A Message To David Hogg & The Young Guns!

It's Okay to Learn From Older People Who Have Already Succeeded!

A Message to David Hogg and The Young Guns!

I’m excited to see the young guns and new political voices stepping up to make their case about how, Specifically Democratic leaders and elected officials need to do more.

Well, last week I had a young man on my show, Chews Views on WCPT-AM820 (6-8AM), Jackson Franklin who is running for U.S. Congress in Indiana against Victoria Spartz. It was a great interview with Jackson, and he is on the right track about how he is pushing hard against big corporate money in politics. I suggested that he make sure he is open to the right donors, even if they are large money donors, as long as they have the right interests in place. I also suggested, matter-of-factly that he make sure that his coalition, team and the people around him truly reflect what he says is his platform to change the narrative, effort and successes for Democrats. In other words, don’t just have a bunch of “young white guys” be the optics of his campaign.

Over the weekend, James Carville and David Hogg had a little back and forth about the future and direction of the DNC, Primarying Democratically elected Democrats and how he, David Hogg is going to use $20Million from his “Leaders We Deserve” PAC to support primary challenges to what he calls “ineffective” Democrats. Carville thinks it’s the most insane thing he has ever seen.

Not to go through all the pieces of this, but to shed some light on what I see. I agree that “ineffective” Democrats need to step up, hard and fast. But David Hogg, I hope you and the young guns see this, read this and take it to heart. Although I would never resort to name calling as James Carville did with/to you…I would say you and the young guns need to be more willing and actually listen to those who have accomplished the things you are trying to accomplish; Getting Democrats elected to offices we need; Locally, Regionally, State-Wide and Nationally.

You, to the best of my knowledge, have not been in the driver’s seat to actually getting someone elected. I’m not going to attack you or call you names like Carville did. I would rather make these suggestions:

1) Stop Making this conversation about Age – Yes you have done that, maybe not intentionally but it has still happened. As smart as you present yourself to be, realize that many people twice and three times your age hold tremendous sway (they/we are not dead yet). You don’t like it when older folks tell you to “wait your turn young man” …and older people don’t like it when you try kicking them to the curb. Remember this David Hogg, many of the people you have pissed off in the Democratic party who could be your best allies are old enough to have fought in wars that put us a position to make it possible for you to do what you currently are trying to do…so, use their experience to make your cause more effective and long-lasting.

2) Go after Republicans not Democrats – How powerful would it be if you directed that $20Million Dollars at “piss-poor republicans” who are in “Purple Districts” and help the Democratic candidates in those districts/states win those seats so that we can take back the house and senate, then we can change the narrative. Replacing a Democrat with another Democrat, without increasing our numbers in those states and districts is tantamount to running in place. Illinois House Representative Lauren Underwood has it correct right now; Get the Republicans who are in vulnerable districts and states to vote the right way and with Democrats.

David Hogg, use your PAC’s leverage to pressure “ineffective” Republicans rather than cutting off the legs of Democratically elected Democrats!

3) Talk to the constituencies in the districts and states of the Democrats you are going after…rather than just launching into “Take Down” mode. Help them become effective and hold the seat, while taking down awful Republicans.

David Hogg, you have a brilliant future and Ken Martin selecting you as a Co-Chair of the DNC is a great opportunity for you to do great things. But make sure you are actually listening to those you don’t want to listen to. They have, meaning the “older democrats” a lot to offer you in your effort to succeed on many fronts. Take a lesson from Magic Johnson when he was a rookie with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was the number 1 draft pick for the Lakers, just off the NCAA championship as a star and soon to be even bigger. What did he know? Kareem Adbul-Jabbar was the captain of the team, a championship winner and someone who he could learn from. That learning from the veteran while helping him improve, allowed Magic and The Lakers to be unstoppable; David Hogg, you could learn a lot from Magic Johnson…Humble yourself so you can succeed Young Gun!!

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