General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMeet Freshman Dem Rep Lauren Underwood, 32yrs old, a former nurse, African American
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UNDERWOOD: In this district that the Cook Political Report rated as an R+5 and was a lean-Republican until the weekend before the election, we won every county - even the most rural. There are people who supported us who have never voted for a Democrat before. We have people who will never, ever, ever, ever call themselves a Democrat.
INSKEEP: People who voted for Donald Trump voted for you, do you think?
UNDERWOOD: A hundred percent - hundred percent. And this is about representation and values. And for us, that issue was so illustrated with health care and what happened in the spring of '17 around Obamacare repeal and, you know, our prior representative's votes on the American Health Care Act.
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UNDERWOOD: I think that the words we use matter. And I've cautioned a lot of my colleagues here about literally the words that we use to talk about issues that we care about. Right? Student loan debt is an issue that is not partisan, it is very clear. And it's impacting so many individuals and families. If you start calling things free or for all, we lose some people.
We can talk about the solutions in a way that's inclusive. Right? So what if we talk about creating a modern financial aid system where we have Pell Grants that reflect the true cost of college and we have subsidized student loans that fill that gap? Some people might call that free college for everybody or whatever. But the people that speak in these, like, hashtaggy-type (ph) phrases do not always have lots of solutions underneath it. And...
INSKEEP: The hashtag is the polarizing thing. It may draw some support to the idea, but it also drives people away.
UNDERWOOD: Right. And I'm into solutions. And I am happy to speak in paragraph statements to talk about the solutions because - guess what - problems are not always illustrated in 140 characters, and solutions are not always illustrated in 140 characters.
https://www.npr.org/2019/03/12/702464519/meet-freshman-democratic-rep-lauren-underwood-of-illinois
NastyRiffraff
(12,448 posts)We ought to be paying more attention to freshman Congresspeople like her, who are doers, not merely talkers and tweeters. Just because she isn't in front of the cameras and a media darling doesn't mean she won't be effective.
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)in a very white, very red district as a 32 year old African American woman.
This kind of victory is what we need to be paying attention to.
sheshe2
(83,901 posts)Cha
(297,655 posts)vital. We have 45 who flipped Red seats to Blue.. and here's Lauren Underwood knowing "words Matter" who sounds brilliant.
WhiskeyWulf
(569 posts)She's very well-spoken & level-headed, and has such a positive attitude. Not my district, but I was happy she won.
sheshe2
(83,901 posts)She spoke well on the issues, which she holds dear as do her constituents. She sounds like a fighter, one that has solutions and not just tweets.
I will be watching Underwood, thank you for bringing her to our attention.
Cha
(297,655 posts)ehrnst! One of the very important Reps across our country who Flipped red seats to BLUE!
brer cat
(24,605 posts)The words and slogans that we use can mean the difference between success and failure in achieving our goals.
Thanks for the introduction to a very smart new Representative.
tritsofme
(17,399 posts)There is a giant target on her back, we need to look out for her in 2020!
Brother Buzz
(36,464 posts)EVER!!!
tonedevil
(3,022 posts)lapucelle
(18,320 posts)- HRC
Demovictory9
(32,475 posts)forklift
(401 posts)who has methodically studied the issues and is not tweeting or flaming to become a celebrity?
WOW - I thought they stopped making those kind of politicians.
I feel very hopeful.
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)Jamaal510
(10,893 posts)Skidmore
(37,364 posts)murielm99
(30,763 posts)at one time.
Notice how she was elected in a district that is not reliably Democratic. Also, she works quietly, without grandstanding.