WASHINGTON WATCH: On Court's Abortion Ruling, Much Is Being Said... But Too Much of What's Important Left Unsaid
Democratic leaders have get us in the game plan today
Social media has been a torrent since the news broke Monday night that the Supreme Court has a draft decision ready to go to strike down the Roe v Wade ruling which has guaranteed access to abortions nationwide for almost half a century.
Democrats — politicians; operatives; activists; to say nothing of the plethora of the party’s most important component, its voters — all rushed to social media late Monday to express their anger, frustration, sadness and even worry for future after Politico published the draft decision penned by Justice Samuel Alito which would bring an end to a nationally recognized right to abortion.
Jaime Harrison, chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), began firing off a string of tweets within hours of Politico breaking the story.
“GOP stole a Supreme Court Seat! Tried to steal the Presidency via coup! Attempting to steal Congress w/ voter suppression laws & now are attacking fundamental freedoms- a woman’s right to choose! 2022 IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTION of OUR LIFETIME!” Harrison tweeted.
Sen Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis) sought to drum up support for her Women's Health Protection Act, which would codify a national right to abortion through federal legislation — which would be the only way to continue that national right if the Supreme Court goes ahead with the draft decision.
Even actress Denise Crosby, known for her work on Star Trek: The Next Generation, fired off a couple of tweets registering her anger and disapproval of the draft Alito decision.
“I am weeping. Women, girls, I will fight for your protection. Never, never, in my life would I have believed my CHOICE would be taken from me, in America, in 2022! I was protected and you need to be protected too. #RoeVsWade,” she wrote, adding, “I was protected, yes, by a safe and legal abortion. Thank you #RoeVsWade @PPact @PPFA”
Meanwhile, the first direct communication that I had, personally, with the Democratic Party was a text message, carrying a midnight fundraising appeal.
Sure, all of this — the call to fight from Harrison, the rally on behalf of needed legislation from Baldwin, and even the emotional plea by a celebrity like Crosby — is each in its own way, necessary for the battle ahead. But none of it is sufficient.
What do I mean?
I mean that we rank-and-file Democrats have been Charlie Brown with the football too often.
Democrats have supported the party — whether that's through volunteer work, financial donation and even individual voters willing to go sometimes, literally, the extra mile just to cast a ballot — only to have what was promised fall apart among politicians due to poor planning or execution.
(Just one example: Filibuster reform, anyone?)
So what we, as those rank-and-file Democrats need to hear right now isn't just a lot of lofty oratory, or pleas to support important legislation that we know have no chance to pass the US Senate right now (see the aforementioned fumble on filibuster reform).
What we need to begin to hear from Democratic leaders — starting right now — are their well-thought-out and realistic plans and strategies to mobilize unprecedented numbers of voters come November, and how they will help voters overcome the gauntlet of voting suppression to ensure that our votes count.
We Democrats, the one who give tons of small-dollar donations, perhaps help with phone calls — and most importantly vote — how everything we're doing is going to be effective.
After the shocking bombshell Politico dropped late Monday we're in a world where we need to know that we really can succeed.
So Democratic Party leaders, please start that conversation today. We have no time to waste.
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