Frustration Mounts Among House Democrats over Pressure from Progressive Groups
Democrats in the House of Representatives and party leadership have voiced their frustration with progressive organizations such as MoveOn and Indivisible over their attempts to push members into adopting a more aggressive stance against former President Donald Trump, according to a recent report by Axios.
"People Are Pissed"
"People are pissed," an anonymous House Democrat told Axios on Tuesday. The lawmaker further revealed that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries had expressed significant frustration with the groups’ efforts to provoke leadership into taking a more confrontational approach.
Concern over Leadership Criticism
One Democrat expressed concerns that the groups were undermining the efforts of Democratic leaders, stating, "There were a lot of people who were like, ‘We’ve got to stop the groups from doing this.’ … People are concerned that they’re saying we’re not doing enough, but we’re not in the majority."
Directing Calls to Republicans
Some Democrats have resorted to redirecting increased constituent calls expressing concerns over Trump’s policies towards the Republican Party. "It’s been a constant theme of us saying, ‘Please call the Republicans,’" said Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.).
Democrats Defend Their Efforts
Despite the pressure from progressive groups, some Democrats have defended their efforts. "I reject and resent the implication that congressional Democrats are simply standing by passively," said Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.).
Progressive Groups Respond
Leah Greenberg, co-founder of Indivisible, pushed back against the criticism, stating, "People are angry, scared, and they want to see more from their lawmakers right now than floor speeches about Elon Musk." She emphasized that Indivisible encourages constituents to contact their congressional representatives and make specific procedural requests, regardless of their party affiliation.
Specific Demands
Greenberg outlined the specific actions the group is urging Democrats to take, including demanding that red lines be met before supporting any budget deal with House Republicans. She stressed that this is especially important given the likelihood that Republicans will fail to pass a bill independently.
Lack of Response from Parties Involved
At the time of this writing, Jeffries, MoveOn, and Indivisible have not issued any public comments in response to Fox News Digital’s request for a response.
Conclusion
House Democrats are facing increasing pressure from progressive groups to take a more aggressive stance against Trump. While some Democrats have expressed frustration with these organizations, others have defended their efforts, highlighting the concerns of their constituents. Progressive groups, on the other hand, maintain that they are responding to the urgent demands of the electorate and that Democrats must step up their game to meet those demands.
