The day before her speech at the Frank Church Gala, I had the distinct honor of meeting with US Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, alongside House Democratic Leader Ilana Rubel, and Mayor McLean.
Senator Slotkin is a truly exceptional leader whose career includes serving as a Central Intelligence Agency analyst, a Department of Defense official, and Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs.
Our discussion focused on a significant threat to national security: the current domestic climate. Senator Slotkin highlighted how Americans are being distracted by damaging and “scatter-shot” tactics from the federal government. These actions are creating terrible economic conditions for the nation. Furthermore, the struggles that most Americans are facing are being amplified by conjuring scapegoats—immigrants, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and even women—to deflect blame from the real cause.
FIGHT OR FLIGHT?
During our conversation, she highlighted the most significant challenge currently facing our party: the choice between fight or flight. While our party was once divided by progressive versus moderate views, the attacks from the Trump regime have introduced this new, critical dilemma.
It is too easy, when outnumbered and facing genuine threats, to succumb to the idea of simply trying to endure the situation. This approach, however, is ineffective—a lesson I know well from my time in the Idaho legislature. Allowing our rights to be eroded incrementally is no less damaging than losing them all at once. If we fail to stand firm and FIGHT for what is right for EVERYONE, then all our rights are jeopardized.
We must draw inspiration from the historical struggles for civil rights: the fight against slavery, the movement to dismantle Jim Crow, the pursuit of women’s reproductive freedom, and the fight against discrimination targeting the LGBTQ community.
We must continue to unite and lock arms with our family, friends, and neighbors and protect the rights and way of life we value. We must support each other as we fight for the country we envision and resist the tyranny of a president emboldened by a weak Congress—a Congress that fails to stand up for American interests and instead submits to tyranny.
We must unite against damaging bills that seek to divide us and misdirect blame. This dangerous path mirrors historical events, and now the US is jeopardizing long-standing alliances, even with allies like Canada and in Europe. This global aggression threatens to isolate our nation, a grim prospect as we approach America 250.
We need to demand accountability from our Congressional Delegation and insist on better leadership. The most effective way to challenge this abuse of power is by electing more Democrats. I urge you to get involved in a campaign this year to help flip seats in both the state legislature and Congress. Success requires a united team!