Question of the day
Wednesday, Oct 18, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* CNN…
Sen. Dick Durbin, the number two Democrat in the Senate, said in a radio interview Sunday that his party could lose to President Donald Trump in 2020 if they “overdo it” and become too liberal.
The Illinois senator was asked on a local Chicago radio program about comments made by Democratic Rep. Cheri Bustos, which the host characterized as a warning to fellow Democrats that if the party becomes too liberal, they would give Trump another term.
“We need to be balanced,” Durbin said on “Connected to Chicago” on WLS-AM on Sunday. “She’s right about that. And as downstater like her, I understand she represents a challenging district. We don’t give up on our values, but we better be sensitive too that there are people with more moderate views, and people who may disagree with some parts of the Democratic platform as they as they are presented. We’ve got to be open to that possibility.”
“So you could lose it by being too liberal?” asked the host.
“You can,” Durbin said. “I think you can overdo it. We have to really appeal to that sensible center. It’s a thin stripe now. It used to be a lot wider stripe, but it’s an important and determining factor in most elections.”
Keep in mind before you answer that Illinois is not a bellwether state. President Trump lost Illinois by 17 points, 56-39. Durbin was talking nationally, we’re talking statewide here.
* The Question: Do you think the Democratic candidates for governor are moving too far to the left? Click here to take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 1:30 pm:
Elections are won and lost in the suburbs, which trend moderate. I’m not sure if they are yet, because you’re always further to your extreme in the primary, but they definitely don’t want to venture too far left
- Ahoy! - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 1:31 pm:
Durbin does not mention that Sanders was beating Trump in all the polls and outperforming the more moderate Clinton. To the question, I voted no because none of them seem out of line for a democratic candidate, although quite frankly the main them I hear is anti-rauner, so I’m not sure what they are running on besides that.
- Cheryl44 - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 1:33 pm:
I’m not sure how liberal they’d have to get to offset what Trump said to the widow of that soldier who was killed in Nigeria. Especially since you know he’ll just say someone worse to someone in a day or two.
- Parkington - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 1:39 pm:
Start talking more about jobs, healthcare, and protecting the middle class….. and less about the right of football players to kneel, Russian hacking, and Tillerson’s ‘moron’ comment.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 1:40 pm:
Don’t think so, but I think they are running the risk of getting close to the “danger zone” .
- Tom B. - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 1:42 pm:
It doesn’t matter. You’re moving too far left if you create a vulnerability that can distract from your own message. The Dem position is very simple = Trump bad, Rauner first term failure. Change course.
“AAAGH, TAXES, ABORTION, ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS,” won’t work this time around to distract. Trump is too big an impact in the political process.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 1:42 pm:
I don’t see any of the three major Democratic candidates moving Speaker Madigan to the left. I rarely see any of his more liberal caucus members pushing him to the left, although there have been exceptions. *coughHB40cough*
Cook County’s pop tax was treated like the plague by the Democratic candidates. Biss was probably tempted to come out and endorse it but I like to think his staff intervened.
I can think of other examples where the Democratic candidates have stopped well short of going full Bernie. I don’t think Illinois Democrats needs to worry too much about straying wildly left of center.
If you don’t believe me, take a look at their positions on gun control.
- Keyser Soze - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 1:47 pm:
Repeat over and over. It’s the economy.
- Epic - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 1:48 pm:
To far left fiscally? Maybe, socially? No.
With the Governor signing HB40, the sanctuary state bill, and the transgender birth certificate bill it will be hard for Rauner to hit them hard on being socially liberal when he’s trying to court moderarwa moderate voters. If the candidate start promising a lot in terms of social services then that will scare off the fiscally worried in this state due to our financial situation.
Honestly who close they are to Madigan will be damaging then how liberal the candidates are.
- hisgirlfriday - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 1:51 pm:
“Liberal” and “conservative” are such meaningless designations these days.
Many “liberals” are only so on social issues while others are only so on economic issues.
And plenty of “conservatives” are downright radical in their policy ideas and personal behavior.
That said, the Dem establishment can cram it as far as I am concerned with their warnings about what the party does or doesn’t do. The Dem establishment failed to get a W in 2016 and just has no credibility.
My take is there is no such thing as too left or too right in American politics any more. The moderate middle is a myth.
- City Zen - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 1:52 pm:
Fiscally, there are far left of reality.
- L.A. - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 1:52 pm:
hate to be picky, but its Niger, not Nigeria.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 1:52 pm:
===although there have been exceptions. *coughHB40cough*===
Gay marriage, transgender rights, death penalty eliminiation…
- Earnest - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 1:52 pm:
I voted ‘no’ because they’re running in a Democratic primary. Messages like Durbin’s are what are going to hurt the Democratic Party and turn off the most energized portions of their base.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 1:54 pm:
===Gay marriage, transgender rights, death penalty eliminiation…===
Agreed, but those mostly came under Quinn, and the question is about Kennedy, Pritzker and Biss.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 1:55 pm:
The stock market, right now, is at 23155. What is that, nearly a 5000 point increase in the DOW since the election. And it happened without flooding the economy with cash, running up sky high debt.
So, yes, iyt is about the economy to a large degree.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 1:56 pm:
“Do you think the Democratic candidates for governor are moving too far to the left?”
Voted “Yes”
I’m a Republican, but here’s why I decided to vote and vote as I did.
As I look at the race as an outsider, I see this need for Dem candidates to appeal to the Left, as it’s no different (Before Rauner) that GOP candidates in Illinois tact Right, right up to April after the Primary.
As mirrors, the GOP run to the center is about securing the collar counties without alienating a more conservative downstate sweet spot.
The Dems need to take an honest look at downstate and where they have made serious inroads in the collars and DuPage specifically. What is happening there with the likes of a Sen. Cullerton (Tom) and other DuPage Dems is candidates willing to embrace the Democratic ideals, but reflect the geography they have.
Right now, you have the likes of Downstate Dems being an endangered species and voters that would vote “Democrat” finding less places to go in past Novembers.
My point is, appeasing the Left is leaving so many downstate Democrats, Democrats that are leery of “Liberals” and that’s now morphed into lumping any and every Dem as “Liberal”
I don’t believe for a second any Dem candidate running right now would win “all of” Downstate, but the Left lurching may also be solidifying thoughts, again where “Liberal” is replaced by “Democrat”
But where this is why I voted “Yes”, is the seemingly rigid “Left” turn(s) that have little room to find a “middle left” that won’t find that newly minted Nominee being branded a “traitor”
Conservative Dems and Moderate Republicans, women, true Independents… that’s a good mix to build upon traditional Democratic constituencies, as opposed to running so far Left and leaving a bigger pool of voters who might be apt to vote for Dem Nominee for Governor over Bruce Rauner.
With SSM, HB40, ObamaCare issues being addressed by the current governor, how much farther “Left” (less the constitution change on income taxes) does one need to go?
With what I have above, that’s Rauner, arguably running as a Conservative Dem already, guns included for downstate Dems to rally.
As soon as they feel that the above I have is to the right of a Dem candidate on the overall, that should set off an alarm.
Too far Left leaves too many voters out of the mix to victory.
- RNUG - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 1:57 pm:
I’ve always thought the D’s were too far to the left.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 2:01 pm:
Depends on where you start from, I guess. Most of today’s GOP would think Reagan was leftist, what with his tax increases and amnesty, among other things.
I hardly think a graduated income tax is “leftist,” unless you think the federal government and most states are Bolshie.
And being supportive of independent unions is the exact opposite of “leftist.” The first thing every commie regime has ever done is shut them down.
- PJ - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 2:05 pm:
You’d have to run Che Guevara to go as far left as the Republicans have gone far right with Trump, so screw it. Those designations have become mostly meaningless.
The folks pulling the Democrats farther to the left are minorities, which makes sense. Moderate democrats have long given them lip service and voted against their interests. I understand why they’re demanding actual change candidates.
- My button is broke... - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 2:06 pm:
Yes. Looking at Presidential elections going back to 2000, the LOWEST percentage a Dem got was 54.6% by Gore in 2000 (highest was 61.9% by Obama). The HIGHEST percentage a Dem candidate for Governor got since 1998 was 52.2% by Rod in 2002 (the lowest was Quinn with 46.3%). Lower turnout in non-Presidential years is the main reason (in my opinion). But bottom line, in non Presidential elections, Illinois isn’t that liberal.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 2:14 pm:
===in non Presidential elections, Illinois isn’t that liberal. ===
Look again at 2006. RRB won by 10 points, Greens got 10 points. GOP presidential midterm.
- phocion - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 2:17 pm:
Using the Trump margin over Hillary in Illinois is meaningless. In the General Assembly, Republicans picked up seats. At the top of the ticket, Duckworth put away Kirk easily (although Kirk helped on that account). Mendoza’s margin wasn’t much to write home about. The Democrats are tacking too far left because Illinois remains fundamentally purple and moderate. It’s a lesson that’s constantly lost on both the far right and far left who have outsized voices within their respective parties.
- ILDemVoter - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 2:17 pm:
I voted no because after living in California (and to a lesser extent, Maryland), nothing being proposed here is outragously “liberal.”
Progressive income tax/tax reform, clean energy/environmental protection, and reducing recidivism (Just 3 examples of issues the Dem. candidates have been discussing) are hardly “far left” issues- They are things that fully functioning states all have constant conversations about and/or have already (like progressive income tax). I feel like the candidates are talking about common sense measures to get Illinois back on track, budget wise.
- DSKid - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 2:22 pm:
Voted Yes.
Illinois is slowly drifting red and will be a purple state in the post-Trump era.
The past 3 presidential election cycles don’t portray this shift, but from 1980-2016, the downstate shift right is absolutely unbelievable.
Factor in changing demographics and the rise of the Latino population and the leftward shift on culturally issues will bite Dems in the butt over time. This isn’t a 2018 or 2020 question, but by 2030 Illinois will be like Virginia today. Both parties can easily overplay their hands.
- PJ - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 2:22 pm:
===nothing being proposed here is outragously “liberal.”===
Shame on those crazy libs, proposing the same graduated income tax the federal government and 33 states (including some of our neighbors) use.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 2:27 pm:
Yes.
What caused Rauner to win is still there - we’re tired of single party rule. We’re tired of our tax rates with poor results. We’re tired of empty store fronts, unemployed neighbors and underperforming schools. We’re tired seeing governors fail, governors in jail and a schlerotic GA run by unimaginative mushrooms.
The guys running aren’t Rauner and that’s all they have to offer that I like. Every one of them think that there’s magic money for magic solutions that have rarely worked in the real world.
Rauner is a failure.
I don’t see a single Democrat that is pursuing plans to do better.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 2:31 pm:
===but from 1980-2016, the downstate shift right is absolutely unbelievable.===
Yes. Unfortunately for conservatives, if the trends continue, downstate will become less and less significant as a voting bloc. Most downstate counties are sparsely populated with older, white voters. They are shrinking literally right before our eyes.
So shift right, heck, lurch right, it isn’t going to off-set younger, diverse voters living in the greater Chicago metro area. Because demographics.
- Ahoy! - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 2:33 pm:
–Illinois is slowly drifting red and will be a purple state in the post-Trump era.–
whatever you smoking I want in on it.
–the downstate shift right is absolutely unbelievable.–
You mean the downstate that is loosing population and will have it’s districts consolidated and larger geographically in the upcoming map?
- We'll See - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 2:33 pm:
I voted no; with that, I think the Dems need to work at better defining what it means to be “liberal”. For too long the party has allowed others to define the term in as negative.
And… I’m serious when I tell people that Jesus is my favorite liberal.
- The Muse - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 2:38 pm:
In Illinois, no. I think most of the candidates are in line with what most people want: progressive income tax (please!), legalization of marijuana (except for Kennedy), and to work on getting some form of a single-payer in Illinois.
- Blue dog dem - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 2:43 pm:
Pritzer. Liberal.
Kennedy,Liberal
Rauner, Liberal(oops, you said Democrat).
- Swift - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 2:55 pm:
They are presenting themselves as moving to the left, but I don’t think in the end they are going to go to far, with the possible exception of Biss.
My take, at this point, is that they are all scrambling to get the Bernie vote. I’m not sure who decides these things, but it looks like all the candidates believe these voters are the key to winning. I don’t think there is a downside to going after Bernie voters, if anything if the candidate can win the general election and can’t implement 100% renewable energy, free college, free daycare, etc., they can always blame Madigan or the proverbial “broken” system.
- Ray del Camino - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 2:59 pm:
No, I think it’s all pretty mainstream Democratic stuff–in a mostly Blue state.
- d.p.gumby - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 3:17 pm:
There is no clear two party ideology in the Brucie/T-Rump era. There is the uber-right wing/Evangelical-Taliban/White Nationalist Bannon-ists, Rational Republicans who are scared of taking on the foaming at the mouth group just identified, and then there are the more populist Democrats verses the more establishment Democrats. It is all a flashback to the McGovern era when the DemSoc tried to control the Democratic Party leading to many defeats. But to say going to “liberal” or “left” is illusory.
- Responsa - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 3:41 pm:
Yes. Because none of these candidates really seem to *get* the whole of the state they live in and because almost everything the D candidates are saying to outdo each other in the primary is then going to have to be filtered through the whole electorate in the general. The elements and frustrations that got Rauner elected have not gone away or lessened. Probably as many voters are frustrated by what the Gov. has not been able to accomplish as are angry at him for various reasons. But I think based on what the Dems are saying the frustrated Rauner voters do not see any of them as being an answer to what they genuinely believe ails this state.
- MG85 - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 3:49 pm:
I voted no because I’ve heard none of them espousing policies of the far left. Here are some examples of “too far left.”
-an outlawing of owning property
-an outlawing of owning a business
-an outlawing of individual rights
-outlawing of private carbon emission regulations/
-an outlawing of military recruitment in highschools
-an outlawing of private ownership of guns
-an outlawing of organized religion
-a legal organization of the individual family (child limits, etc)
-an outlawing of private schools
I’ve seen no policy like these, or even close to these, put forward by any gubernatorial candidate. So no, they haven’t moved TOO far left. In principle, a far-lefty would argue most of these candidates are hardly leftist at all.
- Dead Head - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 4:06 pm:
You can never get too far to the left.
- Harry - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 4:08 pm:
I voted “No.”
The Democratic electorate is dominated by Chicago, a few close-in suburbs, and college towns. They are mostly way left. The candidate will have to win the primary and then move back toward the center for the general. One who doesn’t move pretty far left for the primary will get outflanked on that side. OTOH, go “crazy” left and you cannot get back off the limb in the general. Tricky, but I think Biss, Kennedy and Pritzker are all playing it about right. Pawar was too far out there.
In other words, politics as usual.
- AuH202k16 - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 4:14 pm:
==Illinois is slowly drifting red and will be a purple state in the post-Trump era…This isn’t a 2018 or 2020 question, but by 2030 Illinois will be like Virginia today.==
I’m not going to pile onto the first half of this. But it seems relevant that Virginia has been moving left for 20+ years, and every statewide elected official in VA is a Democrat.
- Tequila Mockingbird - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 4:28 pm:
No. They should be honest about their positions. I have no respect for politicians that change their leanings to get elected no matter which direction it is.
- Quiet Sage - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 4:49 pm:
Democrats are not moving too far to the left. Bernie Sanders is America’s most popular active politician. Elizabeth Warren is also very popular. Under centrist policies, the national Democrats have lost control of the U.S. House and Senate, and about 1,000 state legislative seats around the country. Democrats clearly need a change in their approach. Medicare for All, free public college tuitions, and $15 minimum wage are winning issues. The centrist policies promoted by Illinois Democrats during the 2015-16 General Assembly, notably with regard to public pension cuts, are one reason for Governor Rauner.
- Toast - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 6:00 pm:
** Medicare for All, free public college tuitions, and $15 minimum wage are winning issues **
Please, please, please move further left, that will guarantee even more Republican victories…
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 6:00 pm:
Of course the Democrats have moved too far to the left.
Pro business democrats have been shunned and been replaced by far left progressives.
They believe a state with 130 billion in debt that hasn’t had a balanced budget in over a decade can suddenly pay for a $15 minimum wage, free healthcare and free college for all if only the 14 billionaires in Illinois would pay their fare share.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 6:11 pm:
One of those billionaires, Shahid Khan, proposed a $20 an hour minimum wage in Crain’s the other day.
Maybe he’s not a biz whiz and economics professor like you LP, but he’s done pretty well by himself here in this terrible business climate that you’re constantly belching about.
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171012/NEWS02/171019939/what-jaguars-owner-khan-said-today-on-trump-nfl-owners-and-a-20
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 6:36 pm:
Dick Durbin is correct. He’s a very successful politician. His campaign have been outstanding. He knows what to say. He’s Central Illinois Democrat savvy.
So when he says there is a problem, there’s a problem. So much of the Democrat’s responses here prove it. We have a bunch of guys who couldn’t even try to respect oppositional views. They might as well speak another language because they don’t live in the real world of broken governments and failed policies. Illinois government was bad before Rauner. He made it worse. These Democrats don’t offer anything but what didn’t work before.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 9:17 pm:
So you think Illinois can just raise the minimum wage to $15 or $20 or roughly double our neighboring states? Why stop there and just make it $25 or $30?
Illinois politicians don’t seem to understand the importance of being competitive with our neighbors
- Veil of Ignorance - Wednesday, Oct 18, 17 @ 10:37 pm:
No, it’s not too far left for IL since Chicagoans are fanning out into suburban Cook County, which still largely determines statewide elections in IL. That being said, I do think the style and tone of leftism that some progressives are pushing foster a call out culture that alienates some folks and leaves little room for recruiting future allies who may be moderate or conservative on some issues, but progressive on others.