'Stop gaslighting me!': Florida Democrats' Senate nominee and party chair have heated call over socialism
https://www.axios.com/2026/08/21/florida-democrats-angie-nixon-nikki-fried-socialism
https://www.axios.com/2026/08/21/florida-democrats-angie-nixon-nikki-fried-socialism
12 Comments
leadore@lemmy.world · 29 pts · 12h
For at least the last 45 years, Republicans have cast every Democrat politician as a Socialist or extreme leftist. No matter how left, center, or middle they are, Republicans always say they're far left. So why the hell would you move to the right just because you're afraid they're going to call you names? Everyone knows that no matter how far to the right you move, they're still going to scream that you're the most extreme liberal who has ever run for office?
hoppeduponcoffee@lemmy.zip · 0 pts · 6h
It’s the same thing that happened with the GOP. Moderate neoconservatives got pulled into the fascist/tea party/MAGA movement and lumped together by the liberal establishment. Now they’re stuck there because they’d rather vote within party lines than vote for a lib.
Now libs are getting thrown in the same boat as DSA, including the Marxists and anarchists. The DNC wants to stay relevant, they see leftists are winning and do not want to piss off what’s left of their liberal voting base by siding with the GOP against the DSA, who are proposing very sensible progressive reforms.
The right had painted a target on anyone left of center since the 90s and the rise of alt-right talk radio (Rush Limbaugh). Then they went completely off the deep end when Obama was elected and the brief period of time Dems had control of congress (and ultimately failed because they serve the same special interests).
The two-party ticket is the problem, yet that’s the way it is until DSA-backed candidates gain enough traction in government to finally enact the great split.
adespoton@lemmy.ca · 26 pts · 14h
The truth is, the neoliberals have an uphill battle against populist conservative Republicans. Socialists might have an advantage.
Malyca@lemmy.zip · 21 pts · 12h
These moderates need to fuck off already
cAUzapNEAGLb@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 13h
Fried has such a chance to be cool about this, actually prove the dem party is a big tent, and put the country and party ahead of their personal politics. Nixon won over vindman signficantly, it wasnt neck and neck, the people that make up the party want a dsa aligned person more than a trump-focused centrist - the democratic party is what if not a democracy that at least reflects the will of its own members?
Zaktor@sopuli.xyz · 10 pts · 13h
You'd think if these party officials were so concerned about progressive candidates having a hard time with certain electorates or just in general, they, as loyal Democratic Party functionaries, would be sending extra resources and working double time to promote the candidate. If bland genocide-tolerant moderates are better for general elections then you can focus money and support on helping shore up the DSA candidates they think will have a harder time.
Oddly that hasn't generally been the response.
Lexam@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 8h
Democratic Socialist need to act as their own party. The Democratic National Convention (DNC) does not represent our interest.
zikzak025@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 7h
I thought this too, but they can't act as spoilers. Democratic Socialists need to beat Centrists in the primaries. Otherwise you throw more elections to the conservatives.
AA5B@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 4h
After decades of sliding right, We finally have a chance to shift that Overton window slightly to the left and people are second guessing it?
sculptor0725@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 8h
It's about fucking time people start realizing this
danc4498@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 13h
Maybe she should drop the DSA talks and bring Dick Cheney on the campaign trailer. Or, I don't know, give "policies that benefit people" a chance.
yonderbarn@lazysoci.al · 2 pts · 11h
From Nikki Fried's Wikipedia page