Things I Learned About the New Tom Carper

Filed in Delaware by on September 12, 2018

Know what I learned about Tom Carper in this election? He supports a $15 an hour minimum wage. I didn’t know that about him before. For the simple reason that he didn’t before, and he came out against Bernie Sanders’ bill to raise it in 2017. He changed only because he was challenged by a Democrat with a platform aimed at the people of the state rather than its special interests.

The new Tom Carper also said he supports marijuana legalization. The old one didn’t.

The updated Carperbot is even in favor of re-importing pharmaceuticals from Canada. The old model voted against legislation allowing the import of FDA-approved drugs from select foreign countries in 2017, 2012, 2011, and twice in 2009.

Tom Carper said in his debate with Kerri Harris, “The thing I’ve heard the most from people in Delaware over the last several years is, ‘Why can’t you guys in Congress work together?’” Tom Carper spent $3.3 million of the $3.5 million he raised defeating Harris. Perhaps if he spent less time talking to the people who gave him $3.5 million and more listening to the people he’s elected to represent he wouldn’t say something so elitist and out of touch.

My point is that Kerri Harris’ campaign delivered everything progressives could reasonably have hoped for. This new Tom Carper might not be a ball of progressive fire, but he’s been forced into some positions that won’t win him any applause from his supporters at the Chamber of Commerce or the VFW, and that he never would have adopted otherwise.

I think most people who donated to the Harris campaign would agree that’s a pretty good return on investment.

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  1. RE Vanella says:

    Hear, fucking, hear on that. Realpolitik.

    Experts and wonks call it “pragmatic” to not fight. This is wrong. Boat must be rocked. Blows must be exchanged. That’s just how’s it done.

    As someone who did invest quite a bit, frankly I’m pleased. I’m getting more satisfied as I sit with it too.

    Nicely written, man. For real. REV

  2. NewDelawareWay says:

    Same goes for Kathy Jennings’ support of ending cash bail and opposing the death penalty as a result of Chris Johnson’s progressive platform.

  3. Jason330 says:

    You are right about Harris, but With one more unaccountable term left, I wonder if Carper will feel honorbound to back up his new found liberalism?

    Also – Carper spent how much against Kerri? Holy shit

  4. Ben says:

    So wait. We shouldnt protest vote Green party this year?

  5. mediawatch says:

    I’ll not going to believe Carper suddenly got religion during the primary campaign until he actually casts votes in support of these positions. Only Rob Arlett stands in the way of Carper serving a six-year lame duck term that he’ll devote to thumbing his nose at those who voted for Kerri in the primary.
    Alby, I’m stunned that you put down your BS detector before writing this post.
    And the same goes for Kathy Jennings on bail reform, though I suspect she’ll continue to express support while conveniently blaming the neanderthals in the General Assembly when it doesn’t get done.

    • It’s not just bail reform. Jennings appropriated many of the tenets of Chris Johnson’s platform. I’ll be doing a piece on that soon. If she carries out her stated, if borrowed, platform, we’ll have a progressive AG.

      I, for one, intend to help her carry out that platform.

      In fairness to Jennings, she never played the ‘Steve Wood’ role of advocating for draconian penalties for non-violent offenders. There is hope.

    • Alby says:

      Hey, if he’s going to pretend to be a liberal, the least I can do is pretend to believe him.

  6. puck says:

    I predict Carper will retire mid-term and engineer the appointment of LBR to his seat. If I’m right, progressives should be finding a candidate for the open House seat.

  7. Arthur says:

    That is what i have found – democrats tell the voters what they think they want to hear and voters are amazed when nothing of it is actually done (ie Markells book for a better delaware). Republicans say what they are thinking and their lunatic fringe admirers vote for them becuase ‘god dangit he tells it likes it is’

  8. RE Vanella says:

    A progressive candidate will be ready if that happens. puck. You may not even be ready for how ready they’ll be. 🙂

  9. puck says:

    Carper support $15/hr my ass. That position will never be tested, because the vote will never come up in the Senate, at least not while Carper is there. If it does, Carper will make sure in committee it is phased in over 99 years.

  10. RE Vanella says:

    puck, you aren’t wrong. This is a good example of why the pressure must stay up.

    Win the House. Maybe the Senate. Push on the State General Assembly.

    It’s not one thing. It’s not about Trump (regardless of what anonymous wine moms seem to think).

    DSA member are winning state legislature seats.

    This is a small first stride in a marathon.