Texas - Democrats Worried By Rising ‘Herbal Tea Party’

When two major worldwide newspapers (The Guardian and The Financial Times) and a business magazine (The Economist) are all posting stories about a Texas Democratic runoff and the rise of what they see as the ‘Herbal Tea Party’ (aka their outspoken far-left younger generation of politicians) on the Democratic side on the same day, you could wonder whether anyone has paid them to do so, but what would we know.

Be that as it may, the publications have a case in point. There is clearly a fear creeping into the US Democratic Party regarding the outcome of the 2018 midterm elections.

Whereas all polls pointed an assured victory and a retaking of Congress due to the anger on the centre-left over US President Donald Trump at the beginning of his presidency, those same indicators are now narrowing ever closer, and a swing by Democrats to the far-left might not be the answer they’re hoping for, as that would leave centrists voters open for the Republicans to take them back.

Related coverage: https://thegoldwater.com/news/24233-Texas-Lubbock-Dems-Booed-By-Own-Supporters-For-Cropping-Melania-Out-Of-Bush-Funeral-Picture

Many of the former Bernie Sanders campaigners, still angry over what they regard a stolen primary by Ms. Hillary Clinton, are now backing progressive candidates, causing problems nationwide for established Democrats.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">To take back the House in November, Democrats must flip 24 Republican seats. According to the Cook Political Report, 30 seats held by Republicans are classed as highly competitive. <a href="https://t.co/LgEnfvYRvY">https://t.co/LgEnfvYRvY</a></p>&mdash; Neil Drewitt (@neildrewitt) <a href="https://twitter.com/neildrewitt/status/998874409271287811?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2018</a></blockquote>

<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

For some of those progressive activists, winning a primary is not necessarily the objective. The presence of such candidates in the race could help to push other Democratic candidates to the left, especially when it comes to issues such as universal healthcare or free college tuition.

Ms. Melissa Byrne, a former staff member for Bernie Sanders, now backs someone considered to be part of the so-called ‘Herbal Tea Party’ in Texas, Ms. Laura Moser who’s hoping for a win in Houston today.

Related coverage: https://thegoldwater.com/news/24874-Texas-Elementary-Principal-Joked-About-Telling-Police-A-Black-Student-With-Special-Needs-Had-A-Gun

As a so-called progressive, Ms. Byrne fully backs their newly agreed upon strategy, which is to place as many far-left candidates in the Democratic races to simply bend the established Democratic politicians to their side as well.

Ms. Byrne stated: “These are conversations that wouldn’t happen if you didn’t have a progressive in the race. The Democratic party’s job isn’t to support the person who has an easy win.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">America&#39;s Democratic party is deeply divided — on one side is the progressive &#39;herbal tea party&#39; and on the other more moderate Democrats. A Texas primary on Tuesday will give us a better idea of which wing of the party is in the ascendant <a href="https://t.co/y2ZxIrP2ig">https://t.co/y2ZxIrP2ig</a> <a href="https://t.co/PYIs9750Vx">pic.twitter.com/PYIs9750Vx</a></p>&mdash; Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) <a href="https://twitter.com/FinancialTimes/status/998703511838887936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2018</a></blockquote>

<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Democrats know that progressives are going for gold in November, and thus have already started scare tactics. In order to knock Ms Moser out of the race in the Houston primary, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee planted a story in the press in February about her, stating: “Unfortunately, Laura Moser’s outright disgust for life in Texas disqualifies her as a general election candidate, and would rob voters of their opportunity to flip Texas’s seventh in November. She is a Washington insider, who begrudgingly moved to Houston to run for Congress.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Preparing for November 18?: Lexington: The rise of the Herbal Tea Party <a href="https://t.co/oEtnVcLLKu">https://t.co/oEtnVcLLKu</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidTrads?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DavidTrads</a></p>&mdash; Johan Wandall (@JHWandall) <a href="https://twitter.com/JHWandall/status/998548507966492672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2018</a></blockquote>

<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Their strategy backfired as Ms. Moser came second in the primary, launching her to feature in a runoff against Ms. Pannill Fletcher, taking place today.

Therein lies the danger for the Democrats come November of course. Whilst the centrist candidates are certain of victory if they stick to the party mantra, it is on their left flank that the energy lies.

Source:

https://www.ft.com/content/4ad5ab8c-59b4-11e8-b8b2-d6ceb45fa9d0