DFL Chairman Ken Martin: Black Women are Backbone of Democratic Party
[ST. PAUL, MN] – In honor of Black History Month, Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party Chairman Ken Martin today released the following statement highlighting the ways black women lift up the Democratic Party:
“Black women are the backbone of the Democratic Party. Of all the dedicated constituencies that make up our party, black women have consistently supported our party at the highest rates. They show up. They volunteer. They empower our candidates, and they have been with us through thick and thin.”
“We cannot take their support for granted. As they lift us up, we must lift them up. [...]
“We are a big tent party that welcomes all people, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability. We have a responsibility to lift up the voices of the marginalized and underrepresented in our party. We must support people as they build power and run for various leadership positions, including elected office.”
“We cannot ask for the support of these communities time and time again, and then turn a blind eye when they decide to run for office.
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| posted to YouTube by The Uptake |
The suggestion is that the backbone of the Democratic Party is a more balanced and less narrow a grouping. Yes, it was a press release salute to a special constituency in a specially focused month. But, "backbone of the party?" There is more backbone, or should be, than a single saluted constituency. Again, Ken, watch the video.
The suggestion is that this press release from Martin was a bit of a platitude of the moment. And many would see it as exactly that. What's the gender and racial make-up of Martin's staff is perhaps a test, a measuring method, but I digress.
Next, look at the italicized text, apart from defining and touting a grouping within the entire electorate.The italicized part of the Martin press release would be great words and sentiments were Martin to sincerely direct those ideas toward progressives. So why the party civil war?
The italicized text would be great sentiments for giving hope and a political voice to young people stuck in low wage jobs. Great for progressives, the old, and the young, even with Martin speaking of a different narrower population segment. It is a sentiment Berniecrats need to see in actions and not mere easily strung together words.
Ken, should progressives stay home or will one of the several progressives still in the contest end up Governor, with a progressive bicameral DFL legislature backing to push for single payer, net neutrality, a fifteen buck minimum wage, tuition and student debt reform, getting money out of politics, and taxing the rich fairly so the burden is not imposed on the less able to pay?
Those are things the DCCC and DNC and their beltway consultant hangers-on seem to turn a deaf ear toward.
Ken, inform those heathen. There is this. The DCCC and beltway types seem to think the things critiqued in that item are just a perfectly engineered status quo, as the world should turn on its axis.
Platitudes aside, action toward a unity of equals is needed instead of money as the beltway yardstick of personal worth. Platitudes are seen for what they are.
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