The primary goal of the Democratic Party should be making sure that Donald Trump does not serve a second term if he somehow escapes the grips of impeachment.  This is the primary objective for our party as set by almost all Democratic voters, a large majority of independents, and even some Republicans.  The prime secondary objectives of our party should be maintaining control of the House in the 2020 elections and taking control of the Senate. We cannot advance any of our agenda until and unless all of these goals are achieved.  Any activity by our Democratic leaders which detracts from or does not further the achievement of these primary objectives should not be tolerated.

Therefore, public squabbles between progressive and the moderate Democratic leaders are extremely counterproductive and should be universally condemned by all of us regardless of where we fall on the ideological spectrum.  Our leaders should be concentrating on the beliefs which unite them rather than on issues where their views and political positions diverge.

There is a tried and true saying that all politics are local.  Nowhere is this more true than in the elections of our Senators and Representatives.  Predominate political views vary greatly from state to state from very conservative to very liberal and everything in between. The predominate political views of House districts within a particular state can also vary a great deal.   If Doug Jones had adopted the political positions Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts in his Senatorial race in Alabama he would have lost by a large margin.  There is no doubt that the reverse is also true.

A Democratic member for the House of Representative from a swing district where Republican politicians have dominated for years cannot be expected espouse the same exact views as that of a Representative from an intercity district in a blue state and still expect to be reelected in 2020.  Neither can we expect them to vote in lock step with our party on every issue if they expect to be politically successful in their districts in the future.  The emphasis right now must be on allowing everyone in our Democratic House caucus to operate and vote in a manner that best represents their individual districts and gives them the best chance of reelection in in 2020.

Anyone who seeks to impose ideological purity and/or even total party loyalty on every member of Congress on every issue to the detriment of political pragmatism is not in tune with the present primary objectives of Democratic party.  We must maintain control of the House of Representative and we need every Democratic Senator seeking reelection in 2020 to be successful while winning as many Senate seats currently held by Republicans as possible.

This will require both progressive and moderate Congressional candidates to be successful in their states or districts.  Despite your political beliefs remember that a Democratic Congressman or Congresswoman who is not a big advocate of all aspects gun control because of the makeup of his/her district will still be numbered as part of the Democratic majority in the Senate or House.  Also remember that establishing and/or maintaining those majority will be critical for the advancement of our entire Democratic agenda

When our progressive and moderate leaders in Washington squabble among themselves, our primary objective of ridding this nation of the scourge of Donald J. Trump is also endangered.  It is bad enough for their internal squabbles to make national news, but the examples that Democratic leaders involved in their infighting set can be even more destructive to the achievement of our primary common goals.  If progressive verses moderate battles subsequently break out across kitchen tables, in conversations between friends and associates, and worse yet, in social media on the internet with its far reaching repercussions, our common goals of dumping Trump and controlling both houses of Congress will be put in great jeopardy.  People who are busy fighting among themselves can achieve little or nothing together.

So I have this advice for both our leaders and for everyday Democrats as well:  Cool it!!!  We are a party that champions diversity in our organizations.  To be successful on the national stage we must also be a party that tolerates and even champions the diversity of the views and political positions within our ranks.

Cajun    3/1/2019