While I audibly groaned when news broke that my primary candidate Bernie Sanders stupidly decided to point finger at identity politics, the fact remains that we need to promote policies that are popular across the political spectrum while simultaneously protecting groups historically under attack by the resurgent right wing. (In my opinion, Sen Sander lost his place as the leader of the progressive movement with those comments, because it unnecessarily caused a rift in the Democratic party.) We have to win elections!
There can be no compromise though on protecting these groups of people. There can be no going back to the 50s or the Robber Barron era where identity politics for white people only reigned supreme.
The issues that worked in a state that went for Trump by 20 points, that promoted policies for ALL Americans: economic fairness, education, health care, and a fair judiciary. It appears that a large contingent of Republicans in Kansas understand that basic fairness in the legal system is a foundation of our republic. It shows that the vast majority of the American people want to reject the alt-right, the neo-nazis, the KKK. Despite the cowards in Congress afraid of the alt-right dipshits at Breitart, it gives me hope that the same cowards will buck the far right haters who only care about white supremacy identity politics: they need look no further than Kansas the whitest of white states.
So when the reconciliation health care and tax cut fights start, let’s use the playbook that worked in Kansas to show the more centrist Republicans in Congress a way forward while never giving an inch of ground on protection of all Americans.
Again, there will no NO retreat on protection within our coalition but let’s stop being so insular and work for all Americans. While we know we are the side of good and righteousness, let’s not be like the white supremacist identity politicians and insulate ourselves. If we include the (yes white) centrists, we will win. If not, we will continue to lose elections and further put vulnerable groups in danger.
In Kansas, Where Republicans and Fiscal Woes Reign, Democrats Made Inroads
Education and fears about more budget strain helped lift Mr. Parker and other candidates in suburban districts, where grass-roots parent groups emerged as a new political force.
One group, Stand Up Blue Valley, named for a school district, endorsed Mr. Parker and several other legislative candidates, both Democrats and Republicans, who campaigned on education issues. The public schools in this affluent suburban county are considered some of the region’s best, with parents saying they moved here for the schools and are counting on continued success to maintain their property values.
“People are so fed up, so tired, frustrated, of what is happening to our great state,” said Jennifer Jarrell, a former Republican precinct committeewoman who became involved with Stand Up Blue Valley.
But moderates and Democrats also made gains outside suburban Kansas City, and education was hardly the only issue that drove voters to the polls. A collection of grass-roots groups called the Save Kansas Coalition pushed for a return to political centrism and brought attention to topics as diverse as Medicaid expansion and the method for selecting judges.
Save Kansas Coalition
Save Kansas, an alliance of Republicans, Independents and Democrats, wants to abolish extremism controlling state government.
Consider Save Kansas’ list of sensible, traditional values, and how they’ve been trampled since ultraconservative Gov. Sam Brownback took office:
• Balanced tax policy. Kansas must pursue as much after the governor’s radical tax reform gutted income-tax revenue and created huge budget shortfalls.
• Quality educational opportunity. Ultraconservatives don’t like public education, and their interest in shifting taxpayer support to private and home schools with less stringent demands than K-12 public school districts is proof.
• Reasonable health-care access. Blocking Medicaid (KanCare) expansion has left some 150,000 Kansans, mostly working poor, without coverage. Plus, Kansas has passed on $1.15 billion — so far — in federal dollars that would help rural hospitals in particular.
• Adequate public safety. Problems range from reckless gun measures to shortchanged law enforcement efforts.
• Job growth and financial responsibility. Erasing income taxes for more than 330,000 farms and other business entities didn’t generate the significant job growth Brownback promised. And so much for fiscal conservatism with excessive borrowing, a significant sales tax increase and credit downgrades.
• Judicial impartiality. The run on an independent judiciary by a governor out to control all three branches of state government and eliminate resistance to his ultraconservative pursuits must be stopped.
The Save Kansas push to restore common-sense governing involves moderate grassroots organizations, as well as former governors in Republican Mike Hayden and Democrat John Carlin.
They all want pragmatism to trump politics, and know coming elections present an opportunity for needed change.
Key GOP primary races include two for the Kansas Senate: Rep. John Doll against Brownback ally Sen. Larry Powell, both of Garden City, in the 39th District; and Mary Jo Taylor, superintendent of Stafford USD 349, who challenged Brownback crony Sen. Mitch Holmes of St. John in the 33rd District.
Expect intense battles statewide, with Brownback-supported forces out to malign opponents with deliberately misleading and false claims, as in recent elections. The more moderate side, fortunately, can counter with the reality of the failed Brownback agenda.
Kansans should pay close attention to the debate and become part of an inspired, informed electorate — one empowered to save Kansas from the radical right.
— The Garden City Telegram