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We “rethink the week” with Stephen Pimpare, professor of public policy at UNH Manchester and Fellow at the Carsey Institute of Public Policy; and Jeffrey Feingold, Editor at NH Business Review. We discuss the growing expression of racism and hatred in our political conversation. Perhaps this has been led by Pres. Trump but many Republicans, media and others have fanned the flames to the point where it is out of control. We were shocked to learn that every instance of ethnic cleansing in modern history has begun with a systematic dehumanizing of “the other.”
We also talked about the astonishing false information being spread by Trump, VP Pence and others. For example, at the Border Patrol facility yesterday, the videos showed horrible conditions, while Pence stood right there and brazenly asserted the opposite (These facilities “are providing care that every American would be proud of”)!
Finally, we analyzed the conflict between Nancy Pelosi and four very vocal progressive members of Congress – who happen to be black or brown women. Should the Democratic party emphasize its appeal to centrists? Are party leaders correct that such caution would give it the best chance to beat Donald Trump (and win Senate seats) in the 2020 election? Or should the party listen more openly to its younger, more progressive leaders of color? Would the latter strategy energize minority communities, expand the Democratic voting base, and give 2020 candidates a vision upon which they can win?
