A failed movement

A+failed+movement

Danny Kilrea, Copy Editor

Former Labor Secretary Thomas Perez was elected Democratic National Committee (DNC) chair on Feb. 25, 2017. Securing 235 votes, he narrowly defeated Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota who received 200 votes. The election of Perez, an establishment favorite, is a fatal blow to the Democratic party.

If the Democrats didn’t forget, their establishment favorite, Hillary Clinton, lost the general election just a few months ago in November. There is no way that a choice so similar to Clinton can help unify the broken party. Democrats have been split over following the progressives like Senator Bernie Sanders and Senator Elizabeth Warren or more traditional figures like Clinton and former President Barack Obama. This step will fail to secure millennials and members of the party who feel that they have been left in the cold.

Perez’s victory will also ensure progressives to feel defeated yet again. They are constantly feeling mistreated by the party ever since email leaks showed that the DNC tried to stop the nomination of the movement’s superstar Sanders. With Ellison’s loss, progressives may feel that this party is not the one that can accomplish what they want. While Ellison was named deputy chair of the DNC, that was just a weak attempt for party officials to make it look like they cared about the progressives of the party. Whether progressives would turn to a third party, stick with Democrats or turn Republican is unknown. However, this certainly will not help party unification.

Not only has the election hindered the unification of the party, but is also is not even smart for Democrats who should be looking to secure congressional seats in 2018 and the White House in 2020. The nation’s citizens just voiced their opinion and overwhelmingly conveyed that they do not want Clinton running the government. Not only did Democrats fail to secure the White House but they lost the Senate and House of Representatives. It was time for the party to switch directions if they were looking to have success. Although, corrupt party officials were not willing to change their ways and kept the swamp just how it has been for years.

As for Hillary Clinton who has been urging for party unity and advocating the resistance of President Donald Trump’s term: it is time to exit the political arena. After your years of public service, citizens of this country and your own party failed to elect you in November. It is time to step aside and know your new place, which is no longer advocating policy or hammering back at Republicans. Frankly, you’re irrelevant. Clinton may like Perez because he has not ruled out her run in 2020 but most Americans know that they are done with the political muckiness of the Clintons.

Another corrupt establishment official has ended up in power over the DNC. This act by the swamp of the Democratic party is why they are having trouble securing seats in our government. People are tired of corruption. People are tired of being left behind. People are tired of no government progress. People are tired of being overlooked by the rich. The leaders of the Democratic party only have their wallets in mind, however, as they are going to continue to do the same thing over and over again and benefit themselves.

This should be a slap in the face to all progressives and especially Sanders supporters. The DNC has failed miserably at its needed revival of the party. Perez was not the man for the job and party officials will learn that the hard way in 2018 and 2020.

On the bright side, future Republican victory just got much easier!