Andrew Gillum Has Not Been Assimilated

As we all know, The Ybor City Stogie is a melting pot of differing leftist thoughts and perspectives. I am proud to be a Stogie writer, and when necessary, offer rebuttals to opinions I disagree with.

Andrew Gillum is doing everything in his power to turn Florida blue next year. To do so, he must register voters and energize those already registered, which is a massive undertaking that will require allies in powerful places. Rather than neglect the establishment outright, Gillum is doing what he deems necessary to reach his goal of registering a million voters and enlightening them to vote blue (and progressive!).

By making symbolic gestures with FDP Chair Terrie Rizzo and donating money to the state Democratic Party, he is carefully putting together a coalition of change. My advice would be to remain cautious of powerful corporate Democrats, and stick to progressive ideologies and issue positions while empowering a big tent community. This community should not exclude centrist Democrats as this will cause too large a split in our electoral abilities—an important thing to consider as our remaining anti Citizens United SCOTUS Justices age on and onward.

Gillum making gestures toward centrist Democrats, donating money to the FDP, and forming alliances where possible are steps to changing Florida. There is not substantial proof among this evidence to declare that he has been assimilated into the FDP establishment. I believe you can be a genuine progressive leftist while making peace with the centrist wing of the Democratic Party. That does not mean giving into being pro corporate or pro war or pro privatization, and it does not take away our agenda. Resistance is never futile; part of being a true activist is understanding the world, and not giving up, as doing so is just what our worst corporate adversaries want us to do and say.

— Asher