Meet the New Freshmen in Congress: More Democrats, Diversity and Women

[SummerMadness]

Meet the New Freshmen in Congress: More Democrats, Diversity and Women

The congressional freshman class of 2019 includes the most racially diverse and most female group of representatives ever elected to the House.

There are 10 new elected senators and 101 new elected representatives for a total of 67 Democrats and 44 Republicans. 42 women will join Congress in January. 22 new members have worked for
the C.I.A. or been in the military. There are 24 people of color in the freshman class,
and many of them will represent mostly white districts. 9 of the Republicans were endorsed by the
hard-line conservative House Freedom Fund. 25 of the Democrats are progressives, including 4 who
will represent districts President Trump won in 2016. 19 other Democrats also won in Trump districts.

 

[Archivist]

I saw a post on FB complaining that the new Muslim members of the House won't take their oath on the Bible. Do the people who make such claims read the Constitution--there is no such requirement.

 

[Shiloh Raven]

Meet the New Freshmen in Congress: More Democrats, Diversity and Women

I think the last two years of Trump's regime will be interesting to watch as his conservative agendas are thwarted by a Democratic led House and he expresses his anger and frustrations by having mental meltdowns on Twitter every single day for the next two years until his term is finally over.

 

[super animator]

Are they elected because they are women, or they are elected that happens to be a women?

Edit: typo

 

[SummerMadness]

Are they selected because they are women, or they are selected that happens to be a women?

There are many men chosen because they are men. Go ask about those representatives.

 

[super animator]

There are many men chosen because they are men. Go ask about those representatives.

Nice dodge.
Care to answer the question?

 

[Aldebaran]

Meet the New Freshmen in Congress: More Democrats, Diversity and Women

It seems that it's celebrated when someone gets elected who is not a Republican, white, a man, or a Christian. Not being any of those things is today's definition of "diversity". Too bad such things are the focus of some.

 

[wing2000]

A Congress that reflects the American population is a good thing.

 

[Aldebaran]

A Congress that reflects the American population is a good thing.

Being black, female, Native American, Muslim, homosexual, etc. "represents" them? Wouldn't you rather have people that are known for their character and values rather than their skin color, gender, religion, race or who they have sex with? Identity politics doesn't equal votes that represent.

 

[Speedwell]

Being black, female, Native American, Muslim, homosexual, etc. "represents" them? Wouldn't you rather have people that are known for their character and values rather than their skin color, gender, religion, race or who they have sex with? Identity politics doesn't equal votes that represent.

How do you know that they are not?

 

[wing2000]

Wouldn't you rather have people that are known for their character and values

Sure...but it's not "rather"
I support people of character and values. Take for instance Jeff Flake. While I disagree with many of his political positions, I respect his values and character. Just as I respect his replacement for the same reason - who happens to be a woman.

 

[Aldebaran]

How do you know that they are not?

Because that's not how they're identified. They're identified as a certain number of women, first Muslims, first Native American, first this or that. No mention of what they stand for, what they value, or what they did to deserve the position--as if, "He's the first black man to hold the position" automatically means he's there to be the representative of those who have black skin. Or "The first homosexual to be elected to a certain office" means that he's the representative of people who commit homosexual acts.
Identity politics is a shallow way to define a representative or identify their suitability for office. Otherwise, a black woman who is a homosexual single mother (?) and is a democrat-socialist Muslim is automatically qualified to represent--simply because of this person's "diversity".

 

[SummerMadness]

Being the first to be elected to a position simply means the first elected to a position. The real identity politics resides in the white men who see their loss of power as a threat to their well-being now that they don't live in a society with their thumb on the scale.

 

[Speedwell]

Because that's not how they're identified. They're identified as a certain number of women, first Muslims, first Native American, first this or that. No mention of what they stand for, what they value, or what they did to deserve the position--as if, "He's the first black man to hold the position" automatically means he's there to be the representative of those who have black skin. Or "The first homosexual to be elected to a certain office" means that he's the representative of people who commit homosexual acts.

Where in the world did you get that idea? The first homosexual to serve is celebrated because there are so many that don't think he should be serving at all. In that respect he is at most a symbol of homosexuals finally getting the rights they are entitled to. He is not a "representative" to the homosexual community. Indeed, he may be at odds with many homosexuals over important political issues.

Identity politics is a shallow way to define a representative or identify their suitability for office. Otherwise, a black woman who is a homosexual single mother (?) and is a democrat-socialist Muslim is automatically qualified to represent--simply because of this person's "diversity".

An amusing fantasy--I hope you enjoy it.

 

[Shiloh Raven]

Being the first to be elected to a position simply means the first elected to a position. The real identity politics resides in the white men who see their loss of power as a threat to their well-being now that they don't live in a society with their thumb on the scale.

I think you're on to something, my friend.

 

[Archivist]

Because that's not how they're identified. They're identified as a certain number of women, first Muslims, first Native American, first this or that. No mention of what they stand for, what they value, or what they did to deserve the position--as if, "He's the first black man to hold the position" automatically means he's there to be the representative of those who have black skin. Or "The first homosexual to be elected to a certain office" means that he's the representative of people who commit homosexual acts.
Identity politics is a shallow way to define a representative or identify their suitability for office. Otherwise, a black woman who is a homosexual single mother (?) and is a democrat-socialist Muslim is automatically qualified to represent--simply because of this person's "diversity".

On the ballot these individuals were identified simply by name and party and, at least in my state, city of residence. It didn't identify any of the candidates as being male or female, gay or straight, Muslim or Christian.

 

[Shiloh Raven]

Being the first to be elected to a position simply means the first elected to a position. The real identity politics resides in the white men who see their loss of power as a threat to their well-being now that they don't live in a society with their thumb on the scale.

I think you're on to something, my friend.

I thought I would add the following articles to substantiate my above statement.

The Year White People Will Become a Minority Has Been Declared

White fear of demographic change is a powerful psychological force

Survey: Most Americans feel good about white people becoming a minority - look at the charts.

 

[Shiloh Raven]

On the ballot these individuals were identified simply by name and party and, at least in my state, city of residence. It didn't identify any of the candidates as being male or female, gay or straight, Muslim or Christian.

I didn't see Jill Stein (White Woman) on the ballot when I voted during the last presidential election or any 'identity politics' when I voted straight Democrat during the mid-term elections either.

 

[USincognito]

It seems that it's celebrated when someone gets elected who is not a Republican, white, a man, or a Christian. Not being any of those things is today's definition of "diversity". Too bad such things are the focus of some.

Yeah, Republicans, whites, males, and Christians are so oppressed. It's a shame how we're treated so poorly and have such a hard time making it in America.

 

[Shiloh Raven]

Poor oppressed Republican white male Christians. They're treated so poorly and have such a hard time making it in America.

Yeah, they lived on poverty stricken reservations and had to sit at the back of the bus. They couldn't eat in restaurants with minorities or use the same bathroom and drinking fountain as minorites and they were denied the right to vote. Were they ever afraid of being lynched and hung from a tree?

Oh wait... none of what I mentioned ever happened to them.