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KAHNTENTIONS

KAHNTENTIONS is a blog post written by Gilbert N. Kahn, Professor of Political Science at Kean University in Union, New Jersey. Beginning in 2011 KAHNTENTIONS was hosted by the New Jersey Jewish News which recently ceased written publication. KAHNTENTIONS presents an open and intellectually honest analysis of issues facing the United States, Israel, as well as Jews world-wide.

BY GILBERT N. KAHN

"These are the times that try men's souls."

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Now Comes the Challenge for the Democrats


The Democrats must understand the lessons from last night’s Committee Hearing as well as those of the past month. They need to fashion a strategy intelligently for electoral success in the mid-term congressional contests this November. This will need to be done in an environment of high and growing inflation, and continuing fears of another COVID spike that will negatively affect efforts for an economic recovery. Democrats have been in situations like this before, but they often are their own worst enemies in turning things around in their favor.


Last night’s opening hearing of the January 6 Committee was remarkable even in the eyes of the most knowledgeable Washington insiders. It was a patient, graphic, and clear presentation that outlined the work accomplished by the Committee over the past year. Both the Democratic Chair Bennie Thompson and the Republican Vice-Chair Liz Cheney—with the assistance of graphics, videos, and two remarkable witnesses--presented a sober picture of the events which transpired on January 6, 2021, as well as outlining what led up to the attack on the Capitol. They set forth the framework of what the American people will hear during the balance of the scheduled six additional hearings over the next two weeks.


The message in this opening round laid out in crystal clear language the extent of President Trump’s own participation in the planning and encouragement of the insurrection. Any listener with a scintilla of open-mindedness could not help to have been moved by the Committee’s disciplined presentation. In particular, Independents and non-MAGA Republicans should have been impressed with the detached attack on President Trump by Representative Cheney.


Thursday’s events were preceded by important political signals that were sent to the Democrats in the Democratic primaries in California as well throughout the country. Democratic voters are angry about the increase in crime in America. Even in one of America’s most progressive cities, San Francisco, Americans are concerned about their own safety. For many of them as well, their strong position on crime, segued into a demand as well for some movement on gun control.


Earlier in May, it was the leaked draft of the Supreme Court’s expected forthcoming opinion which may be overturning Roe vs. Wade, which shook up many Americans, men as well as women. As a potential galvanizing issue this too is a a further compelling issue to support for Democrats in the fall. Ensuring the future of a woman’s right to choose as well as access and availability of abortion facilities is a vital issue for all Americans, according to most polls.


As has been the case historically for Democrats for generations, their challenge will be to handle this plethora of formidable issues in which there is significant support in a deft manner. If they push too hard, the D’s will lose control of the House and likely the Senate as well. They must maximize their agenda but define it by what is achievable. In the current political climate, the party’s progressive wing must be pressured to avoid trying to enflame any of these issues. Failure to do so will destroy any success that the Democrats might be able to achieve from the public’s general support for them on the issues.


The party must stop efforts to defeat moderate Democrats with progressive candidates as is now being done by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in her effort to defeat Representative Sean Patrick Maloney in New York State. Intra-party challenges are a luxury which the Democrats cannot afford this year.


The party needs to coalesce around an agenda which will provide as big a tent as possible so that the Democratic Party will retain a congressional majority. It must not be sidetracked by personal desires and goals. If they fail, it will result in sending the Democrats into the political wilderness for years. It will be very challenging given the state of the economy. Last night’s House Hearing, if properly packaged, could give the Democrats much fuel to burn in the months ahead.

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Last night’s hero was Representative Liz Cheney. Her willingness to stay the course and speak truth to her own party and former President Trump was very impressive. Cheney played the role of the responsible legislator as did Senator Howard Baker in the Watergate Hearings and later Senator Barry Goldwater. She accepted her role with full awareness that she may well lose re-election in Wyoming and might even lose her seat to a Trump backed Republican in a primary challenge. Cheney challenged the former President and her Party’s sycophants directly and unflinchingly.

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