Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

elleng

(130,827 posts)
Tue Jun 10, 2014, 09:08 PM Jun 2014

by Robert Reich

The startling defeat today of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor by Dave Brat, a little-known economics professor, in Virginia's Republican primary, is a lesson in just how extreme the GOP base has become. Brat, the tea party favorite, had repeatedly attacked Cantor for supporting “amnesty” for undocumented immigrants. The lesson won’t be lost on congressional Republicans. You can kiss immigration reform goodbye, for one thing. And expect the GOP to move even further rightward. Even if this is good for Democrats in the upcoming midterms and 2016, it’s bad for America. Working-class whites on a downward economic escalator are easy prey for demagogues blaming immigrants, the poor, African-Americans, and the U.S. government. The real fault lies in an economic system that's no longer working for most people. Unless or until prosperity is more widely shared, we can expect more of this.

https://www.facebook.com/RBReich?ref=stream&fref=nf

2 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
by Robert Reich (Original Post) elleng Jun 2014 OP
Meh. seabeckind Jun 2014 #1
The real question is... JayhawkSD Jun 2014 #2

seabeckind

(1,957 posts)
1. Meh.
Tue Jun 10, 2014, 10:18 PM
Jun 2014

I think immigration is a non-issue except in some limited circles. The latest poll that I saw said that it was a lead concern only among republicans.

In this race it was the primary factor cause the tp challenger refused to engage on any other issue.

Cantor is an idiot. He deserved to lose.

The question is whether the democrat will force the tp guy to defend on populist issues or let him define the race.

The question will be what the moderate republicans will do. Stay at home? Vote for the tp? Or switch? Looks to me like the center and center left are wide open.

 

JayhawkSD

(3,163 posts)
2. The real question is...
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 10:56 AM
Jun 2014
"The question is whether the democrat will force the tp guy to defend on populist issues or let him define the race."

The real question, in this age of gerrymandering, is if there are enough Democrats in that district to make any difference. Based on the length of Cantor's tenure, I would guess there are not.

"Looks to me like the center and center left are wide open."

Not if, as I suspect it is, it's a gerrymandered Republican safe district.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Editorials & Other Articles»by Robert Reich