Corporate Democrats' Tantrums Are Not Going To Work Moving Forward In Congress

The Corporate Democrat tantrums have begun! As they always do. In the past, they always get their way, with no compromise and a great deal of irrational behavior, but that might be changing.

Earlier this week, thirteen moderate and conservative, corporate Democrats, led by Congressman Tom Suozzi, signed a pledge designed to reprimand any member or candidate that works hard for working families and believes capitalism can and should be fairer. This stunt was effectively the same as a toddler holding their breath and screaming like maniacs in the middle of the grocery store. It was irrational and did not make sense.

After three progressive, Democratic Socialist candidates won on Tuesday, thirteen Corporate House Democrats signed onto a moderate initiative called the “Promise to America” pledge. The document explicitly declares “We are capitalist, not socialist” and outlines principles supporting secure borders, fiscal responsibility, and national pride. The document never once mentions economic solutions or programs that will alleviate housing, healthcare and foods costs. In fact, there is no plan included, at all, as per usual for Corporate Dems. In essence their document says, “we will just keep standing here and yelling about things, but never do anything because we might make our donors angry.” Finally, it mischaracterizes Democratic Socialism in a very immature and quite frankly, silly way.

But this is what Corporate Dems do. They don’t do anything, ever and criticize anyone who decides to be assertive and create specific plans with proven tactics. They stand still and play a role. Whenever they don’t get their way, they scream “socialism,” when what is being offered are economic development ideas that make our capitalism system more fair and allow all boats to rise.

Honestly, this happened monthly when I was in Congress. There would be a well supported, well-written bill that provided transformative programming or innovative economic development, and we would all be on our way to vote, when inevitably there was the dreaded screeches from the widely-known “Corporate Democrat Hissy Fit Caucus.”

This specific type of tantrum was usually the result of 4-5 Dem members from the Blue Dog Caucus (far right leaning Democrats) and 3-4 New Democrats Caucus (called moderates who are fully devoted to corporations) getting together and running to the speaker screaming, “we are not going to vote for this bill because it goes too far or too hard or we just don’t like it.”

Allow me to translate that for you. What that really meant is “my donors will not like this because their companies or they, themselves, will not make as much money or it may just “sound” too liberal, even though this bill is needed, well-thought out and will solve the problem.”

Then, there would be weeks and weeks of diluting the bill down into something that no longer works.

One of the most recent and egregious cases of this was when the “gang of nine” led by congressman Josh Gottheimer with eight other corporate Democrats, told Speaker Pelosi and President Biden that they “did not like the universal childcare provision and the extent of immigration protections in the Build Back Better Bill” in 2021.

They presented this information on the day before it was to be voted on. Truly unethical and disingenuous behavior in every way. And, it was glaringly apparent that this was solely due to corporate backlash and wealthy donor threats.

And here we, at a place where those immigration protections would have likely protected hundreds of thousands of immigrants who have been treated in the most vile way over the last 18 months.

Similarly, employment, economic and health outcomes would be much better to date.

And, because employment and health outcomes would have been better, maybe we would not have the unwell, corrupt administration we currently have.

Instead, we received watered down programs and got watered down results.

Then, we lost the election.

There are dozens of these examples. I won’t bore you with them.

In every instance, when the Democratic Caucus had control and was in a position to do something innovative or transformative, Corporate Dems would hold us all hostage and refuse to compromise in any way.

By the way, the Corporate Dems are why we did not get a public option in the ACA.

Corporate Dems have ruled Congress now for more than three decades and held tantrums frequently. Every time, leadership would have to offer them something big and dilute all legislation down to quarter-measures. It’s exhausting.

However….

The tide is definitely changing. AIPAC (their biggest funder) is under seige, rightfully so and is no longer able to decimate candidates.

In the last three months of primaries, ten corporate Democrats lost, most by double digits.

75% of the nation wants corporate PACS to be abolished.

Democratic congresspeople and senators are being shouted down and chastised in public over their lack of response to this administration and their constant capitulation to corporate America.

70% of the nation is demanding Medicare For All.

Incumbent Corporate Dems are losing. Voters are realizing that their corporate Dem congressional members 1. have not passed legislation that solve problems,2. they whine far too much 3. they are not fighting Fascism in any real way and, 4. only listen to donors.

Further, thirty members of Congress and a similar number of candidates say they will absolutely not vote for House and Senate leaders who only listen to donors, not voters.

For the first time in decades, it appears the Corporate Dems’ toddler-like behavior may not work moving forward.

Primaries are important folks, vote accordingly. Vote on policies, not fear mongering or mislabeling by Corporate Dems.