I am a voter who increasingly is finding it hard to remain in the party to which I have identified for over 40 years. Yes, I am an older white guy. But, I’m an older white guy who firmly believes in equity, equality, and the social safety net. These used to be what Democrats stood for as well. Events over the past couple of years, and even more so, the last couple of weeks, has me wondering where I fit in American politics—I do know I don’t fit, and don’t want to fit, in the Maga Trumpists party.
How did I get to this mini-crisis of political identity?
It actually started with the 2020 election cycle (well, actually with the 2016 election cycle when leaders of the Democratic Party deemed Bernie Sanders should not be at the top of the ticket, but that is ancient history in many ways now). Just as Clinton was not my first choice in 2016, Biden was not my first choice in 2020, Buttigieg was my first choice because we drastically need an infusion of youthful optimism and ideas for Democrats. It was very exciting when he won Iowa, and sad as well since it took so long for the results of the caucuses causing a loss in momentum. Then New Hampshire happened, and then the Democrats, as often occurs, got scared and decided Biden needed to be at the top of the ticket. Like a good party members, all other candidates dropped out and endorsed Biden. In the end, although we don’t know what might have happened otherwise because we didn’t really get a choice, Biden has been an excellent and very effective president. He did, after all, bring us out of Covid, lifted the economy and kept us from a prolonged recession, has the longest job creation streak in history, invested more in domestic manufacturing and climate change mitigation, along with standing with working folks and brought back trust in America around the globe. Credit must be given where credit is due.
Then, he made a major blunder by allowing his ego to get in the way of stepping aside, as he had essentially promised, when he decided to run for reelection. Just as it only takes one act to erase years of trust, this one decision has brought us back to the country about to be run by an authoritarian oligarch.
This is where disappointment and disgust with dinosaur Democrats arises.
Biden’s decision did not allow for a true primary for Democrats. There were (are) so many extremely talented and well-known young Democrat leaders from which we could have chosen. Beshear in Kentucky, Newsom in California, Shapiro in Pennsylvania, Whitmer in Michigan, Vice President Harris, Scott in Baltimore, and many more. From all that young vibrant brilliant talent we ended up with a 78-year-old white man, again.
Yes, Biden finally decided, or was heavily persuaded, to step down well into the election cycle. Yes, he immediately endorsed Harris as the frontrunner. And yes, the damage had already been done (partly because he kept Harris in the shadows thus keeping people from getting to know her better). He kneecapped her from the beginning, and the Democratic Party, by not allowing for a robust primary season. Harris, to her credit, ran one of the best campaigns I’ve seen in my lifetime, but a three month campaign is nothing compared to our usual years’ long campaigns.
In 2022, in what looked like maybe Democrats started to use some critical thinking and lessons learned, Nancy Pelosi decided not to run as the House Democratic leader again. Hakeem Jeffries was chosen as her replacement. Finally some young vibrant ideas to revitalize the Democratic caucus, right? Wrong! If one is paying attention, the person still in the spotlight, and as we recently discovered, Pelosi is still the de facto leader in the House. She is the person most highlighted in the news, most interviewed on the news, and still shaping who gets to lead on committees in the House. Hakeem may be the face, but Pelosi is still the power, sadly. Her wisdom, as a mentor is needed, but mentors do not usurp the power of those being mentored.
Which brings us to the 2024 election in which the Republicans maintained control of the House. Each new session means a shuffle of leadership and assignment to the many committees in the House of Representatives. Two very capable, very smart, and very astute people were running for key leadership roles. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (commonly known as AOC) ran to be the lead Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. Jasmine Crockett ran to be the chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee.
Cortez was up against 74-year-old Gerry Connolly. She lost to Connolly, but only, and only because Pelosi interfered in the race. Cortez had the votes and was set to win this key leadership role until Pelosi from her high throne, from all reports, deemed AOC should not have this leadership role. As mentioned above, Pelosi is still the Speaker, not Jeffries.
Connolly, who of course is an old white man, represents what I’m calling the dinosaur wing of the Democratic Party. Until he was running for this post, most had never even heard of him (many in my circle had to look him up to even know who is was and what state he represents). This means he is out-of-touch with the electorate and would appear to lack any communication skills since he was an unknown. Cortez is young, has great ideas, and is one of the best communicators in the Democratic Party right now. She also is a disruptor, an effective disruptor, and has become much better at it with experience. Her early days were a little rough, but whose isn’t, and she is a very astute politician who fully sees those of us considered the working class. She gets what is needs to be done and works, even with all the roadblocks thrust in her way by her own party, to make our lives better. AOC is truly one of the few people to speak truth to power.
Crockett on the other hand is a bit of a newcomer to Congress. However, she too is a much needed disruptor, someone who speaks what needs to be said with no holds barred. Another very effective communicator, she gets what is needed for the times and is doing all she can, even as she too encounters roadblocks by her own party, to make our lives better. Crockett was up against Debbie Dingell, a 70-year-old white woman and member of the party elite. In full transparency, Crockett did throw her name into the ring late, which was a hinderance in her leadership bid.
What I see with these choices is a party that is, in these cases, just like the Republican-Trumpists. The oldest members of the party do not want to give up their power, even when it turns off the largest block of voters and is costing Democrats results. They just don’t, or won’t, learn. This GenXer older white guy is tired of a party of leaders in their 70’s and 80’s plus.
It is time to truly and fully pass the torch to the next generation. The older generation needs to be there to guide and offer advice when asked, not to interfere and block.
Until the Democrats get this message, they will continue to lose more of the electorate. Time to let the young stand up, lead, and move the country forward.
The older members of the party have two years to decide which is more important, their individual power or the future of the country. Are they, as they’ve stated themselves to be patriots, or are they just a blue version of Republican-Trumpists?
If it continues to be the latter, then I’ll have to decide which third party candidate to back. The Democratic Party will no longer be the home I once loved and spoke to my values of equity, equality, and a social safety net.
It will be a sad parting, but a necessary one. Democrats, you have two years to prove yourselves still worthy.
Time, as always, will tell.
Personal Reflections of a Middle-Aged Man 