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Don Leonard has landed in Washington, and he’s already shaking things up. I’m cool with that. There are plenty of things in D.C. that need shaking up. I’m also a little cautious. I’m still trying to figure out what kind of congressman we’re getting. Is Don Leonard trying to make a name for himself? What does he want to get done for the people who sent him there?
I love that this new generation of Democrats knows how to use social media. They can talk straight to the people who elected them, and sometimes that’s exactly how you get Washington to pay attention. But Don, I want you there to cause good trouble. When you put a fight in front of the whole country, I want to know what you’re asking people to help you change.
Take the video about Hakeem Jeffries. Leonard said senior Democrats warned him he’d pay a political price if he kept putting conditions on his vote for speaker. He later described the conversation to Axios as friendly and well-intentioned. I understand why he wanted people back home to hear about it. They sent him there to stand for something, and they deserve to know what he’s asking of the next speaker. Axios
Still, I think there are some conversations you can let play out a little before you take them public. Maybe you go back to Jeffries and say, “Here’s what I need to take home to my district. What are you willing to put on the calendar?” If you decide to go public, tell us what you asked for and what answer you got. Now we know what to press leadership on.
As it played out, I think the story about who leaned on whom stirred up more bad blood than the moment called for.
And look, Don, I’m glad you’re there. You seem like a guy who cares about actually getting things done. That’s going to require working with other Democrats, including some of the same people you’re going to disagree with. If you want to take on big money in politics, tell us what you can get a vote on this term and where you need to build support for the bigger fight. I can live with an honest answer about what takes longer. I have less patience for watching Democrats fighting each other while the bills people are counting on sit there in limbo.
I’ll give you this one. You just got there, and I’m still figuring you out. We can disagree inside the party and still remember why people sent us there. So go ahead and shake things up. Then show the folks back home what you got done with the people you shook up- this is the ultimate flex!