By Steve Levy
Results in various Democratic primaries on June 25 led some to conclude that Democratic moderates are retaking control of the Democratic Party. Don’t be fooled. Only Westchester County Executive George Latimer can be considered a true moderate, even though he labels himself as a progressive.
Of course, he would seem moderate, or even conservative, compared to Jamal Bowman, the defeated incumbent who is both a socialist and an anti-Semite.
But some media outlets also labeled CNN commentator John Avlon as a centrist and a pragmatist. That is nonsense. All you have to do is Google any of Avlon’s commentary on CNN and you can see he is a fierce left-wing partisan.
Avlon tried to adopt the mantle of a moderate to distinguish himself from his primary opponent, Nancy Goroff, a self-described leftist.
But let’s be clear: Avlon will vote no differently in Congress if he wins the seat than Goroff in most cases.
The suburban Democrats are mimicking Democrat Tom Suozzi, who won back his seat last year in a special election by trying to couch himself as a moderate.
Those who are familiar with Suozzi over the years on Long Island know he does talk a good game. He’s not a “defund the police” Democrat and does believe in economic development. But if you look at Suozzi’s votes, in almost every instance, he was lock, stock and barrel with Joe Biden.
Votes on hyper-spending that caused mega inflation and votes against real border bills introduced in the house by the majority.
He pretended to be moderate and a consensus builder on illegal immigration by touting his support for the awful bill drafted by Chuck Schumer and James Lankford. But don’t call this a bipartisan bill. Once Lankford’s GOP colleagues read the awful legislation, 99% of them said no thanks. So let’s stop calling this slop a bipartisan bill.
The bill would remove the authority the president has to close the border until 4,500 illegal aliens cross the border each day. That amounts to almost 2 million illegal aliens a year that they would rubber stamp. How is that controlling the border?
But this is the game these leftist Democrats are playing. Vote in the most leftist fashion possible that allows Bernie Sanders and the “Squad” to feel they’re in control, while going out to the public and touting a moderate tone in their interviews.
Just this week, almost every House Dem voted against a bill that would require voters to prove they are citizens.
Some moderates.
Steve Levy is President of Common Sense Strategies, a political consulting firm. He served as Suffolk County Executive, as a NYS Assemblyman, and host of “The Steve Levy Radio Show.” He is the author of “Solutions to America’s Problems” and “Bias in the Media.” www.SteveLevy.info, Twitter @SteveLevyNY, steve@commonsensestrategies.com