2020 Dems’ Progressive Pilgrimage To Netroots Nation
As Progressives Become The Dominant Party Faction, 2020 Democrats Flock To Netroots Nation To Demonstrate Their Fealty
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TOP TAKEAWAYS
- In a sign of how far the party has moved to the left, Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) will attend Netroots Nation 2018, a formerly fringe far-left progressive movement conference that has become a “key force” in moving the Democratic party further left.
- The Interim Director of Netroots Nation says that self-proclaimed socialist and Congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is “the way forward for Democrats in 2018’s midterm elections.”
- In 2017, Netroots Nation hosted a panel on how to prevent the nation from rallying around the President if America suffered a catastrophic event, saying “Hitler used the Reichstag Fire; Putin used the 1999 apartment bombings; and George W. Bush used 9/11.”
- As Democrats continue to struggle to find a strong message, the party has embraced opposition to Trump as a motivating ideology.
- Senators Booker, Harris, and Warren voted against the GOP Tax Cuts, which have been cited as part of the reason the country is experiencing strong economic growth, and they have tried to downplay the economic success of President Trump’s agenda.
- The 2020 hopefuls are trying to obstruct Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court with extreme rhetoric like Booker saying Judge Kavanaugh’s supporters are “complicit” in “evil,” and Harris saying “we are looking at the destruction of the Constitution.”
- Even though Obama’s Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson has said abolishing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency “would compromise public safety,” Warren, Booker, and Harris have all called for abolishment or upheaval of ICE.
- Harris has voiced support for self-proclaimed socialist Congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who DNC Chairman Tom Perez calls the “future of [the Democratic] party,” and Harris and Booker campaigned for far-left progressive Ben Jealous who beat out an establishment candidate to win the Democratic nomination in Maryland’s gubernatorial election.
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ONCE A FRINGE CONFERENCE OF ULTRA PROGRESSIVES, NETROOTS NATION CONTINUES ITS LEFTWARD PUSH OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
2020 Hopeful Senators Cory Booker, Elizabeth Warren, And Kamala Harris Will Travel To New Orleans To Rally The Nation’s Largest Conference Of Progressives At 2018’s Netroots Nation
2018’s Netroots Nation Conference, In New Orleans, Will Be Attended By Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kamala Harris (D-CA) And Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) As Well As New York Congressional Candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. “Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Democratic congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have been added to the list of headliners for the upcoming Netroots Nation conference in New Orleans. An announcement Friday from organizers of the annual gathering of progressive activists said the two Democrats will join a list of other liberal and progressive speakers, such as Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro.” (John Bowden, “Warren, Occasion-Cortez Added To Netroots Nation Lineup,” The Hill , 7/27/18)
Founded In 2006, By Left-Wing Bloggers, Netroots Nation Has Been Seen As The “Friendliest Place” For The Far Left To Push The Democratic Party Towards The Progressive Wing
Seen As “Probably The Friendliest Place On Earth For Long Shot, Lefty Political Candidates” Netroots Has Given Notoriety And Street Cred To “The Far Left.” “Netroots Nation is probably the friendliest place on earth for long shot, lefty political candidates. A room full of progressive techies, millennial movement makers and aging hippies convening once a year gives politicos like Senator Elizabeth Warren and various activist leaders from across the nation a place to express their views, gain some notoriety and get some street cred with the far left.” (Jason Johnson, “Netroots Notebook: Sanders Slips, O’Malley Misses, #BlackLivesMatter Wins,” NBC News , 7/19/15)
Netroots Began In 2006 As The “YearlyKos,” Sponsored By The Daily Kos Blog, And Has Since “Grown In Scale, Mirroring The Rise Of Liberals In The Party.” “The annual Netroots gathering began in 2006 when it was called “YearlyKos” and sponsored by the Daily Kos blog. But it has grown in scale, mirroring the rise of liberals in the party.” (Jonathan Martin, “Elizabeth Warren Takes Aim At Moderates And Generates Chants Of ‘Warren 2020’,” The New York Times , 8/12/17)
Netroots Activists Have Pushed Democrats To Go Further Left And Even Criticized Former-President Obama For Not Pursuing A More Progressive Agenda. “Liberal activists have openly criticized President Obama and Democratic leaders in Congress for not pursuing a more progressive agenda, specifically for failing to pass climate change legislation and abandoning the public insurance component of health-care reform. This week’s conference might be the last chance for Democratic leaders to mend fences with the liberal base and channel its energy in service of Democratic candidates.” (Phillip Rucker and Aaron Blake, “Democratic Officials Using Netroots Nation Meeting To Stir Up Liberal Base,” The Washington Post , 7/22/10)
In 2015, Hillary Clinton “Skipped The Conference,” After Being Booed At By Attendees In 2007 For Her Moderate Positions As A Senator. “Over three days, activists gathered to discuss liberal issues and strategy for the 2016 election. Here are 10 things you need to know from this year’s conference: Hillary Clinton skipped the conference. Clinton, Sen. Bernie Sanders, and former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley were all invited to participate in a presidential town hall. Sanders and O’Malley attended, but Clinton declined due to a “scheduling conflict” – an excuse that was met with skepticism by some attendees. Clinton spoke at Netroots in 2007, and was booed in part because of her support for the Iraq war while she was a senator. This time, for better or worse, she decided not to go back.” (Nisha Chittal and Yasmin Aslam, “10 Things To Know From Netroots Nation 2015,” MSNBC , 7/20/15)
In 2017, NetRoots Nation Hosted A Panel On How To Prevent The Nation From Rallying Around The President If America Suffered A Catastrophic Event, Saying “ Hitler Used The Reichstag Fire; Putin Used The 1999 Apartment Bombings; And George W. Bush Used 9/11.” “During more than 80 panels and training sessions, activists will get updates from the ‘resistance’ groups, such as Indivisible which was founded after the 2016 election, or those that have multiplied their membership like the American Civil Liberties Union. One panel will go over ways to challenge Trump’s ‘xenophobic NAFTA narrative,’ while another — more relevant given news from North Korea — will brainstorm ways to oppose Trump if a traumatic event causes people to rally around the flag. ‘Hitler used the Reichstag Fire; Putin used the 1999 apartment bombings; and George W. Bush used 9/11,’ reads the online description of the panel, which will feature leaders of MoveOn.org and the ACLU. ‘With Trump, [Stephen K.] Bannon and their allies in Congress, progressives must be prepared to fight back in the first hours and days of a national security crisis.’” (David Weigel, “Liberals Gather In Atlanta To Plan Trump Resistance Strategy,” The Washington Post , 8/9/17)
Today Democrats See Netroots Nation As Way To Rally The Party’s Base And Audition For National Politics
Democratic Officials See The Netroots Nation Conference “As An Opportunity To Rally The Party’s Left Flank.” “Democratic officials see Netroots Nation as an opportunity to rally the party’s left flank.” (Phillip Rucker and Aaron Blake, “Democratic Officials Using Netroots Nation Meeting To Stir Up Liberal Base,” The Washington Post , 7/22/10)
The Netroots Conference Has Now Become A “Proving Ground” For Potential Democratic Presidential Candidates. “The conference has also become a proving ground for would-be Democratic presidential candidates. Ms. Warren did little to dissuade a friendly crowd from thinking she, too, was eyeing a White House run.” (Jonathan Martin, “Elizabeth Warren Takes Aim At Moderates And Generates Chants Of ‘Warren 2020’,” The New York Times , 8/12/17)
According To The Leadership Of Netroots Nation “The Progressive Vision” Of Self-Described Socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Is The “Way Forward” For The Democratic Party
Netroots Nation Interim Director Eric Thut Says That “The Progressive Vision Articulated By Ocasio-Cortez And Warren” Is Going To Be The “Way Forward For Democrats In 2018’s Midterm Elections.” “Netroots Nation interim director Eric Thut on Friday said the progressive vision articulated by Ocasio-Cortez and Warren was the way forward for Democrats in 2018’s midterm elections. ‘2018 is shaping up to be an election to remember for progressives. Ms. Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Warren’s leadership and bold progressive vision represent the future of our party. Both recognize that Netroots is the place to connect with the grassroots activists who will lead us to victory in November and beyond,’ he said.” (John Bowden, “Warren, Occasion-Cortez Added To Netroots Nation Lineup,” The Hill , 7/27/18)
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Is “A Self-Described Democratic Socialist.” “Ocasio-Cortez, a self-described democratic socialist and an organizer during Sanders’s 2016 presidential bid.” (Jacqueline Thomsen, “Ocasio-Cortez On Campaigning With Sanders: Progressive Policies ‘Can Win Across The Country,’” The Hill , 7/17/18)
2020 DEMOCRATS HAVE TRIED TO DOWNPLAY ECONOMic SUCCESS UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP AND They SUPPORT HIGHER TAXES
While The GDP Hit 4.1 Percent, The 2020 Democrats Are Doing Everything They Can To Obstruct And Oppose The President’s Economic Agenda
GDP Increased At An Annual Rate Of 4.1 Percent In The Second Quarter Of 2018. “Real gross domestic product increased at an annual rate of 4.1 percent in the second quarter of 2018 (table 1), according to the ‘advance’ estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the first quarter, real GDP increased 2.2 percent (revised).” (“National Income And Product Accounts Gross Domestic Product: Second Quarter 2018 (Advance Estimate), and Comprehensive Update” Bureau of Economic Analysis , 2/28/18)
The Second Quarter GDP Report Was “Widely Seen As A Referendum On The GOP Tax Cuts Of Late 2017.” “The second-quarter figure will be widely seen as a referendum on the GOP tax cuts of late 2017. This quarter benefits from a timing sweet spot, coming after the deficit-busting cuts trickled through the economy, but before the effects of the White House’s protectionist trade policies are fully felt.” (Irina Ivanova, “U.S. Second-Quarter GDP Growth Expected To Top 4%,” CBS News , 7/26/18)
The Second Quarter GDP Report Was “Highly Anticipated” And Expected To Be Boosted By The Tax Cuts And Jobs Act. “President Trump is eager to tout a fast-growing economy, boosted by the tax cuts he pushed through Congress. That makes Friday morning’s report on gross domestic product a highly anticipated news event.” (Jim Zarroli, “How Fast Did The Economy Grow? Forecasts Are All Over The Place,” NPR , 7/26/18)
Since Voting Against The GOP Tax Cuts, Warren Has Vowed To “Fight Back,” And Suggests If Democrats Take Control Of The House, Raising Taxes To “Over 50 Percent” Is On The Table
In 2017, Warren Voted Against The Tax Cuts And Jobs Act. (H.R. 1, Roll Call Vote #303 , Bill Passed 51-49: 51-1: D 0-46: I 0-2, 12/2/17, Warren Voted Nay)
Warren Vowed To “Fight Back Against This GOP Tax Plan.” “‘Not one penny in tax cuts for the wealthy and giant corporations - especially not on the backs of everyone else. We will fight back against this GOP tax plan.’” (Press Release, “Warren Statement On Trump Tax Reform Proposal,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren , 9/27/17)
Warren Said That Democrats Would “Change” The Tax Reform If They Gained Control In The Mid Terms. “Fox News host Bret Baier asked the senator during an interview Wednesday if she would support repealing the tax law, passed by a Republican-controlled Congress and signed by President Trump late last year, if Democrats take over as the majority party. ‘What we have to do is change it,’ Warren replied.” (Daniel Chaitin, “Elizabeth Warren ‘Delighted’ Energy Company In Massachusetts Is Reducing Rates Due To GOP Tax Plan She Opposes,” Washington Examiner , 1/10/18)
In The Event That Trump’s Tax Cuts Are Overturned, Warren Has Refused To Rule Out Raising Tax Rates To Over “50 Percent For The Highest Earners.” “Warren denounced Trump’s tax cuts during a town hall event at the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology, even though experts have partially credited the measure with the recent GDP growth of 4.1 percent. ‘I think the fundamental question is: Who has the economy improved for?’ Warren said. The tax cuts dropped income tax rates across the board, and slashed the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent. Warren argued that wages are flatlining while the cost of living continues to go up. Her criticism comes after an interview with CNBC last week, when she called for an overturn of Trump’s tax cuts but wouldn’t specify where she’d like to see them, refusing to rule out rates over 50 percent for the highest earners.” (Mary Markos, “Elizabeth Warren Stands By Call To Overturn Income Tax Cuts,” Boston Herald , 7/30/18)
Despite A History Of Advocating For Corporate Tax Cuts, Booker Called The GOP Tax Cuts A “Camouflage” For Trickle Down Economics
In 2017, Booker Voted Against The Tax Cuts And Jobs Act. (H.R. 1, Roll Call Vote #303 , Bill Passed 51-49: 51-1: D 0-46: I 0-2, 12/2/17, Booker Voted Nay)
After The GOP Tax Cuts Passed The Senate In 2017, Booker Said, “It’s An Absolute Travesty That Senate Republicans Chose Corporate Profit Over The American People Tonight.” “It’s an absolute travesty that Senate Republicans chose corporate profit over the American people tonight. We will not forget. #GOPTaxScam” (Cory Booker, Twitter Feed , 12/20/17)
- In October 2014, Booker Said He Wanted To Overhaul The Corporate Tax Structure, Saying The 35 Percent Rate Has Hurt American Competitiveness. “Booker said he is pushing bigger issues, too, such as simplifying the application process for college students seeking financial aid and introducing a bill with Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky.) that seeks to help juveniles and adults expunge or seal nonviolent crimes. He also supports raising the federal minimum wage. He wants to overhaul the corporate tax structure; the top rate of 35 percent has hurt U.S. competitiveness, Booker said.” (Andrew Seidman, “New Jersey’s Senate Candidates Define Their Stands,” The Philadelphia Inquirer , 10/17/14)
Booker Called The GOP Tax Bill “Insanity,” And A “Fiction Being Hoisted Upon The American People.” “ ‘This in insanity,’ said Booker, D-N.J., in a speech on the Senate floor as lawmakers debated the GOP tax bill. ‘This is folly. This is fiction being foisted upon the American people.’” (Jonathan D. Salant, “’This Is Insanity!’ That’s What Booker Just Said About Trump-Backed Senate GOP Tax Bill,” The Star-Ledger , 11/30/17)
Following The Passage Of GOP Tax Reform, Booker Claimed That The GOP Was Attempting To “Camouflage” Trickle Down Economics. “Trickle-down economics, no matter how it’s disguised, doesn’t work and Republicans’ attempts to camouflage it as tax reform is offensive and won’t work for American workers” (Jonathan D. Salant, “’This Is Insanity!’ That’s What Booker Just Said About Trump-Backed Senate GOP Tax Bill,” The Star-Ledger , 11/30/17)
In 2017, Harris Called GOP Tax Cuts “Shameful” And Falsely Claimed That Middle Class Families Would See Tax Increases Under The GOP Tax Cuts
In 2017, Harris Voted Against The Tax Cuts And Jobs Act. (H.R. 1, Roll Call Vote #303 , Bill Passed 51-49: 51-1: D 0-46: I 0-2, 12/2/17, Harris Voted Nay)
After The Republican Tax Plan Was Approved By The Senate Harris Responded That The Plan “Shameful,” And “Wrong.” “The tax plan approved tonight by my Republican colleagues is shameful. Tonight, corporations and the top 1% of Americans won at the expense of middle class families. This is wrong and does not reflect the best of who we are as a country.” (Press Release, “ Harris Statement On Passage Of The Republican Tax Plan ,” Sen. Kamala Harris, 12/2/17)
On October 27, 2017, Harris Said Middle Class Families Would See Tax Increases Under Tax Reform. “ ‘On average, middle class families earning less than $86,000 would see a tax increase under the Republican ‘tax reform’ plan.’ — Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), in a tweet, Oct. 27.” (Glenn Kessler, “Senate Democrats Falsely Claim GOP Tax Plan Will Raise Taxes For Most Working-Class Families,” The Washington Post , 11/2/17)
- The Washington Post Said Harris’ Claim Was False, And “Most Families In That Income Range Would Get A Tax Cut.” “In their haste to condemn the GOP tax plan, Democrats have spread far and wide the false claim that families making less than $86,100 on average will face a hefty tax hike. Actually, it’s the opposite. Most families in that income range would get a tax cut.” (Glenn Kessler, “Senate Democrats Falsely Claim GOP Tax Plan Will Raise Taxes For Most Working-Class Families,” The Washington Post , 11/2/17)
2020 DEMOCRATS ARE LEADING THE OBSTRUCTION OF JUDGE BRETT KAVANAUGH, “A VERY CONFIRMABLE” SUPREME COURT NOMINEE
Political Pundits Believe Judge Kavanaugh Is “Very Confirmable”
NBC’s Chuck Todd Admits Judge Kavanaugh Is a “Very Confirmable Pick.” NBC’s CHUCK TODD: “Lester, I think they are. I mean look, I think in his confirmation hearings you are going to hear a lot about that. You’ll hear a lot about some of the work he did in his political background, his sort of pre-legal background on that front. Yes, I think the idea of whether a sitting president can be subject of a criminal inquiry. Judge Kavanaugh worked for Ken Starr and has written a review article that basically says in hindsight, we distracted President Clinton too much and he should have been able to focus on getting for instance Osama bin Laden at the time. But let me tell you this overall Lester, I think this is a pick, that is a very confirmable pick. Brett Kavanaugh has already gotten the support once of the two moderate Republican Senators Murkowski and Collins, he’ll likely get it again.” (NBC News, “ Special Report ,” 7/9/18)
MSNBC’s Chris Hayes Called Judge Kavanaugh “Someone Who [Has] Punched All The Tickets,” And “Cut Of That Same Cloth” As Current Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch. MSNBC’S RACHEL MADDOW: “This President has not been in office a year and a half yet and making his second supreme court nominee. Now with Pete reporting - NBC News reporting that it is Brett Kavanaugh. This is someone who has been the subject of really, really hard fought confirmation hearings before. What is your reaction to this?” MSNBC’s CHRIS HAYES: “My reaction, twofold. One, I’m not surprised. It seemed like this was the most Gorsuch like pick of the bunch. Someone who had punched all the tickets. All the elite credentials and who has spent his life in conservative right wing legal circles in which people can be to get a suitor. There is an entire infrastructure built up on the right to create processes, associations, pipelines of cultivation, to make sure that they get conservative justices appointed by Republicans who end up ruling in ways that align with their policy preferences and their constitutional theories and they’ve gotten very good at it. Gorsuch has performed the first few years on the court and I think Kavanaugh is cut of that same cloth.” (MSNBC’s, “ All In With Chris Hayes ,” 7/9/18)
Booker Said That Judge Kavanaugh’s Supporters Are “Complicit” In “Evil” And That The Public Should Be Outraged By His Nomination
Booker Said That People Who Support Judge Kavanaugh Are “Complicit” In “Evil.” CORY BOOKER: “There is so much at stake here, this is nothing to do with politics, this is to do with who we are as moral beings. And so I want to call on everybody. I’m not here to tell folks just what they should know, I’m here to call on folks to understand that in the moral moment there is no, there is no neutral. In a moral moment there is no bystanders. You are either complicit in the evil, you are either contributing to the wrong or you are fighting against it. There is a saying from Abraham [unintelligible] in one of the Psalms that says “Ye though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death.” We are walking through the valley of the shadow of death but that doesn’t say though I sit in the valley of the shadow of death. It doesn’t say that I am watching on the sidelines of the valley of the shadow of death. It says I am walking through the valley of the shadow of death. It says I am taking agency that I am going to make it through this crisis. And so I am calling on everyone right now who understands what is at stake. Who understands who Kavanaugh is. My instinct says if someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time. He has shown us who he is.” (Sen. Cory Booker, Remarks On Capitol Hill , 7/24/18)
Booker Admitted He Was “Well On The Record” Saying He Would Oppose Anyone That President Trump Nominated. “Has @CoryBooker already decided to vote against Brett Kavanaugh? ‘I’m well on the record already with saying that, before it was even Kavanaugh, that this is a very problematic constitutional moment for this country,’ he tells @JudyWoodruff.” (PBS NewsHour, Twitter Feed , 7/9/18)
Even Before President Trump Nominated Judge Kavanaugh, Harris Said “We Are Looking At The Destruction Of The Constitution”
In June 2018, Harris Said That If President Trump Nominates A New Supreme Court Justice, “We Are Looking At The Destruction Of The Constitution.” “California Senator Kamala Harris (D) claimed that President Trump nominating a new justice to the Supreme Court in the wake of Anthony Kennedy’s retirement means ‘we are looking at the destruction of the Constitution.’ Harris, considered a potential opponent to Trump in the 2020 presidential election, said on MSNBC that Trump has consistently nominated ‘ideologues’ to lifetime appointments on other federal courts.” (“We’re Looking at the Destruction of the Constitution’: Kamala Harris Rips Trump’s Potential SCOTUS Picks,” Fox News Insider , 6/29/18)
Harris Claimed She Would “Play Hardball” In An Interview With Chris Matthews On MSNBC. MSNBC’s CHRIS MATTHEWS: “Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader said no to Barack Obama’s pick Merrick Garland for the whole year. So I’m going to go and talk for the guy. I’m not going to have hearings. I’m going to let me and my people talk to him and he won because no you have got Neil Gorsuch. Are you guys going to play HARDBALL this time and say we are not going to let you pass this? You are not going to rush this through as in a few month before Election Day?” SEN. HARRIS: “Based on every conversation I have had with my colleagues so far this afternoon, everybody is prepared to play HARDBALL.” (MSNBC’s, “ Hardball ,” 6/27/18)
In June 2018, Harris Claimed That President Trump’s List Of Potential SCOTUS Nominees Are “Complete Non-Starters.” “We’ve already seen the President’s list of potential SCOTUS nominees. They are complete non-starters. The American people deserve a Supreme Court justice who will fight to protect their rights, not conservative ideologues. #ditchthelist.” (Sen. Kamala Harris, Twitter Feed , 6/27/18)
Warren Has Urged Democrats To Fight Up Until The Judge Kavanaugh Vote
On July 18, 2018, Warren Said That “Every Senator Who Believes In Equal Justice” Should Oppose Judge Kavanaugh’s Nomination. “Every American who believes that our courts should not be another puppet of the rich and powerful should speak out, and every Senator who believes in equal justice under the law should say no to Judge Kavanaugh.” (Press Release, Warren Delivers Floor Speech On Brett Kavanaugh’s Nomination To The Supreme Court,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren , 7/18/18)
Warren Has Urged Democratic Supporters To “Be As Loud As Humanly Possible Right Up Until That Vote.” “‘I’m opposed to Kavanaugh. I know you’re shocked,’ Warren said. ‘What can we do? We can be as loud as humanly possible right up until that vote. Please, everybody, get in this fight. We need you.’” (Mary Markos, “Elizabeth Warren, GOP Brace For Brett Kavanaugh Fight,” The Boston Herald , 7/29/19)
THE 2020 DEMOCRATS HAVE BECOME VOCAL SUPPORTERS OF ABOLISHING ICE
Warren, Booker, And Harris Have, To Various Degrees, Called For The Abolishment Or Reform Of ICE
According To NBC News, 2020 Democrats Warren And Harris Are Speaking Out In Opposition Of ICE. “From the Trumpworld perspective, it’s an easy branding exercise: Democrats are for getting rid of an agency that cracks down on undocumented immigrants; which makes them in favor of open borders; and, in turn, that means they are generally for lawlessness. Better yet, for Trump, the faces of the policy are Democrats who are widely considered potential 2020 rivals to him, including Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and, to a slightly lesser extent because she hasn’t directly called for an end to the agency, Kamala Harris, D-Calif. They’re raising their voices just as he is ramping up a barnstorming tour in advance of the midterm elections that is a not-so-dry run for his re-election campaign.” (Jonathan Allen, “Some Democrats Want To Go To War Over Abolishing ICE. So Does President Trump,” NBC News , 7/3/18)
During A Rally In Boston, Warren Called For ICE To Be Abolished And Said It Should Be Replaced With Something New. “Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Saturday joined calls from the left to get rid of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), saying it should be replaced with something new. ‘The president’s deeply immoral actions have made it obvious we need to rebuild our immigration system from top to bottom starting by replacing ICE with something that reflects our morality and that works,’ Warren said during a rally in Boston.” (Ali Breland, “Warren Joins Calls To Get Rid Of ICE,” The Hill , 6/30/18)
According To The Hill, Booker Has Followed Other 2020 Democratic Hopefuls In Calling For ICE To Be Abolished. “ The top Democratic leaders — Sen. Charles Schumer (N.Y.) and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) — have both pushed back against the ‘abolish ICE’ message, arguing that reforming the agency is the preferable route. But Ocasio-Cortez has been joined by a handful of prominent liberal Democrats, including several 2020 presidential contenders hoping to remain on the popular side of the party’s liberal base. That list of supporters includes New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.) and Cory Booker (N.J.).” (Mike Lillis and Rafael Bernal, “Clash Looms Over ICE Funding,” The Hill , 7/8/18)
During A June Interview On NBC’s Meet The Press, Harris Commented On ICE Saying, “We Need To Probably Think About Starting From Scratch.” “Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) said Congress should reconsider the nation’s immigration enforcement system and possibly ‘start from scratch’ by eliminating the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. ‘There’s no question that we’ve got to critically reexamine ICE and its role, and the way that it is being administered, and the work it is doing,” Harris said on NBC’s ‘Meet the Press’ on Sunday. ‘And we need to probably think about starting from scratch.’ Harris’ remarks came in response to a question from host Kasie Hunt about whether she supports abolishing ICE.” (Paul Blumenthal, “Kamala Harris Says Congress Need To Change ICE, Perhaps ‘Start From Scratch,’ The Huffington Post , 6/24/18)
Current Immigration Officials, And At Least One Former Obama Official, Have Warned Of The Consequences Of Abolishing ICE
Homeland Security Chief Kristjen Nielsen Defended ICE’s Role Saying “We Have To Do Our Job. We Will Not Apologize For Doing Our Job.” “‘We have to do our job. We will not apologize for doing our job,’ she said. ‘This administration has a simple message — If you cross the border illegally, we will prosecute you.’ Nielsen spoke hours after taking to Twitter to vehemently deny that her department’s border policy dictates separation of children from their parents. ‘We do not have a policy of separating families at the border. Period,’ Nielsen tweeted late Sunday. ‘For those seeking asylum at ports of entry, we have continued the policy from previous administrations and will only separate if the child is in danger, there is no custodial relationship between ‘family’ members, or if the adult has broken a law.’” (John Bacon, “Amid Outrage, Homeland Security Chief Kristjen Nielsen ‘Will Not Apolgize’ For Separating Families,” USA Today , 6/18/18)
Former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson Said That Abolishing ICE “Would Compromise Public Safety.” “Former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said Saturday calls to abolish the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency are misguided and doing so “would compromise public safety.” (Brent Griffiths, “Jeh Johnson: Don’t Abolish ICE, Reform It,” Politico , 7/7/18)
James Schwab, A Former Obama ICE Spokesperson Said That “It Doesn’t Make Sense” To Get Rid Of ICE. “A former spokesman for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it ‘doesn’t make sense’ to get rid of ICE despite public criticism of the agency, and that agents ‘have a rough time with this too’ in the midst of backlash over the separation of undocumented families at the border. When CNN’s Van Jones asked James Schwab, a former spokesman for ICE’s San Francisco division, if he believes the agency should be abolished or shut down, Schwab said, ‘It just doesn’t make sense to me. Immigration enforcement is important, both sides agree on that. If you get rid of it, then what? You need something there.’” (Clare Foran, “EX-ICE Spokesman Defends Agents: ‘They Have A Rough Time With This Too,’” CNN , 6/30/18)
2020 DEMOCRATS ATTENDING NETROOTS ARE PROMOTING SOCIALIST CANDIDATES, WHO PARTY LEADERS SAY ARE THE FUTURE OF THE PARTY
2020 Democrats Are Helping A Rising Star And Self-Proclaimed Socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , Who Some See As The Future Of The Party
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, “A Self-Described Democratic Socialist,” Sent “Shockwaves Throughout The Democratic Party” With Her Surprise Primary Win Over “Top Democrat Rep. Joseph Crowley (N.Y.).” “Ocasio-Cortez, a self-described democratic socialist and an organizer during Sanders’s 2016 presidential bid, sent shockwaves throughout the Democratic Party last month with her primary upset over top Democrat Rep. Joseph Crowley (N.Y.).” (Jacqueline Thomsen, “Ocasio-Cortez On Campaigning With Sanders: Progressive Policies ‘Can Win Across The Country,’” The Hill , 7/17/18)
Ocasio-Cortez Believes That Her Progressive Policies “Can Win Across The Country,” And Since Her Primary Victory She Has Begun To Campaign In Red-States Alongside “Possible 2020 Candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).” “Democratic candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said Tuesday that she believes progressive policies “can win across the country” as she prepares to campaign in red-state Kansas with possible 2020 candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).” (Jacqueline Thomsen, “Ocasio-Cortez On Campaigning With Sanders: Progressive Policies ‘Can Win Across The Country,’” The Hill , 7/17/18)
Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Tom Perez Claims That Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Represents The “Future Of Our Party.” “Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Tom Perez said Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez represents the “future of our party” on Tuesday.” (Aris Folley, “DNC Chair: Ocasio-Cortez Represents The ‘Future Of Our Party,’” The Hill , 7/3/18)
Ocasio-Cortez’s Progressive Agenda Includes Supporting Progressive Policies Like The “Abolition Of Immigration And Customs Enforcement And ‘Medicare For All.’” “Ocasio-Cortez’s platform includes progressive policies including the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and ‘Medicare for all.’” (Emily Birnbaum, “Ocasio-Cortez: Democratic Socialism Is ‘Part Of What I Am, It’s Not All Of What I Am,”” The Hill , 7/30/18)
Senator Kamala Harris Finds Ocasio-Cortez “Incredibly Impressive,” And Has Applauded Her Decision To Serve. “Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., said she found Ocasio-Cortez ‘incredibly impressive.’ ‘I applaud anyone who decides to run for office and put themselves out there because they want to serve the country,’ Harris said.” (Dartunorro Clark, “Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Credits Talking Issues, Not Trump, For Upset Win In Democratic Primary,” NBC News, 6/27/18)
During The Final Weeks Of Maryland’s Democratic Primary For Governor, 2020 Democrats Poured In To Endorse And Campaign With Progressive Ben Jealous
Ben Jealous, A Member Of The Progressive Wing Of The Democratic Party, Beat Out The Establishment-Backed Candidate And Won The Democratic Nomination For Maryland Governor. “His victory over fellow front-runner Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III, who was backed by the state’s political establishment, demonstrated the growing influence of the progressive wing of the Maryland Democratic Party. His win was part of a wave of victories against establishment candidates in state government.” (Erin Cox and Luke Broadwater, “Ben Jealous Wins Maryland Democratic Primary Race For Governor,” The Baltimore Sun , 6/26/18)
Jealous’ Ambitious Primary Platform Included “Single-Payer Health Care, Legalizing Marijuana And Using The Proceeds To Pay For Free Community College And Raising The Minimum Wage To $15.” “Jealous ran on an ambitious platform of single-payer health care, legalizing marijuana and using the proceeds to pay for free community college and raising the minimum wage to $15.” (Kevin Robillard, “Bernie Sanders’ Pick Wins The Democratic Bid For Maryland Governor. Now’s The Hard Part,” Huffington Post , 6/26/18)
In The Final Weeks Of The Race, Jealous Campaigned Alongside Harris And Booker. “Jealous campaigned with a slew of possible 2020 Democratic presidential contenders ? Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) all did events for him in the final weeks of the race.” (Kevin Robillard, “Bernie Sanders’ Pick Wins The Democratic Bid For Maryland Governor. Now’s The Hard Part,” Huffington Post , 6/26/18)
Elections
Election 2020
View Full Press Release : http://gop.com/2020-dems-progressive-pilgrimage-to-netroots-nation-rsr
