Once Again, the Democratic Party’s Old Guard Sabotages the Chance for Change

By David Starr

 

They are fond of calling themselves “New” Democrats or “Third Way” Democrats, but what they actually represent is nothing new and not an alternative. This was proven recently when they chose old guard Gerry Connolly over the younger Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in a vote in the House Democratic Caucus for the top slot on the House Oversight Committee. 

 

The secret-ballot vote had Connelly winning convincedly over Ocasio-Cortez, 131 to 84. As quoted inCommon Dreams, Ocasio-Cortez concluded, “Tried my best. Sorry I couldn’t pull it through everyone–we live to fight another day.” One problem in choosing Connolly is that he’s 74 years-old and has cancer. Ocasio-Cortez is 35 and is to the left of the old guard. 

 

One can grow tired of the “New/Third Way” Democrats’ hellbent efforts to maintain dominance over the party, which makes them a part of the capitalist establishment. In domestic policy, these democrats pay some attention to social and labor issues and do implement policies that to a certain degree compliment these issues. But they only go so far, acknowledging the importance of them. Then, they stop and don’t follow through to make efforts at implementing polices that represent real change.

 

In foreign policy these democrats can also be called neoliberals and bear a similar resemblance to neoconservatives, trying to impose an imperial foreign policy which has ultimately resulted in provocations and confrontations with other countries–and basically with dire consequences for many people in those countries. 

 

What it comes down to is that neoliberals, like neoconservatives, try to maintain the current world order based on the rule of capital, and usually with consequences for the working class and poor, both foreign and domestic. Neoliberals/”New”/”Third Way” Democrats prioritize corporate interests more so than the interests of the common people. 

 

One “New” democrat that has had years of influence in U.S. politics is former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. When it looks like she will support progressive policies, Pelosi turns around and acts as conservative as the conservatives. After all, the rule of capital is a priority for her and other neoliberals.

 

The Damage Report reported on Pelosi’s behind-the-scenes meddling.

 

In the Connolly-Ocasio-Cortez vote, Pelosi was influential in pushing for Connelly. To reiterate, Connolly is 74 and has cancer–and is in the twilight of his career. So, once again, neoliberals like Pelosi discard a chance for real change. Further, Pelosi, etc. still don’t get it, and impose the old and largely ineffective establishment strategy on the rest of the party. 

 

Connolly was appreciative of capturing the vote, thanking his colleagues in a statement, quoting fromCommon Dreams, “for their support and the confidence they’ve placed in me to lead House Democrats on the Oversight Committee,” which is under GOP control, for now. 

 

Connolly talked tough when it came to republican chicanery. “ We know what the Republican playbook will be. We have seen it before. This will be trench warfare. Now is not the time to be timid.” But, it’ s very possible that, once again, the neoliberals sooner or later will cave to the republicans in the name of “bi-partisanship.” 

 

This happened at one point in the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz presidential campaign. It started out effectively, with, e.g., Walz using the word “weird” to describe republicans. Plus, the Harris-Walz campaign had a good slogan, “We Will Not Go Back!” Then Harris’s consultants prodded her to be more “moderate,” to appease the donor class, which, again, is a strategy where the Democrats loose to republicans more often than not.

 

Ocasio-Cortez is portrayed as dynamic, at least more than Connolly. Common Dreams reports that “Slate’sAlexander Sammon wrote ‘it’s a bad move’ for Pelosi and other leading establishment Democrats to back Connolly over Ocasio-Cortez, ‘one of the best-known progressives in the country’ and also ‘one of the best-known Democrats period.”’ 

 

Meanwhile, according to Axios, “Connolly hinged his case on experience and his political ability, including arguing that he helped make Virginia a blue state…” But will Connelly follow through on his policies? One can say that it’s doubtful.

 

Ocasio-Cortez was supporting left/progressives in the democratic primaries over the bland incumbents. But that has been a sore spot for the democratic leadership, and Ocasio-Cortez was probably pressured by individuals like Pelosi to fall in the line for the incumbents. Ocasio-Cortez pledged not to go off the neoliberal script.

 

The New Republic was very critical of the neoliberals sticking to their flawed strategy, “proving once again that they have learned absolutely nothing.” It reported that “Nancy Pelosi had set her sights on quashing the New York progressive’s shot at leading the House of Representatives’ key investigative arm.” 

 

There was also a vote of the House Democratic Steering Committee and, despite younger progressive members who reportedly supported Ocasio-Cortez, Connolly won that vote, 34 to 27. Apparently, the House’s Democratic Caucus ultimately supported Connolly. 

 

Comparing the two lawmakers, The New Republic stated that Connolly, “the 74-year-old lawmaker, announced that he had been diagnosed with esophagus cancer. By comparison, the 35-year-old Cortez has proven to be a lightning rod–both good and bad–and winning a high-ranking position would have signaled a significant shift in party leadership. She is also popular among younger voters…”

 

It's evident that the “New/Third Way” Democrats are not going to change. This leads to more failures at trying to beat the republicans. Both parties are not real alternatives and that doesn’t bode well for many in the United States…and outside of it.