[nielsbot]

Plot twist: The Dem leadership (Schumer, Jeffries, et al) also supports this.

That's why their main complaints have been procedural: "Why didn't you come to us first with your plans?". And why they slow-walked the vote on a war powers act.

[rootusrootus]

The dems have no power against a unified GOP front, and they already look pretty weak on issues like this. They are trying to figure out how they can mollify their base while attracting enough centrist voters to retake Congress later this year. I don't care for the dem leadership but I feel a little sympathy for them. Catering to their loudest supporters is a pretty big reason they are the minority party right now.

[hdgvhicv]

Where trumps Republican Party have spent the last 10 years not catering from their loudest supporters?

Either the majority of Americans want this war, in which case the Dems have to be quiet, or they don’t, in which case the dems should be making it the number one issue.

Sadly I suspect the answer is not in the side of the Hollywood version of post ww2 America.

Now is the time to insert the “are we the bad guys” meme.

[overfeed]

> Catering to their loudest supporters is a pretty big reason they are the minority party right now.

By "loudest supporters" - are you referring to the donor class? Money is speech, after all.

The Democratic party has an identity crisis: it's failing to balance special interests and their traditional constituents - post-Goldwater/ southern-strategy. Instead of activating their base, they seem to be courting the political center that has been hollowed out by Maga and polarization, incidentally matching the desires of their donors who abhor any kind of populist leftist politics, including anything in instituted by FDR.

[rootusrootus]

> By "loudest supporters" - are you referring to the donor class?

No, I don't believe so. I'm talking about the people who convinced them that culture wars were the right way to do battle with a conservative opponent despite that being automatically an uphill battle. The dem leadership focused on issues that polled well with a small group of loud people on a crusade, and largely ignored bread & butter issues that resonate with people less politically inclined. But centrist votes are counted just the same as partisan ones, and more plentiful.

[overfeed]

> The dem leadership focused on issues that polled well with a small group of loud people on a crusade

Which dem leadership? The only crusade I remember was Kamala Harris going on a national tour with Liz Cheney and brightly signaling her rightward shift. Somehow, "Republicans for Kamala" failed to save her campaign in the swing-states.

[mjamesaustin]

The donor class are the ones who want culture wars, because their continued donations are contingent on the party ignoring the economic woes of the working class. What can the Democratic party stand for if it doesn't protect workers and unions? Identity politics.

[nielsbot]

This is vague and talking point-y

> people who convinced them that culture wars were the right way to do battle

Who are they exactly?

> The dem leadership focused on issues that polled well with a small group of loud people on a crusade, and largely ignored bread & butter issues that resonate with people less politically inclined

Which issues, specifically?

> centrist votes

You think there’s some huge swath people who’d vote Dem if it wasn’t for their pesky (and incredibly mild) protective stance towards trans people, for example?

Honestly curious which sources do you get your political news from mainly?

[nielsbot]

Sorry, your analysis is completely wrong

> The dems have no power against a unified GOP front

They absolutely do. The war powers act is “bi partisan” And they can protest the war strongly on moral and budgetary grounds for starters. The war is incredibly unpopular with the Dem base and even independents. Opposing it is a layup. (But, like I said, the truth is Dem leadership wants the war)

> and they already look pretty weak on issues like this.

Fighting (whether winning or losing) shows strength not weakness and is what voters react to. Standing down is exactly NOT what they should do. C’mon, man!

> They are trying to figure out how they can mollify their base while attracting enough centrist voters to retake Congress later this year

Like I said the war is UNPOPULAR so OPPOSE it. Winning stat.

> year. I don't care for the dem leadership but I feel a little sympathy for them

NO! They’re “blundering” when they don’t have to. (But see points about Schumer wanting the war)

> Catering to their loudest supporters is a pretty big reason they are the minority party right now.

Also a backwards take. They’re a minority party because they’d rather lose and maintain power than oppose the capitalists who own them.

[dontlikeyoueith]

> Catering to their loudest supporters

Name one instance of this actually happening. I'll wait.

[Saline9515]

I'm pretty sure that before they made it a central topic, most Americans didn't care about transgenderism, which after all affects a very tiny population. Especially compared to other issues, such as paid maternal leave, for instance.

[appointment]

I assume you are aware that "they" are the Republicans? The Harris campaign avoided talking about it whenever possible, while Republican groups spent $200 million on anti-trans ads.

[Saline9515]

Why restrict it to the Harris' campaign? Democrats made it an important issue during Biden's administration, and even nominated a transgender secretary of health.

[babvbl]

Yes and they celebrated him as the "first female four-star officer of the USPHSCC" despite the fact that he is male. As if this is somehow an achievement for women.