Dems Cater to Squad At Their Own Peril

THE Democratic Party’s embrace of socialist-leaning politicians — namely “The Squad” — has not only put it on track to lose control of Congress in November. It’s at risk of becoming a marginal party that only appeals to the far left in years to come. Ezra Klein last year aptly urged Democrats to recognize that most voters “are not liberals, are not woke, and do not see the world in the way that the people who staff and donate to Democratic campaigns do” after he interviewed prescient political analyst David Shor.

National Democrats’ failure to heed this lesson during Joe Biden’s presidency — along with their unwillingness to discredit the far-left economic, social and cultural positions The Squad and others promote — is a drag on the party’s short- and long-term political prospects.

Indeed, The Squad’s core policy positions are wildly out of touch with the broader electorate’s priorities — and with the country’s needs — which bodes poorly for Democrats’ chances of retaining their congressional majorities in November’s midterms.

Amid record-high inflation, fears of a recession, soaring gas prices, rising crime and an immigration crisis, Americans want leaders who support fiscal prudence, enhancing US energy independence, responsible law enforcement and strengthening immigration laws.

Yet The Squad continues to advocate redistributive economic policies that stifle growth, drive up the price of everyday goods and ultimately increase inflation. Their $6 trillion “Green New Deal” calls for massive taxation and spending, forcing the transition away from fossil fuels, dismantling police departments and implementing open-border policies — positions that are not only politically damaging to Democrats but also imprudent, given the challenges facing the country.

The Squad’s criminal-justice and law-enforcement policies are especially damaging — their support for eliminating cash bail, reducing lawenforcement budgets and not charging perpetrators of nonviolent misdemeanors even if repeat offenders, who are frequently career criminals who go on to commit more serious and often violent crimes.

Notably, in several primary and special elections this year, voters — even in the most liberal cities — decisively rejected these policies.

The recall of San Francisco’s progressive district attorney, Chesa Boudin, marked the strongest rebuke of far-left crime policies to date.

And despite Biden’s efforts to distance the party’s establishment wing from The Squad’s unpopular policing policies as crime rates rise nationwide, this association will haunt Democrats to November.

American voters have also consistently repudiated The Squad’s broader approach to politics, which relies on class-based political warfare, identity politics and disruption for disruption’s sake.

This year, voters recalled three left-wing San Francisco schoolboard members, feeling they prioritized political correctness at the expense of their children’s education. They thought the board pandered to leftist activists’ demands when it advanced a motion to rename buildings named after historical figures — such as Abraham Lincoln — instead of reopening schools.

This recall was evidence the “woke” politics the far left embraces is not only opposed by swing-voters but also by many Democratic constituents. If establishment Democrats continue to cater to this brand of politics, the party will consistently find itself out of step with most American voters and unable to build

‘ Voters — even in the most liberal cities policies.’ — decisively rejected these

winning electoral coalitions.

And at a time democratic norms and values are under attack around the world and anti-Semitism is on the rise at home, we cannot overlook the damaging effect of The Squad’s history of anti-Semitic rhetoric.

Squad members consistently single out Israel and label it an “apartheid state,” a patently false claim used as a rallying cry by extremists who seek Israel’s destruction. Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib have pushed anti-Semitic conspiracies — by suggesting that Jews use their money to buy American support for Israel — and have compared America and Israel to the Taliban.

National Democrats can no longer cater to The Squad and its brand of fringe politics while overlooking the larger political forces at play.

If the Democratic establishment continues to associate itself with The Squad — which prioritizes political correctness and “wokeness” over the real issues that matter to Americans — the party will suffer electorally in 2022, 2024 and beyond.

Douglas Schoen is founder and partner in Schoen Cooperman Research whose past clients include President Bill Clinton and Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Andrew Stein is a former New York City Council president.