If You Want to Win, Go Progressive

In 2014, for example, voters easily passed measures to increase the minimum wage -- in four Republican-controlled states.

In state and local elections across the country, voters passed measures to guarantee paid sick leave, to protect access to abortions and to implement real criminal legal reforms.

2012 was similar: Democrats lost control of the House of Representatives, but Democratic voters in numerous states voted for solidly progressive policies like raising taxes, protecting unions and moving forward on marriage equality.

So why did voters reject the "centrist" Democratic candidates so thoroughly -- but they embraced and passed progressive initiatives across the country?

The truth is, Republicans didn't win majorities in 2012 and 2014 -- Democrats lost them.

Why did they lose?

Because, when voters don't turn out, Republicans win.

Republicans know that, and Heritage Foundation and Moral Majority co-founder Paul Weyrich spelled it out more than 35 years ago.

Democrats know it too, but it's only progressive democrats, like Sherrod Brown, Elizabeth Warren, Al Franken and, yes, Bernie Sanders who seem to understand what actually brings voters out to vote.

Like Harry Truman once said, "Given a choice between a Republican and a Democrat who acts like a Republican; the voters will pick the Republican every time!"

After the Democrats got "shellacked" in 2014, Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) cofounder Al From told the New York Times that Democrats were losing because "[The policies] we promote the most are ones that don't speak to the middle class, like raising the minimum wage."

Really??

Never mind the fact that voters passed measures to raise the minimum wage actually passed in four REPUBLICAN-controlled states in 2014.

That's the conventional wisdom from the DLC Democrats, though: They cling to the fantasy that Democratic candidates are losing even as progressive policies are winning, and it's because the candidates aren't centrist enough.

But the reality is: Truly progressive ballot measures passed in 2012 and 2014.

And truly progressive democrats, like Sherrod Brown, Elizabeth Warren, Al Franken and Bernie Sanders easily won their contests.

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