• 5-4 Supreme Court ruling to uphold the Muslim travel ban. • 5-4 ruling to allow “pregnancy centers” to withhold info from women about their options. • 5-4 ruling to allow bosses to steal wages from their workers. • Countless other cases didn’t get rulings on, like gerrymandering, because Neil Gorsuch votes against even hearing progressive cases.
Yes, it’s “stolen seat.” But it’s a seat we surrendered because of protest votes and staying home.
Yes, McConnell violated the Constitution. That’s what Republicans do. He bet enough liberals would be so consumed with narcissistic “didn’t win my vote” nonsense that the Republicans would win and steal the seat for 40 years. He played an ugly, un-American game. And protest voters rewarded him for it.
We let Republicans steal a Supreme Court seat.
Blasting bile onto the internet about moderate Dems has consequences.
Buying into Russian propaganda has consequences.
Elections have consequences.
This is not a game.
When someone is “too progressive” to vote for a moderate Dem in the general election? Remember this.
When someone slimes a moderate Dem for “show votes” we were going to lose anyway? Remember this.
When someone rages about a moderate Dem and just so happens to forget the only alternative is a GOP candidate who makes excuses for atrocity? Remember this.
When someone talks about “sending a message” by voting against Dems in a general? Remember this.
This is what they are supporting, whether they know it or not. It’s not progressive to had power to radical conservatives who steal our rights. Protest votes in the general election send one very clear message: “I don’t care about actual people—I care about symbolic gestures.” Again, it doesn’t matter if you mean it or not. That is the effect.
You want to vote against a moderate Dem in the primary? Groovy. Even if they win, that helps push them to the Left. But the most liberal candidate in a general election in North Dakota is always going to be from Dem-NPL. Get out and vote for those people. Campaign for those people. Heck, be one of those people!
I’m glad that most of us have realized we cannot value empty gestures over people’s rights and economic equality. When you see someone falling into this trap, tell them. None of us is perfect, so we need to help each other keep perspective.
