Commentary, ideas, and insights from activist and attorney David Edward Burke.
Even by the low standards of electability arguments, Bernie’s is bad. Because Democrats are so focused on beating Donald Trump in November, debates over electability have been more heated than usual. Everyone—candidates, pundits, and Facebook friends—seems to have their own theory. But unfortunately, most of them are based on little more than some combination of … Read more
In fifth grade, I ran for mayor of my elementary school on what I thought was a bold, but feasible platform: getting candy sold in the student store and expanding the size of the school carnival. I wasn’t necessarily the coolest kid in school, but I was optimistic about my chances. But the moment my … Read more
Our recent electoral history suggests they don’t. In December, former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich released a video arguing that Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren represent the Democrats’ best chance of beating Donald Trump in 2020. The Clinton alum’s reasoning was that only progressive candidates have the big ideas and grassroots energy necessary to drive high enough … Read more
And saying so is a recipe for disaster in 2020. In 2018 Democrats sent 67 new representatives to the most diverse Congress in American history. The Party’s freshman class wasn’t just not predominantly white and male; it was dominated by women (38) and persons of color (23)—many of whom represent mostly white districts. By contrast, … Read more