One would think….
Pragmatic politics gets results…
Not noise…..
And sometimes even the Republicans get screwed doing the same thing…
As the Supreme Court appears poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, liberals are left wondering what more could have been done to protect it, with some questioning whether it’s easier to get Democrats to fight for a particular constitutional right or policy change than to defend one.
Activists are experienced at advocating for policies they believe are crucial to improving Americans’ quality of life, from universal health care to student loan relief and affordable housing. Many have pushed to advance those items with support from a vocal bloc of liberal lawmakers.
But when it comes to defending a woman’s right to choose — a court assurance that has been on the books since the early 1970s — the party has struggled to make traction before the draft majority decision leaked last month exposed a major threat.
“In general, progressives embrace aspirational policy because they come from communities with long-running inequities and disparities,” said one Democratic aide who advises left-wing members of Congress.
“As a politician, if you defend the status quo, when the people you represent feel left behind by status quo policy, then you’re likely going to be outflanked.”….
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A similar scenario played out just a few years back. When Republicans were working to overturn the Affordable Care Act (ACA), activists led the fight on keeping it intact, including activating a new base of supporters.
“Defending the ACA from being gutted was a big part of our early history as a movement,” said Emily Phelps, national press secretary at Indivisible, a grassroots organization that came of age during that time.
Some priorities, however, are easier to champion than others.
After back-to-back mass shootings in Buffalo, N.Y. and Uvalde, Texas, advocates and Democrats on Capitol Hill again called for measures to restrict the harm caused by firearms. But it’s unclear if anything can pass the 50-50 Senate. A pair of moderate senators remain opposed to ending the filibuster, leaving some to feel already defeated….
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There’s arguably no perfect parallel to an issue that inspires Democrats as strongly. They have, however, seen signs of traction on desired policy changes….