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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe silent majority of Democratic House freshmen
Most of the new Democrats in the House are more moderate than you think.
By Ella Nilsen and Dylan Scott Updated Jan 27, 2019, 10:05am EST
National attention has focused on a handful of young, left-wing first-time members of Congress elected to safe seats. But realistically, the future of the House lies with a larger group of Democrats who eked out narrow wins in newly purple districts.
Most of the freshmen come from swing districts, said Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ), who beat four-term incumbent Republican Leonard Lance by 5 points in 2018. We come from places where voters want us to focus on getting things done that can actually be achieved.
Rep. Katie Hill (D-CA), who defeated GOP Rep. Steve Knight in a Los Angeles district long held by Republicans, says she is a pragmatic progressive. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), the former CIA agent who defeated Tea Party stalwart Dave Brat, calls it passionate pragmatism.
Whatever you call it, these members are less interested in a 70 percent top tax rate or a Green New Deal than they are in passing targeted fixes to protect the Affordable Care Act and lower the cost of health care, promoting renewable energy, and maybe looking for an infrastructure deal to fix crumbling roads and boost rural broadband to speed up slow internet in their districts. Theyre happy to discuss the more ambitious policy ideas animating the left, like Medicare-for-all, but they still have serious reservations.
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/1/23/18183636/congress-2019-new-members-moderates
(lots more in the link....)
David__77
(23,311 posts)...
lapucelle
(18,187 posts)They weren't sitting still...they were actually reading HR 648 before they voted.
Gothmog
(144,890 posts)David__77
(23,311 posts)...
DarthDem
(5,255 posts)Dems in disarray! Or, you know, not . . . .
murielm99
(30,712 posts)getting things done.
That is what most of us expect. I have great respect for this type of congress person.
WhiteTara
(29,692 posts)to repair and this is a big tent party with lots of social/economic remedies.
Gothmog
(144,890 posts)Collin beat Pete Sessions in Dallas and Lizzie beat John Culbertson in Houston (GHW Bush's old seat). These two representatives are working within the system and are playing it smart. I expect great things from these two representatives
lapucelle
(18,187 posts)and thought on social media" like Trump does?
I'm tired of Republican politicians who treat the business of the government as if it's a reality show.
George II
(67,782 posts)Representatives and Senators are elected to legislate and conduct the government, not to as you say, appear on a reality show
tonedevil
(3,022 posts)I'm just not comfortable with silent majority. It is a phrase invented by Richard Nixon this use of it seems poorly thought out. The new Representatives may not be generating the media lightening, but they are far from silent and it isn't complementary to suggest they are. I think it is a good article that helps introduce us to some of the new Congresspeople, but the headline shouldn't use Nixon's words.
George II
(67,782 posts)To many it means to do one's job and move on to the next task, not dwell on it.
In the context of this article my take is that there are dozens of new Democratic Representatives that are hard at work day to day, learning their jobs and doing their jobs, who don't feel the need to call attention to themselves.
They are the ones who will become our new leaders some day.
tonedevil
(3,022 posts)was used as a symbol before Hitler and the Nazi's used it, but those uses are only vaguely historically interesting at this point. The Nixon speech has defined the term "silent majority" for our time not some use from 150 years ago. My beef is with the headline I think the article is a great introduction to Democratic Representatives who aren't getting so much media attention. It is my belief that the author of the article did not create the headline because I don't find the term in the actual article. I don't think the new Congresspeople profiled in the article necessarily want to be silent or even are being silent they just don't aren't being as widely broadcast. That's why I liked the article.