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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhy Did Rhode Island Democratic Party Endorse Alt-Right Supporter Over a Progressive Incumbent?
Moira Jayne Walsh, a 27-year-old former waitress and labor organizer, captured a bit of national attention after she won a seat in the Rhode Island House in 2016. I decided that I wasnt just going to work on legislation, because there has been so much neglect in my neighborhood for so many years that I wanted to make sure that people felt that they had a sense of community, she told The Atlantic that November.
Walsh has since been a progressive voice in the legislature and supports increasing the minimum wage and marijuana legalization. She also caused a stir in March when she said in a radio interview that there was an insane amount of drinking among legislators at the statehouse. All this might go some way towards explaining why the state Democratic Party has endorsed her opponent in the upcoming primariesa man who appears to have once been a vocal supporter of Donald Trump and alt-right figures.
On June 28, the Rhode Island Democratic Party endorsed challenger Michael Earnheart in a handwritten addition to a printed endorsement sheet. On his Facebook page, Earnheart describes himself as a moderate and responded to queries about his political positions in late May with statements of support for the Second Amendment and a promise to defend against legislation that attempts to stop or interfere with lawful gun ownership.
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/07/the-rhode-island-democratic-party-may-have-endorsed-a-trump-supporter.html
Kentonio
(4,377 posts)Does anyone know more about this? On the surface its outrageous!
Wwcd
(6,288 posts)I wouldn't but its not my State.
RandySF
(58,437 posts)Wwcd
(6,288 posts)There are others also who won't walk the talk when it comes to immigrants.
I have no explaination as to why there even is such a bias.
I don't know.
RandySF
(58,437 posts)But I am sending a donation to his opponent.
elleng
(130,699 posts)That'll do it, I guess.
JNelson6563
(28,151 posts)Local Dems, they are so in love with non-Dems. When Painter announced he was challenging Smith they actually promoted that shit. I opened up a can on that shit. They realize that the money they will need doesn't come from the Bros so they tread somewhat carefully.
BlueTsunami2018
(3,480 posts)Its not a trite saying, it proves itself out time and time again.
Republicans run open Nazis and we cant even back a standard progressive? This isnt an extremist, this isnt a tax everyone communist, they dont even exist in our politics. There is no left wing counterpart to the teabaggers. But wed rather have a gun nut Тяцмр guy? What other conclusion can one come to other than they just dont want what we want? They arent interested in it.
NewJeffCT
(56,828 posts)Rhode Island is very solidly a blue state
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)Looks like the statewide party will have plenty of time to explain itself to their own voters. Sounds like Moira Walsh has her head on straight, and will not roll over just because the party pooh-bahs (if that's really who wrote in Earnheart's name on the endorsement sheet, and not just some schmuck) don't like her.