A New York congressman is urging Dems to return to their working-class roots and target “corrupt elites who’ve been in power far too long” to escape the political “wilderness” during President Trump’s reign.
Progressives have been grappling with a considerable cultural-vibe shift and an apparent leadership vacuum since Trump’s return to the White House. But moderate Rep. Pat Ryan of the Hudson Valley is expressing optimism that the party is starting to regain its footing.
“Democrats got our butts kicked in November. No two ways about it. We stopped meeting people where they were. We became the party of the elites, and folks felt that,” Ryan bluntly admitted on X on Saturday.
But he added, “I’m optimistic because this week, we set the terms of the fight ahead.
“A core group of Democratic leaders rose up IMMEDIATELY to make it clear we fight FOR the people and AGAINST the same corrupt elites who’ve been in power far too long.”
Ryan, 42, was first elected to the House of Representatives during a fiercely competitive special election and managed to eke out a win against Republican former Rep. Marc Molinaro for his seat.
The rep is now arguing that President Trump gave a “whole lot of love to his billionaire cronies” during his first week back at the White House.
Ryan highlighted how Big Tech CEOs were invited into the Capitol Rotunda for Trump’s swearing-in ceremony after the event was pushed indoors because of frigid weather.
“We rightly hammered [Trump] for it,” Ryan contended of the billionaires in attendance at the inaguration. “But it wasn’t just ragging on Trump. We DIRECTLY and FORCEFULLY tied it back to a core message of corruption.
“Then Trump pardoned insurrectionists convicted of violently assaulting police officers. Beating them with flag poles. Tasering an officer until he had a heart attack. 5 law enforcement officers killed. 140 wounded,” he wrote.
Trump, 78, doled out clemency to more than 1,500 Jan. 6 rioters during his first day back in the Oval Office.
Trump also has vowed to usher in a “golden age” in the country and swiftly acted to enact pro-business regulatory reforms, boost energy output to lower prices and begun working to rein in the chaos at the border.
The Democratic Party has been reeling since the 47th president won all seven battleground states in the November election and became the first Republican to win the popular vote in a presidential cycle in two decades.
After Trump’s victory, former President Joe Biden and ex-Vice President Kamala Harris have largely stepped out of the limelight, leaving the party without a clear central leader equivalent to what Trump has been for Republicans over the past eight years.
All of this coupled with a perception that Democrats are losing ground in the culture wars, as Republicans pummel them on transgender issues and wokeness, has led to soul-searching within the opposition party.
But Ryan pointed to the Democrats’ initial responses to Trump this go around as proof that they’ve learned critical lessons.
“That’s a wide cross-section of our party, from all parts of our country, from all backgrounds, from all ideologies, LISTENING to the American people and responding clearly: Left, right and center be damned, we’re here to lower costs for YOU and your family,” Ryan said.
“Yes, the Democratic party sure as hell isn’t perfect. I know we’ve got an awful lot of work to do to regain trust,” he added.
“This intense, unyielding and unwavering dedication to fighting FOR the people and AGAINST anyone who would do them harm, that’s the Democratic Party I want to be a part of. That’s our path out of the wilderness.”
