General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: This is, more or less, what we're up against: [View all]Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)If a Democrat sells himself or herself as, essentially, a moderate republican... they're not going to motivate the base. Because the Democratic base, contrary to Rahm Emmanuel and other right-wing Democrats, actually is the left, often several shades more left than the standard Democrat. They're not going to be enthused to vote for someone who's more like a Republican from the 80's than what they want, and the Republicans sure as fuck aren't going to, since they're in a conservative death-spiral.
"But Scootaloo," you might say, "It's better to have a bunch of Democrats in congress than a bunch of Republicans!"
Generally I'd agree with that. The trouble is, that's just not how voting even WORKS.
People really do not go vote with their minds full of how many seats total nationwide are at stake in congress. it's not Fantasy Football. People aren't fans, voting for a team. People are individuals voting for other individuals.
What I mean is that, sure, it might be a tight contest between the parties on a given cycle, it could come down to one or two seats... But Debby Schuss of Hoboken still isn't going to vote for a center-right Blue dog, just to fill a seat with a Democrat. She wants a representative who represents her interests, not a representative who is against those interests but can serve as a useful cog at a federal level.
Democrats need to give people reasons to vote for them, rather than just begging for votes against Republicans.