The Democratic Party Conundrum - Identity Politics and Class on MSNBC

"When I talk about the working class, one third are people of color. That's not parsing out the electorate - we're all in this together." -- Tim Ryan with Joy-Ann Reid on MSNBC.  

The Democratic Party Conundrum - Identity Politics on MSNBC - Joy-Anne Reid - How DARE Tim Ryan Run Against a Woman?Why replace Nanci Pelosi, a successful woman politician, with a man? Is appealing to the working class mean only white people or a more inclusive message?

Watching this segment on MSNBC on Saturday reminded me so much of the debates I've seen in MORE over the past 5 years over identity politics and class, where some make the  argument that identity politics throughout history has often been divisive and that a broader massage can unite people. In the UFT, as a caucus, do you try to appeal to various segments of the union based on identity or try to craft a broader message that appeals to lunch bucket issues --- but also not neglecting the other issues? For those who agree that issues of race are important but also feel that lunch bucket issues must be primary, things get icky.

I'll delve more into these debated in the UFT after the ICE meeting this Friday where we will dig down deep, something we rarely get to do in MORE.

This same debate is and will take place inside the Dem party -- Remember that Bernie crafted such a message and had trouble getting support -- some say he should have gone more into identity politics but Bernie stayed on message.

Watch this MSNBC segment to see the divide in the Democratic Party being played out --- How Reid plays the identity politics card on women and race. Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan who is challenging Nanci Pelosi for Democratic House Leader was interviewed by Joy-Ann Reid. She seemed incredulous that given the Clinton female loss why would a man try to displace the most powerful and as she termed it "successful" female politician? This is where it got weird, practically causing Ryan to laugh out loud. Reid compared how Pelosi's district voted to how Ryan's voted in the presidential election, causing Ryan to point out that Pelosi reps the extremely liberal district in California while he reps an Ohio working class area and even if they voted against Hillary, he himself was able to craft a message that got him elected. Reid went on the attack - trying to blame him for not being able to get his voters to vote for Hillary. Ryan pointed out that it was the faulty national Clinton campaign that crafted a message he disagreed with.

I think Ryan did a good job in articulating how Trump crafted a message that appealed to so many people. "I did not have control of the presidential message. The presidential campaign did not have a robust economic message --economics, lunch bucket issues. I had control of my message and got 70% of the vote - Donald Trump had a robust economic message - Dems are perceived to be tied to Wall St and the donor class."

Reid interrupted him a few times - she contrasted the amount of money raised by Pelosi. Ryan responded that if money was the key we would be in power now given the Dems had more money than Trump. It's about the message and how it talks to people -- The Democratic Party is not connected to their needs -- watch Reid's face -- see the wheels turning as he says this -- she sees the race issue -- feels he is only talking about appeals to white people -- tells him that issues of importance to people of color are not thrown on the waste heap ---- and yes this is the fault line for the Dems  -- she tries to end it there but Ryan comes back with - "When I talk about the working class, one third are people of color. That's not parsing out the electorate - we're all in this together."

Watch the segment: http://www.msnbc.com/am-joy/watch/pelosi-s-future-in-question-after-trump-win-818123331880

• Nancy Pelosi challenger Tim Ryan: ‘We’re not a national party right now’

• Revolt against Pelosi shows a Democratic Party searching for answers

NBC's Education Nation: [Laughably] One-Sided Once Again? Where is Karen Lewis?

#educationnation

You won't see Teacher Julie Cavanagh and Parent Lydia Bellahcene (A Real-Life "Won't Back Down" Story) on any Education Nation panel. Or on Anderson Cooper, who issued a call for teachers to comment on "Won't Back Down" but only if they are of the E4E type who will not be critical of the film.

Read my follow-up on how I have [so far] been denied a press pass, as I predicted a year ago, to #educationnation.

But I supposedly have entry to the teacher panel today at noon -- will be wearing my MORE tee to counter the see of green e4es.

The parent town hall of Education Nation:

Diane Ravitch: Please Don’t Laugh

This is the panel for the parent engagement discussion at Education Nation.
Maybe it is a joke. 

·         Rep. George Miller

·         Randi Weingartner [NOTE MISPELLING]

·         Doreen Diaz, Desert Trails Parent Union

·         Michelle Rhee

·         Joel Klein

         ·         Vanessa Bush Ford, Black Star Project/The National PTA

Is Diane laughing that Weingart[ner] would agree to be on this joke of a panel? She could have said she would only appear if Leonie Haimson were on but Randi has to sell her solutions driven-unionism anywhere she can, even if the solutions destroys public education. Just the mispelling should be enough of an insult.

A teacher commented:

Looks like "parent empowerment" is the new deform narrative for turning parents against teachers.

More scorn for education nation from Ravitch:

Will Education Nation Chose a Teacher

by dianerav

Please read Students Last, who noticed the absence of any real, actual teachers at the New York Times conference on "Schools of Tomorrow."

He says there is a rumor that NBC's "Medication Nation" might invite a physician, to add to the panel of pharmaceutical giants.

Well, here is the teacher list -- anyone see one of the 26,000 Chicago striking teachers?

Corrected - Melissa Harris-Perry: Alter Interrupt

Our working conditions are out students' learning conditions. ----NYC HS Teacher Megan Behrent (MORE).

UPDATE: There are 2 clips, the 2nd didn't include Megan Behrent of the Movement of Rank and File Educators. Megan points out that the more important question than bad teachers are the fact that 50% of the teachers leave within 5 years. Also raises need of support to give teachers best chance to be best they can be.

Alter: Adult interest groups not always best for children. We're not bashing teachers.
Ha. Doesn't he mean only the unions are adult interest groups? As if TFA and DFER and Students First and Success Charters are not adult interest groups.

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Alter uses ed deform code words: adults interests, not children and he and the other ed deformer on the panel still try to shift focus to the so-called "bottom." She said, "we know there are bad teachers." Hey there are bad pundits like Alter -- probably bottom 1% - and does he always have to talk about himself? HE shows his support for teachers through donors choice or HIS nephew is in TFA and is going to stay -- want to bet Alter's nephew is not in the classroom in 5 years?

In the 2nd clip Megan doesn't get to say a word while Alter blathers and the other ed deformer gets the last word. Harris-Perry had to make her point over Alter's interruptions and attempt to steer the conversation away from her criticism of KIPP - which he actually accomplished. With the only teacher in the room relatively muted, she promised Megan a return appearance. Megan should have spilled coffee on Alter when he began to talk.

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See below the jump for a transcript of part 2: