NY Democratic Party chair blasts progressives in fiery WNYC interview

[RandySF]

Jay Jacobs, the embattled chair of the New York State Democratic Party, offered a spirited defense of his leadership and took aim at the party’s progressive members — including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams — in a fiery interview on "The Brian Lehrer Show" on Friday.

The interview came roughly two weeks after the New York Times Magazine ran an article titled “The Democratic Party in New York is a Disaster,” which painted a bleak portrait of a dysfunctional party helmed by ineffective leadership from Jacobs. It noted the loss of four congressional seats that handed Republicans control of the House of Representatives. That includes the 3rd Congressional District now represented by Republican Rep. George Santos, the well-documented fabulist.

The article's author Ross Barkan had appeared on the show last month to discuss the story.

Jacobs, who described himself as a “moderate progressive,” described the role of the state party in terms of coordinating between campaigns, maintaining the voter file database that’s used by candidates reaching out to prospective voters and making sure candidates have access to what they need to win elections. “I believe we’ve done that fairly vigorously,” he said.

When he was asked by Lehrer why he is more critical of progressive Democrats when moderates like Sean Patrick Maloney lost seats to Republicans, Jacobs argued that progressive candidates don't bring out the same number of voters.





https://gothamist.com/news/ny-democratic-party-chair-blasts-progressives-in-fiery-wnyc-interview

[Mister Ed]

1. Would that be the same NY Dem Party that lost four seats it shoulda won in 2022?

Ronald Reagan's "11th commandment" was, "Thou shalt not speak ill of other Republicans." Dems would be wise to adopt a similar policy headed into 2024.

[temporary311]

2. If NY Dems redirected the energy

spent fighting progressives towards Republicans, we would've held the house.

[walkingman]

5. Excellent point - we are supposed to be a "big tent" party. All Dems should

be treated with respect. I don't agree with a lot of moderates but realize that in order to create the change we want winning is the goal.

[Docreed2003]

3. All that infighting between "progressives" and "Blue Dogs" really served us well in 2016

Instead of blaming factions as if it's an argument between TS Elliot and Ezra Pound on the Titanic, now is the time to come together as Democrats. If these fights are going to take place, do it behind closed doors not out in the media!

[The Magistrate]

4. Fella Ought To Try Slanging Republicans, Sir

Just for a change.

The purpose of the Democratic Party of New York is not the maintenance of control over the party machinery, and enjoyment of what perks and patronage this confers to whomever holds it.

The purpose of the Democratic Party of New York is putting Democrats into office so policies desired by Democratic Party voters nationwide can be enacted.

There is very little proposed by the Democrats he attacks that is not broadly popular among persons who vote for Democratic candidates.

Not many Democrats want to see intramural warfare, and to the degree figures from each wing do slang one another, the first one to stop doing it at all wins the fight for popular support among the Party faithful.


"So long as any man stands on the old Whig ground I will stand beside him. And not a moment longer."

[ananda]

6. Get rid of him now!

Geez