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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsJennifer Rubin: What happened to Katie Porter? A lesson for Democrats.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/03/11/katie-porter-loser-lessons/
https://archive.is/x01fb
Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) entered the House in 2018 as one of the impressive Democratic women elected in a wave of anger and shock over the election of now-four-times-indicted former president Donald Trump. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) continues to shine as a foreign policy guru; Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), also known for her national security expertise, is the favorite for her states open Senate seat. And Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) has become an all-around moderate star and leading candidate for governor in 2025. But Porter gave up her House seat, lost badly in her Senate primary, cried rigged and is going home with the reputation of a sore loser. What happened?
Starting with the sorry ending, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), revered among Democrats for leading the first Trump impeachment, ran a near-perfect Senate campaign. Embracing the mantle of anti-Trump pugilist, he stuck to his center-left positions. He slammed the unqualified right-winger and former Dodger Steve Garvey as too conservative in the nonpartisan jungle primary. Schiff will be the overwhelming favorite in November to trounce Garvey. On election night, Porter bitterly denounced her Democratic rival. We had the establishment running scared withstanding 3 to 1 in TV spending and an onslaught of billionaires spending millions to rig this election, she said. That smacked of election denial, an absolute no-no in a party that believes in the sanctity of elections. Withering criticism poured down on her. She retorted, Rigged means manipulated by dishonest means. She claimed she had been referring to dark money:
Link to tweet
Democrats viewed her as doubling down, refusing to apologize for her tantrum. Her holier-than-thou promise not to accept dark money had not resonated during the campaign; now she smeared a legal and widely used fundraising tool that Democrats cannot renounce until they reverse Citizens United v. FEC and enact real campaign finance reform. Moreover, she was still fighting the primary, not rallying to her party. Fairly or not, her exit will likely define her career as much as her whiteboard, which she skillfully wielded against witnesses from banks, Big Pharma and other hapless victims. But, in the end, the whiteboard was not enough and therein Democrats can find several lessons.
First, Democrats, unlike their MAGA opponents, believe government is there to get things done. Public service is not performance art for them. Viral moments must serve larger goals that are usually achieved by the hard work of dealmaking, compromising and collaborating. Though Porter shined in YouTube clips, her output could not compare with many of her 2018 classmates. The latter became experts in certain topics and associated with important policies (e.g., national security, gun reform). The difference between Porter and her mentor, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who also wins kudos for sharp questioning, was striking. Porter was not known for reaching across the aisle to get things done. By contrast, Warren features this prominently on her website:
snip
Mike Nelson
(9,977 posts)... her initial success. She was a STAR! Even better, she had a great set of ideas to contribute. I was not impressed with her "shake things up" campaign and the "rigged" aftermath. I hope she takes a break and returns to team Democrats!
senseandsensibility
(17,197 posts)No hard feelings here. We still need her on our team. And I'm a Schiff voter.
Hope22
(1,902 posts)Year after year in Ohio we see great candidates get clobbered by vast amounts of money spent by people from out of state. It is no surprise to me that this happened to Katie. While I had all respect for her coming into this race I feel like she made a bad decision to enter this race. She and Adam both lost my respect with their actions. This photo breaks my heart. Lift your head up, drop the book title and get ready to get back in the fight. We need you. Your family needs you to stand up! Women need you back in the fight.
NanaCat
(1,390 posts)He wasn't the one making unfounded and egregious attacks against other Democrats.
That was Porter.
It's insulting to his voters to say he deserves blame for how he ran his campaign, when he ran it better and more scrupulously than Porter did.
Hope22
(1,902 posts)Last edited Wed Mar 13, 2024, 06:51 PM - Edit history (1)
I cant give you links to his comments. But I heard a few of his responses on Last Word MSNBC. I guess I expected the Dems would not eat each other alive but I was wrong. He was part of it. He will make a great Senator I hope we can pull it off. I hope Katie can heal and get back in the game. We need her. The book was a poor photo op that will leave a sting.
brooklynite
(94,858 posts)I didnt contribute because I dont engage in safe D seats, but I get dozens of direct requests each month.
SoFlaBro
(1,988 posts)Basic LA
(2,047 posts)That was bad enough, but she'll be backing off her "rigged" comment for a long time. I think she meant the way her opponent spent millions on ads bolstering the Republican in the race as a way to edge Porter out. While many saw this as perhaps underhanded, "rigged" was too strong.
NanaCat
(1,390 posts)It's smart politics to go after the other party's candidate. It's not promoting them. It's going after a likely opponent.
I'd like to know what fairy-tale land some people live in where it's ever a bad idea to go after a GQPer? Is water wet in your world?
Basic LA
(2,047 posts)We were talking about Porter's reaction. She watched her Democratic opponent spend millions elevating the Republican candidate's profile in order to avoid facing her in the election, a Republican by the way who spent zero dollars on TV-ads for himself. Porter quite naturally took umbrage.
So why the ferocity? Do you seethe with hatred for her?
paleotn
(17,994 posts)Dems rarely go to the lengths Republicans are known for, but I've seen some raucous primaries over the years. The 2008 Dem presidential primary was bloody. Ted Kennedy primarying president Carter in 1980. As the old saying goes, if you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.
Basic LA
(2,047 posts)Earth-shine
(4,044 posts)I hear there may be an opening for an AG.
Happy Hoosier
(7,451 posts)And not just any Democrat, but one that lead the effort against Trump.
She has a long redemption arc ahead of her IMO.
DinahMoeHum
(21,823 posts). . .too many people have either been fired by her or simply quit because they can't work with her.
baklava
(16 posts). . . so I doubt Biden would want her on board, picking fights with fellow Dems.
Earth-shine
(4,044 posts)Does the AG need to be a team player, or someone who is competent and potentially aggressive?
Celerity
(43,655 posts)Johonny
(20,928 posts)She's not dead
NanaCat
(1,390 posts)To atone for the rigging accusations.
Especially in the aftermath of J6, Democrats will not be forgiving about that anytime soon.
usonian
(9,928 posts)If 2 dems won, it was going to be a family feud for the senate seat.
MagickMuffin
(15,972 posts)Barbara Lee was also running for the Senate seat.
Bucky
(54,087 posts)But that said, Barbara Lee's running for the senate at 73 was a vanity project. She's also leaving behind a strong legacy in Congress. But this was a capstone to her career. I think Katie's gonna continue to contribute to the good cause. This editorial is just ridiculous.
Hope22
(1,902 posts)Seeing Katie sitting there like that is really disheartening. If I were her coach we would have had words. That being said my friend just said he hopes Katie sends him the book when shes done with it!🤣
usonian
(9,928 posts)The esteemed Barbara Lee didnt have a chance, IMO.
betsuni
(25,739 posts)Your record of getting things done, "dealmaking, compromising and collaborating" is the JOB, not replacing the Democratic Party with anti-establishment populists dreaming of class revolution (Our Revolution/Justice Democrats/Democratic Socialists of America -- use them to get elected if you must, then dump them), or national recognition and activism representing a minority of Americans (who are just going to be mad at you anyway for failing purity tests that keep changing).
When I said Porter should follow in the footsteps of Elizabeth Warren, I was scolded. People should really pay attention. Look at who gets things done. Warren makes sure her plans work (not just slogans) and doesn't demonize the Democratic Party as a rigging corrupt establishment out to get her. Follow Warren, follow Fetterman, the Democratic Party is not the enemy. This is not hard.
stopdiggin
(11,399 posts)Nixie
(17,000 posts)That's why I think there was a cynical attempt to manipulate our California primary which started with trying to force Feinstein out of office. Porter bought into something over just voter turnout which is contributing to her bitterness.
Porter is having a hard time accepting that California voters wanted a distinguished, accomplished politician as Senator, not a sophomoric brawl over fabricated corruption.
Tarheel_Dem
(31,247 posts)stopdiggin
(11,399 posts)with is unfortunate, because I always thought Porter had loads to offer. But - when you have turned Adam Schiff into 'the enemy' - that's really illustrative of both a 'perspective' and an animus that is hard to get behind. Would a gracious 'congrats' have been so hard?
Wish she would have stuck with the House seat - which would have been good for another 10 years.
Duncan Grant
(8,296 posts)Anyone who can rub two brain cells together (and practice empathy) understands this moment clearly. If youve followed Porter, youll understand shes being consistent in her critique of contemporary politics.
Rubin isnt going to align herself against powerful intere$t$, who are quite happy with the $tatu$ quo. If she did, shed loose her position, her access, and influence. Rubin isnt a progressive or liberal (do the math).
So, of all the important political dysfunction and corruption in the United States, Rubin takes aim at Katie Porter. That should tell you something important.
NanaCat
(1,390 posts)You can disagree with her positions on a range of issues, and many of us do, but in this case, she is absolutely correct about how Porter torched her own political career trying to win an office she wasn't ready for.
It's an ad hominem to dismiss her assertions in this article over other things she's said or done elsewhere or in the past. You have to judge her arguments on the evidence supporting this argument, and she has the receipts this time.
Duncan Grant
(8,296 posts)To characterize Porter as anything other than an ally to democrats and progressives is a distortion of her career and political principles. That old saying about opinions definitely comes to mind.
Porter has talked about corporate money and its influence on politics from day one. I see nothing inconsistent with her assessment of the realities of getting into the room where it happens.
I dont want to be accused of rearguing the primary, so I wont. Im happy with Schiff, I simply prefer a candidate like Porter. I disagree with Rubins opinion, I think some systemic critical thinking is essential and that includes a close look at the purposes of punditry.
Tarheel_Dem
(31,247 posts)head down, and actually getting things done is much harder. I was hoping Katie would learn from this loss, but with the "rigged" comments, she obviously didn't.
RandySF
(59,549 posts)Give her time and space to process the loss.
appmanga
(590 posts)...by donating to Rep. Porter although it was a hard choice because she, Schiff, and Barbara Lee have been terrific House members. I'm disappointed she lost, but more disappointed in her reaction. As the old saying goes "Politics ain't beanbag". The very smart Adam Schiff ran a very smart campaign and used a tactic I don't care for, but it definitely has left him with the type of opponent any Democrat would want. I understand her being pained by this type of politics prevailing, and I feel folks like me encouraged her after such a brief time in the House.
I hope she can find her way to pulling back on these types of ridiculous and uncalled for comments. The people have spoken and the better thing to do is be gracious and accepting.
JohnSJ
(92,488 posts)popularity failed to translate into votes.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-12/tiktok-s-role-in-2024-election-previewed-by-katie-porter
Regardless, unless ALL Democratic demographics come out in large numbers to vote, it will be a very precarious election.
Raven123
(4,915 posts)Bright, informed, excellent communicator. Bring that white board.
She made a strategic mistake running for Senate. California had an embarrassment of riches with their candidates. I too am disappointed in Schiffs tactics. Its politics. She will have to move on.
NYC2ATL
(56 posts)Is that it?
rickford66
(5,530 posts)Guaranteeing three seats to defend instead of one.
OnDoutside
(19,982 posts)in this race. Rubin is right, but hopefully she can learn the hard lessons and make a comeback in the future.
Renew Deal
(81,889 posts)And shes not going to get a lot of sympathy when the winner is a Democratic hero.