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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCentrist Democrats in Maryland Side with Republican Governor Over Progressive Democrat
A revoltin' development (pun intended).
Some centrist Democrats in Maryland are so afraid of Democratic gubernatorial nominee Ben Jealous platform that theyre choosing the current Republican administration.
Last week, The Washington Post reported that top-ranking Democratic officials in Maryland are either refusing to endorse Jealous the former NAACP president who easily beat his closest rival in the Democratic primary by nine points or are siding with Governor Larry Hogan (R), who is battling for re-election in the traditionally blue state.
https://gritpost.com/centrist-democrats-maryland/
Bleacher Creature
(11,257 posts)How can we possibly let Hogan get a second term?
elleng
(130,973 posts)JI7
(89,252 posts)Algernon Moncrieff
(5,790 posts)"Martin O'Malley even taxed the rain."
Hogan is from a Republican political family, and (like Erlich and Steele) came at the campaign as an anti-tax, pro gun, social moderate. He more or less keeps his distance from Trump. The way Maryland has worked for the past 40 years or so is that the Bal-Wash corridor has voted Dem, and the less populous panhandle and Eastern Shore vote Republican. However, Hogan has done a really good job appealing to white suburbanites, and managed to win both Howard and Baltimore Counties (as opposed to the City of Baltimore).
Jealous will win PG County and Baltimore City and most likely Montgomery County - but that may be it unless he gets the rest of the party on board.
elleng
(130,973 posts)'Maryland gubernatorial nominee Ben Jealous needs all the help he can get to unseat incumbent Gov. Larry Hogan (R), but hes facing resistance from some fellow Democrats uneasy with his left-wing platform.
Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett is declining to endorse Jealous for now because of concerns that Jealouss positions on taxes, school funding and Amazon.coms second headquarters would penalize Leggetts constituents in the states most populous jurisdiction.
Long-serving Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert), an influential moderate, offered only tepid backing for Jealous while praising Hogan for governing from the middle.
Other top Maryland Democrats, while voicing strong support for Jealous, disagree with him on issues such as his support for state-based, single-payer health care.'>>>
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/leggett-not-ready-to-endorse-jealous-some-other-democrats-are-tepid/2018/07/26/3031eafe-8f7c-11e8-8322-b5482bf5e0f5_story.html?
No DUers responded.
PDittie
(8,322 posts)in 'Maryland' prior to posting mine.
Somehow you'd think there would be a greater level of condemnation expressed at Democrats who support Republicans in this forum.
elleng
(130,973 posts)Last edited Wed Aug 1, 2018, 08:19 PM - Edit history (1)
there's already enough of it.
PDittie
(8,322 posts)It's a just a crine-ass shame to be continually reminded that condemnation is a one-way street.
JI7
(89,252 posts)unless they are United states senators and house reps.
Docreed2003
(16,863 posts)Disgusting
elleng
(130,973 posts)'Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett is declining to endorse Jealous for now because of concerns that Jealouss positions on taxes, school funding and Amazon.coms second headquarters would penalize Leggetts constituents in the states most populous jurisdiction.
Long-serving Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert), an influential moderate, offered only tepid backing for Jealous while praising Hogan for governing from the middle.'
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10562444
Docreed2003
(16,863 posts)I can understand policy differences, but to threaten to support the republican instead??
onecaliberal
(32,864 posts)emulatorloo
(44,131 posts)Sounds like mostly older has-beens who arent currently in office/havent been in office for years. Also sounds like Jealous campaign is confident it is irrelevant to voters and it wont matter.
Looking forward to Jealous victory.
elleng
(130,973 posts)'Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett is declining to endorse Jealous for now because of concerns that Jealouss positions on taxes, school funding and Amazon.coms second headquarters would penalize Leggetts constituents in the states most populous jurisdiction.
Long-serving Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert), an influential moderate, offered only tepid backing for Jealous while praising Hogan for governing from the middle.'
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10562444
emulatorloo
(44,131 posts)First two sentences of WAPO article
Many have not held office in years.
Then they go on to quote their first example
Later in the story
WAPO is a credible source, but if you find their article inaccurate, take it up with them.
At any rate I agree with the spokesman from Jealous campaign:
Harris dismissed the list as a gimmick and noted that Republican former governor Robert L. Ehrlich rolled out a list of 26 Democratic supporters during his unsuccessful 2006 reelection campaign. But this years general election is more than three months away, and Hogan has already exceeded that number.
elleng
(130,973 posts)NOT an accurate characterization that they have not held office for years, and while 'mostly white' may be accurate, not Ike Leggett: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isiah_Leggett
emulatorloo
(44,131 posts)elleng
(130,973 posts)I posted this later one, published July 27: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/leggett-not-ready-to-endorse-jealous-some-other-democrats-are-tepid/2018/07/26/3031eafe-8f7c-11e8-8322-b5482bf5e0f5_story.html?
WaPo confused? Deliberately confusing MD readers?
emulatorloo
(44,131 posts)I do similar with sources like RawStory, because I always like to see the original articles rather than reading a summary in an op-ed type piece.
Thanks for the newer article. Appreciate it!
elleng
(130,973 posts)Blue_true
(31,261 posts)As County Executive, he has a lot of tax and money issues to deal with. I can see how he needs to become comfortable with a new plan.
elleng
(130,973 posts)(even tho I technically live in his large, wealthy county,) he appears to be a cautious person. (Haven't followed him closely because I also live in a different county, south of his, and more conservative.)
aidbo
(2,328 posts)Hassin Bin Sober
(26,330 posts)Jake Stern
(3,145 posts)I thought Dems were supposed to support DEMS and NOT the Republican.
BannonsLiver
(16,396 posts)Jealous has virtually zero chance of winning in November. Hes goimg to be pummeled.
grantcart
(53,061 posts)How has he done so far?
Tarheel_Dem
(31,235 posts)regnaD kciN
(26,044 posts)...when the "DEM" is an establishment centrist.
RandySF
(58,900 posts)If Abdul wins with his scorched-earth campaign against Whitmer.
Gothmog
(145,321 posts)melman
(7,681 posts)unconditional support MATH crowd to weigh in on this. I suspect I'll be waiting a while.
emulatorloo
(44,131 posts)You are surrounded by left-liberals and progressives here.
theaocp
(4,241 posts)Likely, it means many vocal members here can express their disdain for these Democrats who would support a Republican over Jealous, should they choose. It they don't, it wouldn't be very surprising. That's my read of it.
emulatorloo
(44,131 posts)Thanks for the clarification, appreciate it!
JI7
(89,252 posts)Blue_true
(31,261 posts)You have guys in the late seventies and eighties who were in office in the seventies and eighties. Just remember that around ten plus years before they were in office, Maryland was BIG George Wallace country. They are of their time, when there was not a diverse Democratic Party in the state.
Squinch
(50,955 posts)lapucelle
(18,275 posts)They have a candidate who ran in Republican primary earlier this year, and one of their candidates in Tennessee will be running against the Democratic candidate (as an Independent) in the GE in November.
joshcryer
(62,276 posts)Easy enough to disprove this absurd smear. WTF...
DU spent the better part of a decade smearing Obama and calling him all sorts of trash. If only Clinton won and the new policies against bashing the President took effect...
(Skinner made an epic post, assuming a Clinton win, where he said he wouldn't tolerate any more bashing of the Democratic President on DU.)
RandiFan1290
(6,237 posts)I remember the bitter losers in the PUMA gang. They never got over losing the primary.
mythology
(9,527 posts)emulatorloo
(44,131 posts)Dunno the majority of DUer are excited about his primary win.
Squinch
(50,955 posts)lapucelle
(18,275 posts)Perhaps Leggert feels that Jealous needs to earn the endorsement, and I'm sure Ben will inspire him sufficiently to do so. Jealous is a great candidate.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/leggett-not-ready-to-endorse-jealous-some-other-democrats-are-tepid/2018/07/26/3031eafe-8f7c-11e8-8322-b5482bf5e0f5_story.html?utm_term=.69cf94a4c079
George II
(67,782 posts)"Leggett is declining to endorse Jealous for now"!
betsuni
(25,537 posts)by being a transformative and inspiring candidate.
Cha
(297,314 posts)ehrnst
(32,640 posts)Hassin Bin Sober
(26,330 posts)And you are OK with this?
peggysue2
(10,832 posts)suppose to mean? You think anyone calling that WE ALL vote for the Democrats on the November ballot are yanking some hypocritical chain?
This is Democratic Underground, right? Presumably we're all Democrats, facing the most consequential election of our lifetimes.
I'm not a Maryland resident so I can't vote in the state's election. But if I were, yes I would vote for Jealous because he has a "D" next to his name.
And btw, it is all about the MATH, how many asses we manage to seat. Nasty snark won't do anything to advance the Democratic Party or the progressive policies on anyone's menu.
Your comments are insulting.
Cha
(297,314 posts)lapucelle
(18,275 posts)who needs all hands on deck for the midterms.
betsuni
(25,537 posts)George II
(67,782 posts)Squinch
(50,955 posts)for anyone but the Democrat?
If so, first you're dead wrong. Second, why don't you come out and say what you're saying? Are you embarrassed to?
betsuni
(25,537 posts)0rganism
(23,957 posts)net popularity +51, that's going to be damn near impossible to beat, good luck
PDittie
(8,322 posts)A compelling strategy in a Clinton +27 state.
And a hearty good luck to you as well!
JI7
(89,252 posts)of voting for republicans for governor even if they are solid blue .
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)And unless something change, he will win reelection on the same night Liz Warren wins reelection to the US Senate.
JI7
(89,252 posts)Blue_true
(31,261 posts)Four years ago, it was all democrats there.
Some here will be made at me. The thing that hurt democrats at the go governor level in Vermont was the democratic governor there trying hard to get single payer implemented there. The state needed $2-3 billion seed money and Bernie chose to sit out the effort (I think his words were "I don't know what they are doing in Vermont" , after that effort failed badly due to lack of money, some legislative seats were lost and a republican elected governor.
JI7
(89,252 posts)and in trying to stop a republican from winning in his own state.
DFW
(54,405 posts)There was a big article in the Boston Globe about them complaining that he acted too much like a Democrat. If you have to live with a Republican governor, then it's best to have one that Republicans make THAT complaint about.
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)DFW
(54,405 posts)So how do you figure that?
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)I am convinced that a female democrat versus a republican of any sex simply have to clearly outwork the republican on the stomp to insure a win, that means virtually living on the trail, hitting small towns and big cities. When the democrat lost in 2014, she did not do that and just lost. BTW, wasn't Jill Stein on that gubernatorial ballot?
elleng
(130,973 posts)JI7
(89,252 posts)maybe we can stop with that bs argument.
stuffmatters
(2,574 posts)I've always been a big admirer of Ben Jealous, a staunch progressive with a serious gift for clear, effective framing & messaging during his tenure at NAACP. Always hoped he would seek higher political office within our Party.
It's agonizing to think that any Dems in power in Md are turning against any well qualified Party nominee, but, holy cow, a former head of the NAACP!!! What's next on their agenda for attacking our vital coalition .. sabotaging a former head of Planned Parenthood if she gains a Dem political nomination?
PDittie
(8,322 posts)Except, you know, the opposite of that.
Tennessee Democrat Hoping to Flip U.S. House Seat Opposes Reproductive Rights
https://rewire.news/article/2018/08/01/tennessee-democrat-hoping-to-flip-u-s-house-seat-opposes-reproductive-rights/
Barlow offered specifics about her views in a statement to Rewire.News. I oppose abortion except in cases of rape or life of the mother. I support the Hyde Amendment which prohibits federal funding of abortion. I also oppose physician assisted suicide, she said. Taking human life is fundamentally incompatible with the role of a healer. During my medical education, training and practice, Ive cared for patients in all stages of life and in all stages of pregnancy. I have a deep respect for human life in all its stages from the womb to the tomb. True reproductive justice will never be achieved as long as we refuse to acknowledge the basic fact that a human fetus is a human being.
When it comes to policies she supports, Barlow pointed to the Pregnant Women Support Act Pregnancy Assistance Fund. According to DFLAs website, it is one of the organizations proudest accomplishments and was introduced in Congress in hopes of reducing the number of abortions. Barlow said she would work to improve the economic situation of women via support for raising the Federal Minimum Wage, support legislation for paid parental benefits, support Child Care For Working Families Act, support universal preK and support funding for before/after school programs.
...
She did not directly answer questions about whether she would support funding for Planned Parenthood or if she would seek to restrict abortion access if elected.
The Tennessee Democratic primary is tomorrow.
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)Both of the leading candidates in the race, if I read the article right, seem to agree on everything but abortion, the minister is pro choice and the doctor is anti choice. I don't know how democrats in the district lean, so I don't know which woman's view on choice has the stronger appeal there. We do have at least one US Senator who is anti choice, but on everything else, he is pretty solid. Even if the doctor makes it to the US House (which could be a distinct possibility if she wins the primary), she is just one vote on choice issues, she seem set to vote with republicans on choice and with democrats on everything else (pay, minimum wage, PreK, ect). I prefer the minister to win the primary and the general, but recognize that the doctor could well win the primary and possibly the General (either woman can win the General).
Jake Stern
(3,145 posts)If she supports it yet claims to "respect life" then it proves she's full of shit.
honest.abe
(8,678 posts)He often speaks out against Trump. He was critical in pushing through the Purple Line public trans project that had been stalled forever. He also signed some legislation that provides more grants for education. Also, he has a personality that people tend to like him.
I am suspicious of all Republicans and will vote for Jealous but I do understand why many Dems are going to vote for Hogan.
PrairieBlueCat
(42 posts)He likes to say he didn't vote for Donald Trump all the time.
So who did he vote for? Someone should ask him, maybe in a debate.
beveeheart
(1,369 posts)She has said they'll vote for Hogan because he's been good for MD. BUT I'm hoping to change their minds when I visit them in October for 4 weeks.
GulfCoast66
(11,949 posts)I have been very vocal in criticizing Bernie and he merry band of followers for trying to primary sitting Democratic house members. I find it troubling.
But this is many degrees of magnitude worse. Supporting a Republican!
That said, I think the headline is somewhat disingenuous. I was thinking there was a list of currently serving state House members supporting the republican. After reading the article I see they are not a bunch of statewide office holders and many of them are no longer serving
I think the truth is that anytime a person of color is our candidate there will always be some white, mainly older democrats who do not support them. Just a symptom of our dysfunctional race problem in the US.
Heres to Jealous kicking the republican out of the governors mansion!
elleng
(130,973 posts)A few days ago, WaPo headed with this: 'Leggett not ready to endorse Jealous; some other Democrats are tepid.' https://www.democraticunderground.com/10562444
Here today I saw that Leggett is 'available,' awaiting a meeting with Jealous.
RandySF
(58,900 posts)He had primary support raging from Bernie to Biden. Did he run a negative campaign?
Algernon Moncrieff
(5,790 posts)It's a few factors. Party traditionalists wanted PG County Executive Rushern Baker. Ben Jealous ran well to the left of Baker - and also ran a better campaign. Hogan has very high approval ratings (even among Dems) and has kept his distance from Trump. There is also a little bit of rivalry in Maryland politics between the Baltimore politicians and the PG/Montgomery County politicians.
msongs
(67,417 posts)Tarheel_Dem
(31,235 posts)myself included, but I don't live in MD.
OnDoutside
(19,962 posts)is not going to help him.
JCanete
(5,272 posts)PrairieBlueCat
(42 posts)Just like you have an opinion.
JCanete
(5,272 posts)candidates who don't take big corporate money, who want single payer health care, free college, and on and on. They avoid a conversation about the issues entirely and justify their upheld nose because of an association to an organization that also espouses those things I just mentioned. Its foolish or worse.
Tarheel_Dem
(31,235 posts)JCanete
(5,272 posts)just snarking with that one. I wouldn't expect you to do that as a fellow DUer.
Voltaire2
(13,061 posts)MiniMe
(21,717 posts)Claiming that he is going to go crazy raising taxes. Reminds me of how Hogan got in last Gubernatorial election, ads about the Dem candidate was for a "rain tax". I have no idea what the rain tax was supposed to be, I suspect it was some environmental charge, there is no "rain tax", but it got Hogan elected.
JI7
(89,252 posts)labels like whether one is a democratic socialist, progressive, liberal etc.
just talk about the issues and how they would work.
JCanete
(5,272 posts)this kind of bullshit opposition. It isn't democratic socialists who don't talk about issues.
Algernon Moncrieff
(5,790 posts)...yet I suspect HoCo will vote for Hogan ...again.
MiniMe
(21,717 posts)Algernon Moncrieff
(5,790 posts)From a month ago, but it provides some perspective and history to the non-Marylanders in the thread
Baltimore Sun
Ben Jealous' progressive bid for the Democratic nomination for governor hinged on a bet that the Maryland Democratic party's left wing had enough force to put him over the top. He won that bet by a big margin more than 55,000 votes. Tuesday night's results show that the traditional Maryland establishment lost out to a candidate who could unite unions, Bernie Sanders-style Democrats and African-Americans. Rushern Baker, the Prince George's County executive supported by most of the state's Democratic leaders, started out as the nominal front-runner in the contest but ultimately surpassed by Jealous' turnout machine and message that energized party activists.
The race offered Maryland's Democratic primary voters a chance to say what direction the party wants in the future, and the answer was clear: someone far to the left of anyone they've ever nominated for governor before.
2. The Republican Party in Baltimore County is more of a Hogan party than a Trump party.
Gov. Larry Hogans favored candidate in the Baltimore County executives race, insurance commissioner Al Redmer Jr., rolled to victory over outspoken Del. Pat McDonough, who at times has embraced the moniker the Trump of Baltimore County.Like Trump, McDonough has advocated tough policies on immigration and a law-and-order approach to crime. Redmer publicly shied away from such polarizing topics and inflammatory rhetoric and embraced the Republican governor, who has distanced himself from Trump. Redmer promoted his executive-level experience and put Hogans name on his campaign signs and literature. Redmer rolled to victory with 56 percent of the vote, compared to 44 percent for McDonough.
...
4. The SEIU is a force
The Service Employees International Union was one of the most active and visible backers of Ben Jealous for governor. But it also played a giant-killer role in the defeats of Baltimore Sens. Nathaniel McFadden and Barbara A. Robinson and the apparent defeat of Sen. Joan Carter Conway. Throw in ousted Sen. Thomas M. Mac Middleton of Charles County, whom the SEIU also opposed, and that would come to four allies of Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller. The SEIU failed to beat Miller himself, but it surely ruined his night.
JCanete
(5,272 posts)So glad we can count on them. This is exactly what I thought would happen if Sanders somehow took the nomination...assuming he got past the supers...which he probably wouldn't have even had he won the popular vote by a small enough margin.
UCmeNdc
(9,600 posts)Even the centralist Democrats need to support the Democratic candidate. It is that important!
Vinca
(50,278 posts)Republicans will stick like glue to a candidate they despise, but Democrats dump on the ones they don't care for. Really stupid. And because he's a former NAACP president, doubly stupid.
UCmeNdc
(9,600 posts)RandiFan1290
(6,237 posts)It helped split the vote and elect Marco Rubio to the Senate.
PDittie
(8,322 posts)I don't seem to recall that (DU supported Crist over Kendrick Meek, if that's what you're suggesting). Crist is of course a Democrat now but he wasn't then.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Crist
honest.abe
(8,678 posts)Meek had no chance to win. I believe he was polling in the teens against Rubio. Crist was the only chance to keep the seat not-Red since Crist said he would caucus with the Dems. Well we all know how that turned out.
kcr
(15,317 posts)And they're pulling the same trick 3rd party spoiler types did back then. Disingenuously trying to smear those who were trying to lobby for a strategic vote because Meek had no chance, thinking they were pulling a gotcha, because as always they're bad at math.
JI7
(89,252 posts)the white men who left the party because it moved to the right . why aren't these white men supporting Ben Jealous ?
SkyDancer
(561 posts)It saddens me that Democrats are backing the GOP governor especially when the Republicans want a constitutional convention. Has anybody else seen the tv ads? This is a must win race! We need to flip the state.
JI7
(89,252 posts)state.
this happens in Vermont, Massachusetts, Maine and other blue areas also.
SkyDancer
(561 posts)Kentonio
(4,377 posts)People are still not taking the threat of a constitutional convention seriously, and those evil bastards were only a state away not long ago. We HAVE to ensure that never happens, or its game over.
SkyDancer
(561 posts)stuffmatters
(2,574 posts)Jealous is OUR nominee, he won fair and square, the primary is over. These posts I find counterproductive to OUR nominee winning this governorship and violates our own rules here on DU.
SkyDancer
(561 posts)I find it rather strange.
Jim Lane
(11,175 posts)In the 2013 election, we had a great Democratic candidate in Barbara Buono, but she was too progressive for some of the Old Guard types here.
The support of many centrist Democrats helped Christie to a big re-election win that had him dreaming of the White House. Well, that went nowhere, but we were still stuck with him in Trenton for four more years.