Slotkin calls for 'new leadership' in the Democratic Party

[DrFunkenstein]

Source: The Hill

Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) on Wednesday called for “new leadership” within the Democratic Party, alleging that the caucus never fully recovered from its 2024 elections losses.

“Every day there’s a debate within the party about the path forward,” Slotkin said during an appearance on SiriusXM’s “Straight Shooter” podcast hosted by Stephen A. Smith.

Slotkin said new leaders are needed in both chambers of Congress, in addition to a new form of messaging that’s singularly focused on a core set of issues.

“That’s why I believe we need significant new leadership. The old models are no longer working, and that includes the Democratic Party,” she added.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5941463-slotkin-democrat-leadership-change/

[hlthe2b]

1. Uggh. Slotkin went on with Stephen A. Smith...

Talk about BAD judgement. Uggh. I've liked Slotkin, but damn...

[Exp]

8. We all know she is right. Many here have agreed that Chuckee is a wet noodle. Just about anyone else would do a

better job.

[hlthe2b]

10. Which was not my point... clearly never even mentioned that. It was the venue.

Do you not know what a total moron (and fake liberal/progressive) Stephen A. Smith is? He'll take whatever she says and spin it to his purpose.

[Exp]

13. Doesn't matter if she's on Fox or PBS, she's telling it like it is. She's always had a good message so going on any

show and expanding her audience, or bringing in a new audience is a good idea. This is how Dems have been winning purple districts, by getting out there.

And yeah, I think she knows what she is doing without the help.

[hlthe2b]

14. Again, NOT MY POINT. Clearly you know nothing about Stephen A. Smith. Bye. Done.

[Exp]

15. He's the Af-Am sports guy who gets political. I too think he's an idiot. But that doesn't matter. eom

[flashman13]

31. Who gives a rat's bum about Smith? Obviously she got the message out. And she is 100% right.

We'll agree, Smith's a loser, but he has a platform on Sirius and a big audience. Use it. Next talk to Steve Schmidt, Meidas Touch, Rick Wilson, and Brian Tyler Cohen. Hammer this same message out on every venue possible.

[Lonestarblue]

12. I also think that Ken Martin has not been an effective leader for the DNC.

I thought it was a big mistake to kick David Hogg out of the DNC. i get daily emails from his group, Leaders We Deserve. Here's a paragraph from a recent one with a message from Jane Fonda.

"On Tuesday, July 14th, I’m teaming up with activist and Leaders We Deserve founder David Hogg for a virtual conversation about the future of our country, the power of primaries, and what it will take to elect leaders brave enough to meet this moment."

I have no clue how well Fonda will play with younger voters, but at least he is doing things to reach out to them. I'm unaware of Martin doing anything but occasionally asking for money.

[popsdenver]

30. Good call Mig

As far as I am concerned, the Dems have done nothing the last 46+ years, starting with when HWBush committed TREASON to "Install" Reagan in the White House to be a front man/pawn to HW and his CABAL........

BTW, we here in Denver/Colorado are facing a tsunami of ads for DeGette, Bennett, Hickenlooper. The very first ones we have ever seen in previous decades.........I think they are frightened beyond belief and well should be....These Do-Nothings shouldn't be frightened......They should be mortified of the upcoming election........

I wonder if Bennet becomes Governor, I suspect he will appoint Gov. Polis to fill out the remainder of his term as U.S. Senator.
If Bennet loses the governor race, he will merely return to the senate for another Do-Nothing couple of years.

[kimbutgar]

18. I can't stand him

He is such a two faced a hole!

And a repuke in disguise.

[Soul_of_Wit]

19. Our elected representatives should not live in bubbles

I support Democrats who go where the moderates/persuadables might be. Those are the votes needed to win elections. It's why I would support someone like Pete Buttigieg if he ran for POTUS. He can stand on his own, outside of the bubble.

I enjoy DU and always vote for Democrats. I also have news sources which I don't always agree with. The Bulwark and The Atlantic are must reads. Then there are opinionated blowhards, who I choose not to have living rent-free in my brain. Stephen A. Smith is a cipher, unless he runs for office himself.

[hlthe2b]

20. So, not the point. Slotkin can go on any program, but she should not give him the attention

he seeks. He has a history of nutty behavior and no one should put any "created" spin beyond him for attention. You don't know him, apparently, or you would not be chastising ME for my VALID opinion--as shared by others here. When one of ours goes on a RW podcast or Fox or any other media, it is well known what they are all about. That Smith claims to be a Liberal Democrat and "merely a truth-teller wanting to say it like it is about his own party" while saying anything and everything--no matter how untrue-- to create attention to himself is the problem. People watch him because he is outrageous and listen to him because he claims to be what he is not. Hell, if you watch him re: sports, you know he does that continually, but who the hell cares in that context...?

Have your own opinion, but I have every damned right to MINE-- that KNOWS what he is all about! He is all about Stephen A. Smith and no lie, no bastardized story, no bizarre attempt to paint a true Democrat as something they truly are NOT, is beyond him. He's shown that repeatedly. But you be you and adore him. Most of use see through him. Slotkin showed very poor judgement going on his show.

[Soul_of_Wit]

23. I apparently touched a nerve

I don't recall denying anyone their opinion. I also don't recall questioning your expertise in all things Stephen A. Smith. Finally, I certainly showed no appreciation for Stephen A. Smith, let alone adoration.

My appreciation is for Democrats who venture outside of bubbles.

To summarize, Sen. Slotkin "can go on any program," except one?

[hlthe2b]

24. As I said, you be you and continue your adoration for Smith. Most of us know better than

to take that idiot seriously, but he does undermine our own for his own benefit and attention. I guess that doesn't bother you.

[Akakoji]

25. This is a gratuitously nasty and arrogant response

No reason to be so full of yourself.

[hlthe2b]

26. What a "polite" thing to say...

[Scubamatt]

22. I share . . .

Rep. Slotkin's sentiments, but why does she have to air them so publicly in a way that the corporate media will simply trot out its "Democrats in Disarray" canard? Why not just support fresh candidates with fresh ideas? That sends the message just as well without giving the bad guys great talking points. We can be principled and smart at the same time.

[Raven123]

36. I often have that sentiment on these issues re:inner workings of the party

This time I am beginning to wonder if talking about new leadership may be a plus for Dems. Is it possible that we could bring out voters who otherwise would stay home because they perceive the party as ineffective? If Trump is working overtime to suppress the vote, could it be we need high a highly visible message that we will do things differently, starting with new leadership? Both parties have low approval ratings per every poll I have seen lately.

I don’t know the right answer, but I this has been on my mind.

[dave99]

2. Looks like someone was not included

[awesomerwb1]

3. I wholeheartedly agree

Chris Murphy should be one.

Jamie Raskin

[blm]

4. Oh, hey, old buddy.

🫶🏽

[DrFunkenstein]

6. blm!!!!

Keep fighting the good fight!

[blm]

7. 😘

[msongs]

5. is she volunteering to be the new leadership?

[LuvLoogie]

9. She's got a ways to go given her yes vote on the Laken Riley Act.

[LudwigPastorius]

40. ...not volunteering so much as lobbying to be it.

[Exp]

11. Slotkin is awesome. She was brave as a brand new Rep in Congress to vote for impeaching TSF. That was a biggie

for her as a new Rep from a kind of conservative district.

[Fiendish Thingy]

16. I'm guessing she wants to be majority leader

I hope she remembers that “new” doesn’t just mean new people, but more importantly, new ideas and methods of getting shit done .

[Katcat]

21. Me too

We need someone with enough fure to be willing to go to bat for US and not just the rich

[RockRaven]

27. Looking at the results of the *past decade* not the past 1-2 years, that's a "no shit" conclusion.

Whether Slotkin deserves to be handed a microphone or a mirror is less clear.

[DAngelo136]

28. Sorry To Inform You....

But as a Black man in NYC, I WILL NOT let go of the opportunity of Hakeem Jeffries to become the first Black Speaker of The House of Representatives.
That is non negotiable....a non starter...dead on arrival...It is not a "hill I'm willing to die on", it's is turf I'm willing to defend.

For decades, white Democrats have asked for and expected Black Democrats to support and get behind the agenda laid out by leadership. We have done so and we have been told "to wait our turn". I watched as Adam Clayton Powell was torpedoed out of an opportunity , then Charles Rangel and now, suddenly there's dissatisfaction with Jeffries? Right on the cusp when the Democrats will likely take the House?

Hell to the no!

Unless he totally capitulates to the Republicans and becomes the next Byron Donalds, I'm sticking with him. And I expect enthusiastic, energetic support from the rank and file. When the next session of Congress convenes, I fully expect to see Mike Johnson hand over the gavel to Hakeem Jeffries to be the incoming Speaker of the House.

All this mumbling and grumbling I'm really not in the mood for. Now, you want to pressure him? Go right ahead. You want to make him go further left? Have at it. But replace him? Not happn' Cap'n.

Now, you know where I stand. And after I finish this, so too will Congresswoman Slotkin when I write a rather nice letter informing her of my position as a lifetime Democratic voter in NYC.

Thank you for your attention.

[Cirsium]

29. Stephen A. Smith???

Here he is recently on CNN: “I’m not here to denigrate or insult the president of the United States. He is certainly an upgrade from what we were seeing from Joe Biden in terms of his alertness.”

Here he is on Twitter: "Gotta be honest, this @ufc event at the White House looks spectacular. This is a big time show. I’m not there, and we all know all the complaints folks had about renovations at and around the White House, etc, but — to be fair — this is some impressive stuff I’m looking at. Props to UFC President @danawhite and the show they’ve put on. It’s Bigtime. Plain and simple!!!"

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith is a megaphone for MAGA propaganda

When white nationalist Nick Fuentes recently praised ESPN host Stephen A. Smith, it was just the latest in a series of data points showing how the loudest voice in sports entertainment has become a boon to MAGA world. Fuentes praised Smith, arguably ESPN’s most cherished employee, for being “clearly” red-pilled (a term for those who have embraced right-wing ideology) since he hosted far-right influencer Candace Owens on his show.

Smith’s far-right sympathies have seemed clear to me for years. I still remember, as a high schooler, witnessing his weak defense — interestingly enough, on MSNBC — of right-wingers who formed the anti-Obama tea party back in 2009. And a report I covered last year, highlighting various platforms that disseminate right-wing propaganda and misinformation among Black audiences, listed Smith’s show as one of the top culprits.

Last year, for example, Smith told his friend Sean Hannity, whose Fox News show he has appeared on numerous times, that liberals were weaponizing the legal system to stop Donald Trump’s momentum ahead of the 2024 election. “Primarily, I have voted Democrat throughout my life, but I’m utterly disgusted with what I’m seeing,” he said.

https://www.ms.now/top-stories/latest/stephen-a-smith-espn-nick-fuentes-maga-trump-rcna198261

[Skittles]

32. I agree

some folk need to PASS THE FUCKING BATON ALREADY

[Mark.b2]

34. Power is hard to give up.

Too many people think they are the only ones who can run the show.

[Skittles]

39. yeah, I know

I find it disgusting

[Ponietz]

33. "Strongly worded letters" didn't cut it

[Charlie Chapulin]

35. Chuck and Hakeem beg to differ

[Baitball Blogger]

37. Why is this so fucking hard.

In the last election, the American people took for granted that the Democratic party would still be around to uphold Social Security, food programs and also hold the line on Universal health programs. They took it for granted, which is why they voted for Republicans believing their talk track of a better economy. And then the grift began, and not only have Americans lost their safety nets, they're now seeing their tax dollars going to grifting projects. Bottomline, the party that they expected to provide the guardrails to stop the Republicans, were too weak in numbers to stop the massive mess we are in today.

So, this is so damn easy. The Democratic Party stands for Universal Healthcare, food programs, Social Security, Stronger education programs to support our diverse populations. Call yourselves whatever you fucking want to, but stand for these programs.

But here is the problem for Centrist Democrats: Those who are calling themselves Democratic Socialist are behind all these programs and once they come into office, they deliver. So you need to figure out what it is about Centrist Democrats that is undermining their success at the ballot boxes. Because, if they still think they can satisfy and cater to the corporations, and still do good on promises to the people, then maybe they deserve to lose. This combination of objectives hasn't worked in over twenty years.

[Magoo48]

38. It's simple

Stay Calm,
Everyone take 3 giant steps to the left,
And move forward.

[lees1975]

41. She's right. I don't disagree.

We have an indicted criminal in the White House because we wasted four years playing old school politics as usual and never used the power we had to bring him to justice, which we certainly could have done, and no excuses will explain that away. That included knowing what a barrier the Supreme Court would be to all of this and not making a real attempt to get rid of them, or at least pack the court, and overturn Citizens United, the immunity rulings and overturning Dobbs, among other things.

People like Slotkin are leading the opposition. Millions are out in the streets, and while the polling data is favorable to Democrats right now, it's not anything close to what it should be.