Are Democrats in full panic mode as progressives demand they fight harder against Trump? A new memo from a major liberal organization reveals “boiling point” frustrations and diminishing approval ratings, with some comparing the grassroots anger to the conservative Tea Party movement of 2010.
At a glance:
• MoveOn Executive Director Rahna Epting sent a memo to Democratic lawmakers warning that the liberal base is at a “boiling point” over weak opposition to Trump.
• Democratic Party approval ratings have plummeted to record lows of just 27-29% according to recent polls.
• Bernie Sanders and AOC are drawing large crowds on their “Fighting Oligarchy Tour,” criticizing Trump’s actions as a “constitutional crisis.”
• Progressive candidate Kat Abughazaleh, 26, is challenging longtime Democrat Rep. Jan Schakowsky, claiming current leadership is “cowering to Trump.”
• The grassroots energy has some comparing the movement to the conservative Tea Party revolution of 2010 that reshaped the Republican Party.
Liberal Base Demanding Stronger Opposition
Progressive organization MoveOn has issued a stark warning to Democratic lawmakers as frustration mounts over what many on the left view as weak opposition to President Trump’s agenda. The group’s Executive Director Rahna Epting sent a memo declaring that Democrat voters’ “frustrations are at a boiling point” with current leadership’s passive approach.
The memo specifically called out the “dangers” posed by Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, claiming they are “dismantling our country piece by piece” while Democrats “seem content to just sit back and let them.” Democratic leaders face a party in crisis, with recent polls showing their favorability ratings at a dismal 27-29% – record lows that suggest serious problems connecting with voters.
“Nothing about this moment is normal. I do not need to tell you the dangers President Trump, his administration, and unelected billionaire Elon Musk pose to our society. It is no exaggeration to say that lives will be destroyed due to their destruction – cuts to Medicaid, Social Security, cancer research funding, USAID programs for children and families, and much more,” Epting said.
The frustration extends beyond established liberal organizations to include younger candidates who are challenging incumbent Democrats. Kat Abughazaleh, a 26-year-old former Media Matters analyst, announced her primary challenge against Rep. Jan Schakowsky in Illinois’ Ninth District, declaring: “Donald Trump and Elon Musk are dismantling our country piece by piece and so many Democrats seem content to just sit back and let them. While current Democratic leadership might be fine cowering to Trump, I’m not.”
Socialist Senators Rallying Opposition
Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have been drawing large crowds on what they’ve called their “Fighting Oligarchy Tour,” where they’ve made inflammatory claims about the Trump administration. Sanders accused Trump of creating a “constitutional crisis” and pushing America “very rapidly toward an authoritarian form of society.”
The Vermont senator went even further in his accusations, claiming Trump is illegally attempting to dissolve government agencies without Congressional approval. “So yes, I think we are in the midst of the constitutional crisis,” Sanders told supporters, while calling for “more militancy in the Congress in making Republicans pay a price in one way or another for what they’re doing.”
Sanders also criticized fellow Democrats who supported a GOP spending bill, calling their cooperation a “disaster” for the liberal agenda. His populist message appears to be resonating with progressive voters who feel the Democratic establishment hasn’t been aggressive enough in opposing Trump’s policies.
A Liberal Tea Party Brewing?
The growing grassroots energy has some political observers drawing comparisons to the Tea Party movement that transformed the Republican Party in 2010. Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna acknowledged the anger but attempted to distinguish the progressive movement from its conservative predecessor.
“Is it going to be a Tea Party? No, because the Tea Party wanted to basically destroy the government, tear down the government,” Khanna said. “Many Democrats, there’s anger, but there’s also aspiration. We want to build things, like Medicare for All, like a living wage and a lot of other policies. So you’re going to see a new generation come in with a compelling economic message.”
Let’s hope the new Democratic Party is more sane than the current one.
