Democrats in Disarray?

​

For much of the past two years, the media have played the story of Democrats in disarray. “They control the White House and Congress, so why can’t they get anything done?” In a 50-50 Senate, one or two Democrats have blocked some legislation, while nearly every Republican has voted against anything proposed by Democrats. Let’s look in detail at the Senate voting record.

 

1. Protection of Voting Rights (The John Lewis Voting Rights Act, S.4) stalled by 50-49, all Democrats for and 49 Republicans against, Rounds of SD not voting. 60 votes needed to overcome Republican filibuster.

 

2. Expansion of voting access (S.2093) rejected by 50-50, all Democrats for and all Republicans against. 60 needed again.

 

3. Strengthening remedies against wage discrimination (HR 7), rejected by 49-50, all Democrats for and all Republicans against, one Democrat not voting (Gillibrand, NY).

 

4. Establishing the January 6 investigation committee, HR 3233, rejected by 54-35, 46 Democrats for, including six Republicans (Cassidy, LA, Collins, ME, Murkowski, AL, Portman, OH, Romney, UT, and Sasse, NE). Remainder of Republicans against, 11 not voting (including two Democrats). 60 votes needed.

 

5. Women’s Health Protection Act (S.4132), protecting a woman’s right to choose an abortion, rejected 49-51, all Democrats but one for, and all Republicans plus D-Manchin, WV, against. Later, HR 3755, the House version, was rejected 46-48, Manchin again against, with 3 Democrats and 3 Republicans not voting.

 

So, Republicans voted against:

 

Protecting voting rights

 

Expanding voter access to the ballot box

 

Protecting workers against wage discrimination

 

The January 6th investigation committee, and

 

Protecting a woman’s right to choose an abortion, as well as

 

Expanding medical insurance premium support

 

Providing Federal funds for enforcing Covid mandates

 

Providing discounted insulin for low and middle-income people, and

 

Authorizing monitoring and prevention of domestic terrorism

 

What did Republicans vote for?

 

Abortion restrictions

 

Approving the Keystone XL pipeline

 

Expanding Federal leases for oil and gas exploration on Federal lands

 

Requiring approval of coal leases, and

 

Tax cuts for the rich

 

The conflict has been obvious: Democrats voting to help the people, and support pro-choice, and Republicans voting to help the rich, the oil and gas industry, and against abortion rights. This pattern has been around for a long time, but is particularly difficult with a divided Senate. Republican opposition requires 60 votes to overcome the filibuster, making minority “rule” instead of majority “rule” the norm. They can block anything they wish, but lack the majority to pass the legislation they promote.

 

The mass media have frequently criticized the Democrats, but rarely criticized the Republicans. Why does virtually every Republican vote against anything the Democrats propose? Why aren’t they asked why they failed to support legislation helping the people? Is this responsible behavior or just brute force nay-saying?

 

Republicans somehow have been labeled “populists.” A populist is someone who appeals to people who feel that their concerns have been disregarded by established elite groups. The people’s interests against the elite’s interests.

 

After the financial crisis of 2008, Federal aid primarily went to business, not to those who lost their homes or their life savings. Popular anger over this discrimination was legitimate. Both parties failed the people. The Tea Party in 2010 was a direct result of 2008, and the unmet needs of the people.

 

Today, the public has realized that their real wages have been virtually the same for many years, while inflation eats away at their lives, and corporate profits have soared. More popular anger. And the Republican response has been to seek more tax cuts and subsidies for the rich, to control women’s lives, and to stir hatred of immigrants. Is this populism? Of course not.

 

Democrats need to properly label Republicans as the enemy of populism, the enemy of the people’s interests. Democratic proposals have to emphasize the benefits for the people as a common theme. And Biden has to free his party by announcing that he will not run in 2024, giving himself the freedom to push progressive legislation, and his party the freedom to select the best possible candidate for 2024.

 

The way to support the people over the rich is obvious: Keep the House with a Democratic majority. Vote for more Democrats in the Senate, to overcome the one or two Democrats who won’t support the majority. And, abolish the filibuster to restore majority rule for the country. Wishing for the people to vote for their own interests, to vote for Democrats, may be a dream. But one can hope for the great awakening... November is just around the corner.

​

Sunday, 25 Sep 22