We need to pay attention to the concerns of this group

A wave of new reps in Congress will undoubtedly drive some changes.

They are the most reliable Democratic voters, and their power should not be underestimated.

Things change as time goes on. Families even need to sit down and discuss how things are going.

Yes, it is time.

And about time!

otherwise it will be seen as a token and will be the first to be eliminated when troubles come.

But, I suppose, this is just me, a dinosaur who was raised to expect a decent living by working hard.

person who wasn't white and male? If you have other than a white straight male POV, you understand that very hardworking people have been kept from the table, and sometimes you have to create that space for them and make up for the absence of what they bring to the table.

The assumption that any effort to do that is "tokenism" is 'dinosaur' thinking.

Supervisors, with shock and dignity told the world that Dan White shot mayor Moscone and another supervisor Harvey Milk.

Later she became the mayor of San Francisco. She lost a bid for CA governor and later, in 1992 was elected to the U.S. Senate

Nancy Pelsoi, also, emerged step by step from low level positions until elected to the House in 1987.

Fast forward several decades. Both Hillary Clinton and Al Franken came to the Senate with a name recognition. Yet, for the first several years they sat in the back, studying the ways of Washington.

None of them and others "demanded a seat at the table." They earned it.

Then came Ted Cruz who immediately disrupted one of Feinstein's committee to be in the front. And then caused the government shut down.

And now we have Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who has yet to be officially elected but she and others already demand a "seat at the table."

I hope that our leaders rebuke then, tell them to take their seats and, as a start, learn how things are done in Congress.

Wonder what will be the "reason" for alert on this post.

It takes decades for women to get a seat at the table full of men, and if a woman even implies that she earned it, she's called shrill, and wanting to be "coronated."

If a woman gets to where she is by not "demanding" it, she is considered to have slept her way to the top, either literally or in terms of being a "corporatist" or "working with beltway insiders for years to get an unfair advantage."

AOC is considered a surrogate for Bernie Sanders by many - so that eased her way into getting on the ballot. I don't consider her to be the best example of an adequately experienced first time candidate, but how many times have we heard the term "boy mayor" to describe a young, less experienced candidate getting elected as opposed to "girl mayor."

Is that clearer?

I also hear the "well, I worked for what I have" deployed by defensive white men when one talks about how Black people were kept out of buying valuable real estate for decades, making it harder for them to build wealth, and giving white homebuyers more loans and opportunities to buy.

"I worked for what I have" in response to any discussion of people of color being locked out of a seat at any table is missing the main point of the discussion. It's up there with, "Well, if they don't want to be shot by police, they just need to follow the orders of the police officer, because I always do, and have never had a police officer shoot me in my own apartment."

And has an important constituency far beyond her own district. She speaks for me and I'm on the opposite side of the country.

A rising star, like Ayanna Pressley and Beto O'Rourke! We need more like them - at the table. It's time to embrace a new generation and let them take the reigns.

Are you suggesting these black women did not earn their primary victories?
Are you suggesting these black women do not work hard?
It is just you. You are a dinosaur.

The OP is talking about a "seat" at the leadership table.

Of course they work hard. But now they have to learn how Congress works. I assure you that removing shoes before getting on a subway is not enough.

Just WOW. If we flip The House this November it will be in large part because of black women. I'd say that earns a seat. Hell, black women earned a seat at the table long ago, just haven't been invited.

But, hey, that's just me, a person who knows it doesn't matter how hard you work, if you're not WMA you don't get what you've earned.

other fairly elected and deserving politicians just because.

I remember when Caroline Kennedy wanted Hillary's senate seat, after Hillary was appointed to be Secretary of State, many here, myself included, objected to this "entitlement."

However, I am not sure that black female candidates "who prevailed in primaries over established incumbents" constitute the majority of black female candidates. They certainly deserve a voice in shaping the future of the Democratic Party commensurate with their achievements. I just hope they understand that stepping on the toes of other black female candidates and, more importantly, black female voters, is a guarantee that they will not achieve their goals. We are living in the unfortunate aftermath of such near-sighted approach to making changes to the Democratic Party. The least we can do is learn our lessons.

Let's win the election first.

Maxine Waters for Speaker
Mazie Hirono for Senate Majority Leader
and
Kamala Harris for president
????

To make a statement about it.

great points, all.

Does that mean they are being kept from having a seat at the table? What table? By whom?

Is the table such that those with experience are given a preference (like when applying for a job)?

Not sure I understand. But I have noticed over the years that it's the black females in Congress who have been most unafraid to confront authority, speak plainly and boldly. I hate to single out anyone because of gender or race or ethnicity, but I have noticed this group before a couple of times, when they were doing and saying things that others would not. As I recall, it was a group of black female Democrats who spoke out clearly against the Iraq War, when most Democrats in Congress were afraid to. If I'm remembering correctly.

I admire them. But I thought they were included, as they got the tenure rank or whatever the rules are.

I love strong women!...especially from minority groups....They know the score and they know how to get things done.

Survival of the country, survival of the party, reversing Trump era, long term stability.

Universal voting rights, paper ballots, social safety net, tax fairness.

Before you start a turf war, there are certain things that must be done. We must use our majorities well. 1993-94 and 2009-2010 seem like lost opportunities on some of these issues.

but it looks like they are. Much appreciated