Washington Examiner chief political correspondent Byron York said establishment Democrats are increasingly concerned as socialists gain influence within the party and use Democrats as a path to elected office. “The Democratic Socialists of America, who use the Democratic Party as a vehicle to get on to ballots, to get money, to get connections, to win […]
Liberal comedian Bill Maher on Friday said the rise of socialism in the modern-day Democratic Party is increasingly pushing him towards Republicans, during an interview with Vice President JD Vance. Maher invited Vance on his HBO show, Real Time with Bill Maher, where he complained that major Democrats, including leading socialists, have declined his invitation […]
The doubletalk coming from many congressional Democrats in response to President Trump's peace initiative with Iran has been a political wonder to behold.
Friday, June 26th on RealClearPolitics - Joined by RCP Senior Elections Analyst Sean Trende
WASHINGTON — Capitalist or (democratic) socialist? That’s the question starting to drive a wedge between the moderate and progressive wings of the Democratic Party.Democratic Party leaders say there’s nothing to see here, even after the three progressives New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani endorsed won their primaries earlier this week, which has the party’s leftward flank all but dancing in the streets. “What we are seeing is a shift into a new era of American governance that for the first time is starting to not be governed by that baby boomer generation,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) told congressional reporters Thursday. “I do think that we're starting to see a new time.” On the other side of the political coin, Republican pundits and members of Congress alike are now giddy going into the midterms as they prepare to paint the entire Democratic Party as far-left whackos. “It’s indicative of where the Democrats are going,” Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) told Raw Story. “Their party's more radical.” The pledge dividing Democrats Democratic leaders are trying to downplay their party’s differences, but it’s undeniable that there’s a debate raging amongst Democrats over whether (democratic) socialism is the proper response to two terms of President Donald Trump and the broader MAGA movement. Even before this week’s New York City primary returns, moderate Democratic Reps. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) and Adam Gray (D-CA) signed onto a new Promise to America pledge that declares: “we are capitalist, not socialist.” The pledge itself is dividing Democrats. “I don't even know what that is. I think it's a made-up thing,” Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) told Raw Story. “I honestly have heard zero about this. I have heard zero about it. I do not take it as a serious anything.”Pocan, a chair emeritus of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, dismisses this latest effort by moderate Democrats.“If someone is actually coming up with an idea like that, they have so much extra time that they need to either learn how to knit or something else constructive,” Pocan said. The idea’s real, alright. At last check, there are now 15 signatories to that Promise to America pledge. Screengrab of Promise to America pledgeTen signatories are current Democratic members of the House, while the others are candidates running in battleground districts in Arizona, Colorado, Texas and two in North Carolina. Democratic Party leaders may not want to admit the growing divide in their ranks, but they’re also doing all they can to avoid the “socialist” labels being lobbed from the right. “I'm a capitalist,” Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA), who chairs the House Democratic Caucus, told Raw Story at the Capitol. “So you're not worried about these wins in New York?” Raw Story pressed. “I'm not,” Aguilar said before he explained Democrats’ strategy to regain control of the House by capturing 218 seats nationwide this fall. “Look, our path to 218 didn't have anything to do with, like, those races, so our ability to get the majority is, you know, the same today as it was before New York and so we just got to go win. My assumption is they're going to be members who support the Democratic agenda here.” “Socialists sliding right into communists” Because the three progressives won primaries in solidly blue districts, this week’s New York returns aren’t changing Democratic leaders’ math ahead of November, but it’s a different story on the other side of the aisle. “A wake-up call. We're at the precipice of a movement that has never worked in the history of this country or the world,” Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) told Raw Story. “People need to realize votes have consequences. They're going to destroy New York as California's been destroyed.”While Democratic leaders deny a far-left shift for the party, Republicans argue that having more progressives in Congress will surely impact the party’s agenda should they win this fall.“Socialists sliding right into communists, depending on your political worldview,” Donalds said. “People are saying how this town doesn't work. Well, with people like that coming here, it's going to work even less.”Donalds is running for Florida governor, but he’s still been following the redistricting battles nationwide and says the GOP is well situated going into this fall’s midterms. “I'm feeling good about November,” Donalds said.“Why?” Raw Story asked. “Well, I mean, are Democrats motivated? Yeah, they are,” Donalds said. “But I also think that, you know, for Republican voters, you know, we largely accomplished a good chunk of what the president set out to do when he ran two years ago.”Like most card-carrying Republicans, Donalds is banking on his party being buoyed at the polls by Trump’s migration crackdown and economic growth. But he’s smiling.“I think voters want to have common sense in their government,” Donalds said. “We'll be fine.” More moderate Republicans who are perennial targets of Democrats aren’t so bullish, though.
Conservatives turn to birthright citizenship case after sweeping democratic socialist wins
As Gavin Newsom’s governorship enters its final chapter, his eyes are no longer fixed on Sacramento.
