So Where Do We Go From Here?
We all know the extent of our losses on Election Day. We lost enough moderates in the Senate to turn control over to Mitch McConnell. The already endangered Blue Dog Democrats in the House took another hit giving Republicans the largest majority they’ve had since 1928 (and we all know how that came out). We lost Governorships and State legislatures in traditionally Republican states and reliably Democratic States.
So where do we go from here?
We could take a lesson from Republicans with their “obstruction at all costs” strategy. Their use of parliamentary procedures to prevent effective economic stimulus, comprehensive immigration reform, a comprehensive Employment Non-Discrimination Act, Voting Rights and any number of other critical issues, has been effective. Of course, voter suppression, gerrymandering and a constant media blitz to demonize progressive policies in general and the President in particular might have had a little to do with it too.
Robert F. Kennedy once said, “There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why… I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?” Democrats are not good at being the Party of “No”. We have always been a Party of ideas and, yes, even dreams. For a while now though, we haven’t been very good at explaining our ideas and sharing our dreams. MORE…
California Democratic Party LGBT Caucus Meeting/Reception
In conjunction with last weekend’s e-Board (Executive Board) meeting here in San Diego, the CA Dem LGBT Caucus held a joint meeting with the CA Dem Veterans Caucus at the Hyatt Regency, Mission Bay.
Speaker Atkins with LGBT Caucus Volunteer, Kyle Heiskala
The Caucus meeting was standing room only and featured an address from Assembly Speaker (and Dems for Equality member) Toni Atkins as well as a panel discussion on LGBT veteran issues.
San Diego Democrats for Equality also hosted a reception for the LGBT Caucus attendees (and a lot of our friends).. The reception was sponsored by Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, and SDUSD Board President Kevin Beiser.
A good time was had by all.
Elections Matter
No way around how much the National mid-term election hurt. We lost in States we expected and States we thought of as toss-ups. There were even a few true-blue States that went against us. We had the money against us. We had VWD* laws against us. We had low voter turn-out against us. Bottom line though, we lost and we need to take every opportunity to turn a spotlight on who will be hurt and how they will be hurt by Tea Party Republican policies over the next two years.
Locally, the big news is obviously the reelection of Scott Peters to a second two-year term. Scott’s race was a priority for Dems for Equality and we’re thrilled that he was able to emerge victorious Toni Atkins with a nearly 3% spread after a nasty, expensive campaign.
We would have preferred another outcome for our other priority campaign – Carol Kim’s campaign for San Diego City Council. Carol was an impressive candidate who put together an impressive campaign, but she just wasn’t able to overcome the fact that she was outspent by her lobbyist opponent by more than 4:1.
Democrats also picked up other local offices throughout the County and both of our members, Speaker Toni Atkins and Board President Kevin Beiser won reelection with lopsided wins. California once again provided a little light on an otherwise very dark election night.
David Warmoth, President
president@democratsforequality.org
San Diego Democrats for Equality
Defending LGBT Equality since 1975
