Progressives: the NEW New Democrats?

In my most recent post, I considered the ideological split currently defining the Republican party. I mentioned a similar issue concerning the Democrats, but didn't plan on writing about it in depth. However, today's Huffington Post article has changed my mind. While it is a bit long for anyone but political junkies, the HuffPo is on point as usual, detailing the rift between Blue Dog Dems and the progressives in Congress.

On page 6 of the article, a video clip is included of Krystal Ball, the progressive Democratic candidate for the House of Representatives from Fredericksburg, VA (about an hour south of Washington, D.C.). I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Ball a little more than a year ago, shortly before she announced her candidacy. She is young and able; her daughter is adorable; her husband is supportive. In light of the recent conservative backlash, I am hoping for the best for her in November because she represents exactly what we need to see more of in Congress (and what we were promised during the last presidential campaign).

Blue Dog Democrats are notably anti-abortion and New Democrats are generally pro-business (though it is often difficult to discern if there are any true ideological differences between the two). Ms. Ball is pro-small business and very socially progressive. This liberal candidate appears to be championing the same positions that Obama did, though many lefty-liberals (myself included) have been disappointed that a testy political environment has prevented the president from following through on many of his goals (health care exempted, though it passed sans public option). I hope that if (when?) Ms. Ball is elected, she does not have to compromise her ideals -- often-conservative Virginia (my home state) could stand for a bit of shaking up.

The conventional wisdom is that being a progressive Democrat will alienate some Republicans. But didn't Barack Obama win in 2008 because he was offering change? That is certainly a progressive value but significant numbers of moderates -- and even Republicans -- voted for him, despite his liberal platform. Let's cross our fingers that the same happens for Ms. Ball and her fellow progressives in November.


N.Biettetimmons is a seventeen-year-old from Arlington, VA. She worked on the Deeds for Virginia campaign and will be attending Bowdoin College in the fall.