Conservative Newspapers Are Endorsing Progressive Democrats Faster Than The DCCC Is

A few days ago, we saw the Des Moines Register give the nod to J.D. Scholten over Steve King in Iowa. Even the very very conservative Weekly Standard seems to be urging their readers in Iowa-- at the very least-- to not voted for King: Steve King: America’s Most Deplorable Congressman: "He’s an embarrassment to the GOP and to America," wrote Adam Rubinstein, who pointed out that King is animated by "race-based identity-politics that consumes the alt-right. King’s focus on race and ethnicity is so consuming that it has become the core of his politics... Why King is taking sides in foreign elections in the first place remains a mystery. But the bigger mystery is why he still has a seat in Congress."

Almost as surprising has been the conservative Houston Chronicles' endorsements for progressive Democrats. Earlier this week, the editors tossed Michael McCaul overboard, after endorsing him in every election for two decades-- and urged their readers to vote for Mike Siegel instead. And now they've also backed another progressive, Dayna Steele over another right-wing GOP incumbent, Brian Babin. Why? NOT because Steele in doing a DCCC-scenerio which calls on candidate in districts like hers to run on Republican-lite platforms. Not at all. The Chronicle explained they are backing her because she's running on a string platform New Deal type platform: "The main issue for Steele, 59, is Medicare-for-all because too many people can’t afford the care they need, especially in the rural stretches and small towns of this district... She also wants a $15 per hour minimum wage, free community college and job training, expanded Internet availability for rural Texas and immigration laws that provide a path to citizenship. 'I believe government’s job is to make people’s lives better. Everything goes back to health care-- you can’t do anything if you’re not healthy,' she told us."

The DCCC is ignoring her race... and Mike Siegel's race. Both are better off without their heavy-handed and lame interference in their races. And if she-- and Mike-- get into Congress, they won't have to take any bullshit from Pelosi and Hoyer and will owe nothing to anyone but their Texas constituents. The Chronicle:

Singers David Crosby and Melissa Etheridge aren’t your typical fixtures in political campaigns for this sprawling congressional district, but Dayna Steele isn’t your typical candidate.

A longtime DJ for 101 KLOL-- they call her the First Lady of Rock and Roll-- she later became a motivational speaker and prolific writer, and also a successful business woman as the owner of an online store for space memorabilia and NASA merchandise. After the 2016 election and taking part in the national Women’s March, Steele decided to step up and run for the 36th congressional district, which drops down from Lake Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend in East Texas and the Louisiana border to Galveston Bay, the Houston Ship Channel and Johnson Space Center.

Steele has a contagious energy, impressive fundraising and undeniable communication skills that has some political observers looking at this typically deep-red district with renewed interest. She also has the ability to get Crosby and Etheridge to show up for campaign concerts, which has classic rock fans paying attention.

She’s running against two-term incumbent Brian Babin, who has thorough experience in local government, including time as mayor of Woodville. He’s a dentist for his day job. In Congress he chairs the Space Subcommittee of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology and in that role is getting more money for manned space flight, the Johnson Space Center’s specialty.

...[W]e like Steele’s policy proposals and her focus on how the government can and should help people who don’t live in major economic centers. It’s a reminder of why New Deal Democrats were popular in Texas for so many years.

The main issue for Steele, 59, is Medicare-for-all because too many people can’t afford the care they need, especially in the rural stretches and small towns of this district.

“I believe government’s job is to make people’s lives better. Everything goes back to health care-- you can’t do anything if you’re not healthy,” she told us.

She also wants a $15 per hour minimum wage, free community college and job training, expanded Internet availability for rural Texas and immigration laws that provide a path to citizenship.

Steele is a longtime supporter of Planned Parenthood and women’s right to choose, and she thinks the Environmental Protection Agency needs to be strengthened, not weakened as we’re seeing under Trump. That’s a particularly important concern for this refinery-heavy district.

Babin, on the other hand, believes the EPA “has threatened our petrochemical and agricultural interests with excessive regulation,” according to his campaign website. The League of Conservation Voters gives him a zero rating on environmental legislation.

Babin’s campaign reads like a Republican dream-- he favors tax cuts, less regulation, unfettered gun ownership, a border wall, a stronger military and space supremacy while opposing abortion. He supports Social Security and Medicare for the elderly, but forget about Obamacare and a universal health care system. He expressed real animus for both when he met with the Houston Chronicle editorial board.

Once in a blue moon, the DCCC get it right. They did in Maine this cycle, where they actually are helping Jared Golden win his race. He's one of the only progressive who they are helping and have spent a modest $1,089,947 on his race. Yesterday the Bangor Daily News endorsed Golden, a full on progressive Democrat, over conservative incumbent Bruce Poliquin, a Trump enabler. The editors exploded Poliquin's dishonest talking points about healthcare, the #1 issue in Maine: "Last year, Rep. Bruce Poliquin voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act and replace it with an inferior plan with weaker protections for those with pre-existing conditions that would have led to more than 23 million Americans losing their health insurance by 2026. The House bill that he supported would have been especially harmful to rural areas, like Maine’s 2nd Congressional District.

The district deserves a representative who better reflects its needs and values. Jared Golden, a Marine Corps veteran and legislative leader, would be that representative.

On health care, which voters have identified as their top concern in this election, Golden would be a vote in Congress to protect and improve the Affordable Care Act while working toward a more permanent solution to extend health insurance to more Americans while also reducing costs. He supports allowing people between the ages of 55 and 65 to buy into Medicare as a step toward universal health care. Contrary to Poliquin’s scary claims, this is not radical and it will not end Medicare coverage for senior. It would simply allow more Americans to participate in a health insurance program that works-- more efficiently than most privately run insurance plans.

These are reasonable, concrete steps compared with Poliquin’s promises of more consumer choices and more competition to lower prices.

Poliquin, who dodges debate questions, the media and his constituents, has been a reliable vote for much of the GOP agenda in Congress, including tax cuts, ACA repeal and “welfare reform.” Golden has a record of working with both Democrats and Republicans in the Maine House to pass a diverse array of legislation. He has done this at a time when Democrats control the House, but Republicans control the Maine Senate and governor’s office.

Successful bills Golden has sponsored will expand mental health care options for veterans, make it easier for returning veterans to use their military credentials to obtain state professional licenses needed for their civilian employment and direct schools to develop suicide prevention protocols.

Golden is not a cookie-cutter Democrat or, as Poliquin calls him, “a radical socialist.” Having worked for Sen. Susan Collins on the Homeland Security Committee, he understands the need for border security but also the need to welcome and help asylum seekers and other immigrants. He voted against the impeachment of Gov. Paul LePage and has said he would not vote to elect Nancy Pelosi to another term as Speaker of the House if Democrats gain control of that chamber... Golden should be 2nd District voters’ first choice for a more thoughtful, accessible and pragmatic representative in Congress.