterday #304

Too many words. I am sorry but you will say all of these and your listeners eyes will glaze over question everything Sunday #33

I was listing the policies the Social Democrats are pushing (as are most Democrats), not a campaign slogan. Scrivener7 Sunday #43

The problem is not capitalism Soul_of_Wit Sunday #47

I would add to that the: Corruption, Cruelty and Chaos!! Ars Longa Sunday #165

My Economics Professor Who Was A Republican BlueKota Sunday #233

Vulture Capitalism blubunyip Yesterday #281

I hate capitalism I_UndergroundPanther Sunday #187

DSA is not a political party Soul_of_Wit Sunday #45

Looking at it as a big tent is the way for the Dem party to thrive. yellow dahlia Sunday #136

Recommended! hamsterjill Sunday #46

The hardest part isn't the messaging, it's the money mdbl Sunday #68

Your point is valid. hamsterjill Sunday #98

Welcome to the Old Farts Club mdbl Yesterday #261

lol SonOfNebanaube Yesterday #280

The purity tests should end with the primaries mdbl Sunday #80

SELF destructive. And really ignorant. Scrivener7 Sunday #103

+1 leftstreet Sunday #243

Yes, it is just a word. But it's a word that the right will stroke into a frenzy. hadEnuf Yesterday #264

Just "Democrats." We don't need to change our name bc his mouth spewed something. Scrivener7 Yesterday #266

No name change, just a clarification of the truth. hadEnuf Yesterday #268

"A word the right will stroke into a frenzy"....like every other word they stroke into a BComplex Yesterday #274

The word socialist means something more than the usual right-wing litany of insults. hadEnuf Yesterday #305

Neither of us know who this country will or won't elect -misanthroptimist Sunday #3

Because "democrats" didn't vote democratic or didn't vote due to progressive purity. boston bean Sunday #6

You're sick of people voting their conscience? -misanthroptimist Sunday #11

Yes their pure conscience helped bring us us mango Mussolini. boston bean Sunday #15

Really? -misanthroptimist Sunday #22

The two times we lost we had coronations. Gore1FL Sunday #26

Or women candidates Blaukraut Sunday #29

And many who supported Sanders in 2016 voted for Trump. Both offered the same thing question everything Sunday #37

Only those lacking a BS detector would equate Sanders and Donald (n/m) Soul_of_Wit Sunday #42

Not today. But in 2016 many did question everything Sunday #44

And they lacked a BS detector in 2016 (n/m) Soul_of_Wit Sunday #62

How many? Link to a poll, please (nt) muriel_volestrangler Sunday #82

You can read up on it here. sheshe2 Sunday #137

Thank you. My cynicism was wrong. (nt) muriel_volestrangler Sunday #143

Not sure about that. AloeVera Sunday #215

Or you can read a real analysis which shows most of the Trump voters who supported Sanders in Nanjeanne Yesterday #265

Bernie lost the primary because the democratic party wouldn't let him participate in BComplex Yesterday #276

Analyzing how Bernie Sanders supporters voted in the 2016 General Election by Brian Schaffner, Tufts University question everything Sunday #181

Post removed Post removed Sunday #73

Her name is Hillary. mr715 Sunday #77

Also I think if you arent personal friends with somebody, referring to them by their last name is proper SSJVegeta Sunday #84

I prefer Secretary and Senator Clinton. mr715 Sunday #89

Truth SSJVegeta Sunday #91

Huh? TVguyCards Sunday #147

Sanders: "they turned to Trump because Trump said things that made sense." betsuni Sunday #176

I do not believe that either Hillary Clinton or Kamala Harris lost. yellow dahlia Sunday #149

YES!! Yellow dahlia nailed it! BComplex Yesterday #278

Thanks, BC. I have paid so much attention to these two elections since November 2016, yellow dahlia Yesterday #290

And it freaks me out to this day that democrats weren't shouting this from the rafters! BComplex Yesterday #296

Exactly! In 2016 I read an article that raised the alarm about the election results, yellow dahlia Yesterday #302

That is simply false mcar Sunday #115

I agree with you that the nomination should not have been stolen from Bernie. yellow dahlia Sunday #145

The DNC did not rig anything. creeksneakers2 Sunday #174

Sanders: "I wouldn't use the word rigged, because we knew what the rules were -- but what betsuni Sunday #213

That interview w/ Bernie was before the leaked emails that were revealed in July and November 2016. yellow dahlia Sunday #221

Sanders: "If they went into our emails I'm sure there would be statements that would betsuni Yesterday #249

I never said Bernie said there was rigging, but others of us did. yellow dahlia Yesterday #253

What are you talking about? mcar Sunday #220

This is what I am talking about. yellow dahlia Sunday #222

That didn't change the popular vote iemanja Sunday #236

The DNC conspired so that Bernie wouldn't get the nomination, in the primary. yellow dahlia Sunday #240

She got the popular vote in the primary iemanja Sunday #244

The primaries and nomination involve more than just the popular vote. yellow dahlia Sunday #246

I've stated the facts iemanja Sunday #248

The super - delegates are not determined by the will of the people - on the contrary. yellow dahlia Yesterday #250

"Sanders could not have possibly won the nomination after May 3 -- at that point, he needed 984 betsuni Yesterday #259

Hillary Clinton received 3.7 million more votes than Bernie Sanders Quiet Em Yesterday #252

It's about the Super - Delegates. yellow dahlia Yesterday #254

It was fair. It wasn't even close. Quiet Em Yesterday #255

Yes the lawsuit was thrown out, due to lack of standing. The judge said the DNC did indeed undermine yellow dahlia Yesterday #256

The people did pick the nominee. Quiet Em Yesterday #258

Actually, the judge said he "assumed" the plaintiff's positions to determine Nixie Yesterday #307

It's called voting. Conspiracy theories about rigging and plots oppressing "victims" is a problem. betsuni Sunday #186

We lost the Supreme Court because of that "purity". "Conscience" is not the same thing lostincalifornia Sunday #67

The Supreme Court WAS lost due to "purity testing" - just not the way you think. AloeVera Sunday #206

I disagree with your use of the word "fact". yellow dahlia Sunday #139

Best evidence possible creeksneakers2 Sunday #182

The article does not say that Democrats were driven by conscience, and so pissed off that Bernie didn't get the yellow dahlia Sunday #197

Its not the only time it ever happened creeksneakers2 Sunday #199

The point I'm making is - bitter Dems DID NOT cost Hillary Clinton the election. yellow dahlia Sunday #201

I've never seen any evidence of any election fraud. creeksneakers2 Sunday #203

That is not the primary point. The NPR article DID NOT claim that bitter Dems cost Hillary Clinton the election. yellow dahlia Sunday #209

fine creeksneakers2 Sunday #211

NOT a "fact". The republican media brought us to this place, plus billionaires BComplex Yesterday #275

I have to agree with boston bean in that I'm sick of people on our side not understanding what a vote actually is. Scrivener7 Sunday #49

You're going to be sick a long time -misanthroptimist Sunday #58

Require Civics class in high school. Scrivener7 Sunday #99

There are limits -misanthroptimist Sunday #123

Michigan voters who didn't vote chose a bus that took them to Wyoming then blew up with them inside it. Scrivener7 Sunday #125

Hypothetically -misanthroptimist Sunday #132

When that situation arises, we can talk about it. Scrivener7 Sunday #135

Then it wouldn't be hypothetical, right? -misanthroptimist Sunday #141

You do you. Scrivener7 Sunday #142

I'm irrelevant -misanthroptimist Sunday #144

I hope they take a good look at the result of their choice creeksneakers2 Sunday #185

Some will -misanthroptimist Sunday #195

I hope so. creeksneakers2 Sunday #196

Good analogy. I'm in 100% agreement. oasis Sunday #66

But if 100% of the growth is in the suburbs, maybe it's time to extend the circle line. meadowlander Sunday #79

The OP is about something happening now, not "people on our side not understanding what a vote actually is" muriel_volestrangler Sunday #90

I'm concerned about future ones. Because it has happened in every previous one I can think of. Scrivener7 Sunday #100

So you're happy with a pre-emptive "fuck the other people on the left" OP? muriel_volestrangler Sunday #105

I don't really know what you're on about. No, I'm not refighting anything. And that's not how I read the OP. Scrivener7 Sunday #107

"Because it has happened in every previous one I can think of" muriel_volestrangler Sunday #112

Oh it's refighting? It's not just recalling or what one calls remembering? boston bean Sunday #151

Yes, when you accuse your opponents of "cannibalizing" the party, muriel_volestrangler Sunday #156

Some comprehension would be very helpful here. boston bean Sunday #158

Some meaningful writing in the OP would have been very helpful. muriel_volestrangler Sunday #161

Nope. 👎 boston bean Sunday #180

The bus, however, should be free mr715 Sunday #96

It is! That's the beauty! Scrivener7 Sunday #101

That's the best description I've seen buzzycrumbhunger Sunday #108

Love this analogy! mcar Sunday #116

Well done! A very apt analogy! Abolishinist Sunday #198

I voted my conscience in 2016 and 2024 mcar Sunday #114

And I respect your views -misanthroptimist Sunday #127

The people who desert us keep saying that creeksneakers2 Sunday #166

How can they ignore the 5 million people who are losing health care creeksneakers2 Sunday #171

You are indeed free to give you opinion -misanthroptimist Sunday #173

I've never changed a mind creeksneakers2 Sunday #177

Aren't you advocating for more of the same? Renew Deal Sunday #113

Obama was exceptional. Clinton was highly competent BUT had both sides dragging her down, ALONG WITH RandomNumbers Sunday #21

If, in 2006, someone had said... -misanthroptimist Sunday #27

Then you don't remember it well angrychair Sunday #51

I didn't know about PUMAS. I learn something every day. yellow dahlia Sunday #159

But Clinton herself supported Obama after the primary. Very soon after, RandomNumbers Yesterday #284

Die-hard Hillary supporters spawned their own website, too: Rob H. Yesterday #308

This message was self-deleted by its author boston bean Sunday #4

See ya bye orangecrush Sunday #8

Ya think? boston bean Sunday #9

The vocal far left from the big cities is the voice we get labeled with and costs us votes. Melon Sunday #10

"Far left" Mysterian Sunday #124

There is a spectrum of beliefs within every party. Melon Sunday #129

There are no "far left" politicians in the Democratic party Mysterian Sunday #131

No. My beliefs have been very similar since post college with slight adjustments. Melon Sunday #138

According to your post #10, the spectrum in the Democratic party is all the way from "moderate" to "conservative" muriel_volestrangler Sunday #140

Sorry...typing on a tablet. Melon Sunday #148

Thanks - that makes sense (nt) muriel_volestrangler Sunday #150

Why do you think a democratic socialist will be the nominee in 2028? Fiendish Thingy Sunday #12

I am baffled by your forgetfulness of recent history. boston bean Sunday #14

Party unity isn't achieved by the left acquiescing to the centrists Fiendish Thingy Sunday #23

I don't see how affordability creeksneakers2 Sunday #188

I voted for Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton Soul_of_Wit Sunday #38

Which self identified democratic socialist has announced a run for president? muriel_volestrangler Sunday #16

What? boston bean Sunday #17

A quote from the OP, which you wrote: muriel_volestrangler Sunday #20

I haven't seen AOC tear the party down creeksneakers2 Sunday #190

That might be what's behind the OP muriel_volestrangler Sunday #204

I think its about what is going on right here. creeksneakers2 Sunday #205

Not just for that creeksneakers2 Sunday #237

That's a lot of "what ifs" for people to be "sick of this fucking shit" over 2 years before (nt) muriel_volestrangler Sunday #242

Not terribly unlikely ones though. creeksneakers2 Sunday #245

I don't think she could win as president in 2028. She could win US Senate. LeftInTX Sunday #232

They said she might try that. creeksneakers2 Sunday #238

I recommend Xanax. mr715 Sunday #18

Yep, centrism works so well. Oh wait... orthoclad Sunday #19

How do we taste? You're the one doing the cannibalizing. mr715 Sunday #25

I was going to ask what wine i pair best with n/t gay texan Sunday #69

You are a Texan? mr715 Sunday #75

Yes! N/t gay texan Sunday #76

Chianti. AloeVera Sunday #117

Gracious! H2O Man Sunday #28

Agreed. The midterms are crucial. We need to save Democracy. yellow dahlia Sunday #162

Some people are addicted to the drama. Same as it ever was. demmiblue Yesterday #262

Well said Auggie Sunday #30

Can you explain what "this shit" is, then? muriel_volestrangler Sunday #34

Suspect it's Mamdani-backed candidates winning in the New York primaries meadowlander Sunday #39

I agree with " we should be running the candidate that can win the district" muriel_volestrangler Sunday #63

It's "we get smeared with the views of the most extreme amongst us" meadowlander Sunday #70

I agree with you. I'm hoping that someone who recommended the OP muriel_volestrangler Sunday #78

Shit that is going on creeksneakers2 Sunday #194

Thank you for being specific. muriel_volestrangler Sunday #207

Wasn't the case before creeksneakers2 Sunday #210

Word! yellow dahlia Sunday #163

Kamala is talking with Mamdani creeksneakers2 Sunday #191

I never said "this shit." The OP did. Auggie Sunday #85

You said the OP was "well said" muriel_volestrangler Sunday #93

You are wicked sharp orangecrush Sunday #146

Vote on policy duckworth969 Sunday #32

"... contact the centrist of your choice..." Shipwack Sunday #83

Kudos to you for understanding nuance. yellow dahlia Sunday #164

Nope creeksneakers2 Sunday #214

"... contact the centrist of your choice..." Shipwack Sunday #86

And there it is. Exactly what I speak of. boston bean Sunday #130

Yet another OP attacking progressives angrychair Sunday #35

I'm a progressive and I very much agree with OP. W_HAMILTON Sunday #55

The OP is largely refering to primary challenges. Not whether dems are supported. SSJVegeta Sunday #59

The OP was talking about electing a president and not tearing down Democrats. W_HAMILTON Sunday #65

"Tearing down" seemed to mean being democratic socialist. And came with few specifics SSJVegeta Sunday #71

That's not what they want angrychair Sunday #126

Right on! creeksneakers2 Sunday #208

It is the website for you. SSJVegeta Sunday #56

The forum needs you. We need all voices. yellow dahlia Sunday #167

The existential threat to labor and young people by AI and robotics in the next ten years meadowlander Sunday #36

THIS gay texan Sunday #74

Hear! Hear! yellow dahlia Sunday #168

Then after the primaries we should all pull together creeksneakers2 Sunday #216

I think of what popsdenver Sunday #40

I believe the destruction that followed the 2016 election is circumstantial evidence that yellow dahlia Sunday #172

It is pathetic. Have we forgotten 2000, 2016, and 2024? We lost at those critical times lostincalifornia Sunday #48

Democratic voters are being influenced by third parties, such as the Green Party and Party for Socialism and Liberation. LeftInTX Sunday #231

"Destroy" becomes "transform" because it sounds nicer, but it means destroy and punish, ends justify the means. betsuni Yesterday #260

I'm not saying it's right or wrong angrychair Sunday #235

People are told that Democrats aren't progressive -- labeling them establishment/centrist/corporatist, etc. . betsuni Sunday #52

Nobody in the Democratic party was talking about universal health care or raising the minimum wage before Bernie was. meadowlander Sunday #61

No. Ted Kennedy had been saying health care is a right, not a privilege since the '70s. betsuni Sunday #106

Right, except I was alive through all of those election cycles meadowlander Sunday #119

That's because its true creeksneakers2 Sunday #218

And Hillary as First Lady fighting for universal healthcare. boston bean Sunday #226

She was responsible for the Children's Health Insurance Program too, which nobody seems to know. betsuni Sunday #241

Coalition building! yellow dahlia Sunday #175

Really? sheshe2 Sunday #192

I remember Hillary Clinton's proposals for universal healthcare. Nixie Sunday #102

Yes, new definition of universal health care is Medicare for All only as purity test. betsuni Sunday #128

++++ Nixie Sunday #217

Yep. mcar Sunday #118

Vermont was literally the reddest state in the country until it elected Bernie.And it still elects republicans regularly SSJVegeta Sunday #53

Oklahoma, Wyoming, Idaho, Louisiana etc would like a word. BannonsLiver Sunday #183

Um.Most of those states were blue when Bernie was elected in 1990 SSJVegeta Sunday #228

IMHO, Democrats overestimate everything about the voting public:..... ColoringFool Sunday #57

The focus should be on the GOP and not anyone of any persuasion that identifies as a Democrat. walkingman Sunday #60

Word! yellow dahlia Sunday #134

Word! yellow dahlia Sunday #179

thank you - I swear these threads are going to kill us TBF Sunday #234

K & R SunSeeker Sunday #64

"Your views aren't welcome unless you suppress them." David__77 Sunday #72

Touch grass. Stacey Grove Sunday #87

Really! wolfie001 Yesterday #298

America elected FDR to 4 terms IronLionZion Sunday #88

Good rant lefthandedskyhook Sunday #92

FIGHT OLIGARCHY usonian Sunday #94

my beef w them is the blatant antisemitism. mopinko Sunday #95

Netanyahu Gaza genocide of civilians is not acceptable DemocracyForever Sunday #184

propaganda. mopinko Sunday #193

Killing children is propaganda? DemocracyForever Sunday #202

Left Center Right dave99 Sunday #97

Where did this come from? mcar Sunday #121

I agree larwdem Sunday #104

K&R mcar Sunday #109

Thanks for sharing the status quo position. Renew Deal Sunday #111

And we can't just sit by while the fucking Heritage Foundation takes a wrecking ball to our rights and freedoms. Initech Sunday #120

The ONLY winning strategy is voting blue in the general. Buddyzbuddy Sunday #122

I understand where you are coming from and feel/think we should call progressive Democrats, FDR Democrats. cksmithy Sunday #133

"Progressive" orangecrush Sunday #152

Calling someone an "FDR Democrat" is incredibly backward-looking muriel_volestrangler Sunday #153

Yes a progressive is a good thing, all I said is a Democratic socialist, cksmithy Sunday #200

Have to agree blubunyip Yesterday #297

I'm personally a progressive, but also pragmatic. Despite what some people believe, we are basically a Raftergirl Sunday #155

Love your post!!! creeksneakers2 Sunday #157

I remember people here saying Obama would never be elected Skittles Sunday #169

At my job the average age is about 27. Eko Sunday #170

I felt this way 25 years ago. Alice B. Yesterday #267

+1 leftstreet Yesterday #277

... demmiblue Sunday #178

The status quo isn't working DemocracyForever Sunday #189

If you see the political struggle in the US as Left vs Right then you are part of the PROBLEM Tim S Sunday #212

"Democratic Socialists recognize it and want change to rebalance things." Buddyzbuddy Sunday #230

People are eventually going to tire of MAGA policies EnergizedLib Sunday #219

Eventually? mr715 Sunday #223

And do we need Florida to control Washington? EnergizedLib Sunday #224

We need Florida to at least partially sink into the sea... mr715 Sunday #225

I'm watching the Michigan senate race. It looks like El-Sayed will win the primary. LeftInTX Sunday #227

It looks to me more and more that... WestMichRad Sunday #229

yup - and btw Skittles Sunday #239

I don't know if the Democratic Socialist brand is the right thing, but the candidates themselves are who will save us. Music Man Sunday #247

IMO the "socialist" label moondust Yesterday #251

If this is about Chevalier, yeah, she has said some stupid shit in the past Quiet Em Yesterday #257

Agree / disagree 4bonhoffer Yesterday #263

Exactly. The fact that there is even discourse about whether or not the Democrats would be better than what we have now. madibella Yesterday #269

The ratchet analogy is quite illustrative here Orrex Yesterday #270

"I am not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat." krawhitham Yesterday #282

Yadda, yadda, yadda. Here are some basic facts for you indusurb Yesterday #283

This message was self-deleted by its author nankerphelge Yesterday #285

Sure, just hoist the white flag and accept the status quo. Scruffy1 Yesterday #286

We lost Bernie voters to the Idiot in Chief IbogaProject Yesterday #288

Exactly agree! SamuelAdams Yesterday #289

"Hamas slogans"? wolfie001 Yesterday #301

Biden had much narrower Congressional majorities in his first two years because Soul_of_Wit Yesterday #303

Socialism represents public power. Of course Republican and centrists are going to fight this. Fuck em! Emile Yesterday #291

My Social Security check every month is Socialism and I'm still crying about it! Medicare too! wolfie001 Yesterday #300

NO Chi67 Yesterday #295

..... wolfie001 Yesterday #299

I don't understand your logic. CrimsonBight Yesterday #306

"Joe Biden was a great president." Rob H. Yesterday #309