The Spirit of “Party Unity, My Ass” Is Back and Coming for the DSA (and El-Sayed)
Centrist Democrats’ calls to fall in line behind the party’s nominee only ever seem to cut one way — and fall apart when their candidate loses. The post The Spirit of “Party Unity, My Ass” Is Back and Coming for the DSA (and El-Sayed) appeared first on The Intercept .
The spirit of "Party Unity, My Ass" is resurfacing, this time targeting the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) candidates preferred by the Democratic Socialists of America. Following the 2008 Democratic Party protest movement, known as PUMA, which scorned Barack Obama's general election campaign and embraced the mantra "Party Unity, My Ass," the same energy is now directed at the candidates favored by the DSA.
DSA-aligned progressives have secured several party primaries and are poised to help Democrats secure a majority in Congress. However, once in power, they may impose demands that could disrupt years of carefully crafted donor-friendly policies. Moderate Democrats view pursuing "party unity" as a tactic to suppress the left wing of the party, particularly when faced with the prospect of supporting a candidate with differing goals.
Former strategist James Carville has explicitly called for a Republican victory over a Democratic majority, fearing the Democrats would become hostage to the DSA. Meanwhile, Democratic leaders like Carville, Kramer, and Johnson have expressed concerns about El-Sayed's associations and policies, attributing his stance to extremism and hatred for the Jewish diaspora.
This backlash, however, may be more about preserving their own power and resisting change, rather than genuinely addressing the candidate's policies. Despite the opposition, El-Sayed remains slightly ahead in the polls in Michigan, with a promising chance to be the first Muslim U.S. senator.
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