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Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX), new chair of the Congressional Democratic Caucus<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The newly elected chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus said a combination of factors led to electoral losses for the party in November\u2019s election, not least of which was being \u201cseen as preachy\u201d and \u201cdisconnected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rep. Greg Casar of Texas, 35, is replacing outgoing chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), who is term-limited in the post. The Texas native and son of immigrants from Mexico was a labor organizer and Austin City Council member before winning a second term in the House last month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nRELATED:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Trans activist from Donald Trump\u2019s notorious anti-trans ad insists it\u2019s not why Kamala Harris lost<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Mara Keisling asked the question that got Harris talking about \u201csurgery for prisoners.\u201d She says it\u2019s \u201cabsurd\u201d to say that lost Democrats the presidency.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Casar called Democrats\u2019 losses in the election \u201cavoidable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe progressive movement needs to change,\u201d he told NBC News<\/a><\/em> in an interview on Wednesday before his election to chair the influential caucus. \u201cWe need to re-emphasize core economic issues every time some of these cultural war issues are brought up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo when we hear Republicans attacking queer Americans again, I think the progressive response needs to be that a trans person didn\u2019t deny your health insurance claim, a big corporation did \u2014 with Republican help,\u201d Casar said. \u201cWe need to connect the dots for people that the Republican Party obsession with these culture war issues is driven by Republicans\u2019 desire to distract voters and have them look away while Republicans pick their pocket.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And he asserted Democrats can do it \u201cwithout throwing vulnerable people under the bus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That response may have been in answer to his colleagues Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) laying blame<\/a> for Democrats\u2019 losses in part on Vice President Kamala Harris\u2019 stance on trans rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear also recently backed away<\/a> from his support of health care for trans inmates \u2014 mandated by the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution barring cruel and unusual treatment of prisoners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the election, Republicans spent over $215 million on attack ads<\/a> highlighting the Democrats\u2019 and their standard bearer\u2019s support of trans rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s less of a left-right fight and more of a getting back to a Democratic Party that\u2019s for everyday people, no longer being seen as preachy or disconnected,\u201d Casar said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think we should lead the country, but we should never be more than an arm\u2019s length ahead,\u201d Casar said. \u201cIf we get more than a couple arms lengths ahead of the country, then you\u2019re vulnerable to attacks from the Republicans.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Casar maintained part of his party\u2019s strategy to reconnect with the working class would mean an effort to \u201cshed off some of its more corporate elements\u201d that have blurred the distinction between Democrats and Republicans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe core of the Republican Party is about helping Wall Street and billionaires. And I think we have to call out the game,\u201d Casar said. \u201cThe Democratic Party, at its best, can hold people or can have inside of its tent people across geography, across race, and across ideology. Because we\u2019re all in the same boat when it comes to making sure that you can retire with dignity, that your kids can go to school, that you can buy a house.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Casar said Republican calls to extend President Trump\u2019s massive tax cuts, set to expire in 2025, will be one of the first of many opportunities to distinguish between the two major parties.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Rep. Greg Casar of Texas is replacing Rep. Pramila Jayapal as chair of the influential Congressional Progressive Caucus. By\u00a0Greg Owen\u00a0Monday, December 30, 2024 (lgbtqnation.com) Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX), new chair of the Congressional Democratic Caucus The newly elected chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus said a combination of factors led… Continue reading