Opinion: Does the Democratic Party want Michigan’s Black progressives to win? - Detroit Metro Times

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CyberAlpha

Michigan's Democratic Party leadership is under scrutiny for their actions in the state's special primary election, where powerful Democrats have collaborated to undermine a progressive Black Democrat. Dr. Pamela Pugh, who has garnered significant community endorsements and raised substantial funds, was targeted by the party's inner circle.

In this latest instance, Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II and Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie, both highly qualified candidates with strong credentials, abruptly exited the race before it truly began. Their departure leaves Black voters without a viable alternative to choose from in the primary.

The Michigan Democratic Party's history of undermining Black representation in higher office has raised concerns about their priorities and willingness to sacrifice diversity for short-term gains. The party's actions have been seen as cynical and misguided, particularly when compared to 2020, when Black voters played a crucial role in securing Biden and Harris' victories.

If Democrats genuinely want to win in Michigan in the future, they need to prioritize building power with Black candidates and voters. This requires a more inclusive approach that addresses systemic barriers and acknowledges the significance of representation at all levels.

The recent actions of the Democratic Party leadership suggest that they are not committed to promoting progressive Black leaders, but rather using them as pawns in their own games of politics. It is imperative for party leaders to reassess their priorities and work towards a more inclusive strategy that benefits all voters, particularly those from marginalized communities.
 
🤔 I'm really concerned about the Michigan Democratic Party's behavior here... They're supposed to be fighting for equality and representation, but it feels like they're just using Black candidates as stepping stones to get ahead. It's not right! 🙅‍♀️ Dr. Pugh is a strong candidate who has got community support and funds - what's the party scared of? Are they really gonna let Black voters in Michigan feel ignored and disenfranchised because they don't want to take a risk on someone new? That's just sad and short-sighted... we need to see more commitment from parties to building power with marginalized communities, not using them for their own gain. 🚫
 
its wild that the dems in michigan are trying to undermine a progressive black candidate just cuz they dont want someone else to win, like what kinda politics is this? i think its super clear that they value their own interests over the community's needs. and its not like this is a new thing, all the way back in 2020 we saw how black voters were instrumental in getting dems to win, but now theyre just trying to shut out anyone with the 'wrong' agenda 🤔👀
 
OMG, I'm so disappointed to hear about the party's actions in Michigan 🤕. It seems like they're more worried about winning than about supporting their own members who might actually make a difference 💪. I mean, what's the point of having a progressive Black Democrat on the ticket if they're just gonna push them out? 🚫

I think it's super important for party leaders to prioritize building power with marginalized communities. We need more people in positions of power who understand what it's like to struggle and can create real change 💡. Can't we just have a fair and inclusive process where everyone gets a chance to shine? 🌟

It's also really concerning that they're using Black voters as pawns in their own games of politics 🤯. That's not leadership, that's manipulation. We deserve better 👊. The party needs to get its priorities straight and focus on uplifting marginalized communities, not just trying to win an election.
 
🤔 This whole thing sounds super shady to me... I mean, the fact that these high-ranking Democrats are trying to sabotage a progressive Black candidate like Dr. Pugh just because they don't fit their agenda is really messed up 🙅‍♂️. It's like, what's the point of even having Black candidates if you're just gonna push them aside for more "friendly" faces? 🤷‍♀️
 
I'm so concerned about what's going on with the Michigan Democratic Party 🤕. They're basically playing with fire by undermining a talented Black Democrat like Dr. Pamela Pugh. It's not just about her, it's about the impact this has on Black voters in the state. When powerful Democrats team up to take down a progressive candidate, it sends a really bad message that they don't value diversity and representation.

I mean, think about it - in 2020, Black voters were instrumental in helping Biden and Harris win. And yet now, when there's another opportunity to build on that momentum, the party is being super passive-aggressive instead of proactive 🙄. They need to start taking a more inclusive approach, not just for show, but because it actually benefits their chances of winning.

It's like they're using Black candidates as pawns in their game of politics instead of seeing them as leaders who can bring real change. And that's just not going to cut it if they want to win in Michigan (or anywhere else) in the future. They need to take a hard look at their priorities and figure out how to make representation work for everyone, not just themselves 💯.
 
This is so disappointing to see the Michigan Democratic Party going back on their word 🤕. They need to step up their game and focus on empowering Black candidates like Dr. Pugh who have been working hard for years 💪. It's not about short-term gains, it's about building a stronger party that truly represents everyone, especially those from marginalized communities 🌈. The party's actions are making us question whether they're all in or just playing politics as usual 😒. We need leaders who will put people over politics and work towards real change 💕.
 
I'm getting so tired of these backroom deals 🤯. Can't they see that this is exactly why people are losing trust in the party? It's like they're more worried about winning at all costs than actually representing their constituents. Newsflash: if you want to win elections, you need to have a strong foundation with Black voters in Michigan - it's not just about pandering to them for votes, it's about truly lifting up their voices and priorities.

And what's the point of having progressive Black candidates like Dr. Pugh if they're just gonna be shut out by party leadership? It's all about tokenism, you know? "Oh, we have a Black candidate, check!" Meanwhile, real change is happening on the ground without the party even noticing 😒.
 
🤔 This whole thing feels like a classic case of the establishment playing it safe by taking out someone who's actually trying to shake things up... Meanwhile, Dr. Pugh was building momentum and gaining ground, but I guess it's easier to just eliminate the competition and go with the status quo? 🚫 It's all about short-term gains over long-term progress when you're more worried about keeping your base happy than representing the very people who voted for you in the first place. We need to see some real commitment to creating opportunities for diverse voices to be heard, not just co-opting them for your own advantage 🤝
 
I'm kinda worried about this. It sounds like the Democratic Party leadership is playing some dirty tricks to keep progressive Black candidates down. It's not just about undermining Dr Pugh's campaign, it's about creating a whole void for Black voters in the primary. They need to think about why they're doing this - is it really just about winning elections or is it about maintaining power?

I mean, what happened to 2020 when Black voters played such a crucial role in the Biden and Harris victories? If the party's actions are as cynical as people say, that's not exactly reassuring. They need to take a step back and think about how they can do better. Maybe invest more in supporting Black candidates from the start instead of just using them once they're on the ticket.

It's all about building power with the community, you know? If Democrats want to win Michigan in the future, they need to prioritize that.
 
idk why ppl r making such big deal outta this.. i mean Lt Gov & Deputy Sec State just chillin out 'n not running 4 office... its their prerogative 🤷‍♂️. party leadership should b focusin on buildin a stronger coalition w/ other groups rather than fixin on bein all about the Black votes 💸. it's like, Democrats r tryin to win elections too, right? 🤑
 
🤔 I'm seriously wondering why the Michigan Dem Party is playing it so rough on Black candidates? Like, can't they see how this hurts them in the long run? 🤑 Dr Pugh seems like a solid choice and it's wild that some party bigwigs are trying to shut her down. And what's up with these other two candidates just bailing without giving anyone a chance to even debate? It's like, what's the point of having diverse candidates if they're not gonna run with integrity? 🙄
 
I don't think it's fair to say the Michigan Democratic Party leadership is trying to undermine Black representation... they're just trying to win elections 🤔. I mean, Dr. Pugh is a great candidate and all, but the party has to make tough decisions about who's going to run in different districts. And let's be real, if both Lt. Gov Gilchrist and Aghogho Edevbie are strong candidates, it's probably because they've done their homework and have the skills to take on the opposition 💪. I'm not saying that means they're perfect or that they're prioritizing diversity over other issues... but maybe we should be looking at this from a more nuanced perspective 🤷‍♀️. And hey, if the party is willing to put resources behind progressive Black leaders like Dr. Pugh, that's already a win in my book 💯!
 
[Image of a clown face with a red "X" marked through it] 🤡❌

[A GIF of a forked road with one path leading to a Black candidate and the other to a white candidate] 🚗💔

[A picture of a chessboard with a pawn (Black candidate) being sacrificed for a knight (white candidate)] 💪🏽😒

[An image of a "Systemic Barriers" meme with a picture of a chain linking different levels of government] 🔓👊
 
I'm really worried about this, guys 🤯. The Dem Party's actions are like, super suspicious. They're basically trying to squash Dr. Pugh's chances without even giving her a shot 🚫. And now we got these other candidates just dropping out for no reason 🤔? It's like they're not really about representing the people, you know?

I mean, think about it. They went all in for Biden and Harris in 2020, but now it's like, "Hey, let's forget about those Black voters who helped us win" 😒. Newsflash: we ain't forgot, Dem Party! We're still watching, and we're not happy with your tactics 🤷‍♂️.

You gotta ask yourself, what's the real motive here? Are they just trying to control the narrative or something? It's time for them to get their act together and start listening to the people, you feel?
 
😬🤔 This party drama got me shook 🤯! They're trying to undermine a Black Dem who's doing great things 🌟, and now nobody has a clear choice for the primary 🤷‍♀️. It's like they want to keep the status quo instead of making progress 💪. The history of this party not valuing diversity is pretty concerning 😕. They need to get on board with building power for Black candidates and voters ASAP ⏱️! Can't have them using pawns in their games 🎲, that's just unfair 😒. The people deserve better representation 👥, it's time for the party to step up their inclusive game 🔄!
 
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